by Jane Jamison
C.J. recoiled, his hands pressed against his chest. “Let us go, Stormy.”
“Are you saying you’ll drop the custody suit?”
“Tell her yes. Tell her anything she wants to hear.”
“Do what your attorney is advising you.”
The struggle on C.J.’s face was evident. He hated giving in, but he had no choice. “Fine. I’ll drop the suit.”
“And leave us alone forever?”
“Yes, yes. Whatever you want.”
She pushed away from the car and Ty thought she was more beautiful than he’d ever seen her. “Beckett, give the man his keys.”
They all morphed, their bodies going through the transformation as the men in the car watched. Once they’d regained their human bodies, Ty jumped off the car along with Rent. Beckett retrieved the keys then tapped on the driver’s window.
The frightened man opened the door a few inches. Beckett tossed the keys inside then jumped back as Lewis slammed the door closed.
“Damn, man, watch the fingers.”
Beckett sauntered over to stand next to Stormy as Ty and Beckett had done. She lifted her hand and waved as the attorney started the car and threw it into gear.
“Drive safely,” called Stormy.
Lewis shot them a fearful look, but C.J. kept his gaze forward. The car flung dirt and pebbles into the air as the attorney floored the vehicle and pointed it toward the road. They watched until the car sped out of sight.
“Let’s hope that’s the last we’ll ever see of him.”
“It will be. But if it’s not, we’ll still be by your side.” Ty pulled her into his arms, ignoring the grumbling protests of his brothers. “You, my mate, are one hell of a woman.”
“We need to move before Jazz gets back.” Rent led the way back inside the house.
The men snatched up their clothes and went into the bedroom to dress. By the time they made it back into the living room, Jazz was seated next to her mother. Jazz lifted her gaze to his and Ty knew in an instant.
She knows.
* * * *
Stormy motioned for the men to take a seat around them. Should she tell Jazz about them? Should she tell her what her father had wanted to do? Unsure, she decided to postpone the discussion for later. It was hard enough to figure out how to explain why the Malone brothers were in the house while she was still in her robe.
Jazz drew her body straight and tall as she stood to face them. Stormy couldn’t help but think how mature she seemed.
“Thanks for helping me at the barn. And thanks for making that man go away.”
A pang of guilt hit her. Was it right for her daughter to refer to her father as that man? Had she been wrong to take her away all those years ago? Or should she have pushed for them to have a relationship? Yet she couldn’t have done things any differently. Because of the decisions she’d made, Jazz had grown into a self-assured, beautiful young girl.
“You’re welcome, Jazz. Any time you need us, we’ll be there.”
“Ty’s telling the truth,” added Beckett. “Wait. How’d you know your—that man went away?”
Jazz’s smile lit up the room as she took her seat next to her. “Julie’s dad let me out by the road and they almost ran me over. Man, were they flying.”
Stormy smothered her giggle. “I bet they were.”
“Do you think they’ll come back?”
Stormy’s heart clenched at the worry on Jazz’s face. “No. I don’t think so. We, uh, convinced him that it was in his best interest to stay away. I don’t think he’ll even tell anyone that he was here.”
If he does, they’ll think he’s crazy. Saying he saw a werewolf would make anyone, including a crooked judge, leery of giving him custody.
She was sure she could rest easy now. “But, Jazz, if there comes a time when you want to visit your father, then all you have to do is tell me. I’d never try to keep you away from him.”
“I know. But I don’t want to be with him.” Jazz squirmed in her seat. “But why were they driving so fast? That man with C.J. looked like he was scared to death.”
Stormy hadn’t expected to have to explain that to her. But her daughter needed to know if she was going to mate the Malone men. Once Jazz knew everything, she’d have to give her opinion. “Um, it’s kind of what we need to talk about.”
Jazz’s expression was open and trusting. She ran her hand down her child’s hair, and for the first time in a long while, Jazz let her.
“It’s like this. Beckett, Ty, and Rent frightened them away.”
“Really? How?”
The men shifted uneasily in their places. She looked to them, asking if she should go on, and took their silence as their consent. “They, um, scared them by doing something really unusual.”
Jazz glanced from one man to the next. “They did?”
“Yes. Now I don’t want you to get frightened, but this is going to be really difficult to believe.” She put her hand over her daughter’s and took a deep breath to steady her nerves. Telling Jazz was harder than she’d have thought possible.
How do I tell my daughter that I’ve fallen for three men who can change into wolves?
But Jazz had a surprise for her. She put her hand on top of Stormy’s. “It’s okay, Mom. I already know.”
Ty nodded and Stormy had to wonder if he’d already known what Jazz would say. “You do?”
“Yeah. I’ve known about them for a while now.”
“How the hell?” Rent and Beckett were taken aback, but Ty simply leaned back with a smug expression.
“Did you tell her, Ty?”
“Who me? Nope.”
“Mom, Julie told me that first night I stayed over.”
“She did? But how did Julie know?”
Jazz rolled her eyes. “Geez, Mom, open your eyes. The town’s full of them. Plus, Julie told me…because she’s a werewolf, too.”
Chapter Ten
Stormy stared at her daughter. “Why didn’t you tell me? Weren’t you afraid?”
Jazz shrugged. “I didn’t think you could handle it until now. I mean, you were always so nervous and upset about moving from Atlanta. Then you had all that stuff to do with the move and your new job. Besides, I wasn’t sure you’d let me see Julie again if you knew.”
“I guess I can see your point. But still, you weren’t frightened when she told you?”
“Nope. In fact, it was really cool to see her change. Her bones crack and pop and then she gets all this pretty yellow fur on her body. It’s really awesome.” She leaned toward the men. “Can you show me how you change? Please. I want to see you as wolves.”
Beckett started unbuttoning his shirt. “Sure. Why not?”
At first it seemed like a good idea, but then it hit Stormy like a brick thrown from a highway overpass. “Oh, hell no.”
“Aw, Mom, come on. I want to see.”
Stormy shook her head vehemently. “There is no way my daughter is going to see you guys change.”
“But why not? She’s already seen a werewolf.” Ty had started pulling on his belt then stopped when she’d complained.
“Because you have to get naked first to change.” Stormy shook her finger at them. “That is so not happening.”
Beckett buttoned his shirt in a hurry. “Oh, hell. I didn’t think about that.”
Jazz giggled. “I didn’t think about that, either. Gross.”
An uncomfortable silence filled the room for a few moments, but Stormy knew they had another matter to broach before she could relax. “Jazz, honey, I need to tell you about us. Us meaning the guys and me. We’re, uh, we’re involved.”
“Involved?”
“Cut to the chase, Stormy. I think she knows more than you think she does about this, too.” Rent edged onto the end of the couch to get closer to Jazz. “We want your mother to be our mate. Do you understand what that is?”
Again, Jazz didn’t seem unnerved or surprised. Instead, her gray eyes took on a faraway look. “Yeah, I know. Jul
ie’s two dads and her mom are mates.”
Ty fell back on the couch. “Why didn’t we think of that? All the times she went to Julie’s, we never once thought about her parents. Jazz had to have asked Julie about it.”
Stormy took another hard look at her daughter. Had she gotten so wound up with the move, her job, and then the Malone brothers that she’d missed what her daughter was going through? “Jazz, I’m so sorry I didn’t pay more attention. I wish you would’ve come to me when you found out.”
“Don’t worry about it, Mom. It’s okay.” She grew serious and gave the men a stern look. “But I do have questions.”
“Shoot.” Ty sat back up, as did his brothers, ready to answer.
“Do you love my mom?”
“Yes.”
It was almost comical that all three of the men answered at the same time. The force of their response left no doubt that they loved her very much.
“And do you love them, too, Mom?”
She had no problem telling her daughter the truth. “I know it’s fast and all, but, yeah, I do. I really do.” She turned to the men. “I love you, guys, more than I can say.”
Beckett grinned. “Ditto, baby.”
Rent punched him in the arm. “What my not-so-humorous brother means is that we’ve said it before, but we’ll say it again. We love you, Stormy Stevens.”
Ty placed his hand on his chest. “Yeah, baby. We love you so much that the word love doesn’t even cover it.”
“And what about me? If you’re their mate, will you want to send me to a boarding school like he wanted to do?” Jazz’s expression was filled with both worry and hope.
Stormy hugged her so hard she started to complain. “No way. It’s like I told them. We’re a package deal.”
“And we want you, Jazz.” Rent never looked so sincere. “We care about you and want to protect you just like we want to care for and protect your mom. If you’ll let us.”
A shyness overtook Jazz as she tucked her chin and blushed. “Yeah, okay. I guess that’d be good.”
“Then it’s decided.” Joy and excitement made Stormy want to dance in the street. Instead, she hugged her daughter again. “I know I’ll have lots of other questions, but let me ask this first. Do I have to change into a werewolf to be your mate?”
“Oooh! Can I do it, too? Will you change me, too?”
The men looked to Stormy for the answer.
“That’s why I asked. I don’t want to change. Not yet. Not until Jazz is grown. Until then, we both stay just like we are.”
“Aw, Mom. Why not?”
“Because”—she tapped Jazz on the tip of her nose—“deciding to become a werewolf is too big a decision for you to make. So until you’re on your own and old enough to make major life decisions, I’ll stay human like you.”
She studied their expressions. “That’s okay, isn’t it? Or is it a requirement for me to change to be your mate?”
Rent stood, pulling her into his arms while Ty and Beckett each took one of Jazz’s hands. “Whatever you want to do is fine with us. As long as all five of us are together, we can brave any storm together.”
“Good answer.” Stormy leaned into his embrace and listened to her daughter’s laughter as Ty and Beckett jumped up and started a game of chase around the room. Life was as sweet as it could get.
THE END
WWW.JANEJAMISON.COM
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jane Jamison has always liked “weird stuff” as her mother called it. From an early age she was fascinated with stories about werewolves, vampires, space, aliens, and whatever was hiding in her bedroom closet. (To this day, she still swears she can hear growls and moans whenever the lights are out.)
Born under the sign of Scorpio meant Jane was destined to be very sensual. Some would say she was (and remains) downright sexual. Then one day she put her two favorite things together on paper and found her life’s true ambition: to be an erotica paranormal romance author.
Jane spends at least six days a week locked in her office surrounded by the characters she loves. Every day a new character will knock on the door of her imagination. Her plans include taking care of her loving husband, traveling, and writing at least twelve books a year.
For all titles by Jane Jamison, please visit
www.bookstrand.com/jane-jamison
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
