Midnight Orchids_Book Three of the NOLA Shifters Series

by Angel Nyx

  “Oh? What were you goin’ to use, Kitten?” he growled near her ear.

  “Not what you’re clearly thinking,” she shot back. “I was going to use a pair of socks.”

  He chuckled. “Dis is better. It looks more like a flag.” He winked at her and helped get the flags set up. Then he settled back to watch how she managed to keep them all playing without anyone getting hurt.

  “Wow, she is out cold.” Emelise watched Caine carry Hailey down the hall to her bedroom. All of the kids had worn themselves out with their game of Capture the Flag. “That was an excellent idea you had, Kylie. You’re really good with kids.”

  Kylie blushed a little. “I used to help keep the younger members of the Pard entertained when the adults had meetings. My father was one of the lieutenants so we went to a lot of meetings. Once upon a time, I thought I might want to be a teacher. I even started classes for it.”

  “What stopped you from continuing?”

  “Ezra.” She’d been putting herself through school by working at the bar until he’d made her quit everything.

  Emelise growled. “I swear to fucking gods, if I ever meet that bastard I am likely to hurt him.”

  “What bastard are we hurtin’, Angel, and why?” Caine had obviously overheard her.

  Eme cursed silently. She looked at Kylie because it wasn’t her secret to tell.

  Kylie sighed. “My ex, Ezra. He…” She realized she was ashamed to admit it to her new Alpha. “He was very…abusive…after my father died. He made me quit college—I was studying to be a teacher, and my job at the bar I was working at.”

  Caine’s reaction was instant. “If he ever contacts you here, I want to know. He isn’t welcome in Black Water Pard territory and I know da Ghostpoint Pack will feel da same way.” There was barely contained anger in his voice.

  Kylie was stunned by the anger and lowered her head. “Yes, Alpha.”

  “Around here, cher, I’m just Caine.” He winked at her to show her he wasn’t angry with her. He was angry on her behalf.

  “Thank you for being so concerned. I’ll tell you if I ever hear from him.” She yawned and rubbed her eyes a moment. “I’m beat, I think I’m going to hit the sack.”

  “Hey, Kylie?” Emelise said before she got to the door leading to the guest cottage. “I really think you should think about going back to school, if that’s what you really want to do. You don’t have to make a decision right now, of course. Just think on it. Anyway, goodnight,” Emelise added and waved at her from the living room.

  Kylie paused to turn to the woman who was quickly becoming a close friend.“Maybe. I’ll think about it,” she promised. “Good-night.” By the time she got a quick shower and was curled up in bed, the idea had a firm hold on her mind. Maybe she would go back to school. But if she did that, would it make it easier for Ezra to find her? She wished she knew the answer to that question. By the time her thoughts settled enough for her to drift off to sleep, she found herself dreaming, not of Ezra, as she had so often since leaving him, but of Remy. The erotic nature of her dreams left her with an ache the next morning that she doubted would ever go away.

  Chapter Six

  Remy

  Remy rolled over in bed and groaned at the early morning sunlight slipping through a crack in the blinds. After the cookout, after watching Kylie with all the kids, he’d found it impossible to sleep. Instead he sat up thinking about her and drinking. To say he was frustrated with her continued resistance was putting it mildly. He needed to find a way to get past the walls she’d put up, to find out exactly why she was so determined to keep him at arm’s length. Lily said it had something to do with someone in Kylie’s past hurting her, and Emelise had alluded to the same thing, but what did that mean? Physically? Emotionally? Both?

  He rolled over and tried to go back to sleep but his mind wouldn’t settle. With a muttered curse he got up and went to put some coffee on. He was going to need it with as little sleep as he got. He had some blueprints he had to finish for a client and he and Gage were supposed to interview a potential assistant later that afternoon. Then he had to work at the club. Yeah, it was going to be a long-ass day.

  His phone rang and he cocked a brow when he saw his brother’s number. “Mornin’, Gage. What’s up?”

  “Mornin’. Wasn’t sure you were up yet. I got a call dis mornin’ I thought you might want to hear about.”

  Remy frowned. “What’s wrong?”

  “Not a damn ting. It’s actually good news. Fuck, it’s more den dat, it’s great news.”

  “Well den, don’t leave me hangin’, Gage. Spit it out.”

  “Dat bid we put in, for dat new hotel, we got da deal. Dey liked the preliminary drawin’s you submitted and want to hire Delacroix Carpentry and Architectural Design to design da hotel and do all da woodwork for it.”

  “Holy fuck. Dis better not be a joke or I will kick your ass, little brother.”

  “Would I joke about someting like dis?”

  Remy thought about the question. “No, I guess you wouldn’t. I was just tinking I had a busy day and now it’s goin’ to be even busier. I’ll get started on da designs ASAP.”

  “We’ll get da contract later dis week so we can go over it and sign it. Dis is it, Remy. Dis is da break we needed to get our name out dere.”

  “You got dat right. Looks like we may need to hire more den one assistant. See you later for da interview.”

  Gage chuckled. “Yeah, looks like. Later, Remy.”

  Remy hung up and stared at the phone. This hotel contract would be the biggest, most lucrative, contract they’d ever had. It really was the one that would make or break them. If they liked what he came up with, and built the hotel he designed for them, the company would really take off. The only downside to that would be having to stop being the bouncer at the club. He didn’t like the idea of leaving his mate unprotected though. He needed to talk with Emelise about letting him find a suitable replacement for the position.

  Remy stepped onto his Alpha’s porch and knocked lightly. He didn’t want to disturb Emelise or Hailey if they were still asleep. When the door opened he nodded at his Alpha.

  “Mornin’, Remy. What brings you by?”

  “Mornin’, Caine. I need to speak wit’ Emelise, if she’s up.”

  “She is. Come on in. I’m surprised you aren’t here to see your mate.”

  “Oh, I’d like to see her too, but I know she’s a skittish ting. Don’t want to scare her away.”

  Caine laughed at that. “She is dat. Angel, Remy needs to talk to you.” He moved to where Emelise was frying eggs and took the spatula from her. “I’ll finish dis.”

  Emelise rolled her eyes before she smiled at Remy. “Hey, Remy. What’s up?”

  “Mornin’. Well, see, about da job at da club, I’d like to personally find a replacement for me. Gage called me just a little bit ago. Dat big resort hotel dat’s being built near Lake Pontchartrain—da company havin’ it built took bids from several architecture firms. I submitted preliminary drawin’s for my vision for it, and dey want to hire Delacroix Carpentry and Architectural Design. I’ll be so busy wit’ dat, I won’t be able to work at da club.”

  Emelise stared at him. “Holy shit, Remy, that’s great! Congratulations! Hey, don’t worry about the bouncer gig at the club; we’ll find someone to replace you.”

  “I’d like to take care of dat. I wanna be sure my mate’s safe.”

  Eme nodded. ‘Sure, yeah. You just let me know when you find someone.”

  Caine waited until Remy and Emelise were done talking business before he approached the other man and held his hand out. “Congratulations, Remy. I know dis is what you’ve been workin’ for ever since you went to Tulane. It’s about damn time da world got to see your talent.”

  Remy took the offered hand. “Thanks, Caine. I’ll get outta here and let you two enjoy your breakfast. Maybe later I’ll see if I can sweet-talk Kylie into goin’ to dinner wit’ me to celebrate.”

  “G
ood luck wit’ that,” Caine said with a chuckle.

  Just remember what I said about her past,” Eme reminded him.

  Caine and Emelise spoke at almost the exact same time and Remy chuckled.

  “Thanks. I’ll keep it in mind.” Remy nodded at them and left. Yeah, inviting her to dinner sounded like a really good idea. With that thought playing around in his mind, he headed into New Orleans to finish the designs he’d been working on so he could start in on the one for the hotel.

  Kylie

  Kylie lay there in bed, letting her mind wander to the erotic dreams she’d had the night before. She could hear Caine and Emelise moving around in the front of the house, but she really didn’t want to get up just yet. She was mildly embarrassed to think they would smell her arousal if she went out right now. There was only one thing to do about it. She needed some relief and she needed it now.

  Closing her eyes, she pictured Remy’s face as she slid one hand down to slip beneath her pajama bottoms. She imagined what it would feel like to have his hands caressing her skin. Would they be rough or smooth? As she dipped a finger inside her, she imagined it was Remy’s finger thrusting inside her. Her thumb caressed her clit and she pictured Remy’s mouth there, his tongue teasing the sensitive nub. She muffled her noises with the palm of her free hand as she worked herself to a quick release.

  After the orgasm took the edge off her need, she crawled out of bed and went to shower. For a moment she thought she heard Remy’s voice but dismissed it as her imagination when she didn’t hear it again.

  “Morning, sleepy head. I figured you probably wore yourself out keeping all the kids entertained last night and we wouldn’t see you until a bit later. You don’t look like you rested very well,” Emelise said when she saw Kylie slip into the kitchen.

  Kylie poured herself a cup of coffee and slid onto one of the stools at the bar, that separated the kitchen and dining room, before she responded to Emelise’s comment. “Eh, it was okay. I’m just a little out of sorts. I think I woke up too early but some coffee should wake me up. What’s the plan for today?”

  “Well, I have to do inventory this afternoon but beyond that, the day is pretty open until tonight. Why?”

  “I was thinking of doing a little sightseeing. I realized this morning that I really haven’t seen much of the city.”

  “You should do that. Go play tourist for the day.”

  “You don’t mind? Are you sure you don’t want me to help with the inventory?”

  “I’m sure. Go, eat some good food, listen to some great music, and have fun.”

  “All right, then. I guess I will.” She got a quick breakfast then had a thought. “Wait, how am I getting into town?”

  Emelise laughed. “I’ll give you a ride since I have to go do inventory anyway.”

  Hailey chose that moment to come into the kitchen, rubbing sleep from her eyes. “Can I come?”

  Eme smiled warmly at her. “Sure, sweetheart. We’ll get you some things to keep you busy while I work. First, you need some breakfast in you. Would you like some chocolate chip pancakes?”

  “Yes! That’s my favorite!”

  Emelise smiled. “Chocolate chip pancakes coming right up.”

  Kylie watched them together and felt a pang of longing. Emelise was such a good surrogate mother for Hailey, and she knew the other woman was going to be just as amazing when her twins were born. A part of her envied Emelise. She would love to be a mother one day but she didn’t see that ever happening.

  An hour later they were stepping off the boat at the dock just outside of New Orleans. “I’ll see you later. Have fun you two,” Kylie said as she slung her bag over her shoulder.

  “You too. Enjoy your sightseeing.” Emelise took Hailey to the car and got her settled in the backseat. “You sure you don’t want a ride to the French Quarter?”

  “I’m sure. I want to just walk and enjoy the day.”

  “Okay. See you tonight, then.”

  Kylie watched them go before she turned her attention to wandering the streets of New Orleans. She went through the Garden District and admired the varied architecture she found there. Some of the houses were absolutely breathtaking. She imagined they were very expensive, too.

  A little after noon, her stomach started protesting the fact she hadn’t eaten much at breakfast, and she was considering where she might want to go for lunch, when she stopped in the middle of the sidewalk. She felt like someone had hit her with a sledgehammer. There, not fifty feet ahead of her, was Remy. That wasn’t what made her heart feel like it was breaking though. No, it was the brunette attached to his arm that caused that feeling. The woman was gorgeous, like model-worthy gorgeous. The dress she wore clung to her body and showed off her curves. She should have known he was playing her. And why not? When he could get a woman like that, why in god’s name would he want her? A sound escaped her before she could stop it and she saw his head snap up as their eyes locked.

  Remy

  It had been early afternoon and he’d just sent the final designs he’d been working on off to the client when the door had opened and Estelle Beauchamp, wife of his best friend, Devon, had stepped inside.

  “Thank God you’re here, Remy.”

  “Estelle. What brings you by?”

  “It’s Devon. I think he’s in trouble.”

  “Why do you tink dat?”

  “I got a really weird voicemail from him. Here, let me play it for you.” She put her phone on speaker and dialed her voicemail so he could hear the message.

  “Shit, shit, shit. Estelle, I need you to go to Remy. Don’t call me, just go see him.” There was some background noise that sounded like a door hitting the wall and the call ended.

  “Where was he today?”

  “He was supposed to be at work but I called and his secretary said she hasn’t seen him. I’m worried, Remy.”

  “Don’t worry, cher. I’ll find out what’s goin’ on. For now, I’m gonna take you out to da compound to visit wit’ my sister-in-law, Mia. She’ll help keep you from worryin’ yourself sick.”

  “Okay. What could he have gotten himself mixed up in, Remy?”

  “I’m not positive, but I have some ideas. No’ting I’m gonna share wit’ you,” he said as he escorted her outside.

  Estelle was clinging to his arm as he guided her toward his truck. A sound caught his attention and his head snapped up. His eyes locked with Kylie’s and he knew, immediately, that she had jumped to all sorts of conclusions and every damn one of them was wrong. “Fuck,” he said under his breath. “Kitten, wait.”

  Kylie shook her head, eyes wide and filled with hurt, before she turned and rushed away from him.

  “Fuck, fuck, fuck. Sorry, Estelle,” he said when he realized he’d said that out loud.

  “Why do I get the feeling the young woman who was just here is someone you’re interested in and she just got the wrong idea?”

  “Because she is, and she did.” He wanted nothing more than to go after her but he had to take care of this first. As soon as he got in the car he hit the Bluetooth on his phone and called Emelise.

  “Hey, Remy. What’s up?”

  “I’ve got a bit of a problem. Da wife of a friend of mine came to see me—her husband left her an odd voicemail, and I’m bringin’ her out to da compound to visit wit’ Mia. Problem is, Kylie saw us and got da wrong idea. Will you call her, make sure she’s okay?”

  “Damn, Remy, how do you manage to get yourself in these kinds of messes?”

  “Just lucky, I guess,” he grumbled. “Will you call her and check on her, please?”

  “Of course I will. I’m just giving you a hard time. Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll get the chance to explain it and clear things up with her soon enough.”

  “I hope so,” he said and hung up so he could concentrate on the drive out of the city.

  Kylie

  Kylie couldn’t breathe. It felt like her heart was shattered into a million tiny pieces and she didn’t unde
rstand it. Why did seeing him with that woman on his arm hit her so hard? It wasn’t like they were together or anything. She had no interest in getting involved with anyone, ever again, so why was she so bothered? It didn’t make any sense to her.

  When her phone started ringing, she almost ignored it. She didn’t want to talk to anyone. At least she didn’t have to worry about it being Ezra. The phone she had was new, one she’d gotten with her first paycheck from her job at the club. She saw it was Emelise calling and forced a cheerful tone to her voice. “Hey, Emelise. How’s the inventory going?”

  “Hey, Kylie. It’s going. That’s not why I’m calling, though. I just got a call from Remy. No, hear me out before you say anything,” she said when she heard Kylie take a breath in preparation of interrupting her. “He asked me to call you because he said you saw him in town and jumped to wrong conclusions.”

  Kylie laughed bitterly. “Wrong conclusions. Right. What conclusion am I supposed to come to when I see him walking towards his truck with some gorgeous brunette clinging to him?”

  “If you have no context to explain what you saw, I suppose I can see why you’d jump to the conclusion that he’s interested in the woman. That’s what you think, right?”

  “What else am I supposed to think, Emelise?”

  “Kylie, honey, calm down. That woman is the wife of a friend of his. She went to Remy because of a weird voicemail her husband left that has her worried. He’s taking her out to visit with Mia while he looks into it. That’s what you saw. Not what you’re thinking you saw.”

  Kylie closed her eyes. She wanted to believe but… “How do you know he’s not making it up?”

  “Because that’s not the kind of person Remy is. Kylie, sweetie, don’t let that bastard, Ezra, color the way you see other men. They’re not all like him and Remy isn’t interested in anyone but you. Why don’t you come to the club? We can order something in for lunch and talk more.”