by Rebecca Deel
He scowled, but held out his hand.
“I’ll get you some water.”
“Don’t bother.” He popped the capsule into his mouth and swallowed.
Another kiss. “Sleep, baby. I’ll go see if I can help your mother chop something.” Another gentle brush of her lips over his. “I love you, Remy.”
“I love you, Elf.” His eyes were already closing, his voice barely audible.
Oh, yeah, her boyfriend was worn out. Lily walked into the hall, leaving the door open. She wanted to be able to hear him if he called out. Knowing him, though, Remy was stubborn enough to get whatever he needed himself. She prayed he didn’t hurt himself in the process.
Downstairs, she joined Marie in the kitchen. “Need help?”
Remy’s mother smiled over her shoulder. “Have a seat, little one. I’ll bring you the chopping board and a knife. You can cut vegetables for the chicken pot pie.”
“Oh, yum. That sounds fantastic.”
They worked in silence for a few minutes before Marie sat across from Lily at the table. “Brent only told us Remy had been shot rescuing Christine. Can you give me more information?” She held up a hand. “Nothing that would endanger others, you understand. I want to know what happened in general terms.”
Lily considered what it would be safe to say. She didn’t believe the Doucets would talk to anyone outside of their own family, but word would get around. “We hooked up with another Fortress unit and found the compound where Christine was being held. We got her out, but we met a lot of resistance.” What an understatement that was. Twenty-five men plus Montgomery and only seven Fortress operatives. “At the airstrip, we had to fight our way to the plane. Remy had to carry Christine across the tarmac because she was too weak to run. I got her in the plane while Remy and another operative covered us. A man was getting ready to shoot the other operative when Remy spotted him and took him out. There was another man targeting Remy at the time. Your son made the choice to take a bullet to protect our teammate.”
Marie reached over and patted Lily’s hand. “That does not surprise me. Remy became a cop to protect others. That instinct will be all the stronger with his own teammates. Especially you. Knowing my son, foremost on his mind was protecting you. And what of you, Lily? Were you injured?”
“A few bruises.”
“Good. I know Remy would rather he was the one injured than you.” She glanced at the pile of vegetables Lily had cut. “I think we have enough vegetables. Time to cook them now.” She took the cutting board to the counter and dumped the vegetables into a pot with water.
While Marie cooked, she regaled Lily with tales from Remy’s childhood. She laughed so much at the scrapes her dark-haired Cajun and his brothers got into that her sides hurt.
“Now,” Remy’s mother said. “What of you and your childhood, little one? Remy told us it wasn’t good.”
Her smile faded. “He told the truth. It was pretty bad.”
“Will you tell me?”
She didn’t want to, but how could she refuse when Remy had already claimed her in front of their teammates. Would the Doucet family accept her as Remy’s? A bowling ball of ice formed in her stomach. She didn’t know anything about being part of a family except for Fortress. No matter what Remy said, she fit in at Fortress because she was very good at her job. Outside of work, Lily had few social interactions with her teammates.
She skimmed over the really ugly parts and shared more details on the funny incidents and people she’d met in her rounds of the various foster homes. No need to tell Marie about the years she spent on the street. There was nothing anyone could do about it now.
“I think you gave me the sanitized version. One day, you will feel comfortable enough to tell me everything. Do you know who your birth parents are, little one?” Sympathy gleamed in Marie’s eyes.
“I know the name of my birth father though I haven’t met him yet.” Not sure she wanted to. He had a family of his own. She couldn’t imagine any man being pleased to have an adult mistake show up on his doorstep unannounced despite what her birth mother thought. “Remy went with me to meet my birth mother. Her name is Elaine Higgins. She was a victim of the same fraud as Christine Wilder.”
“Oh, my dear.” Marie covered Lily’s hand with one of her own. “Your mother is sick?”
“Cancer. At least now she can seek real medical treatment.”
“We will pray that she will recover. Now, will you remain with us while Remy is healing?”
Lily froze. She didn’t want to leave him. Who would protect him if one of their enemies learned he was injured and vulnerable? “I would like to if you don’t mind.” Even if the Doucets did mind, she’d do her best to persuade them otherwise. If all else failed, she’d pull out the security card. None of his family would knowingly put Remy in danger.
Marie studied Lily’s face and gave a nod. “It is as I suspected. You are in love with my son.”
Lily blinked. Were the words written on her forehead? Now was as good a time as any to tell her the truth, though she did wonder if Remy wanted to do the honors. Hopefully, he wouldn’t be too upset if she spilled the news. It’s not like they wouldn’t be able to tell. Just seeing how Remy acted toward her was a sure clue how he felt. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Excellent. Welcome to the family, Lily.”
Her jaw dropped. “But aren’t you going to ask how Remy feels?”
Marie waved the statement aside. “I knew when you were here earlier. He was falling in love with you even then. My hope was that you would come to love him as he deserves, and you have. I can’t ask for anything more than a woman who loves my Remy.”
“Even if my background is rough and I don’t know how to be in a family?” she asked softly.
“There are many who say we live on the wrong side of the bayou, little one. What matters is your character. Despite a rough start, you made something of yourself. For that, you earned my greatest respect. Many have been in your shoes and chosen to go down a different path, one that led to their destruction. You are a worthy mate for Remy. As for fitting into the family, they have already given you their approval. All you have to do is be yourself.”
The ball of ice melted. Maybe she’d finally found a place where she belonged. In the heart of the Doucet family and in Remy’s arms.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Remy crossed his arms over his chest. “I’ve been lying in bed or on the couch for two weeks. I can handle a little trip to town.” At least he hoped he could. That was why his father was going along. Dad would make sure he didn’t overdo it or face plant on the sidewalk.
“You shouldn’t be driving yet,” Lily protested.
“I’m not driving. Dad is. I’ve got some errands to run, sweetness, and I want to spend some time with Dad.” All of Remy’s errands were for Lily. He wanted to surprise her. The first of many for the rest of their lives together.
Her facial expression relaxed. “Oh, that’s different. I’ll see you when you return.” She grimaced. “Your mother is determined to teach me to cook.”
Remy grinned. “That’s the real reason you wanted to go with me. You want out of kitchen duty. Sorry, honey, there’s no skipping Mom’s cooking lessons. She’d ambush you when you returned.”
“Nice,” she muttered.
“There’s nothing to worry about, Lily. Mom taught all of the Doucet boys to cook. Compared to us, teaching you will be a cinch.”
“Don’t bank on it.” She sighed. “Hope their homeowners insurance is up to date.”
On the ride into town, Aiden said, “Where do you want to go, son?”
“Jewelry store.”
His father’s eyebrows rose. “Like that, is it?”
“She’s the one, Dad.”
A nod. “It was like that for me with your mother. After I met her, no other woman would do for me.”
Aiden parked in front of Thompson Jewelry and Remy climbed out of his father’s truck. The pain in his side was aggravatin
g, but manageable. Every day he grew just a little bit better.
As he reached for the store’s door, someone called his name. Remy turned to see James and Christine hurrying across the street toward him. He studied Christine’s face. She looked a lot better than the last time he’d seen her though still too pale for his liking. James and Christine stopped in front of him on the sidewalk.
“How are you?” Christine asked.
“Mending. Can’t do otherwise with Mom, Dad, and Lily keeping an eye on me.”
“How can I ever thank you?” James murmured. “You brought my wife back to me at great cost to yourself.”
“I wouldn’t do anything different.” He paused. “Except move a little faster.”
“Come on, Remy. We were best friends once. There must be something I can do for you.”
He shook his head. “Just pay the Fortress bill when it comes in. Fair warning, though. It’s bound to be a doozy. We had seven operatives working to free Christine from Montgomery’s compound.”
“I don’t care what it costs. The only thing that matters is my wife is home where we can face the future together. As for the bill, I’ll liquidate the company if I need to. You and your teammates are worth every penny.”
“Doubt it will come to liquidation. Maddox will work something out for you.” If nothing else, Remy would kick in some funds for part of the cost.
“We owe you, Remy,” Christine said. “If it hadn’t been for you, my foolishness would have cost James everything.”
Remy raised his hand and tapped Christine on the nose. “No more secrets from your husband. You two are supposed to be a team.” That’s what he wanted for him and Lily, a team of two until they were blessed with children one day.
She smiled, stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.” Hand in hand, she and James walked down the street to the coffee shop.
Inside the store, Burt Thompson gave Remy’s hand a hearty shake. “Long time since I’ve seen you, Remy. How have you been?”
“Can’t complain.” After all, he was still alive and in love with the most amazing woman on the planet.
“What can I do for you, buddy?”
“Engagement ring, wedding rings, and a gold chain.”
“Congratulations! Who’s the lucky lady?”
“Lily Stanton.”
“Ah, the cute blond you’ve been walking around town with. Come with me.” Burt led him to a display case. “Were you thinking of a diamond?”
“No, a sapphire, but not anything too big. Her hands are small.” Plus, a large sapphire would interfere if she needed to protect herself.
“How about this?” Burt pulled out a half-carat sapphire surrounded by small diamonds. “Do you know her ring size?”
Remy smiled, pleased he’d insisted Lily try on all those rings in New Orleans. “She wears a size five.
“Perfect. That’s the size of this ring. Now, you mentioned wedding bands. Do you want plain or carved?”
He frowned. “I don’t know.”
“Not to worry. I’ll show you both kinds. Something will catch your eye.”
In the end, Remy bought two matching carved wedding bands. Lily deserved something unique, strong, and delicate like her. “I also need a gold chain. Probably about eighteen inches.”
Once the purchase was complete, Remy and his father crossed the street to the flower shop. He’d never had a chance to buy Lily flowers. That was an oversight he intended to remedy immediately. When they walked from the store minutes later, Remy carried a dozen white roses for the love of his life while his father had chosen red for his mate.
The closer they came to home, the more Remy’s stomach knotted. Had he acted in haste? He hoped Lily wouldn’t mind too much. This was the perfect time. They still had six weeks before Brent expected them to report for duty. Plenty of time. If his lady agreed to Remy’s plan.
Remy opened the front door to the sound of laughter coming from the kitchen. Sounded like the cooking lesson was going pretty well. He handed his father the white roses. “Wait for me,” he murmured. In silence, Remy climbed the stairs and buried the wedding rings in his duffel bag. If Lily wanted to wait, he would simply hold them until she gave him the green light. He really hoped she didn’t make him wait long. He wanted his rings on her finger.
The two men walked into the kitchen, roses in hand.
“Aiden, how beautiful.” Marie set her stirring spoon on the counter and took the roses from his hand. “Help me find a vase, sweetheart.” She practically dragged her husband from the room.
That made Remy smile. Somehow his mother knew though he hadn’t mentioned anything about his plans. His mother had always been like that.
Lily stared at the white roses. “Remy,” she whispered.
At the tears sparkling in her eyes, Remy wondered if anyone had ever given flowers to her before. He made a mental note to buy flowers for her on a regular basis. “Come here, sweetness.” He laid the flowers on the island and stretched out his hand for hers. He drew her to the table, nudged her into a seat, and knelt beside her.
Her eyes grew wide. The hand in his trembled. Remy smiled. “I love you, Lily Stanton. I’ve waited a long time to find the perfect mate for me. You, my love, are that woman. I want to share my life and my family with you. Please, Lily, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Tears spilled over her cheeks. “Oh, yes. I would love to marry you, Remy Doucet.” She leaned over and kissed him. When she drew back, her eyes sparkled with joy and a broad smile curved her lips.
Remy dug into his pocket and pulled out the velvet-covered ring box. “If you want something different, just tell me.” He opened the box and drew out the sapphire. Anxious to see her reaction, he slid the ring on her finger. Perfect fit. The only thing left was her approval of his choice.
“It’s so beautiful.” She bit her bottom lip. “What about when I’m working? I won’t want to take it off.”
And it might give her position away if she was the sharpshooter on their team. Remy dug into his pocket again and pulled out the gold chain which he placed around her neck. “When we’re working, you can wear the ring on the chain. You’ll still be wearing it, just not where it might give your position away.”
Relief flooded her face. “Thank you. That’s perfect.”
“Sweetness, we have six more weeks of leave time. When it’s time to return, I want to go back to Fortress with you as my wife. If that’s too soon, I’ll wait, but I want to be selfish and spend every minute I can with you as my wife. Our schedule will be erratic and I want this time with you to lay a solid foundation for our life together. Will you think about it?”
Another kiss from his lady. “I don’t have to. Yes, I’ll marry you as soon as you want.”
“Do you want a big wedding, Lily?”
She shuddered. “No. A small, private ceremony with your family.”
Remy kissed her hand. “What about your mother, honey? I think she’d like to see her daughter get married.”
“She’s not well enough to travel.”
“My family is. Call your mother, see if we can get married at the Higgins house.”
She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. “You would do that for me?”
“Lily, I’d do anything for you.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Lily climbed from the SUV and met Remy on the sidewalk in front of the house. The Higgins front door opened. Emily ran down the porch steps and swept Lily into a tight hug. “Congratulations! I can’t tell you how excited Mom is that you’re getting married here.”
“Thank you for letting us include her.”
“You belong to all of us, Lily. We haven’t had this much excitement around the house in several months. Do you have a dress yet?”
She felt the blood drain from her cheeks. “No.”
Emily grinned. “This calls for a shopping trip with your sisters.”
Lily swallowed hard. Shopping? She fought down the shudder want
ing to rack her body. She hated shopping malls. Too many people, too much traffic, too much possibility of danger.
Her stepsister laughed. “Don’t worry. It won’t hurt a bit. We’re power shoppers. We know exactly where to go. All you have to do is tell us what style you want.”
Helplessly, she looked at Remy.
“Sounds like fun, sweetness. Do you want a traditional wedding dress?”
All that froufrou lace? She shook her head. That just wasn’t her. Why couldn’t she get married in camouflage? She sighed. No doubt, she’d horrify her mother if she showed up wearing fatigues and combat boots.
“A dress you can wear again,” Emily said. “Excellent choice. I know just the place to go. Trust me, we’ll find what you’re looking for in one place. They also have the most darling shoes. Then we’ll have lunch together and really get to know each other.
Lily tried to work up an enthusiastic smile for Emily. “Great. Looking forward to it.” Could she convince Remy to elope?
“Fantastic. I’ll round up Gina and April. Since the wedding is tomorrow, we don’t have any time to waste. Go see Mom for a minute. She’s anxious to see both of you. She’s been very worried about Remy.”
“I’m fine,” Remy said. “Healing well. I’ll be good as new in a couple weeks.”
“See you inside.” Emily dashed back into the house.
“You look shell shocked, honey.”
“Did you get the name of the hurricane that blew through here?” she muttered.
A chuckle from her soon-to-be husband. “She’s a steamroller today. Then again, we didn’t give them much time to prepare.”
“I didn’t want my mother to worry about getting stuff ready. It’s not necessary. Can’t we just get married in our work gear?”
Remy laughed and drew her into his arms. “No, Elf, we can’t. Trust your sisters to help you find the perfect dress for you. My sisters-in-law are power shoppers like the Higgins ladies. They swear it’s a lot more fun than it sounds like to me.”
