by Taylor Lee
“Neither habit I approve of.” Margaret’s sharp words were belied by the smile on her face and the peck she landed on her husband’s cheek. Turning to Annika, she said, “But never mind. We women also have a few things we need to discuss. Plus Annika is going to show us her wedding dress—which apparently even my all-knowing son hasn’t seen.” She sniffed. “I’m sure you know this by now, Annika, but nothing much happens in our lives that Sam hasn’t either precipitated or managed.”
Sam guffawed. “Now, mother dear, if I’ve ever heard the kettle calling the pot…”
In the midst of their laughter, Sam added, “Everything you have done today and tonight is spectacular, Mom. Seriously. Thank you.”
At the resounding ‘here, here’s’, Margaret flushed with pleasure. Annika leaned over and kissed her cheek.
“Sam’s right, Margaret. I never dreamed that anything could be as beautiful or as wonderfully planned as this evening. Thank you. I sincerely appreciate it—all of it.”
Seeing the tears in Annika’s eyes and his mother’s, Sam attempted to lighten the moment.
“If you think the rehearsal was spectacular, just wait for the main event. Knowing my mother, it will be remarkable and memorable. Count on it!”
Chapter 5
“May I speak with you for a moment, Annika?”
Annika glanced up, surprised to see Sam’s father beside her. He smiled and added in a low voice confirming that he didn’t want the others to overhear, “Just for a moment, please.”
Seeing that Sam was wholly occupied with tossing the irrepressible little Ana up in the air to her delighted shrieks, Annika shrugged and murmured, “Of course, Chief Carter.”
She followed Sam’s father down the terrace steps to the garden below. The heavenly fragrance of dozens of flowering bushes now lit with sparkling lights filled her senses. She was so taken by the sights and smells she forgot her anxiety at Chief Carter’s request to speak with her privately. Seeing his stern expression, her anxiety flared.
Swallowing hard, she managed to keep her voice from shaking.
“Is… is something wrong, Sir?”
His craggy face lightened. “No my dear, not at all. I apologize. I didn’t mean to alarm you. I know how overwhelming today has been. You are clearly a private person and all this hullabaloo can be trying even for those of us who are accustomed to it.”
Annika hastened to explain. “No, please. Don’t misunderstand. You’re right, I… I am a private person, but you and Margaret and… well everyone has been wonderful. I know how grateful Sam is… and I am as well.”
Cater smiled. “My son is a lucky man, Annika. And an amazingly astute one. He could not have chosen a person more akin to his needs. Both his mother and I are delighted with his choice.”
Hiding her surprise and relief, Annika could only murmur, “Thank you, Sir.”
He held up his hand and grimaced. “Please. Enough of that ‘sir’ business. You may call me Samuel or Chief or hell I don’t care. Anything except ‘sir.’ ”
Annika nodded. “Of course, sir… I mean… Samuel.”
Annika relaxed somewhat when Samuel chuckled. His next words reignited her wariness.
“May I be honest?”
Determined not to show her unease, Annika settled for a half truth, not sure she was ready for what he really thought of her.
“Of course, I wouldn’t want you to be anything but honest, Samuel.”
He nodded, and motioned for her to sit on the stone bench beside a trickling stream. Plunking himself down beside her he leaned back and nodded as if in agreement.
“Good, then I shall be. You are different, Annika, not what I expected.”
“How… how…. In what way, Samuel?”
The stern man regarded her thoughtfully.
“You are beautiful, of course. But all the women Sam has had are beautiful. Some were even more beautiful than you are. Plus, unlike many of the others, you have a job.”
Annika wished that she’d had a little more or perhaps a little less of the fabulously expensive wine they’d had for dinner. As it was her head was buzzing—not from the alcohol, but from anxiety, knowing that what she’d been afraid of was about to happen. Of course, it would be Sam’s father who would confront her. Tell her that she was not right for his accomplished son. She looked longingly at the cobblestone staircase, wondering how she could make a dignified exit and somehow get past the others to run to their suite. She silently chided herself. And then what? Hide under a bed for the rest of the night? Her mouth was too dry to swallow so she made do with a soft cough. It was better than trying to speak.
Samuel continued, apparently not seeing her anxiety. “And I’ll be damned, you have an important job. You choose to be a cop. From what I hear—not only from my son—you are an extraordinary one. Detective Stryker is nobody’s fool. He said you’re one of the best cops he’s mentored. That you could be chief someday. Told me that every man who dismisses you as a bodacious babe, is soon protecting his balls. That's remarkable, Annika. It confirms that you’re not only lovely but you’re smart, courageous, and a true trailblazer. The kind of woman that I hope my daughters will become.”
Trying to grasp that Samuel was praising her, not dismissing her, Annika could only murmur her thanks.
Samuel reached inside his jacket and pulled out a cigar. He quirked a brow.
“Do you mind?”
Annika shook her head.
“Not at all.”
The distinguished man took his time lighting the cigar. When it was burning brightly, he blew the fragrant smoke up in the air and smiled at her.
“Margaret doesn’t like my cigars. Thinks they stink. She’d be appalled if she knew how much money I shell out for these babies.” He shrugged then returned to their previous conversation. “As impressed as I am with your professional capabilities, that’s not what most pleases me about you. No, indeed. It’s what you’ve done for my son, Annika.”
Annika, frowned, now truly mystified.
“I…I don’t know what you mean, sir… Samuel.”
“Sam is an accomplished man. No one could be more proud of his son than I am of mine. But Sam has never been truly satisfied. He’s always grasping, searching. For the next position, the next dangerous mission, the next achievement. Or the next adventure. That’s why he has gone through literally hundreds of women. Meaningless relationships. Always looking, seeking—but not finding. Sam’s different with you, Annika. For the first time in his life, my son is content, happy. Not in a placid way. Rather he is eager, full of life and more joyful than I have ever seen him. I thank you for that, Annika. Both Margaret and I thank you more than we can describe.”
Annika was stunned. She stared at the older man in disbelief then attempted to ride out her roller coaster emotions.
“I’m… almost speechless, Samuel. When I think about Sam and me, I always think about everything he has done for me. I never think of what I bring to Sam.”
She felt her cheeks flame then shocked herself by confessing, “I can hardly believe I’m saying this to you but your son has given me confidence. He’s helped me discover that I’m a fiery, passionate woman, not the ice princess that everyone thinks I am.”
Samuel chortled.
“Oh my dear, the last thing I think when I see you is that you are a cold, distant woman. To the contrary, when you are with my son, I see two people who are deeply in love and who bring out the best in each other. Because Sam is one of the most important people in my life, it brings me great pleasure to know that he has found a woman worthy of him.”
Annika could only whisper, “Thank you, Samuel.”
Samuel puffed on his cigar for a long moment, studying her. He seemed to be considering his words. She was shocked when he asked in a casual tone, “I understand that your father was never in your life, Annika. Is that correct?”
Before she could take back the words, Annika snapped, “Yes… and so?”
To her relief, Samue
l smiled as though amused at her prickliness. Without responding to her question he continued.
“I also understand that Nate offered to ‘give you away,’ as they say in that old-fashioned vernacular. Is that correct?”
Annika nodded, not sure where Samuel was going with these questions.
“Uh, yes, he did. But I knew that Sam wanted Nate to be his best man.”
“I appreciate that, Annika, because I know how much that outrageous fellow means to Sam. That said, I don’t like the idea of your walking down that aisle by yourself.”
When Annika began to object, Samuel held up his hand stopping her.
“I wonder, my dear, if you’d give me the honor. It would mean a great deal to me.”
Annika was stunned. She swallowed hard, absorbing the man’s words. Deeply touched, she closed her eyes to blink back her tears.
“That… that would be wonderful sir… uh… Samuel.” She added with what she was certain was a watery smile, “The honor would be mine.”
Samuel dropped his cigar onto the patio and ground it out with the heel of his boot. He clapped his hands. “That’s settled then. I promise not to trip you or step on your dress. At least not intentionally.”
When Annika laughed, Sam’s father smiled in response.
“Let’s keep this between us, shall we? It will be good to surprise that son of mine. As his mother said, Sam’s accustomed to managing everything. Be good for someone else to step up for a change.”
Before she could answer, Annika saw Sam striding down the steps. A worried frown marked his brow.
“There you are, Annika. I was looking for you.” He glanced from her to his father.
“Is everything okay?”
When Samuel shrugged, Sam put his arm around Annika and made an obvious effort at levity. “You’re not letting my old man intimidate you, are you, Annika?”
Samuel guffawed. “Now why the hell would I do that, son? As if I could. Your woman is strong, Sam. She knows how to handle an old coot like me. And yes, I was giving her the 3rd degree. Wanted to make sure she knows what she is getting into marrying a hotshot like you, boy. I thought she should know all your bad habits.”
Sam forced a half-hearted smile.
“Oh well, then, if that’s all you were doing Pops, I’m safe. Thankfully she’s already seen my worst traits and still wants to marry me. You’ll learn as I have that you can’t hide anything from Annika. She’s the most perceptive person I know. It’s what makes her the ace cop that she is. And the most extraordinary lover and partner a man could have.”
~~~
“How about we take advantage of the fact that the women are all going off to see Annika’s dress and plan for tomorrow? I propose we take my father up on his offer to join him in his study. I promise you, if you’re up for high-end booze and expensive cigars, you won’t be disappointed.” Sam grinned at the cadre of men eagerly following him toward the study. Obviously they didn’t have to be asked twice.
Sam hesitated for a moment watching the women head off arm-in-arm. He was relieved to see Annika laughing and chattering with the rest of them. Whatever his father had said to her must not have been too negative. If anything Annika looked carefree, excited. He was grateful the evening had turned out as well as it had. It had been extraordinary. He owed his mother and father a grateful thanks. Watching Annika move down the hallway, her glorious hair swinging carelessly around her shoulders, her curvy hips swaying from side to side he glanced at his watch wondering how long before he could make some corny excuse and cart her off to their suite. He had plans for tonight—big plans—and it wouldn’t hurt to get started.
Sam smiled to himself at the thought. Hell, it had been less than twenty-four hours since he’d made love to her but it seemed eons ago. Seeing Jake and Nate eyeing the backsides of their respective woman he almost laughed out loud. Good to know he wasn’t the only horny son of a bitch in the group. Damn, what the hell was it about men like the three of them? Hell, make that the five of them—including his father and Luke. You could almost see fumes of testosterone emanating from them. He guffawed. As if he didn’t know. The same drive that drew adrenalin junkies like himself and his buddies into the unremitting danger they sought made them as fearsome lovers as they were fighters. Good thing they were all committed to the extraordinary women they’d attracted. Gazing at the bevy of feminine pulchritude he and his blood brothers had managed to snare, he huffed a grateful sigh. Casting his eyes heavenward he thanked his personal talisman, the goddess Ishtar—the Babylonian chick who understood the challenge of both love and war.
Sam caught Nate’s gaze. The tawny-haired giant nodded knowingly and muttered, “Your baby sister may think us ‘old guys’ are going to toddle off to bed but that’s the first time I’ve heard ‘toddle’ describe what I intend to do to Erin tonight.”
Jake laughed. “Deets ain’t necessary, bro. Just hope this house has thick walls. Twelve hours without my hands all over Lexie’s ass feels like a fucking lifetime.”
Chapter 6
“Some advice, son.”
Standing beside the well-stocked bar, his father winked at him.
“This is a habit all of you men should develop.”
Yanking out an impressive array of imported cognacs and a couple bottles of tempting Bunnahabhain 18 Year Old Scotch whisky, he remonstrated, “I’m not talking about developing a taste for the finest booze the world has to offer. My assumption from spending the evening with you yahoos is that you’re all expert in that regard. No, I'm talking about that time-tested ritual that wise men have relied on through the ages. That is sequestering yourselves with the male members of the dinner party and enjoying the absence of women.”
Jake Gardner chortled. “I presume Chief Carter that you don’t phrase it that way to that indomitable wife of yours.”
The Chief laughed. “Hell no. I always couch it as giving the ladies an opportunity for ‘girltalk.’ Something that I’m subjected to on a regular basis since Sam left home—leaving me with not one, but three loquacious women, all well-schooled in the ‘art’ of girltalk.’ ”
“Come on, Pops, you know damn well that you enjoy after dinner conversations with those voluble women. And hell, those sisters of mine can put away the booze with the best of us.”
The elder Carter snorted. “You’re right about that, Son. Fortunately they haven’t yet learned to enjoy the sensual experience of very expensive cigars.”
Pointing to the bar, Samuel said, “Please, Gentlemen, don’t be shy. Help yourselves. In addition to the cognacs and scotch, I have three different varieties of Arturo Fuentes cigars. If you’ve never smoked an Opus X A, I highly recommend these nine inch beauties. They rival an evening of seduction—or better yet, prepare for one.”
After yet another recounting of an outlandish story from his police chief days to stories from the bench, Sam eventually broke into his father’s hilarious monologue. Blowing a ring of smoky fragrance into the air, Sam held up his hand.
“Okay, Pops, now that we are well oiled with Scotch and your extraordinary cigars, which by the way are as close to foreplay as a fucking smoke could get—let’s get to my agenda.”
Sam glanced around the circle and let his gaze rest on his father whose scowl spoke volumes. Sam didn’t blame his father for being annoyed. The last thing either of them wanted to deal with were badasses from his father’s colorful past. On his wedding day, no less.
Turning to the other men who were eyeing him with interest, Sam laid out the issue.
“Nate and Jake asked a good question. Why the hell is my father’s house staff packing? I’ll tell you that in itself, that is not unusual. Not only because the Chief is an ornery son of a bitch. No, over the years in his roles as police chief, as a judge and now being one of the California Supremes, my Pops has dealt with some serious lowlifes. Nate knows this but it's unlikely the rest of you do. When my Pops was ruling from the district court bench, he had a nickname. One that he was proud of. They
called him Samuel the Slammer for his propensity to send first offenders to jail.”
The elder Carter broke in with a derisive sneer.
“Yeah, that’s what they called me among other epithets commonly ascribed to uppity niggers. I figured if those badasses learned early on what life in prison is really like, I might convince a few of them to go straight. I’d like to think it worked. Unfortunately most of them didn’t appreciate the lesson. The unintended result was that I’ve had to hire bodyguards for myself and my family for most of our lives. But hell, Sam, I don’t know why you’ve got your boxers in a bunch over this. Nothing has changed. It’s the same drill as usual. I’m just taking extra precautions for your wedding, as you’d assume I would.”
Sam shook his head. “Ordinarily, Pops, I’d let it go at that. But after Annika noted the weapons your staff is carrying, I started paying attention. I spoke with Deke. He indicated that the threat level has increased markedly in the last month. Any reason why?”
Chief Carter shook his head, not bothering to hide his annoyance.
“Deke talks too much and thinks too rarely, son. But yeah, he’s right. Emmitt Keller, who heads up the most active California gang of White Supremacists, was released last month. Even before they sprung him, word from the yard was that he had revenge on the brain. Apparently he got roughed up pretty bad by the ‘brothers’ in San Quentin. Took more than a few trips down Blood Alley. Blamed it on me. Result is that I've been getting more than my usual fusillade of threats. I didn’t mention it, Sam, because I didn’t want to worry you. Guess I hoped you wouldn’t notice. Plus, my guys can handle it.”
“Dammit, Pops. Surely you knew we’d pick up on the danger signals. Hell, man. Four former special operatives, three of whom are cops, plus an observant woman? Dream on, Pops.”
Chief Carter shrugged. “I had my hopes. So much for that.”
