Vince's Place

by Sandra R Neeley

  Kaid came around to stand beside her with Barron in his arms.

  Maverik smiled at Kaid holding Barron. “Trade ya?” he asked, holding Delilah’s hand up in the air. “I didn’t get much chance to bond with my nephew at the hospital,” Maverik explained.

  “Sure thing,” Kaid said, handing Barron to Maverik.

  Maverik smiled down at Barron. “Hey, little dude! I’m Uncle Mav. I’m the fun one!” he said, angling the baby to shield his eyes from the late afternoon sun filtering through the trees.

  Delilah watched Maverik with Barron for a minute. “He will love you,” she said softly.

  “I should hope so! I’m damn near perfect,” Maverik teased.

  “I agree!” Delilah said, laughing. Then she turned her attention to their family, waiting for her and Barron on the front porch. “Did you know of this?” she asked Kaid.

  “I might have had a little something to do with it,” Kaid admitted.

  “Thank you,” Delilah said, leaning her head against Kaid’s shoulder. “Shall we go in and see how they’ve decorated inside?” she asked.

  “We shall,” Kaid answered. He put his arm around her waist to guide her to the porch, then he tightened his hold on her to be sure she safely walked up the stairs since she insisted she was strong enough and wouldn’t let him lift her.

  Maverik followed along, Barron propped against his chest, his head resting on Maverik’s shoulder and held in place by one of Maverik’s hands, as his big violet eyes took in all around him, shifting from violet to gold, then ice blue as his attention was drawn from one place to another.

  Chapter 10

  Natalie gave a strained smile as Dr. Fuches passed a little too close to her behind the nurses’ station.

  “How are we today?” he asked, peering over her shoulder to see what she was looking at.

  “Fine, Dr. Fuches, and you?” she answered.

  “Very well. Especially since my favorite nurse is back in her room and back on duty this week,” he said.

  “Oh, how nice. I hope she knows she’s appreciated,” Natalie responded sweetly.

  Dr. Fuches pursed his lips and shook his head. “You know I meant you, Natalie,” he chided her.

  “I did. Thank you for the compliment.”

  “Sorry I wasn’t home when you got in last night.”

  “Not a problem. Got my own key,” she teased.

  He regarded her thoughtfully. “Are you going to finally have coffee with me this week?” he asked.

  “Now you know I can’t do that.”

  “Why not? I don’t see a ring on your finger. Not even a boyfriend I’m aware of. We make each other laugh, we get along well,” he pointed out. “Not even any disagreements over the shared spaces at home.”

  “True. But we work together. And I have strict rules against dating people I work with,” Natalie answered, good naturedly.

  “Ahhh, so you admit that you don’t have a boyfriend. That’s been your argument up until now.”

  Natalie smiled at him. Dr. Fuches was a friend. A doctor she worked with. And her part time landlord — she rented a room from him. And her mother would be thrilled if she dated and possibly married a doctor. But Natalie also knew he frequently dated. And she didn’t want to be one of many. “Last boyfriend ended up marrying my ex-best friend. Just don’t know that I’m ready for another at this point,” she confided.

  “I can understand that. But, what if the boyfriend was the best friend? No chance of them fooling around together if they're one and the same,” he explained.

  “Well, then I’d have to reconsider,” she said, laughing, as she walked away with the patient charts in her hand.

  “Then have coffee with me!” Dr. Fuches called after her. “I could be him!”

  “Impossible,” she answered, still laughing.

  “Why?” he called back.

  “You’re not my best friend!” she answered and stuck her tongue out at him.

  He laughed and shook his head. Then he looked over at the nurses sitting at the station he leaned against. “I’m going to wear her down,” he confided.

  “Sure, you are,” one said dryly.

  <<<<<<<>>>>>>>

  Vince stood back and looked around at his apartment. The place sparkled it was so clean. He had his sheets and towels in the dryer, having been washed twice. He’d cleaned his bathroom, his kitchen, living room and bedroom top to bottom. He’d vacuumed the entire place and wiped down everything that couldn’t be washed or vacuumed with antibacterial wipes. His house smelled like bleach and lemon. He picked up a slight vibration through the floor of his apartment — the band that was playing in the bar tonight had arrived and was going through sound check. Quick shower, then he’d go downstairs and do his part to get the place ready for the crowd they expected tonight.

  Vince toed off his shoes and left them in the hallway. Then he pulled his shirt off over his head and walked toward the bathroom. He dropped it in the hamper in the bathroom and dropped his jeans to the floor beside the hamper. He turned on the hot water and stepped beneath the shower head, reaching for the soap as he lifted his face to the steamy water. He lathered his body, then reached for the shampoo. Soon as he got it worked into the blonde mane of his hair, the cell phone in the pocket of his jeans went off, startling him. It rang until it sent to voice mail, then it started again.

  “Naturally,” he muttered as he rinsed the shampoo from his hair and out of his eyes. Still dripping from the shower, he stepped out of the tub with one foot and grabbed his jeans. He fumbled with the phone, his vision still blurred from the shampoo that had stung his eyes when the unexpected ringing had startled him. Finally, he managed to swipe it and answer.

  “Hello?!” he rushed out, his heart ridiculously hoping that the caller would be Natalie. She didn’t even have his number, though, so how that could even happen he didn’t know.

  “Lion.”

  “Delilah. How are you?”

  “I am well. We are home.”

  “Glad to hear that. Barron doing well, too?” Vince asked.

  “He is. Very well.”

  “Delilah, not to cut you short, but I’m in the shower. What can I do for you?”

  “You can phone my friend and make things right with her.”

  He stood there, speechless. “What?” he asked.

  “My friend. Natalie. We had a party this afternoon for myself and Barron. She was not in attendance. I believe this is because you have Brandi. You must speak with her and make it clear that she is welcome among my family.”

  “Why do you think that she didn’t come because of me and Brandi?”

  “Because I am not blind. I saw the way you looked at one another. I particularly saw the way you looked at her. And as soon as Brandi arrived, Natalie left and I’ve not seen her since. I wish to see her. Please phone her and tell her that you do not wish for her to stay away from our family. Tell her that she is welcome among us.”

  “It wouldn’t do any good, Delilah,” Vince explained.

  “Why not?”

  “Because she isn’t in town at the moment. She works in New Orleans every other week and that’s where she is now. That’s most likely why she didn’t attend.”

  “How do you know this?” Delilah asked.

  “Her mother told me.”

  “You do not think displaying your interest in her, then withdrawing it as soon as your Mate arrived had anything to do with her leaving and not returning?” Delilah snapped.

  Vince sighed. “Delilah, there are several things wrong with that statement.”

  There was silence on the line for several moments before Delilah finally spoke. “I am waiting…”

  “First, you’re most likely right. Brandi’s arrival is why Natalie didn’t return to the hospital to visit with you. Second, while I was interested — am interested, I didn’t cross the line, but I’d promised Brandi I’d take care of her, and I still plan to. Third, Brandi is not my Mate — both Brandi and I know that. Fourt
h — I’m doing the best I can here, alright? Give me a little time. And why is this such a big deal to you anyway?” Vince huffed.

  Vince, of course, couldn’t see it, but on the other end of the line, Delilah smiled like the cat that ate the canary. Vince was trying to fix things. She could relax and let them play out. At least until he screwed them up too badly, and if he did screw them up, she’d have to get involved. “It is a big deal to me, Lion, because she is my first real friend. All of the females that I call friend were Kaid’s family, or Mates of his family. They did not choose me. They were presented with me and had to be kind or risk Kaid’s wrath. Natalie chose to be my friend. She enjoys my company because of my company, not because I am family and she must.”

  Vince didn’t know what to say. He’d never realized that Delilah had had such a hard time fitting in, or that she was aware that most of the rest of them had friends outside the clan in some form or fashion, while Delilah didn’t. She’d adapted so well, that he and all the rest for that matter, forgot that there was so much she’d never done in her life — something as simple as making her own friends for example. “I didn’t mean to mess up your friendship, Delilah. She really likes you for you, and I’m sure that she’ll continue to be your friend no matter what happens with us. I’ll make sure she understands she’s welcome no matter where she and I stand when I see her next week. I’ll make sure she knows that I don’t even live there with ya’ll, and she can feel free to interact without having to see me all the time.”

  “You are seeing her next week?” Delilah dug a little deeper.

  “I am. I’m having dinner with her at her parents’ home. Her mother invited me.”

  “Excellent. Please give her my regards,” Delilah asked.

  “Why don’t you just call her? She gave you her number,” Vince said.

  “Avaleigh said she invited Natalie to our party. She has not returned Avaleigh’s call. I do not wish to push her.”

  “But you can push me to smooth things over with her?” Vince asked, an amusing note to his voice.

  “Yes. You I can push.”

  Vince smiled. “I’m sure she’s just busy, she works at another hospital when she’s not here. She’ll call when she can.”

  Delilah thought about it. “Perhaps you’re right. I shall try to contact her later. Thank you, Vincent.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “I’m going to go now. They’re cutting the cake. Wipe up the water on your floor, Lion. And call my friend.”

  “How can I call her? I don’t have her number — give me her number and I’ll call her.”

  “I cannot. She gave it to me, not you. That would be an invasion of her privacy. Find it another way. Goodbye, Lion.”

  The line went dead in his hand, and he looked at the phone and huffed a laugh. Delilah was something else.

  Vince, still shaking his head, placed his phone on the bathroom counter and got back in the shower.

  <<<<<<<>>>>>>>

  Delilah hung up the phone and turned to the male standing beside her. “He knows that Brandi is not his Mate. He says he is having dinner with Natalie at her parents’ home next week when she returns from her second job, which is out of town.”

  “I knew he’d figure it out. That nurse is his One. I’m sure of it,” Bam said, smiling.

  “I believe so as well. We must make sure his sense of duty to Brandi doesn’t cloud his judgment where Natalie is concerned,” Delilah said.

  “Yep. Wait, how are we going to do that?” Bam asked.

  “I’m not sure yet. But we can get Maverik to help us if necessary. He likes to fix things,” Delilah smiled. “Now, let’s join the others. They are cutting the cake.”

  Bam started to follow Delilah out of the small office they’d turned Maverik’s old bedroom into. He thought about the things he’d heard Delilah say about friends. “Delilah?”

  “Yes, Bam?” she stopped walking and turned toward him.

  “You know, I’m your friend because I like you. Even if you weren’t Kaid’s Mate, I’d still like you and want to be your friend. You know that, right?”

  Delilah smiled warmly at Bam. “I do. And I’d still want to be your friend, too.”

  Bam grinned and followed her into the living room to rejoin the rest of their family.

  <<<<<<<>>>>>>>

  Natalie dug through her purse to find some cash to pay the delivery driver with. She noticed her phone was flashing with a message as she moved it out of her way in her purse. She handed the guy a twenty and told him to keep the change, tossed her phone on the couch, then she curled up next to it with her Chinese takeout food. She was cuddled snugly in her over-sized, pale-pink, fleece bathrobe and her still-wet hair was wrapped up in a towel. She reached for the TV remote and flipped channels until she found something she wanted to watch. Then she opened her meal and started putting all the sweet and sour and soy sauces over all the different items she’d ordered.

  Satisfied that she had it all prepared the way she wanted it, so she wouldn’t have to stop eating halfway through and find more sauces or cut any bites smaller, she dug in. A few minutes later, she noticed the green flash of her phone telling her she had a message. She reached out with the hand holding her fork and used one finger to press the button for her voice mails to play. She expected it to be from her mother, but was surprised when an unfamiliar voice started speaking.

  “Hi, Natalie. My name is Avaleigh. I’m Delilah’s sister-in-law. We’re having a little welcome home party for her and Barron this afternoon, and I know it’s late notice, but we were hoping you could make it. She really took a liking to you, and we want to make this afternoon special for her. I’ll text you our address. Hope to see you there. Oh, the number I called from is my cell number. If you have any questions, feel free to call. Bye!”

  Natalie looked at the phone in her hand. She really wished she was home this week, she’d have liked to go to Delilah’s party. Even if she’d been on the North Shore this week, it was too late. She’d have already missed the party, but still she’d have maybe noticed the call earlier. She laid the phone down and went back to her meal. But her eyes kept wandering over to the phone. She wondered if Vince was at the party.

  “No! Bad Natalie!” Natalie said aloud to herself. Natalie reached out and pressed the buttons to save Avaleigh’s phone number in her phone. So far, it was the only way she knew to get in touch with Delilah. She’d have to call her tomorrow and apologize for missing her party.

  Chapter 11

  Kaid rushed down the hallway, his socks sliding on the hardwood floors as he rounded the corner into the bedroom to grab his cell phone and stop its ringing before it woke Barron and Delilah. They’d been up for the last several nights, all night, with Barron’s reflux. Every time he belched, he expelled a bit of flame, which would singe his hands and make him fussy. Delilah would soothe the singes right away with her cooling breath, but it had her constantly on edge that her son was always singeing his own fingers. The two had just fallen asleep on the couch in the living room with cartoons playing in the background. Kaid had taken the land-line off the hook, but had forgotten about his cell phone.

  He slammed into his dresser as he rushed toward it, snatched it off the top of the dresser and hissed into it. “Shhhhhh! What do you want?”

  “What do I want?” Vince asked, surprised at Kaid’s tone.

  “Sorry. Lilah and Barron just finally got to sleep, and I’ll be damned if I’m gonna let anybody or anything wake them up.”

  “Sorry, Kaid. I’ll call back later,” Vince answered.

  “Naw, it’s okay. You’re already on the phone. What do you need? ‘Cause after I talk to you, I’m putting the phone on silent so we can all sleep.”

  “I’m thinking I’m going to need a little help around the bar, so I can be here less than I am now. Was wondering if you had any ideas on somebody we could trust and that might be looking for a job,” Vince explained.

  “What do you want them to do?
” Kaid asked.

  “I’m thinking just clean up a bit, work the door, check I.D.’s when we have a band and take the cover charge. Help out in the kitchen so I don’t have to be there all the time.”

  Kaid thought about it. “What about Eustace?” he asked.

  “Eustace?” Vince asked.

  “Yeah. He’s much better now. He’s been going to physical therapy. Been getting better control of his body and he’s even speaking again, though it’s slow going. He could use a job, and he thinks he’s got something to prove, so I know he’d be a hard worker. He’s probably looking for an opportunity to take care of himself and make his own way now the skulk’s all gone different directions, and his brother’s dead.”

  “That might work. And I wouldn’t have to worry about him being freaked out by the shifters if it became apparent that any of the patrons were more than a little out of the ordinary.”

  “Exactly. And he’s a good guy. He’s just been fucked this way and that by his dick brother since they were kids. I been trying to figure out how I could incorporate him into the construction business, but his body just won’t handle that kind of demand anymore. But sweeping the floors, keeping the bar stocked, helping out around your place in the kitchen and at the door, he can do that.”

  “Sounds like a plan.”

  “Good. I’ll bring him by this week sometime. Maybe tomorrow. Somebody’s gotta pick him up and bring him to physical therapy tomorrow, maybe then. Ya’ll can talk and see if it’s a good fit.”

  “That’d be great, man. This is a good thing you’re doing, Kaid — taking care of him, ya know?” Vince commented.

  “Somebody had to help him out. And he’s not a bad guy, just got caught up in the shit his brother stirred. Unfortunately, he stirred it too close to Everly, and Bam went ape-shit and Eustace was standing the closest to Bam. Or should I say bear-shit? Either way, Eustace is the one who called us on Bam’s phone to let us know that Bam was with the skulk. I thought the least we could do is help him get his life back together.”