Rico Terriot had made the former Cheveux de Chien bartender and her preteen daughter his top priority, and if not mistaken, Amber his mate. They lived a floor down from her and Max’s city apartment in the Towers high-rise to keep them out of a vengeful Warren Brady’s reach. The situation might be volatile but . . . ahhh, romance.
“Think I’ll talk Max into hosting a little house party out on River Road. Plenty of room there for private conversations. And no place for you to run. I’ll set it up for tomorrow night.”
“I don’t know, Ceece.”
“Your choice.”
He faced front and put the car in gear. She was about to call him on his cowardice when he murmured, “Set it up.”
She smiled to herself. “Will do.”
– – –
Going to the office never occurred to Max until he was showering off the exhilaration of the day. An unexpected, enjoyable day in simpatico company.
Growing up isolated and ignorant of his kind, he’d never known pack-like comradery until Charlotte Caissie led him across the threshold of Cheveux du Chien where, after a rocky start, he’d been embraced by the Shifter club’s owner Jacques LaRoche. Learning what he was from him, Max had found a place to belong.
Time had no meaning as he’d run the woods with the Terriots. The scent of the earth, the heat of exertion, the brotherhood of the pack; things he hadn’t known he needed until the wild freedom of what they were when running together unleashed him. Hours lost meaning. They’d hunted and challenged, at one with the land, air and sky, basic beings driven by uncomplicated joy within the security of their number. He hadn’t experienced such exhilaration . . . since his father taught him secrets seldom shared with another.
The day had been more than simple fun. He’d been pushing the brothers, testing them, gauging their abilities. And they’d far surpassed expectation. If he had to go into a battle he wasn’t sure he could win, they were who he’d want at his side.
But would they be enough?
Frowning over that question, he’d just started down the stairs when he heard the unmistakable roar of a big block engine. The initial leap of his heart sank into the uncertainty of their situation, something she’d avoided, and he feared. He’d rarely placed boundaries on their relationship, not that she’d abide by them. Taming his bold mate was never his intention. Her independent nature had drawn him from first glance. He’d never ask her to change or suppress those things that defined her, those things he adored.
But he’d been having dreams . . .
She blew into the hall like a Louisiana squall, changing the temperature, the very air around her. Cold, lonely old rooms suddenly filled, becoming the home he’d desired but had never known before her. Just as his smile began to unfurl, he saw that gloriously discolored eye. Barometric pressure took a nosedive.
She paused, like that afternoon’s prey sensing fast-approaching doom, then strode boldly forward, saying casually, “Hey, Savoie. Your office called wondering if I knew where you were. Did you enjoy your day out with the boys?” Just like that, she flipped the need for explanations onto him. His clever cop.
“Indeed, I did. Thanks for encouraging me to play hooky.”
He waited for her to come to him, which she did without hesitation despite how fast her heart churned. He could hear those anxious beats, as loud as her footsteps. Because she was braced, waiting for him to make a big deal out of it, Max decided to let that conversation slide . . . for the moment.
“And your day, sha? Any progress in your case?”
“About that,” she began, coming up to him but stopping just out of reach. “I need a favor.”
“Ask. Whatever I can do, it’s yours.”
She regarded him with a squinty intensity then tested, “Just like that?”
He shrugged. “Of course.”
Without blinking, she announced, “I’m going to ride you all night long like a Six Flags rollercoaster.”
Heat exploded through his groin. “Sounds delightful. Shall we have dinner first, or would you rather jump right on the tracks?”
A smile quirked about her ripe, red lips. “I am kinda hungry. Eating for two, you know.”
“Sustenance first then on to other amusements.” He extended his arm. “Shall we?”
– – –
Over an exquisitely prepared cut of veal, Charlotte broached her request on behalf of Bright Haven for Women. His reply was immediate. Anything they needed. What she needed was him, always and forever. But first to see if the coast