did not envy those kids. They were about to be treated to a whole lot of Armie’s frowns.
Roxie was still grinning. “I don’t even care about the paperwork. That was fun.”
“Oh, my new baby is so smart,” his mother said, joining them.
“I helped,” he said, though he didn’t really mind giving Roxie all the credit.
“Yeah, what I saw was Roxie here saving your butt from having to spend every night prowling around looking for werewolves,” his brother said, reaching a hand out.
He started to shake Remy’s hand, but his brother pulled him in for a hug. “You’re not upset I’m not taking over the shop?”
“I’m happy you’re going to get to do something you love, brother. That’s all that matters. And you should never let that one go. She’s good for you,” Remy said before stepping back.
“Uncle Zep, is there tigers out there?” Luc stared up at him, his eyes wide.
He reached down and lifted his nephew up. He’d given up one dream for his sister, and this kid had been the product. Luc was healthy and happy and so sweet, it hurt his heart sometimes.
It had been worth it. It had all been worth it.
“Nah, but even if there were, Roxie here would track ’em down, and I would make sure they got someplace safe,” he promised. “You’re in good hands, buddy.”
Luc leaned over and put his arms around Zep’s neck and sighed like he had when he was just a baby. It was a sigh of comfort, of trust.
It made him look over at Roxie, who was talking to his mother.
All he needed was time and she might discover she could find her dreams here, too. With him.
“Zep, did you hear what they said?” Archie was dressed in his Sunday best, slacks and a short-sleeved button-down, a bow tie around his neck. “I’m going to be in a movie.”
“You are not going to be in a movie,” his wife insisted. “I’m going to sue that girl. She took pictures of you in your shorts.”
“I want to be in the movie,” Herve said. “How do I get in on that?”
Roxie strode over to him and held out a hand. “I’m sorry. I’m going to need Mr. Guidry here to help me with some paperwork. He’s a very important member of our department.”
He passed Luc off and let her lead him out.
She’d saved him again since Archie was arguing with his wife.
He walked with her toward the door to the auditorium, perfectly happy with how the day had gone.
* * *
* * *
Roxie held Zep’s hand and started to drag him through the crowd. If they stayed, they would inevitably be pulled into some big family thing where they all went back to Guidry’s for dinner, and she wanted him to herself.
All to herself.
Like right now.
Her heart thudded in her chest. It had been a weird high to figure out how to handle all her problems in one go. Maybe not all her problems, but a couple of them.
“When did you figure out it was Ashlyn?” Zep asked as they made their way through the crowd.
“When she looked excited about filming a town meeting,” she admitted. “That is not a young woman who is interested in civics. You came to the same conclusion.”
It had been cool that they’d been on the same page. In sync.
“Hey, Zep, now that you’re the animal man, can we talk about the snake population out near my place?” A man in overalls tried to stop them before they hit the doors that led out of the main auditorium.
“He’s got paperwork to do,” Roxie insisted. “You can call him during his office hours.”
“I have office hours?” Zep asked.
“You’re going to. I assume you’re going to accept the job? I didn’t want to speak for you back there.” She was restless, and a million questions were going through her head.
She’d ensured that he had a good job, one that he would enjoy, one that would fulfill him, and she was happy about it.
But didn’t it ensure that when she left, he would want to stay here?
The conversation with her dad weighed on her, and she couldn’t stay behind and pretend like her head wasn’t going a million miles a minute.
She could go back to New York. She could potentially have her old job again. Well, her dad hadn’t said that in so many words, but she could work toward it. She could basically erase the last couple of years and start over.
But the idea of not being