Fisher (Prince of Tigers, #3) - Kathi S. Barton Page 0,32

wife, Sara. Welcome to the family, Piper.”

Sara hugged her first, then Buck did. He noticed that Fisher was standing back like he was waiting for someone to notice him. Hugging his son, Fisher hugged him back like he’d been gone for months instead of a couple of days. Standing back and looking at his son, he could see that he was about as in love with his pretty mate as Buck was with his own. Fisher in love was something that Buck had never thought to happen.

“You all right, son?” Fisher hugged him again. “I’m taking that as a yes. You didn’t have any trouble getting back, did you? I mean, I know someone is looking for Piper.”

“No, no trouble at all. I’m sort of trying to get her family to back off of Piper so she can have a good life. I don’t know how much you know, but her sister is in jail, and the police are looking for her brother right now. He’s going in for a Ponzi scam, I guess.” Buck told him that Bryant and Harper had told them. “Yes, well, I helped out her brother-in-law and he’s taken things a little further along in filing for divorce. Also, his wife, Mary, is going to have to explain how she got the money she stole.”

“Well, you know we’re all here for the two of you. You only have to ask, and we’ll band together like we usually do.” Fisher told him he knew that too. “Good. The rest of them aren’t going to come over until six. I told them that would give the two of you time to get settled in after driving all that way. You been by your house yet?”

“We drove by it on the way here. I dropped off her camper so that Peter and Snowflake can get started on it for an office for her. She’s a computer programmer.” Buck knew what it meant to be that, but not what it really entailed. Computers had been around a long time, but he’d never taken to them. “I also wanted to get with you and Mom about a couple of things I’ve noticed while down in the Smoky area. Investments that might help out some of the poorer neighborhoods down there. Also, for the park.”

“I’d be glad to help out with whatever you’re thinking about.” Fisher said they’d talk after dinner. “All right then. Come on now, son, let’s get ourselves a little bit to drink. Your momma, she’s been cooking most of the day away, waiting on the two of you.”

Buck listened to Piper telling Sara about her job and the things she’d been working on with it. He laughed when she told them about the man who’d not paid his bill and what she’d done to him. Also about how she loved having a faerie around to keep her on point.

“I’ve so much going through my head right now that I’m having a hard time focusing on one single task. I do need to get back to work soon. With my mom passing away recently, it’s been hard on me to try and get my ducks in a row, so to speak.” Buck told her she had plenty of time to get back to work, and she smiled at him. “Fisher said you and your wife were the nicest people he knew. He also said you’d welcome me with open arms. I’m so very glad I’ve come here. Fisher and I, we’re getting to know each other, but I’ve had such a wonderful time with him so far.”

“Good for you. Fisher is one of the best. All my sons are.” She said she’d not met the others yet. “You will. They’ll be here for dinner soon. We’re loud and argue a great deal, but we love with all that we are. You’re going to see that tonight. And know that you’re as safe here as you’ve ever been in your life. They’ll do good by you.”

“Fisher is helping out my in-laws. I didn’t ask him to do that. I want you to know he did that all on his own.” Buck stared at her a moment, then smiled. “You don’t believe me. Do you?”

“I do. You just made this old man so much more proud of my son than I’ve already been. He did do that, didn’t he? That’s what we do. We help out others that might need a hand up. It doesn’t matter to us why that