• Five •
“Easy, tiger.”
Briar
This wasn’t my first formal event with wealthy people, but it was my first one with the Southern Mafia.
The nervous expression on Dovie’s face had taken over the excited one she’d had earlier when the stylist let her choose from dozens of expensive gowns. Now that we were all dressed and styled, the realization that we were going to an event like this was getting to her. She was used to staying away from crowds. This was a world she had never experienced. My stomach was knotted up for her. It felt as if I was pushing her into something she didn’t want, but I also knew she had to broaden her horizons. I couldn’t hover over her.
Storm’s body moved in closer to my side, and his hand on my back slid around to rest on my hip. “You are stunning,” he said, leaning down close to my ear.
The hungry glint in his eye when he’d walked into the house earlier and looked at the finished product had been enough. I loved knowing I affected him like that. It was something I had taken for granted with men most of my life. But with Storm, it meant … more.
“You don’t look so bad yourself,” I replied, looking up at him through my lashes.
He smirked. “I’m fucking you in those heels tonight.”
“Promise?”
A low growl came from his chest as he shook his head and his nostrils flared. Then, he glanced at the spot where my scar was, but the lady who had done my makeup covered it up so well that it wasn’t visible. For a second, his eyes flashed a dark, almost-feral gleam, and then he straightened back up to lead us into the open doors to the front of the Shephards’ mansion. I reached over and squeezed Dovie’s hand while Storm led us inside. She shifted her attention to me, and a nervous smile pulled at the corners of her mouth.
“Relax. I’m right here,” I assured her.
She nodded and took a deep breath, causing her bare shoulders to rise and fall. The ice-blue dress she had chosen made her look like Cinderella. I’d told her so, and she’d blushed, then informed me that Cinderella was a blonde and that she was more of a Belle, but in blue. Seeing her all fixed up made my chest swell. She looked so grown and beautiful. The dirty, starved little girl I had found four years ago would never have believed she would one day be in a home like this, dressed like a princess.
“Briar, I believe you’ve met Huck,” Storm said, drawing my attention back to him.
The massive man standing across from us was in a tux jacket, and I wondered where he had found one wide enough for his shoulders. The fact that he was wearing jeans and black combat boots with it was interesting. I smiled and nodded, and then my gaze moved to the woman beside him. She was a gorgeous brunette with brown eyes that appeared kind and curious at the same time. She moved from Huck’s side and held out her hand with a smile on her red lips.
“It’s nice to meet you, Briar. I’m Trinity, Huck’s wife,” she said.
I slid my hand into hers and shook it. “It’s nice to meet you too,” I replied.
Huck reached for her, impatiently tugging her back to his side, as if he required her to be touching him at all times. She frowned up at him, then just shook her head as if she couldn’t do anything with him, before returning her smile in our direction.
“And you must be Dovie,” she said. “You look like a princess.”
Dovie glanced up at me shyly and signed, “Tell her I said thank you.”
I looked back at Trinity to tell her, but Trinity replied, “You’re welcome.”
She swung her eyes back to me. “I don’t know much sign language, but I do know a little. And I won’t lie; I brushed up on it a bit when I found out I would get to meet you both tonight.”
Okay, so that caused a lump in my throat. How incredibly thoughtful of her. I wasn’t sure what I thought about Storm’s cousin, but his wife, I liked her a lot. I wasn’t going to embarrass myself and tear up though.
“I think that might be the nicest thing I’ve ever heard,” I told her honestly.
Her genuine smile went from me to Dovie. “It’s not often I get to be around any of Huck’s relatives. When he told me how important you had become to Storm, I wanted to make a good impression.”
“I’d say mission accomplished,” Storm replied. “Still trying to figure out how this asshole hooked you.”
She laughed, then tilted her head back and looked up at Huck. The adoration on her face was unmistakable. The almost-half grin on Huck’s face made him less terrifying.
“Storm,” a voice called.
I turned my attention to see an older man wave him over. He seemed familiar, but I wasn’t sure why.
“Family calls,” he drawled. “We’ll catch up with you two later.”
Huck nodded his head, and I flashed Trinity one more smile as Storm led us past several other groups of people to the man who looked to be in his fifties with the silver starting to show in his dark hair.
As we approached, Storm leaned down to me and whispered, “I’ll make sure you get to visit with Trinity some more tonight. I’ll sit you beside her at dinner.”
That would be nice. I wanted to get to know her more.
“Dad,” Storm said.
The man turned to look our way again, his gaze going from Storm to briefly touch on me and Dovie before returning to his son. This was Barrett Kingston. I knew why he looked familiar now. I’d seen photos on the wall at his parents’ house when we went over there to swim. I hadn’t studied them, and I’d tried not to be nosy, but I wished now that I had so I would recognize his mother when I saw her.
Storm turned to me. “This is Briar Landry and Dovie,” he introduced us, then added, “Ladies, this is Barrett, my father.”
Barrett nodded his head in our direction with the hint of a smile. “It’s nice to meet you both.”
“You too,” I replied for both of us.
He looked over at Dovie. “Nailyah enjoyed visiting with you at Maeme’s the other night. We would love to have you over at the house whenever you’re available. It’s summer, and Nailyah would appreciate the company at the pool.”
Dovie’s smile grew, and she nodded, then signed, “Thank you.”
“She said thank you,” I told him.
His gaze softened, and he nodded. “Of course.”
Then, he turned his attention back to Storm. “There is an issue that Stellan needs you to go with Thatcher and King to handle after dinner. Check in with him soon,” he said in a tone that made me shiver. That issue wasn’t a pleasant one, I’d venture to guess.
Storm nodded, but his hand flinched at my side, and I wondered if he would ever tell me the things he had to do. Could I handle it if he did? The thought of him in dangerous situations caused panic to rise in my chest. A blonde server appeared to the left of Barrett with a tray of champagne flutes. I tried to focus on the here and now. Letting my thoughts go to places like that would ruin my night.
Barrett shook his head, but Storm reached out and took two, then handed one to me and Dovie. I took mine, but the way the blonde was looking at Storm wasn’t lost on me. She seemed familiar with him and as if she was trying to get his attention to be familiar again. I was not currently in the mood to overlook this. She’d caught me at a bad time.
Jealousy stirred inside me, and I glared at her until she realized I was the only one who had noticed her. She studied me for a moment, and I raised an eyebrow and tilted my head, hoping my threat was clear. Taking the hint, she moved on to the next group of people.
“Easy, tiger,” Storm whispered close to my ear.
I shifted my gaze to his. He was grinning as he looked down at me. Cocky bastard had seen the silent interaction and enjoyed it. Fine, I had staked my claim. It wasn’t like he had done that with me many times. Even before I was his. Let him revel in it.
I turned from his knowing look and checked to see how Dovie was reacting to the fact that she’d been handed alcohol. Her eyes were questioning as she looked at me.
“One glass is fine,” I assured her.
She beamed at me then and took a sip. Her scrunched nose made me laugh, and she licked her lips as her eyes danced with excitement.
“Ladies, enjoy yourselves,” Barrett said to us, then gave Storm a serious look before turning back to the group he’d been talking to when we approached.
I noticed Maeme across the room in a floor-length navy-blue chiffon dress. I’d like to go see her, but I figured I had to stay with Storm. We would eventually get there.
“You’re here!” Nailyah said cheerily as she hurried over to us. Her smile getting brighter as she took in Dovie. “That dress is gorg! You look fantastic,” she praised Dovie, then turned to me. “Can I steal her? I wanted to introduce her to some of my friends and family.”
I turned to look back at Dovie so I could get a read on if she wanted to leave my side or not. She smiled, nodding her head just a little.
“Yes, that would be lovely. Thank you, Nailyah,” I told her.
Nailyah was wearing a hot-pink satin slip dress with silver heels. She held out her hand to Dovie, and I noticed her nails matched her dress perfectly. Dovie reached out to take her hand, and Nailyah immediately started telling her about someone as they made their way off into the crowd.
“Your sister is really sweet, taking Dovie under her wing like she is,” I told Storm.
“She can be, yes. But she’s also a brat at times,” he replied with a small grin. “You ready to meet my mother?” he asked then.
The thought of that sent nervous butterflies off in my stomach, but I nodded. Meeting mothers was something I had never done. Not once. The men I had dated didn’t want their mothers knowing about me.
“Good, because she and Maeme have set their sights on us, and you have no choice.”
I turned back to see Maeme headed in our direction with a tall, elegant blonde woman that I knew had to be his mother. Nailyah was a younger version of her. Maeme being with her was going to make this easier. I relaxed and placed a smile on my face as Storm stepped in closer to me. I wanted to lean into him, but I didn’t. His mother didn’t need to think I was some clingy, crazy female.
“Maeme, Mom, you both look stunning,” Storm said when they reached us. “Mom, this is Briar. Briar, this is my mother, Annette.”
His mother had the same shade of blonde as Storm, but her eyes were more brown than hazel. Her sleek, short hairstyle gave her an air of sophistication. She smiled at me, and I was relieved to see it reached her eyes. There was no disapproval in them or judgment of any kind. I wondered how much she knew about me. If she knew about my past, I doubted she’d be so accepting of my being with her son.
“It’s a pleasure to finally meet the woman who has captured my son’s attention so thoroughly. I will admit, I never thought this day would come.”
I felt my face warm at her words as Storm’s hand squeezed my hip.
“Well, I’ve barely had it, and only time will tell how long I keep it,” I quipped, grinning.
Maeme laughed, and his mother’s smile grew bigger.
Storm pulled me closer to his side. “I’d say your chances are excellent.”
I tilted my head to look up at him, and he winked at me.
“I see Dovie has gone off with Nailyah. I did so enjoy having them over at the house the other night,” Maeme said almost wistfully.
I should make sure Dovie went to visit her. After staying there, it seemed like she might get lonely in that big house, all alone.
“Dovie has taken to Nailyah rather quickly. She’s normally more reserved and shy. It’s sweet of her to take the time to make Dovie feel welcome.”
Annette glanced up at her son and raised her eyebrows before shifting them back to me. “Nailyah and Storm have always been my charmers. People warm up to them easily. Lela is my wild card and hard to get close to. I expect once she hears about you, she’ll be home to visit.”
I couldn’t say I agreed with her about that description of Storm, but I smiled anyway. No need to point out just how non-charming he had been to me until we fought our way into bed. Maybe it had always been inevitable.
Storm excused us from the two women and moved me to other groups of people, introducing me to them. It started to feel as if he wanted everyone to be aware I was his. Although the possessive way he handled it, his pride to have me by his side made me feel special. I had never felt important or even included at something like this. I was the one the other women had whispered about. The one they’d all hated. This was so very different. I enjoyed it. Smiling came easy, and I found myself truly having a good time.
Like he’d promised, we ate at a table with his parents and Huck and Trinity. I had been enjoying myself so much that I didn’t want to leave. Although I knew he had something he was supposed to do once we were through.
Storm left the table when his father gave him a look, and I talked with Trinity about horseback riding. She was telling me about her quarter horse that Huck had bought her as a surprise before she even learned to ride.
When Storm returned, he leaned down to my ear and whispered, “I’ll take you to ride Noor tomorrow.”
I turned to look up at him. Did he think I was envious that Huck had bought his wife a horse? I didn’t think I’d appeared that way. I just liked hearing about it. Huck wasn’t the kind of man you imagined doing romantic gestures.
His eyes slowly drifted over the features of my face. “I’m afraid we need to say our goodbyes.”
With the way he was drinking me in, I decided I didn’t mind leaving after all.