Forever Hers

by Walters, Ednah

  “I’m Vince Knight,” Gray-eyes said. His voice was low, husky. Sexy, bedroom voice, Amy called it in her books. Up close he was even bigger. His steely gray eyes reminded her of Eddie’s but he had the look of a man who was always vigilant. He didn’t smile much either. “We don’t mean to impose, but we had to deliver a few things for you folks. Eddie said it was urgent.”

  “Not that urgent,” Eddie retorted.

  “That’s nice of you, and you’re not imposing at all. Isn’t that right?” She glanced at Eddie.

  He gave her a tight smile then cut Noble another look. “Is the plane coming back soon?” The seaplane was taking off and the fourth guy was sauntering toward them, his cowboy boots making a steady beat on the wooden pier, the brim of the hat hiding his face.

  “Relax, detective, the pilot went to refuel,” Noble said. “She’ll be back in a few hours.”

  “Unless he scared her off,” Ken added.

  “Now why I would I scare off such a lovely woman,” the fourth guy retorted as he came to stop beside them. He bowed toward Amy then tipped his hat. “My brother didn’t lie. You, Amy Kincaid, look as lovely as you sound over the phone.”

  Amy grinned, recognizing him right away. He was Baron’s identical twin, Chase. Looking into his eyes was like looking into Baron’s eyes, except his had a devilish twinkle. She’d heard stories of his exploits and could easily see him charming women and leaving behind broken hearts. His hair was so long it brushed the collar of his shirt, another difference between him and Baron.

  “Hi, Chase,” she said.

  “Told you I wouldn’t need an introduction.” He placed his hat on Amy’s head, leaned down, wound his arms around her waist and lifted her clear off the ground. Amy had no idea what to do with her hands, so she placed them on his shoulders. He studied her face. “Did I mention how exquisite you are?”

  She flushed, nodding.

  “Put her down, Chase,” Eddie snapped.

  “Oh, stay out of our bonding moment, Grouch. Do I get a kiss or do I steal one?”

  Amy removed his cowboy hat from her head and planted a kiss on his cheek before putting the hat back on his head. “Now put me down before my daughter thinks you are about to kidnap me.”

  He chuckled and carefully placed her on the ground then turned and faced Eddie. Ignoring him, he focused on Raelynn. “And who is this beautiful princess?”

  Raelynn eyed him with a confused expression. “Mr. Baron?”

  “No, sweetheart. I am Uncle Chase, Mr. Baron’s twin brother. He looks a little like me.” He indicated with his finger and thumb. Raelynn eyed him warily. “But he said you might like this.” He reached into the back pocket of his jeans and pulled out a plastic bag. Inside was a folded, pink cowboy hat with a gold star, which he carefully unfolded and held out to Raelynn.

  Raelynn didn’t take it. Instead she looked at Amy, her eyes wide with excitement. “Mommy?”

  “It’s okay, sweetheart. You can have it.”

  Raelynn took the hat and gave Chase a hesitant smile. “Thank you, Mister…”

  “Uncle Chase,” he corrected her.

  Instead of repeating his words, her thumb went back inside her mouth.

  “Please, come inside,” Amy said. “You must be famished. We were just finishing lunch and there’s plenty of soup left.”

  Chase glued himself to her side and grinned down at her. “Ron’s flight attendants are nothing but efficient. They plied us with food on our way here, but I’ve heard great things about your cooking so I must taste some. Mom talked of nothing else after her visit too.”

  “I’ll make sure I thank her next time she calls. Anyone want a drink? We have beer, wine, juices.”

  “Beer,” they said in unison.

  While they settled in the living room, she brought out drinks and glasses, but they didn’t bother with the glasses. Raelynn no longer held Eddie’s shoulders in a death grip even though Chase still tried to charm her into calling him uncle. If only he knew what a big step this was for her daughter. Sitting in a room full of men without cowering.

  “Come with me, sweetheart,” Amy said.

  “I’ll bring her outside,” Eddie offered.

  “If you need more drinks or anything else, feel free to ask or raid the fridge,” Amy told the men before heading outside with Raelynn and Eddie. She could feel four pair of eyes watching them.

  Eddie put Raelynn down then glanced at Amy. “Sorry about their sudden arrival.”

  “It’s okay.”

  “What are in the boxes?” Raelynn asked.

  “Mats for the garage, so your Mommy won’t hurt herself every time she falls,” Eddie explained. “Her kicks suck.”

  “No, they don’t,” Amy protested and punched his arm. She was touched by his thoughtfulness, even though she was beginning to worry about the cost of the sparring gear. He was going overboard with this.

  “Jimmy says Mom kicks like a girl,” her precocious daughter said. “I told him she kicks like a Mom then I showed him how a girl kicks. Can I practice too? Jimmy said I can’t because it’s grown-up stuff.”

  Eddie chuckled. “Jimmy is wrong. If your mom says it’s okay, we’ll buy you some gloves then you can use the punching bag too.” Eddie cocked his brow.

  “Later.” She didn’t want her daughter thinking violence was the solution to everything. “Go and spend time with your in-laws. I’ll be in shortly.”

  He hesitated as though he wanted to say something then appeared to change his mind and went back inside just as Chase was coming outside, minus his hat. Eddie gave him a pointed look then disappeared inside.

  “Do you mind if I join you?” the handsome rogue asked.

  “Not at all.” She studied him and marveled how identical he and Baron were. When he caught her gaze and cocked an eyebrow, she flushed. “Sorry, I’m staring, but it is uncanny how exactly alike you and Baron are. How do people tell the two of you apart?”

  “Easy. My brother is the boring one while I’m the fun one.” He leaned forward, his expression becoming serious. “May I ask you a personal question?”

  Amy frowned and braced herself. “Sure.”

  ***

  Eddie wished he knew what Amy and his cousin were discussing so intently. With the door closed, he couldn’t hear a thing. Chase was making her laugh, damn it.

  Someone cleared their throat and he focused on the three men drinking his beer and yapping. He didn’t want them here, especially Chase. His cousin had a way with women. A gift, he called it.

  “Why are you guys really here?” Eddie asked, cutting through the conversation the three men had been having. “All you had to do was mail the damn things.”

  “Believe me, we didn’t want to come, but our wives insisted,” Ron said.

  Ken nodded. “Faith’s pregnancy has been difficult, so whatever stresses her, I fix it. Right now, she’s worried about you.”

  “We didn’t know she was sick,” Vince said.

  “Neither did we?” Ron added. “Ash is going to hit the roof when she finds out.”

  Ken dismissed their comments with a wave of his hand. “She’s doing fine now, but we still have to be careful, so don’t say anything to your wives. You know how Faith likes her privacy.”

  “If she’s sick, the family must be told, Lambert.” Eddie cut in. “I didn’t even know she was expecting.”

  “That’s because you only make a brief appearance during Sunday brunch, detective,” Ron said. “I’m with you on this, Kenny. Keep the Fitzgeralds out of your business or they’ll take over. I haven’t forgotten Ella’s baptism.”

  “That’s why Jade and I got married in the Orcas first. We wanted something small but they hijacked the wedding and turned it into a circus,” Vince added.

  Eddie chuckled. “Quit your belly aching. You gave in to please your women, not because of family pressure. Lambert, my aunts and uncles may think you walk on water now, but if anything goes wrong and Faith winds up in the hospital, they’ll be g
unning for your head. And don’t let me get started on Lex and what he will do.”

  He watched the play of emotions on the faces of the three men, not feeling bad for giving them a hard time. All of them fought hard to win the hearts of their wives and deserved kudos for putting up with his family. Right now, he was pissed they invaded his vacation and brought Chase along.

  “I’ll have Faith give Aunt Estelle a call when I get home,” Ken said grudgingly, looking like he’d swallowed something rotten.

  “Anyone want another beer?” Eddie asked.

  “I do,” Ken said, getting up and following Eddie into the kitchen. He glanced at the pot of soup Amy had left on the top of the stove. “This looks good.”

  “If you want some, the bowls are over there,” Eddie waved toward a cupboard by the sink then opened a drawer under the kitchen island. “And spoons are here.”

  Ken got a bowl, served himself and sampled a spoonful, then another. “Best tofu soup I’ve ever tasted.”

  Eddie chuckled. He should have known Amy would slip tofu in their food. Not that he minded. She was an amazing cook. His gaze went outside and caught her laughing, Raelynn on her lap. Her eyes sparkled and she looked happy and carefree. That Chase was the cause bugged the hell out of him.

  He and Chase had pursued their share of women together over the years. They’d even competed for the same women. Eddie had won some and never cared that Chase often got the majority. The thrill was always in the chase. Amy was different. She wasn’t one of those women you slept with and moved on. He would beat his cousin to a pulp if he so much as hinted he wanted her. The problem was Chase was ready to settle down and could give Amy everything Eddie couldn’t. When he’d told Eddie about wanting a special woman, he had thought his cousin was joking, until he bought the horse ranch in Montana. Now he was here, charming Amy and trying to win Raelynn. Worse, Eddie hadn’t known that the two of them had spoken over the phone.

  “You should go out there and tell him to back off,” Ken said.

  Eddie glanced around, surprised to find all three men seated around the counter, chowing down on Amy’s soup. He’d meant to get a second helping before the seaplane appeared. Ignoring Ken’s comment, he got a bowl and served himself.

  “Do you guys want something else to go with this?” he asked. “We have oyster soup crackers.”

  “One week and you’re already domesticated,” Ron teased.

  Eddie gave him the finger. “Did you bring the surveillance system or are you just here to bust my balls?”

  “Brought it and plan to install it with his help,” he jerked his head to indicate Ken, “The Jujitsu expert,” he nodded at Vince, “decided he wanted to show your lady a few sparring moves and that’s why he’s here.”

  “Bagua moves, Noble,” Vince corrected him. “Jujitsu is Japanese. Bagua is Chinese.”

  “Can you bring an opponent down with your bare hands using either technique?” Ron asked.

  Vince scowled. “Yes.”

  Ron smirked. “Then they’re the same thing in my book.” His focus shifted to Eddie. “So, you see, detective, we are all here to help, except him,” he pointed at Chase, who was still flirting with Amy. “He came to meet her.”

  “No, he said he wanted her,” Ken added.

  “Stop giving him a hard time,” Vince cut in, glancing at Eddie. “Just because your aunt thinks you’re perfect for each other doesn’t make it true.”

  Eddie laughed even though he wasn’t amused. “Did you guys rehearse this on your way here? That sounded awful. Tell your wives to stay out of my business.”

  “Told them he would see right through us,” Ron added then got up to put his bowl in the sink and grabbed his beer. “Let’s get down to business, guys.”

  “Not before he tells us where to put the mats and punching bags,” Vince said, standing too. “Baron said the gazebo might be a better place for hanging punching bags, but I explained to him you’d asked for the free standing water ones.”

  “We’re using the garage. I’ll show you.” Eddie left the house with Vince and Ken. Amy and Chase were still talking but in lowered tones though Eddie wasn’t sure whether it was because Raelynn was now asleep on her lap or something else.

  “Do you want me to take her inside?” Eddie asked.

  Amy flashed a glorious smile. “Would you? Thanks. She gets heavier every day.”

  “I can take her inside for you,” Chase offered.

  “I got her,” Eddie practically snarled. He wedged his hands between mother and daughter, accidentally grazing Amy’s breasts. She sucked her breath and her eyes flew to his. He felt her nipples harden. The kiss they’d exchanged two nights ago came back to taunt him with the force of a tsunami. Clenching his teeth, he picked up Raelynn and marched toward the door.

  Irritation licked at him. Everything about Amy made him edgy. She was like an itch he couldn’t get rid of but was so pleasurable to scratch. No matter how many walls he erected and fortified, she still stormed through them with a smile, a laugh, a touch. She made him feel things he’d never felt with a woman before.

  Then there was the kiss. Hot. Intoxicating. Mind-numbing. He’d meant to have a little taste of the forbidden, but he hadn’t factored in his response—the blood pounding through his veins and shooting straight to his groin, every muscle in his body clenched with need. The deep-gutted response had felt so good it had hurt.

  “I’ll turn it down,” her voice interrupted his thoughts as she rushed past him to fold back the bedding. He hadn’t realized she’d followed him inside. The snug material of her white denim Capris stretched across her buttocks in such an inviting way Eddie’s eyes crossed. He started to sweat. He had to get out of here.

  He placed Raelynn down on the bed and turned to leave.

  “Eddie!”

  “What?” he snapped and Raelynn stirred. They both reached out to calm down the child. Their hands touched, his large one covering her smaller one. His pulse shot up, the rush of sexual energy engulfing him. His eyes met hers. A man could drown in those eyes and die happy.

  “Are you okay?” Amy whispered. “I asked you a question but you didn’t seem to hear me.”

  “I’ve got a lot on my mind.” He took off and didn’t realize he hadn’t asked her what she wanted until he was in the living room. Eddie muttered a foul curse. Damn her for making him want her.

  Ron, the only one left inside the house, looked at him and grinned.

  “Not a word,” he snarled and kept going.

  ***

  Amy wasn’t sure what to make of Eddie’s reaction. He’d looked at her with so much anger. What had she said or done to cause him to react like that? Was it because he’d accidentally grazed her breast? She crossed her arms, feeling crappy when she had no reason to.

  She could handle anything he threw her way. She’d grown up being ignored by her parents and found a coping mechanism. Granted her attitude and smart-mouth had catapulted her head first into trouble, but they had also gotten her out of a lot more. She could also handle his cold and hot temperament because, to put it bluntly, she had faced that too with her ex and survived. White hot anger was a different story, especially since it made no sense.

  Eddie and Ron were working on something on the coffee table, but Chase was in the kitchen, warming up the remaining soup. She wasn’t surprised. All they’d talked about the past thirty minutes was food and recipes. She’d known that he owned a popular restaurant but not that he was planning on opening another in a few months.

  He scooped a spoonful, his eyes closing as he savored it. “Hmm, let me see if I can guess the ingredients. Shiitake mushrooms…dried anchovies…sesame oil…a dash of thyme.”

  Amy smiled. “You have an amazing palate.”

  “I know.” He grinned then leaned forward to whisper while looking into her eyes, “So when are you going to show me your recipes?”

  He was such a flirt, but she wasn’t going to let him use her to piss off Eddie. The glances he kept thro
wing Eddie’s way said this was all a game to him. Not that she thought Eddie cared enough about her to be jealous.

  Amy got up, pulled out a side drawer and retrieved three books. She placed the first one on the counter. “Soups and stews.” The second book was thicker. “Entrees and,” the third one was thinner, “side dishes.”

  “Deserts?” he asked, spooning stew.

  “I don’t do desserts.”

  “Why?”

  “If I make it then I’d have to eat it, so no sweets unless I have guests.”

  Chase chuckled. He flipped through the first book as he ate, then pushed his empty bowl aside. “Have you ever thought of publishing them?”

  Amy shrugged. “Not really.”

  “Talk to Vince. His publisher might be interested.” He moved to the second book, pausing occasionally to read something before turning the page. “Ever thought of opening a restaurant?”

  Amy made a face. “I don’t think I’d make a good restaurateur.”

  He frowned. “Why?”

  “I don’t have the time or the commitment.” Or the money. Banks didn’t loan money to broke women on the run.

  “You never know till you try.”

  “Maybe one day.” When Nolan was out of her life. Amy put the books away.

  “If you ever decide you need a change of scenery, give me a call. I’ll create a position for you. In the meantime, let’s find Vince. He insists on showing you a few karate moves.” He grabbed her hand. “Although I was hoping you’d come out on the boat with me.”

  Amy could feel eyes drilling holes into her as she left the kitchen. When she turned, both guys were watching them with an unreadable expression. Eddie was the first one to look away, but not before she saw the same bleak expression she’d seen on his face when he’d talked about his mother. She tried to wiggle her fingers out of Chase’s.

  Vince and Ken were filling up something that looked like a bag with water in the garage. They’d already spread several gym mats on the garage floor.