Fire Burns Hot ((An FBI/ Romance Thriller~ (Book 5)))

by Kelley, Morgan

  Julian glanced over at her, and she looked even more pale than usual. “Are you going to be okay?” he asked, now worried.

  “I have a hard time with big groups sometimes. A little gift from the war,” she whispered, taking a deep breath and opening the door to face it all. “I’ll be okay.” She hoped that wasn’t a lie.

  It never even occurred to him that she’d have issues with noise and chaos. He sometimes forgot she’d been in the Middle East, and still he didn’t know what happened to give her the nightmares. Well shit, this couldn’t be a good thing.

  Jumping out fast, he raced to her side. “I’ll send the kids out for the presents. We can go home if you can’t do this, Tori.”

  She just shook her head, trying to remember that this was Julian’s family, and no one was going to jump out around a corner and kill her. “Let’s go. I can do this.”

  He led the way, her body tucked protectively against his and his arm over her shoulder. All he could hope was she didn’t run from him in the morning, and that his mother could control the insanity.

  Before walking in, Julian turned her to face him and he kissed her long and slow. She relaxed into the kiss and against his body.

  “Grandma! Uncle Jules is making out with a woman on the front porch!” One kid yelled, and of course it had all the kids running to the door like a horde to watch the kiss.

  Julian looked into her eyes after breaking the kiss. “You’re tough and if you can dive in a leech infested swamp, you can face my family,” he said, referring to the assignment in Cypress Grove.

  Tori simply nodded, as he pulled her back against his body. It was now or never.

  He opened the door, and they both walked in together. It took three seconds before the kids attacked. They all started hugging him. Julian dropped to his knees to make it easier for the little ones.

  She watched it all happen and smiled. He obviously loved his nephews and nieces. There had to be about seven of them, but she couldn’t tell since they kept moving around.

  “Who’s the babe?” asked the oldest one.

  Julian laughed. “Christian, the babe has a name. It’s Victoria.”

  The boy checked her out, and then moved to stand in front of her. “Hey Victoria.”

  “Hello Christian, and for the record, you can call me Tori. Victoria sounds like an old woman’s name.”

  He laughed and took off running. “Grandma, the babe is hot!” he yelled. “Uncle Jules scored a ten!”

  Julian started laughing and stood holding a little girl. She tried to hide so Tori couldn’t see her face, but she was peeking around to look at the woman.

  “Tori, this shy one is Maryann. She’s my favorite, aren’t you baby?” he asked, tickling her. The little girl giggled as she clung to him.

  “You’re my favorite uncle,” she said in her little girl voice.

  “Hey now there! I thought I was your favorite uncle?” said a voice from across the room.

  Julian put the little girl down. “Justin! I didn’t know you were off on leave,” he said, going to his brother and hugging him.

  Tori was beyond amazed. It was hard to not stare as the two men embraced. They looked like they were cut from the same Julian cloth. The man she was sleeping with was a constant surprise. He had horses, his nieces and nephews loved him, and he was close to his family. Now she realized that he was a twin.

  Good Lord. There were two Julians in the world! Talk about twice the trouble, wickedness and chaos.

  “Christian said something about a babe, and I had to come check it out,” snickered his brother, glancing over at the woman. Once he saw her, he released his brother. “Hello there, babe!” he leered, teasingly. Out came his hand, and immediately he was focused on her. “Christian is one smart little boy.”

  Tori was staggered that they were exactly the same, minus the eyes. Julian had gold flecked eyes, and Justin’s were deep dark brown.

  She laughed already relaxing. “Hi, I’m Tori, but I don’t mind babe either.”

  Justin Littlemoon grinned. “You know, I’m the more handsome brother, and you and I would hit it off. Ditch him, he’s no fun. We can run away right now.”

  Tori laughed. “Here’s a little news flash, you’re identical twins, and honestly from that military haircut, I can tell we wouldn’t get along at all.”

  He lifted an eyebrow. “How do you know? Have you ever dated a Marine? Julian and I are twins, so we usually share everything.” He dropped his arm over her shoulder and led her to his brother. “Right bro?”

  Julian started laughing. “She’s Army, Justin, and the sharing stops now. Tori is all mine.”

  He dropped her arm like it burned. “Oh my God! You brought an Army girl home?” He started laughing. “Please tell me that you’re just the daughter of an Army man, so I still have hope to steal you away from him.”

  She shook her head. “Sorry, Justin. Eight years and two tours in the Middle East,” and she pulled out the tags around her neck.

  “Well shit. You brought home a soldier, Julian. The hottest soldier this side of the sandbox too!”

  Julian extricated her from his brother’s attention and clutches. “Yes I did, now Tori and I need to meet the rest of the family. Go find your own soldier babe. This one’s mine.”

  Tori laughed. Already the tension was easing around her.

  “Connor, get your ass in here and meet my date,” yelled Julian, laughing.

  Another man came around the corner, holding an infant in his arms. “Hey Jules!” He hugged his brother and stared over his shoulder at the woman. “Hi, you must be the babe,” he said grinning.

  She laughed. “Yeah, apparently that’s me. I’m Tori and it’s very nice to meet you, Connor.”

  The man winked. “Well, welcome Tori. I do have to ask this though,” he paused, dropping his voice. “What did you see in my brother to allow him to drag you here? This has to be torture.”

  Tori laughed. “Horses.”

  Now Julian grinned. “She’s using me to get to Wakanda and Weeko.”

  Tori shrugged. “In my defense, they’re really great horses.”

  Julian leaned over and kissed her. The woman was amazing. Here she stood in the chaos, and was still smiling despite the fear he knew was terrorizing her.

  “Mom’s going to kick your ass for not bringing her right back to meet Tori,” winked Connor. “I can’t wait to see this,” he said strolling away. “Hey Mom! It’s a Christmas miracle. Julian’s here with a woman that he didn’t have to rent or that we’re not related to either!”

  Tori started laughing at the teasing. It wasn’t what she expected at all. Now Tori saw that she was worried for no reason at all. Just then two girls ran around the corner and leapt at Julian. Tori had just enough time to get out of the way.

  She flinched and jumped. So much for no one leaping out and attacking from behind corners.

  “Julian!” They screamed together.

  He laughed and hugged them both. “Claire and Liana, this is my date,” he said, drawing the focus back to her. “Tori sweetheart, these are my baby sisters.”

  She watched the women scrutinize her carefully.

  “I hear you’re Army,” said the one woman, crossing her arms.

  Tori nodded. The dog tags peeked through one of the girl’s shirts, giving away which was the military sister. “I hear you’re Navy,” she answered back.

  “I could probably kick your ass, Army, if you break his heart,” said Claire, crossing her arms. “Don’t screw with him.”

  Shrugging, Tori just kept her face neutral. “I carried ruck sacks heavier than you through the deserts of Afghanistan while men in dresses tried to make me their bitch. I wouldn’t bet on you handing me a beat down. I’m tougher than I look, Navy. Don’t let the girl clothes fool you or you’ll be limping back to your big iron boat.”

  Julian tensed. He was about to go to Tori’s side, when his sister started laughing.

  “Welcome Tori!” she hugged the woman
. In her eyes a soldier was always welcomed, especially one that spent her time on the ground. Her mom warned them that she was battle scarred and immediately she and Justin would offer her protection. They understood what she lived.

  Liana grinned. “Finally Julian isn't going to be a bachelor anymore! It’s like the end of the world as we know it. Now I can stop having kids for mom!”

  Julian started laughing, simply because the multiple looks of sheer horror on Tori’s face, at the implication of his sister’s words. In one sentence she’d been hit with marriage and kids. Tori faced down bomb wielding insurgents, but those eight words scared her shitless.

  “You better bring her in to meet mom. She’s waiting and you know how that’ll be,” stated Claire, rolling her eyes. “Hang in there Tori. It’s not going to be worse than the hell of basic training. Close, but you won’t leave here covered in mud at least.”

  Julian pulled her protectively against his side again. “One last person, and then you get to meet all the husbands and Connor’s wife.”

  Tori nodded. Part of her was still stuck on his sister’s comment. She honestly hoped they didn’t think she was going to marry Julian. They’d just met, and yet the idea didn’t bother her as much as she thought it would. Tori knew that after this assignment she was taking a leave of absence from the FBI to check into a Vet center and get some help. She’d promised Elizabeth, and if she wanted to keep her job Tori would have to follow through.

  Julian led her into the kitchen and released her to go hug his mother. “Mom, this is Victoria.”

  The little woman turned around and checked out the woman that her son brought home. She was as tall as her Julian, and had lots of pretty hair. It wasn’t surprising his son had picked a non-Native. So far all her children had, and that was perfectly fine with her. All that mattered was that they knew what they were getting into in life. Marriage had its ups and downs and love helped smooth the path.

  “It’s very nice to meet you, Mrs. Littlemoon. Thank you for having me to your home,” stated Tori, walking towards her, her hand out.

  Clarissa lifted a brow. “Are you always this polite, Victoria?” she inquired, putting down her spoon and towel

  Julian tensed and hoped Tori survived the ‘mother inspection’. “Mom,” he started and was immediately hushed.

  “I generally am, ma’am. I was raised by a man that believed that discipline and personal behavior meant more than anything else in life. So, I rarely am disrespectful.”

  Julian tried to move towards her side. He swore he told his mother to take it easy on her and explained. He didn’t understand why she was going at Tori this hard. Christ! Coming here was a really bad idea.

  “Stay, Julian,” Clarissa stated, pointing at her son. “Manners do matter.”

  Tori felt threatened and the panic began welling up again. “I also know when to defend myself, Mrs. Littlemoon. My father taught me that too. I’m rarely anyone’s doormat. There’s a point when civility needs to kick the hell out of rudeness just to prove a point.”

  Julian could see the nerves and fear surfacing, and he prayed that she just didn’t run out the door and away from him.

  Now Clarissa stood in front of the woman and smiled. “You’ll do just fine. You do like food right?” she asked, taking the girl’s hand in hers. Clarissa could see the fear and demons that the pretty woman was running from. Julian was going to have his work cut out for him, and she hoped he knew what he was doing.

  Life with this girl was going to be an uphill battle.

  “I love food.”

  Clarissa sent her son out of the room and when he protested, she gave him the look.

  “Be right back, Tori,” Julian reassured, kissing her on the cheek before his mother could stop him.

  She went back to her cooking. “Tell me about you,” she asked, glancing over at the woman.

  “There isn't much to tell. I work for the FBI as a special agent. Before that I served two tours in the Middle East and eight years in the Army. My dad and brother were both Army.”

  “What’s your favorite food?” she asked, knowing you could tell a lot about a person by what they ate.

  “Pepperoni pizza.”

  Clarissa laughed. “Try this,” she spooned up a red liquid and held it out for Tori to taste.

  “It needs more sugar,” she answered, honestly. Tori had the feeling the woman was testing her. “The strawberry is great, but it’s a bit tart.”

  “I like you.”

  It caught her off guard. “Um. Okay. I like you too?” she replied. “I think.”

  Clarissa laughed, adding the sugar to the strawberry sauce. “Do you like Native American food?”

  Tori was pretty easy going with food. She’d lived off MRE’s in the field. Cardboard was more palatable. “I’ve never had it, but I’m looking forward to it. Do you need my help?”

  “Can you cook?” she asked, handing the woman a spoon and tying the apron around her waist to protect her dress.

  “I was raised by a bachelor, so I have basic skills. I can cook a really wicked omelet. If you’re making eggs, well then I’m your girl.”

  Clarissa laughed and winked at her. “When I first married my husband, I couldn’t cook either. I made sure my kids knew from the time they could see above the stove.”

  Tori shrugged. “My mom left my brother and me, so my dad did the best he could do. He was deployed a lot. We lived on army bases and ate in the cafeterias a great deal.”

  “So you’ve travelled the world?”

  She nodded, feeling overwhelmed.

  Clarissa could feel the woman’s pain. Her boy had been right about her need for healing. “It was brave of you to come here tonight.”

  Tori decided to be honest. “I don’t do well with crowds or social situations. It was one of my parting gifts from the time served in a warzone.”

  Clarissa nodded. “Well, you’re doing very well. You still have to meet Roger.”

  Tori hoped she wasn’t going to sick the dog on her. It was a hard enough day as it was. When she whistled and called for the dog, Tori braced herself for the ferocious killer.

  Around the corner trotted a very fat beagle.

  “That’s the guard dog?” she asked, shocked. “What’s he guarding?”

  Clarissa laughed as the dog came over and sat on Tori’s feet. “He guards the food, of course.”

  Tori shook her head and laughed. “Roger, you need a diet, buddy,” she leaned down and scratched behind his ears.

  The hound responded immediately by tapping his leg and howling in pure pleasure at her attention.

  Roger was a good judge of character, and Clarissa knew it. He’d approved of all her other children’s spouses, and it looked like he was good with Tori too. When he rolled to his belly and allowed her to scratch him, the woman knew her son had picked well.

  “Welcome to the family,” she said, laughing at the horrified look on her face.

  Tori didn’t know what to say.

  Well shit!

  THE FAMILY?

  * * *

  As always, Wyler cooked an amazing dinner that had all the customary Native American foods that the boys grew up eating at Timothy Blackhawk’s house. The fry bread with the strawberry jam had to be her new favorite food. After she ate three of them, and the baby hiding in her belly didn’t mind, she was happy. Gorging got ugly if it was followed by a wicked bout of morning sickness. Elizabeth even found that she could eat the venison stew, without it turning her stomach completely. The hardest part of the evening was avoiding the alcohol. Both men kept trying to fill her glass to get her liquored up, and she kept sneaking away to dump it out in the kitchen sink.

  Elizabeth couldn’t wait to just tell them.

  After dinner, Elizabeth cuddled CJ on the couch while the men did all the clean-up. They must have been seeing how badly she just wanted to spend alone time with her son. Playing with his toes, he giggled, yawned, and Elizabeth carried him up to his crib. She fed him his
bottle and cradled him in her arms to sing him to sleep. When she looked up, both men were standing in the doorway watching her. Ethan’s eyes were filled with tears, and Callen’s filled with such need for a child of his own.

  Standing, she tucked the sleeping child in his crib and laid a kiss on his forehead

  “I love you, Callen James. Merry Christmas my little love bug.” Since ‘love bug’ was what she called Ethan, it only seemed appropriate that his son was now going to carry the little nickname through life.

  Both men met her out in the hallway, and she went into Ethan’s arms, while Callen surrounded the back of her. “I love you, Lyzee,” said Blackhawk.

  “I love you too, angel,” Whitefox said, dropping a kiss on the nape of her neck. Then he unwrapped her hair, letting it fall down her back.

  “I love you both too. I’d be lost without both of you.”

  Ethan released her. “Want to go sit on the couch and get tipsy?” he asked.

  “Hell no! I want to open presents,” she answered, laughing. “I’m not shacking up with two men just for the sex. I’m after the presents on Christmas too.”

  “And Mother’s Day…” Blackhawk added.

  “Don’t forget Valentine’s Day,” suggested Whitefox.

  “And…”

  Elizabeth snickered. “Ok, we get it. I’m a big present loving girl. Sue me.”

  Callen laughed. “I’m curious what’s in all those boxes myself.” Growing up as kids, before his grandfather took him in, there never were Christmas presents or a holiday meal. He was nine before he realized that it was a holiday. Mostly his mother would sleep all day from her drug bender, and Callen would hope to find something to eat. Now it was completely different.

  The three of them went way out of control with the presents, but it was only one day of the year, and CJ needed to be spoiled.

  “I’m going to have to build a shed in the back yard to house all his toys.”

  “Or we make Callen’s bedroom a playroom, since I never want him to sleep anywhere but beside us.”

  Callen’s heart skipped. Having a bedroom all alone never made him feel cohesive to the unit. Yeah, he had a place to run and hide if he needed silence, but in a marriage that wasn’t the norm. Callen wanted to never leave that room again.