by Angel Nyx
Remy slipped his arm around her and escorted her back out to the truck. The sun was beginning to set by the time they swung through Lafayette, to get dinner to go, and then got back to the B&B. Neither of them wanted the company of others for the last night of their weekend trip away from the Pard.
Chapter Seventeen
Kylie
That last night in Lafayette, they’d made love again and Kylie had fallen asleep curled up in Remy’s arms. Now they were on their way back to New Orleans and she was getting nervous. Would he want her to stay with him instead of in the guest cottage attached to Emelise and Caine’s home? Did she want to if he asked? She was so confused. She wanted him, wanted to be with him, but the thought of sharing the same space day in and day out, was terrifying. The last time she’d lived with someone, she’d spent five years in a living hell. Did she think Remy would hurt her? Logically, no, but logic wasn’t in control of the almost phobia she had at the thought of living with him.“Where do we go from here, Remy?” She winced at the way her voice quivered.
“Whatcha mean, cher?”
“I mean, we spent two days in a hotel, but where do we go now that we’re going back to the compound? What are your expectations?”
Remy’s hand slipped into hers and she tried to relax when he gave it a gentle squeeze.
“We take dis one day at a time, Kitten. I’m not couillon, not a fool; I know dat you still need time. Dis weekend, we took a big step, but I’m not goin’ to push you for more den you’re ready to give.”
Kylie felt herself relax at his words. “Thank you. It’s irrational, I know, for me to be afraid of the idea of living with someone again. I know you’re nothing like him. But I can’t help the way I feel.”
“I know, Kitten, and it’s okay. Like I said, we’ll take dis one day at a time.”
By the time they got back to the compound, Kylie was ready to talk with Emelise about going back to work. She knew it wouldn’t do her any good to stay away longer. Yes, she was bound to run into the occasional drunk asshole who would try to grab her arm, but she could handle that. She hoped.
Once they reached the front door to the house, Kylie took a steadying breath, opened it, and stepped inside with Remy right behind her. She knew it made little sense for her to be so comfortable with him yet fear living with him. She spotted Emelise in the living room, as soon as the front door was closed behind them, and made her way toward her friend.
Emelise turned her attention to Kylie once she was in the living room. “Welcome back. Did you two enjoy your weekend away?”
Kylie smiled at Emelise. She was sitting on the sofa with Hailey snuggled up to her and the television turned to the Disney Channel. “We did. It helped, a lot.” She felt Remy’s hand slide to her lower back and smiled over her shoulder at him.
“I just wish we coulda stayed longer,” Remy said with a wink. “Is Caine in his office?” he added to Emelise.
“Where else would he be? I swear that man is a workaholic. It’s a good thing he works from home or I’d be ticked.”
“Dat’ll have to change once dem babies get here. Maybe he’s tryin’ to do as much as he can right now while he has da time.”
Kylie laughed when Emelise rolled her eyes at Remy. “Go on, I know you have important business with Caine.” Once he was gone she moved to the sofa to sit near Emelise.
“So, how was your weekend? I mean, really?”
“It was…amazing. He took all the fear away. Or, well, for the most part. I don’t think I’d be comfortable with anyone else touching me, but Remy…yeah. He made me feel things I’d never experienced before.”
“I am so glad, girl. You definitely look happier, and not so tense.”
“That’s because I am. I know we’re still going to have rough moments but I’m willing to work through them. I was thinking, on the way back here. I want to go back to work tomorrow. I don’t think it is going to help me any if I stay away too long.”
“Are you sure you’re ready for that, Kylie? You can take a few more days.”
“No, I need to do this now. I can’t let the fear control me any longer. If I can get past it to let Remy in, I can get past it to do my job.”
“All right then, you’re back on the schedule starting tomorrow. If something happens and you need a break, even if it’s just for an hour or two, you let me know immediately.”
“Will do, Eme.” She could do this.
Remy
Remy made his way to Caine’s office, knocked, and waited until his Alpha responded. “Afternoon, Caine. Don’t mean to interrupt your work but dis is kind of important.”
“What’s wrong?”
“No’ting’s really wrong. Had a chat wit’ Ryan Vallier yesterday. He had a suggestion dat makes a lot of sense to me.”
“Oh? What’s that?”
“Da Pard, da Ghostpoint Pack, and da Red Moon Clan approaching da Bear Clan up in Mississippi about becomin’ allies.” He watched as Cain gave the idea serious thought. He knew better than to interrupt his Alpha when he was debating on something that may or may not benefit the Pard.
“I’ll talk wit’ Declan, see what he tinks. Da more allies da Pard has, da better.”
“I was tinkin’ da same ting. I’ll let you get back to work.”
“Before you go, how are tings wit’ your mate?”
“Better. Not perfect—I know we still got some rough patches ahead, but better.”
“Dat’s good. I’m glad dis weekend away worked out.”
“Dat makes two of us,” Remy said and left. He paused in the living room long enough to give Kylie a gentle kiss. “Have dinner wit’ me tonight, cher.”
“You just tell me when to be there, Cajun.”
He chuckled. “Seven. See you tonight.” He kissed her again and was gone.
Remy spent the next couple of hours in New Orleans working on the drawings for the new hotel. His preliminary designs were almost complete. He had to send them to the manager, in charge of getting the hotel built, for approval, before he could go further with them. If there was anything they wanted changed, it would be done in the second draft.
After that, he swung by the store to pick up a few things for their dinner. He made one last stop at a jewelry store and then went home to get dinner cooked for his mate. Looking around his home, he could see where it needed some…changes. He’d been a bachelor for a long time and his house showed it. It needed some feminine touches. He smiled at the thought of Kylie being the one to add those touches.
Kylie
Staring at herself in the mirror, Kylie couldn’t believe she was so nervous about having dinner with Remy. They’d just spent the entire weekend together—there was no reason for the nerves—but she couldn’t stop them no matter how hard she tried. With a deep breath, she applied a little lipstick, then stepped away from the mirror. She’d decided to only wear eyeliner and lipstick tonight, and the dark liner brought out her eyes. Smoothing her hands down the front of her dress, she stepped into the sandals she’d borrowed from Emelise and made her way through the compound to Remy’s home. She lifted her hand to knock but it opened before she could. Remy stood there with the door open wide, and she watched as his eyes traveled down her body then back up, taking her in. The heat in his eyes made her pulse speed up a little.
“You look beautiful, Kitten.”
Kylie felt herself blush at the compliment. “Thank you. You look very nice yourself. You didn’t have to get dressed up for me.” He was wearing a pair of dress slacks with a button-down shirt and even had a tie on.
“I wanted to. Dat smile in your eyes, right now, it was worth da effort of dressin’ up.”
“You’re crazy, you know that, right?” she replied with a laugh.
“It got you laughin’, cher. Dat was da point.” He winked at her. “Come on inside, Kitten. I just finished puttin’ dinner on da table.”
When he winked at her she shook her head. “You’re something else, Cajun.” She followed him inside a
nd was immediately hit with the tantalizing scent of food. “Something smells really good.”
“We’re havin’ steak and shrimp, crab cakes, Brussels sprouts in lemon butter, and grilled sweet potatoes. Ever’ting was cooked on da grill.”
Kylie groaned. “It sounds heavenly.”
“May I escort you to da table, cher?”
When Remy offered his arm, she slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow. He was being so charming. It was a side to him she’d only gotten a glimpse at before.
“You do know you don’t have to charm me into liking you, right? I already do.”
Remy chuckled. “I am aware, Kitten. You deserve to be treated like da precious gift you are.”
She still didn’t get how he saw her that way but she wasn’t in the mood to argue with him. “You are something else, Cajun.” She lifted her free hand to rest against his jaw a moment. “Since I haven’t said it yet, thank you for not giving up on me.”
“You don’t need to thank me for dat. I could never give up on you. You’re da other half of my soul, Kitten.”
His words warmed her as she took her seat at the table. He sat across from her and lifted the glass of wine he had in front of him. “To new beginnins’.”
“To new beginnings.”
They ate in companionable silence for several minutes. “I asked Emelise to put me back on the schedule at work, starting tomorrow.”
“Are you sure you’re ready for dat?”
“I think so. I know, that isn’t very confident, but that’s all I can say. I can’t hide forever. I need to get over my past and that isn’t going to happen if I don’t get back out there. She made me promise that, if I needed a break, I would let her know.”
“Good. Don’t try to push yourself too hard, cher.”
“I’ll try not too. God, this is so good. Did you cook it yourself?” he asked, deliberately changing the subject.
“Oui, I did indeed. I’m glad you like it, Kitten.”
“You’re a really good cook, Remy.”
“I had to be. It was dat or spend a fortune eatin’ at restaurants all da time. I have better tings to do wit’ my money.”
Kylie watched him while they ate. “You look like something is on your mind. Spit it out, Cajun.”
“I’d like to formally introduce you to my mama and papa after dinner. If you’re up to it.”
Kylie stared at him for a moment. “I’d like that, Remy.” He was so different from Ezra. They were like night and day. She shook her head slightly. She was done comparing him and Ezra. Ezra was in the past. He was gone. Her future lay with the man seated across the table from her.
Remy
Remy watched Kylie as they enjoyed their dinner. Something was weighing on her mind. He could see it in her eyes. “What is it, Kitten? What’s botherin’ you?” He watched as she blinked at him before she set her fork down.
“I feel like I owe you an apology, Remy. When you said you wanted to formally introduce me to your parents, I thought ‘He’s so different from Ezra. They’re like night and day’. It’s unfair of me to keep comparing you to him, even in my own head. He’s gone, he is my past, and he has no control over me anymore. You, you’re my future. So I’m done mentally comparing you to him. I already know you are nothing like him and that is a very good thing.”
He moved to her side of the table before he took her hand and gently tugged her out of her seat. When she was standing he wrapped his arm around her. “You don’t have to apologize, Kitten, but I thank you all da same. I’ll do all I can to live up to your praise.” He dipped his head and kissed her temple before he nuzzled her. God, she smelled good. “I never did care for da scent of vanilla until now. Now, I tink it’s my most favorite scent.”
That made Kylie laugh, just as he’d intended. “Let’s finish dinner so I can take you to meet my mama and papa. I’ll warn you, mama is likely to hug you and not want to let go. She’s been waitin’ for dis day a while and was afraid I’d have to leave da Pard to find my mate.”
“It’s a damn good thing you didn’t leave then, isn’t it?”
“Oui, a very good ting.” He kissed her then let her go so she could sit back down. For dessert he decided to make Bananas Foster. He chuckled when Kylie arched a brow at him.
“What are you doing?”
“Makin’ da Bananas Foster for our dessert.”
“What’s in it?” Kylie asked, a note of curiosity in her voice.
“Bananas and vanilla ice cream.” At the look she gave him he chuckled. “It’s da sauce dat makes it special. Brown sugar, cinnamon, banana liqueur, and dark rum.”
“Rum and banana liqueur? That’s a lot of alcohol in a dessert.”
“Da fire burns a lot of da alcohol off,” he informed her as he set it aflame. It went out quickly, and he lifted the bananas out of the pan to place them in the bowls with the ice cream. Then he spooned the sauce over everything and carried their bowls to the table. “It’s a specialty at Brennans.”
“I’ve heard they have really good food.”
“Dey do. I tink we need to have dinner dere sometime.”
“Planning to wine and dine me, Cajun?”
The cheekiness in her question made him laugh. “Oh, I like dis side of you, Kitten. Dat is exactly what I plan on doin’.” The groan that escaped her when she took her first bite of dessert had his cock twitching. She had no idea the effect she had on him.
Once they finished eating and cleaned up the dishes, Remy escorted her out of his house and down the path to where his parents lived. He slid his arm around her waist and cocked a brow. “You’re quiverin’. Why?”
“Nerves.”
“Dere’s no’ting to be nervous about, Kitten.”
“I’m meeting your parents, Remy, as your mate, not just a Pard member. So, yeah, there is. What if they don’t like me?”
He stopped and turned her to face him. His hands lifted to gently cradle her face between them. “Dey are goin’ to love you, Kitten. Stop worryin’.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because you’re a good woman and you make me happy. Dat’s all dat matters.”
“I guess you’re right.”
He kissed her gently. “I know I am. Come on.” When they finally reached the house, he started to knock but the door opened before he could. “Hello, Mama.”
“I was wonderin’ if you were gonna stop by. Come inside.”
Remy ushered Kylie in ahead of him. “Mama, Papa,” he said when he saw his father sitting nearby in the living room. “I’d like you both to meet my mate, Kylie. Kylie, my folks, Landry and Caroline Delacroix.”
Kylie
Kylie stood nervously at Remy’s side while he introduced her to his parents. “Hello, Mrs. Delacroix. It’s nice to meet you.” She put her hand out to shake and was startled when she was pulled into a hug instead.
“None of dis ‘Mrs. Delacroix’ stuff. You can call me Caroline. I am so happy to officially meet da woman who has claimed my son’s heart. I was beginnin’ to tink we were gonna have to say goodbye to him so he could find his mate elsewhere.”
“I’ve started to come to the realization that fate works in funny ways, Caroline.” She was touched by the woman’s welcoming.
“It does at dat. It seems all da ones who’ve been findin’ dere mates of late have found dem in someone who finds dere way to New Orleans. It can make one wonder what deity is pullin’ da strings, yeah?”
Kylie laughed a little. “I have to agree with you on that. It does seem like an odd coincidence and I, for one, don’t really believe in coincidences.”
“Neither do I, cher, neither do I. Can I get y’all someting to drink?” Caroline asked.
Kylie looked to Remy for his answer before she gave hers.
“I’ll take a beer, Mama, you know dat.”
Kylie rolled her eyes at him. “I’d love something, thank you. Unlike your son, I’m not picky about what I drink, so whatever you have is fine.”
Kylie went to the sofa with Remy and sat next to him. So far, his father hadn’t said anything and the nerves were coming back as a result.
“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Delacroix.”
“It’s Landry, cher. Mr. Delacroix was my papa. You’ve been a good influence on our boy. He used to be a bit wild.”
Kylie looked over at her mate. She knew he’d had experience but now she was wondering just how much experience he had. Why did it bother her to think about the number of women he’d had? He was with her now so they didn’t matter. Unfortunately, her emotions didn’t seem to agree. “Wild in what way?” she finally asked his father.
“Cattin’ around wit’ women.”
“I’d already stopped doin dat before you came to N’Orleans, cher,” Remy cut in.
Kylie studied him. “In other words, you were a bit of a player. I can see why. I mean, you’re sexy, and you’re a male. But I know none of that matters now. You’re mine and I don’t share.”
“You’re a feisty one. Make sure you keep him on his toes. Welcome to da family, Kylie,” Landry said.
Kylie felt herself blush a little at his comment. “Thank you.”When Caroline returned with a bottle of beer for Remy and his father, and two glasses of wine, Kylie took the glass that was offered to her.
“To new family,” Caroline toasted.
“To new family,” they uttered in unison. Kylie sat there sipping her wine and answering questions about her life. By the time they left to go back to Remy’s house, she decided she didn’t want to sleep alone that night. She chewed on her bottom lip while she tried to think of a way to word what she was feeling.
“Stay da night, Kitten.”
Her head came up and she stared at him. “How did you know that I was just thinking I didn’t want to sleep alone tonight?”