From her perch on the old double swing, his claim of the gris-gris being cast on his hand reached her ears. A fish out of water, my foot, she thought with an amused grin. From the pieces she’d puzzled together from her own sly observations and Colby and Sherry’s nuggets of intel, Angie knew Cane was used to being in charge. He liked order, for things to stay the same. Being out of his element like this had to be a new experience. But when the half-empty bottle of Patron made its way to Cane, he took a giant swig without hesitation.
The country revealed a new side of Cane Robicheaux, unexpected nuances to his personality and character. The more she observed, the more she realized he resembled the yin-yang tattoo he’d inked on his skin. Cane was a duality of light and dark, tough and sweet, bad boy and protector. His country side openly smiled, seemed more relaxed, and watched her with hungry eyes. Okay, so the hungry eyes were far from new, but the determined fire beneath them was. And they brought a shiver to her skin that had zilch to do with the cool air.
As for Cane’s hidden protector, well, that was perhaps the most shocking of all. The last five months had revealed how he was with his sisters, but seeing him defend her, protect her, had Angelle’s heart beating a strange rhythm in her chest. She’d been protected all her life, but it always made her feel less than. Like no one believed she was able to do things herself or saw her as a growing woman. But with Cane, it was the exact opposite. With him, she was 100 percent woman, and when he stood up for her, it felt like support. Like caring.
Earlier, when a snooty cousin had approached, making a quip about Angelle being the Bon Terre equivalent of a runaway bride, Cane hadn’t hesitated to defend her. “She’s making a good life for herself,” he’d said, wrapping both arms around her waist. He’d smiled proudly and tugged her against his solid chest. “And I’m sure as hell glad she ran. I wouldn’t have met my angel otherwise.”
He seemed to like calling her that, his angel. With the way she’d hurt Brady and left her mama to deal with the fallout, Angelle was pretty sure she was far from angelic—but hearing him call her that made her feel special all the same. Cherished.
And that worried her more than Troy’s reaction.
Angelle couldn’t allow herself to forget this was only a farce, a charade for her family. This wasn’t the beginning of something real. It was possible there was more to the man than she’d originally thought, but how much of it was truth and how much was fiction—or painted by the memory of his yummy kisses? She was on a slippery slope, in danger of falling for her own lie.
A loud smack startled her as the back screen door hit the siding. A three-foot-tall bundle of energy zipped past, Angelle’s mama tailing right behind screaming, “Sadie, t’es nu!”
Angie laughed out loud. Truthfully, her godchild wasn’t naked. Sadie had on a hot pink bathrobe with big purple polka dots. But if the feisty four-year-old had been naked, it wouldn’t have been the first time Troy’s daughter streaked through a family gathering. Covering her mouth so as not to encourage her niece’s antics, Angelle watched her mother chase her around the yard. Apparently little Sadie wasn’t ready for bed.
“You’ve had your fun, now it’s time to get inside,” Mama cajoled, catching her breath as she leaned against a folding chair. “It’s cold cold out here, cher. You need to put some darn clothes on.”
Cane’s eyebrows snapped together at her mother’s choice of words. In the country, they often doubled words for emphasis. Like right now, it wasn’t very cold outside—it was cold cold. The delicious jambalaya they’d eaten earlier wasn’t really good—it was good good. Angie had learned that was a unique turn of the tongue after returning from her first fire and saying it’d been “hot hot.”
The boys at the firehouse had gotten a kick out of that.
Sadie shot past Eva’s attempted grasp and headed straight for the bourre table. Angelle’s sister-in-law slumped beside her on the swing and declared with a sigh, “That girl could try the patience of a nun.” She shook her head at Sadie skirting her daddy’s clutches. “But I love her to pieces. Do you know what she told me yesterday, when we were preparing for all this?” Angelle shook her head. “She said she couldn’t stop nagging everyone because her imaginary friends wouldn’t play with her.”
Angie snorted. “That’s Troy’s daughter, all right.”
“And don’t I know it.” Eva grumbled, but the love she had for her family was plain as day on her face. “I told her, cher, you do know they’re pretend, don’t you? You can tell them what to do. But that girl stuck to her story. Stubborn as a mule, just like her daddy.” She shook her head and glanced back at her giggling child. “You’ve gotta respect her creativity, though.”
Angelle placed her hands on her thighs, prepared to jump into the fray. “Wait until she becomes a teenager,” she teased. “That was when Troy really reached his stride.”
Eva groaned as Angie pushed to her feet, but that was when young Sadie rendered her assistance moot by jumping onto Cane’s jean-clad lap. For his part, her big bad fiancé appeared floored for a nanosecond, then scooped the little girl closer, fixed her robe modestly over her tiny legs, and proceeded to show her his cards.
None of which would have been surprising, had the two met before. Or Sadie made climbing onto strangers a normal occurrence. But they hadn’t. Sadie had been running with her cousins all afternoon while Cane received the grand tour. And her niece, while being a wild child, was a shy wild child. At least when it came to strangers.
Angelle knew Cane was good with children. She’d seen his interactions with Emma. But seeing the inked-up tough guy hold the little girl who owned her heart, and having that same little girl look up at him with her biggest, toothiest smile, made something in Angie’s chest clench and then loosen.
The feeling of crumbling defenses.
Mama walked up, releasing an exhausted sigh. “Tag, you’re it,” she said, wedging her hips between her daughter and daughter-in-law. “That girl’s done tuckered me out.”
Eva wrapped an arm around her mother-in-law and squeezed. “Thank you, Mama.” Sliding Angelle a grin, she added, “But it appears Sadie’s in good hands for now.”
“Hmm.” Mama pressed her lips together as she regarded the card table. “That’s a mighty intriguing fiancé you have there, petite fille. Don’t be thinking your daddy and I didn’t notice the tattoos.”
Wincing, Angie bit her lip and waited for the inquisition. She sure as heck had battled everyone else that afternoon.
From Ryan’s, Why a firefighter? To his wife’s, Do you know how dangerous that is?
Her Papa’s quiet, Why Magnolia Springs? And her grams’s, When are you coming home?
And the big, unasked question that prompted them all: Is this all Cane’s doing?
But it was just the first day. The hard part was over; everyone saw that she’d moved on from Brady. They had the rest of the week to realize her other changes were more than a quarter-life crisis or the influence of a bad boy. That this was her. Angelle Prejean 2.0.
But if she could do anything to alleviate her parents’ fears now, she would.
“Mama, he’s more than you think,” she said, reaching across Eva to touch her mother’s shoulder. “He’s not Dylan.” And I’m not Amber.
Her mother nodded slowly, seeming to study the man in question closely. Angie’s gaze drifted back to the table. Cane’s dark head was lowered so Sadie could whisper in his ear. He threw his head back in a laugh as the little girl giggled. Mama’s voice was soft as she asked, “But is he good people, cher? Does he treat you right?”
Watching her niece, Angelle thought about the times Cane had teased her, too. Joking and flirting, making her smile. How he’d stepped up to help her this week with minimal questions asked, and defended her when her own family’s questions were too harsh. So, even as she fought to rebuild her crumbled defenses, Angelle nodded. “Yeah, Mama. He does.”
Eva nodded and stood abruptly, causing the swing to rock beneath them. “Then
that’s all I need to hear. Personally, any man who looks like that and can wrangle my child is a keeper.”
Eva sent Angie a wink and thanked Mama for bathing Sadie, then walked over to retrieve her spirited daughter. Cane nodded at something Eva told him and accepted a hug from Sadie before sending the girl on her merry little way. Troy shot him a civil nod, then promptly returned to his hand of cards. But her fake fiancé sought out Angie, and when their gazes met across the yard, the dimple in his cheek flashed in a grin.
Angelle’s heart rate escalated. I’m in a heap of trouble.
Chapter Eight
“It’s tradition,” Angelle explained the next night as she trekked the familiar path to her brother’s house holding a tutu-wearing teddy bear. “The night before Thanksgiving, everyone goes out. I’ve never stopped to wonder why, especially since so many of us wake up early to cook.” She shrugged her shoulders and then quickened her steps as the cool evening air snaked across her skin. “It’s just what we’ve always done.”
Cane easily lengthened his long-legged stride to keep up. “And you’re sure you don’t want to go out, too? You’ve been gone a long time. If you want to hang out with your friends, it’s okay.”
She shook her head, stifling a smile at the crunch of motorcycle boots on gravel. It appeared one day of taunts over sneakers was her fiancé’s limit. “I saw the important people yesterday, and I’ll see them again tomorrow. Eva and Troy deserve a night out.” Twisting around at a rhythmic beep-beep-beep, she jogged to the side of the road to let Lacey pass. The crazy girl cranked the radio up and sang along—loud, proud, and off-key—and Angelle grinned as she waved to her cousin’s retreating taillights. “Besides, spending time with my godchild is one of the things I miss most about being home. I need some Nanny time with my girl.”
Cane’s hand brushed against hers and he took it. Warmth seeped into her skin. “That I can understand. I remember when Emma was Sadie’s age, full of stories, wanting to give me manicures, endless energy.” He glanced over and smiled. “Pretty much the same as she is today.”
“God, don’t tell Troy that,” she said, the scent of leather filling her head. “My brother thinks Sadie will calm down once she enters kindergarten. We’re guessing he forgot what a hellion he used to be. Daddy’s always said payback is the Lord’s to give, and it looks like Troy’s getting his comeuppance.”
A deep laugh rumbled in Cane’s chest. The sound was low and dark, and did funny things to her tummy. Things she rather enjoyed. The Magnolia Springs playboy was back, black jacket and motorcycle boots in place, but after last night, he no longer terrified her. In fact, the whole getup was now a surprising turn on, and mixed with the woodsy notes of his cologne, Angelle was almost dizzy. Instead of running, she wanted to press her nose against the smooth tan skin of his neck and get a good whiff. And then maybe lick it.
Inexplicably giddy. That was the best description for how Angelle felt as she tromped up her brother’s stairs. Her chest held a lightness, a bounce was in her step, and she couldn’t stop smiling—despite the worrisome niggles pricking her brain. It’d been the same way all afternoon.
The boucherie hadn’t ended until after two a.m., so she and Cane had slept in and then lazed around the house, snacking on leftovers and playing bourre. She’d thoroughly trounced him every time, but Cane had taken it in stride, shaking his head and shooting her that flirty grin. Tempting her with each dimple flash to drag his fine self to her bedroom and engage in another round of toe-tingling kisses. The only thing that held her back—other than her ultra-conservative parents in the next room—was the neon-lit question blinking behind her eyelids. Exactly how far is too far?
Angelle wasn’t ready to make love. At least, she didn’t think she was. She still believed what she’d told Sherry, that the holy trinity had to be present before she gave up her V-card: passion, excitement, and for it to feel right. The first two she and Cane pushed to the extreme. The third was harder to define.
On the drive up, Angie had resolved to experience a taste of that passion. It would be silly, considering the circumstances, not to reap a small benefit from this crazy situation. But did a taste stop at kisses? Or could her innocent heart withstand letting a man as experienced as Cane go where no man had gone before?
A cool hand sliding along the base of her spine shook Angelle from her thoughts. “You okay?” Cane stepped close, filling her head with his delicious scent again. “You seem like you’re a thousand miles away.”
Or just back in bed, ogling your beautiful inked body.
“I’m fine.” She smiled brightly as she knocked on her brother’s door. Immediately, rapid, thumping footsteps approached and she asked, “You sure you’re ready for this?”
Cane set his mouth to her ear. “Darlin’, I’ve got this in the bag.”
A shiver ran down her spine. The deep notes of his voice implied he meant more than just a night of babysitting, a night more in line with her previous thoughts. But while she was busy wrestling with the courage to ask what, the door opened and a strawberry-blond head stuck out.
“Sugar girl!” Setting aside her confusing, non-existent sex life, Angelle held out her arms…and watched as her niece shot right past them.
“You’re here!” Sadie exclaimed, slamming into Cane’s tree trunk of a thigh and wrapping her skinny arms around it.
Angelle frowned, and Cane shrugged his massive shoulders as he bent to pick up the girl. So he had an effect on women. Of all ages. She knew—probably better than anyone—how charismatic the man could be, and she’d be lying if she said this sweet side to the town bad boy wasn’t a turn on. It was.
But she was Nanny. She came bearing gifts!
“What, no love for me?” she asked, shaking the tutu-wearing teddy bear in her hands. Sadie took it with a happy, toothy grin and settled back against Cane’s broad chest.
I knew I should’ve brought chocolate.
“Here, let me see that teddy bear,” Cane said, taking the stuffed animal from her niece’s tiny hands. He sent Angelle a dimpled grin as he examined it, then pursed his lips. “You know, Sadie, this is a mighty fine bear. Tutu and all. I’m thinking maybe I’ll keep it. You didn’t really want this, did you?”
“Yes I do!” she protested, stealing the toy back from his hands. “That’s my bear, Mr. Cane. Nanny brought it for me.” She twisted around with a four-year-old pout. “Right, Nanny?”
Angelle smiled, her heart completely melted and dripping on her shoes. “Yep, I’m sorry, Mr. Cane, but that bear is for my sugar girl.”
He huffed an exasperated sigh and then leaned close to whisper in her niece’s ear. Sadie nodded, holding out her hands, and Angelle gladly accepted her soft weight. Hugging her close, she met Cane’s eyes over Sadie’s head and mouthed, Thank you.
Cane winked. “Shall we, ladies?” He held his hand out to the opened door, and they walked inside.
Troy and Eva’s home always smelled like Lemon Pledge. It was one more thing that never changed, and Angelle hoped never would. She set Sadie down and the little girl scampered off on bare feet, hugging her bear. It was nice to be around family again.
After hanging up her coat, Angie strolled down the hall vowing never to let the ghost of a failed relationship keep her away again for so long. She searched the living room and kitchen for her brother and sister-in-law, and then realized Cane was still back at the entryway, looking at pictures.
“Uh, please don’t tell me they hung up that one from Christmas,” she said, shoving her hands in her back pockets as she retracted her steps. “I plead the fifth on that outfit.”
Cane transferred his gaze to her. “Brady was a groomsman at your brother’s wedding?”
Surprised by the confused look in his eyes, Angelle’s smile dropped and she glanced at the photo of her brother’s bridal party. “Our fathers are friends. By the time Troy and Eva married, we’d been together for four years. Brady was, and still is, considered part of the family.”
; With that same strange look, Cane leaned his back against the wall of frames. “That complicates things now that you’re broken up.”
“Well, yeah, but what can I do? It is what it is,” she said with a shrug. “It’d be easier if Brady faded into my past, like a normal ex, but that’s not the cards I’ve been dealt. I can either choose to whine and cry about it, or I can make the best of the situation.” When he seemed to marvel at that, studying her with an intensity that made her nervous, she shrugged again and added, “Or I can go with door number three and invent a fake fiancé.”
Cane craned an eyebrow and chuckled low in his throat. “There is always that.”
Looping her arm around his much beefier one, Angelle left the memories behind her and walked down the hall. For the rest of the night, she didn’t want to think about Brady or disappointing anyone.
She just wanted to be a normal girl, babysitting her naked-loving, wild-child niece with her handsome fake fiancé. That wasn’t too much to ask, was it?
Eva bustled through after they’d taken a seat on the plush sofa. “Y’all, I’m so sorry I’m running late. It’s been so long since we’ve gone out I couldn’t find a single thing to wear. Does this look okay?”
She spun around, showing off a pair of dark wash jeans, red boots, and matching V-neck sweater, and Angelle replied, “Fabulous as always,” completely meaning it. She’d kill to have her sister-in-law’s voluptuous figure. Sadie shuffled back into the room and sprang up onto the sofa, wiggling her bottom between her aunt and Cane.
“I’ve been telling her the same thing for the last hour,” her brother said, coming down the hall. Troy kissed his wife’s head and then swatted her backside as he passed behind her. “You should see our bedroom. Her entire side of the closet is now sprawled across the floor.”
Eva rolled her eyes. “Honey, this mama needs a night out, and she wants to look good doing it.” She slipped her license out of her wallet and shoved it in her back pocket. “Angie, you’re a lifesaver. You too, Cane. Consider it a given that we’ll return the favor as soon as you two start popping out babies.”
Seven Day Fiance: A Love and Games Novel (Entangled Bliss) Page 9