“It’s important to me.”
“You want to see your brother get in. Highly understandable.”
“And you want your brother-in-law to win.”
“Let’s stay away from this convo.” Jude’s shoulders caved downward. “We have the weekend, and I really wanna enjoy it.”
“I do, too.” Jude was right. They flew out Sunday afternoon. They could do whatever they wanted without having to worry about someone finding out, except for Bridget.
Raven sucked in a breath. She wasn’t looking forward to sitting down for dinner tomorrow night.
* * * *
Jude rolled over. Raven’s light breaths dusted his chest. She slept on her side, knees slightly bent, and hands tucked beneath the pillow. He brushed at her hair she’d swept up and over her head. Probably a habit to keep it from tangling.
Waking up beside a woman, not just any woman but Raven, comforted Jude as much as the thick blankets they slept under. With her smooth skin, long lashes, protruding lower lip, and relaxed face, she appeared younger than thirty-one. Heck, she didn’t look her age when awake. Twenty-five tops. Bridget was the same way. Maybe it had to do with their skin tone. He’d also been told too many times he didn’t look like a man pushing forty.
Raven smacked her lips together. The lashes Jude admired fluttered open. When her eyes focused on his face, her mouth formed into a wide smile. Seemed she enjoyed waking to him as much as he adored waking to her.
“Good morning.” They’d fallen asleep cuddling, but during the night they must’ve sought some sleeping space.
“Morning.” Raven slipped her hands from beneath the pillow. She stretched out on her back and extended her arms and legs. “How’d you sleep?”
“Like a baby.” The truth. Sleeping hadn’t been the greatest ever since his marriage had fallen apart, not after drifting off from the age of twenty-two with his wife beside him every night.
“Me, too.” Raven rested on her side, gazing at him. “I always get a good night’s sleep. This time it’s different. I never slept so good.”
“It must be the body heat.” Jude snuggled up to Raven’s lithe form. Her warmth flooded his flesh. He kept his lips a breath from her forehead. “Coffee?”
“Hmm, sounds awesome.”
“Then I’ll order up a pot.”
“Does smudging bother you?”
“Nope. You go ahead and do your meditations.” Her commitment to prayer touched him like a feather sweeping his chest. Too bad he didn’t pray anymore. Not going there. He’d rebuilt a new life where the Lord had failed.
He pecked her lips. “I’ll get the coffee ordered.”
While Raven dressed, Jude called room service. Once their cups of joe arrived, they both settled into their morning routine. She offered tobacco to her creator and then lit the cedar in the bowl and fanned herself off using the eagle feather. Jude settled in with the daily paper he read on his tablet.
Raven let the cedar burn out. She sipped her coffee and picked up the meditation books she’d brought.
Jude’s phone dinged. He checked the message list, since he’d called the kids before he and Raven had settled in after dinner last night to watch a pay-per-view movie.
Emery.
This was strange, but Jude called up the message.
Darryl and I had a long talk last night. People do things when they’re angry, and what he did isn’t different from what any other single guy does when he moves to the city. I had no right judging him for his indiscretion with a... person of the night. Thanks for the advice. I hope in time you’ll allow me to reciprocate and provide an ear for you.
Jude set the phone aside and stood to have a shower. He’d answer Emery later.
Chapter Eighteen: Communication Breakdown
With Jude having gone to shower, Raven poured another coffee to finish the last of her meditations. Her cell phone beeped. Hopefully the texter wasn’t Clayton. She reached over, fumbling for the phone while still reading the daily reflection.
Her breathing stopped cold at the message.
Darryl and I had a long talk last night. People do things when they’re angry, and what he did isn’t different from what any other single guy does when he moves to the city. I had no right judging him for his indiscretion with a... person of the night. Thanks for the advice. I hope in time you’ll allow me to reciprocate and provide an ear for you.
Her mouth fell open, and her pulse points stopped fluttering for a moment. Oh shit. Oh hell. She’d grabbed Jude’s phone by mistake. Her own phone remained on the table, a close replica of his expensive model, but hers was cheaper and a deep purple to his shiny black.
She flicked away the phone while pressing herself tight against the back of the chair.
If Clayton found out, he’d tell the whole reserve. He’d even probably tell everyone if they voted for Darryl, he’d use band funds to cruise the north end of Winnipeg looking for suction.
The shower stopped.
Raven jumped from the chair. She scampered for her vape.
Jude emerged from the bathroom, only a towel wrapping his hips. “I guess I’d better dress, hey?” He chuckled, motioning at the open curtains.
“I can close them.” Raven twirled on her heel and yanked on the drapes.
“You didn’t have to.” No disappointment lurked in Jude’s voice that she hadn’t taken the time to appreciate his gorgeous body. “I’m gonna finish up in here. Then the bathroom’s all yours. Did you have a place in mind for breakfast?”
“Anywhere’s good.” The anxiety running up Raven’s backside demanded a shot of nicotine. “I’m going to get in a vape first.”
“Gotcha.” Jude wandered back into the bathroom.
Raven jerked on her mukluks and parka. She dashed outside, her poor mug handle and e-cigarette almost protesting at her strangling grip.
* * * *
Jude sat in the chair by the dresser. This vantage point offered him a view of Raven in the bathroom. There was something sexy about a woman dressing. The brushes they used to swipe at their eyelids, cheekbones, and face. The way they shaped their mouths to apply lipstick or mascara. And something new—Raven gluing on false eyelashes, which had been rather interesting.
She took her time, too, letting everything set properly, she’d explained. Foundation must set. Concealer must set. Loose powder must set. During these setting times, she’d done something else, such as putting on her eye makeup, or curling her lashes. Interesting. He couldn’t recall Charlene’s process being this intense.
As alluring as Raven looked glammed up for an evening, waking to her bare face this morning, a bit puffy from sleep, she’d been just as stunning, maybe more so.
It’d been a great day. Not counting the kids, since Jude always loved his children’s company, but he couldn’t remember when he last had this kind of fun.
They’d eaten breakfast in the hotel coffee shop. Then they’d gone out shopping. Raven had fallen in love with a beautiful calf-length leather coat with a faux-fur-trimmed collar. When she’d set the garment back on the rack, saying even on sale she couldn’t afford it, Jude had whipped out his credit card, much to Raven’s protesting, and he’d bought the coat. At sixty percent off, the sale was a steal. She deserved something nice to wear, as all women did.
Afterwards, they’d returned to the hotel and spent the rest of the afternoon in bed. Exhausted, they’d napped before waking to dress for the evening.
Raven emerged from the bathroom. She’d left her hair loose. Skinny jeans clung to her slim thighs. Spiked-heeled ankle boots decorated her slim feet. Beneath her transparent teal blouse was a black camisole. The coloring lit her brownish-red skin.
“I must say, you really know how to do yourself up.” Jude stood. The outfit was sexy, in a bad-girl sexy way, his new favorite kind of sexy after meeting this woman.
“I can’t believe you sat there and watched.” Raven snuggled up to him. “A first for m
e.”
“Oh? Your other boyfriends didn’t bother watching?”
“Them? Those—” Raven stammered.
Jude gulped. He’d said boyfriend. Not only had his spine frozen, Raven’s tilted, narrowed eyes had popped to ovals. Red flecked her face, and she sheepishly smiled.
“Um...” She wet her burgundy-painted lips.
“Should we... ah... go?” Whatever Jude was trying to swallow wouldn’t go down.
“Sure. We should.” Raven motioned at her new coat.
He grabbed the leather jacket slung over the chair. “Here. Lemme help you.”
“Thanks.” She slipped her arms into the sleeves. “You didn’t have to buy this.”
“I wanted to.” Jude stepped back. Classy. She could pass for a mysterious spy meant to seduce the enemy. Call her Mata Hari. “I hope you didn’t mind.”
“Mind?” Raven grinned. “How could I mind? It’s...” She ran her nails along the front of the coat. “It’s beautiful.”
“Then it was the right thing to do.” He stole a quick kiss. “You ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
“We should go. I asked the front desk to get us a cab for quarter after seven.”
“You’re okay with taking a taxi then?”
“Yep.” Jude understood. Adam was cooking dinner, so Bridget would’ve picked them up, and Raven needed time to prepare herself to meet his sister.
As they left the room, he sent up a silent prayer the two women wouldn’t get into a hot debate over dinner. He’d already texted Bridget and given her fair warning—he was bringing Raven Kabatay who’d accompanied him to the city, and yes, Emery knew about her, and no, he wouldn’t discuss anything further on his weekend getaway.
* * * *
The cab pulled over a good two feet from the snowbank.
Raven glanced around at the quiet neighborhood in Fort William. Rows of bungalows. A typical middle-class place. Snow covered what appeared to be flowerbeds in front of the house. She got out to a light wind.
The porch door opened. Adam’s muscular, tall form almost smothered the front steps. He wore his ever-present cowboy hat. “Hey,” he called out in a voice deep enough to shake the snow off the roof.
“Hey, yourself.” Seeing a welcome blast from the past whom the Matawapit family now embraced, Raven flung aside her earlier anxiety. Although Adam and Bridget made trips to the reserve, usually on weekends, Raven hadn’t seen him at any of the recovery meetings because none happened on Saturday nights.
His big smile lit a candle of hope in Raven’s chest. If he could build a wonderful new life for himself, so could she. He’d been a worse mess than her. In and out of jail, two stints in prison, and a hardcore lush with a penchant for cocaine.
Whenever she’d seen Adam in their old stomping grounds, he’d been giving some poor guy a beatdown. But his flashing black eyes, mellow grin, and massive hands half in and half out of his jean pockets reminded her of a laid-back pile of pillows.
“How you been?” She ascended the steps.
Adam held open the porch door. “Doing good. Getting in my vape.”
“This is where you vape?” Raven glanced around at the wicker table with a glass top and four matching chairs. “This is nice.”
“Yup. Comfy. Good place for you to have a smoke.”
“I quit.”
“Did you? How you doing?”
“I have my moments.” And chatty. The Adam of the past hadn’t done anything but grunt and nod. “What about you?”
“We’ll see how I do. Only been a couple of months.”
Raven chuckled. “You don’t seem too positive about it.”
“I’m an old dog, and you know what they say ‘bout that. A man can only change so much.” He puffed on the vape.
Jude strode up the walkway. “Good to see you. What’s on the menu?”
“Slow-cooked baby back ribs. My own recipe. You’re gonna pop a button for sure.” Adam’s booming laugh threatened to crumble the porch.
“I shoulda worn my sweatpants?” Jude bared his perfect white teeth.
“Bridget’s inside. Kyle’s bunking at a friend’s tonight. C’mon in.”
“A new friend? He’s not still missing Noah, is he?” Jude headed inside.
Raven entered to the scent of barbecue and a dash of honey simmering somewhere in the kitchen. Designer furniture complemented the rich light color of the walls. Not a big room, but a proper size for the family to enjoy a night of TV.
“Oh, yeah. What about Noah? Those two are always on that webcam thing or whatever it’s called.” Adam shut the door.
“He still misses his BFF.” Jude removed his coat. “Let me get yours, Raven.”
“Sure.” Raven’s chest lightened as Jude helped her remove the new coat.
“I’ll take those. Toss ‘em in the closet,” Adam said.
Jude handed over the coats. “C’mon.” He motioned at Raven.
He led her into the kitchen, where Bridget stood setting a basket of bread on the table in the eating area in front of sliding doors that Raven assumed led to a deck.
Bridget smiled, but her dark eyes failed to sparkle. Her long hair was braided. Like Raven, Bridget was casually dressed, but in maternity wear accentuating her slim hips and long legs. A thick sweater swathed her baby bump. Although Bridget’s coloring matched Jude’s, her features weren’t as bold. She’d inherited her mother’s willowy height, delicate features, and sleek bone structure.
“You two already met, but I’ll reintroduce you. Raven, my sister Bridget. Bridget, this is my... Raven.” Jude’s face reddened.
Heat saturated Raven’s cheekbones.
The forced smile Bridget had pasted on faded. “Your Raven?” She folded her arms. The stare she sent Jude could have frozen the tundra.
“My guest for this weekend.” Jude narrowed his brows at his sister.
“Hello.” Raven forced out the greeting. She wasn’t giving an inch if the haughty Bridget wouldn’t.
Bridget patted a cushioned chair. “You might as well sit. I was going to get zee wine.” She twitched her nose affectionally at Jude.
Was this bitch kidding? Everyone on the reserve knew Raven didn’t drink, and Adam sure didn’t either. Bridget sure couldn’t at about five months pregnant.
Jude snickered. “Zee wine.”
“Family joke. It’s alcohol-free. A sparkling cider.” Bridget’s words were cold. She strode to the slate-colored fridge that matched the gas range, range hood, microwave, and dishwasher. The kitchen resembled a cozy cabin with off-white cupboards and matching counters. There was even a buffet and hutch against the wall separating the living room from the kitchen.
Raven stiffly moved to the table.
Jude pulled out her chair. His gentle gesture stroked her heart. Yes, heart. His sister was being an unwelcoming bitch, and he was making sure to keep Raven comfortable.
Adam lumbered into the kitchen. “Everything should be done. Got the ribs simmering. Grilled potatoes and asparagus warming. Salad chilling.”
“What kind of salad?” Jude sat adjacent to Raven, much to her relief.
Wait, she didn’t need anyone to fight her fights. If the conversation got a bit heated, she’d take care of herself.
“Lemon quinoa with pistachios and sun-dried tomatoes.” Adam plodded to the oven. “Roasted the asparagus with Dijon Vinaigrette dressing. You’re gonna love it.”
Raven’s stomach sang in approval. The scents in the kitchen washed away the annoyance sitting beneath her skin. Adam didn’t mind her here. Jude wanted her here. That was good enough for her. Screw Bridget.
* * * *
While they ate, Jude slipped into host mode, something he’d done on too many occasions during his own dinner parties or special gatherings held by the school board. He kept everyone’s glasses filled, never stopped raving about the food, fired too many questions at Adam about his job managing
the kitchen at Benny’s. Anything to make sure Bridget didn’t stir the pot and say something to offend Raven.
Adam followed suit, answering all the questions in his low voice, unaware he was in the game.
“That was really good.” Raven wiped her mouth, having eaten the last bite of the strawberry cheesecake.
“Want some coffee?” Adam shoved back his chair and stood.
At times, it was hard for Jude to believe his brother-in-law was on parole and had spent most of his life gangbanging.
“Sounds good.” Jude gazed at Raven. “Want some?”
“Sure.”
Jude kept his eye on Adam moving about the kitchen while trying to sneak glances at Bridget, who’d added perfunctorily tidbits to the dinner conversation, which was unlike his talkative sister.
Adam set two coffee carafes on the table. He glanced at Bridget, sort of sighed, and then looked at Jude. “Wanna join me outside for a vape?”
Suspicion crawled along Jude’s spine. “Sure.”
“We can have our coffees on the porch.” Adam filled the three cups and then used the other carafe to fill Bridget’s mug.
Jude stole a peek at Raven. Her shoulders remained relaxed, although she was staring at her coffee mug. He shot Bridget a warning stink-eye, grabbed his mug, and followed Adam outside to the porch.
“What’s going on? I know my sister. She made you ask me to join you outside, didn’t she?”
Adam snickered. “Y’know what she’s like. She’s the boss.” He sat in the wicker chair.
Too true. Big deal Adam stood around six-five and was a wall of solid muscle. No man told Bridget what to do. Jude sat. He hugged his jacket around himself. “What’s up?”
“She wanted me to give you the lowdown on Raven, nothing more.” Adam shrugged. “Problem is, the Raven I knew was a hardcore addict. She’s in recovery. The program changes people. Changed me, didn’t it?”
Very true. Jude’s brother-in-law had gone from Adam two-point-zero to Adam three-point-five. “And who’s the Raven you knew?”
Sanctified Page 16