by Eve Langlais
“Probably.” Some people counted. Others screamed. She threw stuff, mostly shoes now since she no longer owned any knickknacks and she kept the knives in a childproof drawer. It took paying out of pocket to replace three cell phones to teach her to throw shoes instead of smart devices.
“Stop freaking out, sis. I happen to agree we should get the test,” Ruby interjected.
That stayed the slipper she’d yanked off her foot. Jade stared at her sister. “Excuse me.”
“What if I am wrong? I mean, there were a lot of folks dressed up that night. And like seven or eight Zeuses. Who’s to say we even have the right ones?”
Getting tested was the logical thing. So why did it still enrage her? Why does the thought of Ruby and Ark being together make me so uncomfortable? The jealousy made no sense.
“If the child is mine”—which his very expression said he doubted—“I will do right by it.”
“Him. It’s a him,” she corrected.
“How can you be sure?”
“The way she’s carrying.” Jade pointed to her. “It’s all in how the belly hangs.”
“Don’t let her screw with you,” Ruby said. “I saw his little thingie on the ultrasound. It’s a boy. Now, if you’ll both excuse me, Junior needs a snack.” She rose from the couch, Ark quick to give a hand and haul Ruby to her feet. With a nod of thanks, her sister waddled to the kitchen.
“Your sister is living with you?”
“For the moment. She didn’t want to have the baby alone.” So her sister had embarked on a long bus ride across the country.
“Does she have a doctor?”
“Kind of. I had her see the one at the clinic by my work.” All they could afford on their medical plan.
“That is not good enough. We shall have her see my family one.”
Jade’s brow wrinkled. “Is he flying out here? Because she’s too pregnant to fly out west.”
“Fly? No. She is obviously in no shape to see my uncle Ken. However, my great-uncle Huego still maintains his practice in New York.”
“Our insurance won’t—”
“I will cover this.”
“And what if the baby isn’t yours? We won’t be able to pay you back.”
“This won’t cost either of you a thing.”
This kind of altruism after his odd reaction didn’t sit well for some reason. “Why do you seem so reasonable again? Less than half an hour ago, you were looking like you wanted to pass out, and now you’re Mr. Nice again.”
“Just a little shocked. But I’m over it.”
“Because you don’t think the baby is yours.” She shook her head.
“I know it’s not mine. The gods have other plans for me.”
Such an odd thing to say. “And what are your plans for the future?” How did he support himself? Because that suit he wore wasn’t cheap. And the watch? More than she made in three months. “What do you do for a living? When I did my search to find out who you all were, the only mention I saw for you is under a company called Kalameli.”
“I’m a businessman.”
“Of what?”
“Imports. Exports.”
Wasn’t that what the criminals called their enterprises in the movies? He certainly looked a bit gangster. “Is that a polite way of saying you’re a drug dealer?”
His laughter barked out loud and boisterous. “No. Although our product is considered addictive.” He smiled. “We deal in honey.”
“As in sticky honey?”
“And creamed. We also do lotions and lip balms. We have an entire division devoted to the creation of new honey products. I can have some sent to you, if you’d like.”
Jade couldn’t help a wrinkle of her nose. “I don’t eat honey. It’s too sweet.”
He looked utterly appalled. “That will have to change. Honey rules the world.” Except, given where his gaze dropped, it seemed doubtful he was thinking of honey that came in a jar.
“Eyes up here,” she growled. Perhaps it would be a blessing if the guy turned out not to be the father of her sister’s baby. He was obviously a bit of a playboy.
“My apologies.” He said it and, by his grin, obviously didn’t mean it. “And now that I’ve answered some of your questions, my turn. Are you single?”
“None of your business.”
“How do you feel about full moons?”
“Why do you care? Are you going to tell me you turn into a werewolf and run through the woods naked?”
“That’s crazy.” He smiled, a little too wide and toothily as he said, “Everyone knows werewolves don’t exist.”
“But bedtimes do.” She tapped her watch. “While this has been fascinating, Ruby and I need our sleep.” Mostly Jade, though, given she was expected to work in the morning.
“I take it you’re not inviting me to spend the night, even though I’ve flown all this way.”
“Our hotel industry would love the business.”
“I will call you in the morning.”
“Why?” She wrinkled her nose.
“To make arrangements.”
“Oh, you mean the doctor.”
“And we need to schedule the paternity test.”
“That is going to have to wait until the baby is born.”
“Born? Isn’t there a way we can clear this up now?”
“Not without risking the baby.” Amniocentesis could give the kind of results they needed, but she’d heard scary things about it. Besides, given her size, Ruby would probably deliver soon. Or explode. Surely her skin couldn’t stretch any further.
“How long until the child comes?”
She shrugged. “The doctor is ballparking it from the Halloween party. It could happen any week now.”
“Call me.” He pulled a card from his pocket.
“I’ll leave that up to Ruby if she wants to talk to you.”
“Or you can call me.”
Her lips flattened. “Not likely. Or have you forgotten why you’re here?”
“I didn’t touch her.”
For some reason he seemed so determined to convince her. A pity it wouldn’t work.
Jade opened the door and held it as he walked past, but he no sooner crossed the threshold than he whirled around.
“Once we clear up the baby issue, I would like to take you to dinner.”
“Did you just ask me out?” Jade ogled him in disbelief then slammed the door in his face.
The nerve of him.
She should have been outraged. Pissed that in the midst of such a serious accusation he’d hit on her.
But the womanly part of her, the part that roiled with jealousy, bloomed with warmth.
I’m such a traitor.
CHAPTER 5
The door remained closed and Ark did not kick it down. Nor did he pick the lock again.
Yeah, he was proud of his restraint too.
What an entirely bizarre hour. Welcome to his new hillbilly life, or so his cousin named it when Ark related it to him over a few beers. Stavros, unwilling to miss out on the action, had accompanied Ark on his trip across the country.
“So let me get this straight: Your mate is the sister of a woman you don’t remember poking who is carrying your bun in the oven.”
“Possible bun. It’s more likely someone else’s.” He refused to believe it without proof. Refused to believe fate would fuck him over like that.
“If it’s yours, then maybe they’ll want to do some sister-wife thing like you see on those reality shows.”
Ark didn’t even look to see where his fist landed. He did, however, enjoy the oomph Stavros emitted as Ark struck him. His cousin rubbed his jaw. “Someone is a little sensitive.”
“I don’t want the sister.”
“Maybe not, but if that baby is yours, then you are going to run into some issues.”
“Do you think?” He stared morosely at his drink. “This kind of shit doesn’t happen in the movies.”
“You mean it doesn’t happen to the
good guys. Have you forgotten who we are?” Stavros spun on his stool and snapped his fingers at the fellow passing behind him. “This pasty-faced fellow here knows who we are, don’t you?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” stated the skinny guy as he tried to pass them on his way back from the bathroom.
“Are you sure about that?” Stavros asked, not letting the guy by. “Because I know I saw you on the flight over here from L.A. and again this afternoon sitting in a coffee shop, which is coincidentally right across the street from the building my friend was visiting. That seems like a big coincidence, don’t you think, Ark?”
Ark fixed the guy with a stare that made him fidget. “Huge coincidence and very unlikely given the size of this city.”
The scrawny fellow hunched his shoulders. “Don’t know what you’re talking about. And since you’re the one who kept noticing me, how do I know you’re not following me? I was in this bar first.”
“I know because I followed your ass to this shitty little dive.” Stavros grinned.
“I wouldn’t call it shitty. The beer is cheap and the wings are good,” Ark noted. He also couldn’t help a mournful look at the now empty plate.
As the guy went to move around Ark he put out an arm to block him. “Not so fast. We still haven’t discussed why you followed us from the West Coast.”
“Fuck off. I ain’t following you.”
Ark shook his head. “Why did you have to go and lie? I hate liars.”
“I don’t like his face.” Stavros grabbed the guy, who wore entirely too much cologne, and yanked him down, smooshing his cheek against the bar top. “It’s why I followed him when I saw him lurking outside the building we were visiting.”
“Who are you working for?” Ark asked nicely—and people said he was rash. He only got hotheaded if he had to ask a second time.
“No one hired me to do nothing.”
Stavros sighed as he adjusted his grip on the guy, grabbing a fistful of hair instead. “Didn’t your mother ever teach you not to lie, boy?”
“I know nothing. Whoever you think I am, you got me mistaken with someone else.”
Slam.
Ark leaned forward as Stavros lifted the bruised visage of the street thug from the bar. “Wrong answer. I’ve seen you twice now, which is two times too many. Why are you following me?”
“I am not—” Slam. “Following you. Fuck. I’m telling you the truth.” The skinny twerp glared before shouting, “Is anyone gonna stop these fuckers?”
The bartender didn’t even glance their way, simply asked, “Ready for another round?”
“Yes, please.” Ark loved a good shot of honey Jack. “And some more of those honey-glazed wings too.” The money he slid at the bartender more than covered the request and included a sizable tip.
Stavros yanked the guy who had been following them since they flew out from the coast upright. What a rather embarrassing specimen to send to spy on Ark. I deserve a better adversary. Or at least a bigger one.
Ark stared the guy in the eyes. “Since I’m a nice man”—Stavros snorted—“I’m going to give you a warning. Stay away from me, or next time I won’t be gentle.”
“Like I said, I wasn’t following you. I’m here investigating something for my boss.”
“Who is your boss?” Ark asked. When the guy hesitated, Ark arched a brow and cracked his knuckles.
The guy swallowed. “Some rich dude. He says his girlfriend took off with something of his.”
“You’re an investigator?” Stavros eyed him. “Where’s your camera?”
“On my phone.”
“What did the girl take?”
“How the fuck would I know.” The fellow seemed rather agitated. Probably not enough honey in his diet.
“If you don’t know then how will you find what your boss lost?”
“How about none of your fucking business. Jesus, would you give it a rest already. I’m not following you or your buddy. We just happened to cross paths. So fucking chill.”
“I will chill, little man, but don’t let me run into you again or we will have a problem.” Because in the cutthroat world of honey, Ark and his family didn’t take kindly to interlopers. Was someone thinking of taking him out so they could make another run at bear territory?
Excellent. It had been a while since they’d enjoyed a good brawl, and after the exercise and bloodshed, his aunt Zuna always made ribs. Honey-glazed ribs. Mmm.
Stavros shoved the skinny guy away from them. The pathetic specimen fled, and Stavros asked, “Should we follow him?”
“If he’s lying, he’ll be back. Think of the fun we’ll have.” Ark grinned. Not to mention he could use the distraction of the little man.
A platter was set in front of them forestalling any further talk and the rest of the evening passed with wings and beers. Tasty stuff that did nothing to forestall the bear grumbling inside his head.
Worse than the bear bugging him, the man found his curiosity aroused. He couldn’t help but think about Jade.
He tried to find it within him to feel guilty about it. After all, there existed a possibility he’d slept with her sister, but in the man guide, it didn’t count as cheating. He’d never met Jade at that point. Never knew she would be the one to make his beast want to roll over and demand a belly rub. It wasn’t just dogs that liked them.
Curiosity drew him back to the apartment building, back to the woman with the vanilla-honey scent. The woman who’d slammed a door in his face. A woman undaunted by his size. A woman he wanted to lick from head to toe, and especially in between.
Sigh.
She exuded utter perfection. Even in sleep, her face composed, she appeared very angelic, so was it any wonder he took a picture? She didn’t have to scream.
CHAPTER 6
The scream barely managed to pass Jade’s lips before it was stifled by a hand over her mouth. Her heart fluttered, but stupidly enough not in fear.
Through the dim light coming through her window, she recognized that beaked nose and those dark eyes.
“Hsgdsgjhew,” she mumbled against his hand.
“Did I wake you?”
She arched a brow.
“Sorry.”
He said it, but she didn’t believe it for a second. “Gnng,” she growled.
“I agree you should move over and make some room.” He shoved at her, one hand still over her mouth.
Enough was enough. She bit him.
Hard.
White teeth gleam as he grinned. “Is that supposed to be foreplay?”
She bit him again in answer.
“So that’s a yes?”
Grrrr.
“No? Shame. If you change your mind, let me know.”
Change her mind? He was completely unbalanced if he thought she’d for one second consider getting involved with him.
Look who I’m talking about. He’s already insane.
She squirmed against his hand.
“Very well, koukla, I’ll let go if you promise not to scream. Some neighbors can be so nosy, calling the cops just because a man likes to use a window to get in. Others seem to think screaming is a bad thing. If you ask me, they should be so lucky to have someone who makes them scream in bed.” He winked. “The hand is coming off now, but keep in mind, if you insist on making noise, I have other body parts that can gag you.”
Try it, she dared with her eyes. She’d bite whatever came her way—and lick it and … The very idea was so wrong. So very wrong.
“Tempting.” It was if he read her mind.
He pulled his hand away and she exclaimed, “What the hell is wrong with you?”
“Depends on who you ask. Dad says I am an imbecile, probably on account of the concussions I got playing hockey. My brother says I’m an idiot. Personally, I think I’m perfect, and my mother agrees.”
“Does she also agree with you breaking into women’s bedrooms and attacking them?”
“Attacking? I’m the one with injur
ies here.” He held up his hand that barely had an indent from her teeth.
“I attacked because you thought to subdue me and—”
“I just wanted to snuggle.” He drew her against him, his arm a solid anchor around her waist that wouldn’t let her escape. And dammit, she should want to escape and not have it feel so good.
“We are not snuggling,” she growled through gritted teeth as she tried to pry herself away. The thrashing did nothing but coil his arm tighter. “You’re being disrespectful to my sister.”
“Not really since it’s not my baby.”
“We don’t know that for sure.”
“I do.”
“So you’re calling her a liar?”
“Nope. She is obviously pregnant, just not by me.”
“Even if you’re not the daddy, I still wouldn’t be with you.”
“Why not? I’m in good health. Have all my teeth. I’m employed. Is this because I’m not like you?”
Was he calling her a racist? “It has nothing to do with the color of your skin.”
“I meant, is it because I’m Greek? I realize we sometimes get a bad rap. We are loud at times. Very arrogant too. But I see that as a character trait not a flaw. I should also admit my mother is a devout Orthodox follower, but I’m more loose in my beliefs. So church is only every other Sunday, and you’ll only need to learn to celebrate a few holidays.”
“We won’t be celebrating anything because, if you’re right and the baby is not yours”—and she couldn’t help but hope it wasn’t—“you’ll be out of our lives.”
“Not likely. I rather like it here.” He snuggled deeper into her sheets and somehow managed to roll her atop him. He laced his arms around her, trapping her against his body. “That’s better.”
Better for him since he sported an obvious erection currently pressing against her thighs.
“You are unbelievable.”
“So they say,” he agreed with a sage nod.
“Let me go.”
“Make me.”
She braced her hands on his shoulders to push herself away from him, and yet, she couldn’t escape. His strength frustrated her, mostly because the more he held her tight the sexier he got.
That wasn’t supposed to happen. She was supposed to hate the aggressive guy who invaded her bed, not want to kiss him!