by Danica Avet
Sighing, she dropped her face in her hands. This was a nightmare of monstrous proportions. Why someone would slander her in such a way, she didn’t know. She didn’t have any enemies in the industry that she knew of, having been very careful to walk a fine line between ruthlessness and competitiveness. And now, all of a sudden someone was spreading rumors about her using fur in her upcoming line. Did it help to know Stan, her publicist, was already on the case? It made her feel a little better, but Kitty knew once the idea was planted in the public’s mind, they would turn on her like rabid badgers.
A knock sounded on the door, but it didn’t open. “Hey, Kitty, we’ll be leaving for the engagement party soon. Are you ready yet?”
Kitty looked around. Shit. She’d forgotten about the pre-wedding party. “I’m running a little late, I’ll have to go on without y’all, Tante Claudette.”
“Okay.” She paused. “Are you sure I can’t look at the gown? Just a quick peek?”
The familiar refrain asked in her aunt’s pleading tone pulled Kitty a little further from the edge of no return in terms of freak outs. “No, not yet. You get to see the gown on the night of the rehearsal supper, but not until then.”
Her aunt’s grumbles could be heard through the door, making Kitty chuckle a little. She carefully arranged the silk so it wouldn’t wrinkle and put away her supplies. She wasn’t in the mood for a party, not after the news she’d received, but as the maid of honor, she had to go. Besides, Monk would be there. Her heart lifted a little higher at the thought.
As Kitty showered and dressed for the party, she couldn’t get over how much things had changed in the two weeks since she and Monk had made that truce with each other. They didn’t have sex all the time, although it was a close thing. Knowing he was her friend once more eased something inside her, something that made her feel as if she were set free. When she wasn’t working on Daisy’s gown or Tante Claudette’s dress, she spent time with Monk.
They talked about things not involving their past, or the shouted confession he’d made about his mother. Kitty wasn’t ready to face that because every time she thought about Monk’s life ending at his parent’s hands, she felt sick inside. It was better to keep things light and fun. By unspoken agreement they left anything touchy alone, instead concentrating on other things and just having fun together.
It wasn’t always easy being around him, especially if they happened to run into Nick or Zach, who for some reason Monk seemed to think wanted her. Neither male showed her the slightest interest when they caught her alone, but the instant they saw her with Monk, they flirted outrageously with her. Kitty snorted and applied her makeup. Males were idiots just looking for a reason to fight and in the last two weeks, Monk had gotten into at least three fights, not counting the one in the alley.
Kitty slipped into the dress she’d picked from her catalog for this party and smiled to see it fit a trifle snugger than it had when she first tried it on. It seemed her Tante Claudette’s cooking was putting the weight on her that she’d lost in New York. That’ll make Mama happy. Her mom had come over nearly every single day to visit. She was the only one besides Monk and Daisy allowed in Kitty’s workroom, something Claudette pouted about any time they visited.
Francine hadn’t asked if Kitty was staying. She hadn’t asked how things were going with Monk, probably because she knew if she did, Kitty would sprint for the nearest airport. Everything should have been perfect and it had been except for a few minor incidents she hadn’t mentioned to anyone because she hadn’t wanted to sound like a drama bear.
Stepping into her impossibly high Louboutins, she mused over the strange feeling of being watched she’d had ever since that day in the alley with Monk. It never happened when she was with him, only when she was either taking a quick walk in the woods to clear her head, or when she was headed into town to see Monk. She suspected she had a reporter on her tail trying to take snapshots for a tabloid magazine. The problem was each time she had the feeling, she never caught a scent. It was baffling and she’d chalked it up to a puffed-up sense of self until now. Because the more Kitty thought about it and the conversation she had with Margaret, the more she was starting to believe her watcher was trying to catch her doing something with fur. It made sense that the press would want proof of her wearing fur so they could plaster it all over the news.
Dammit. Kitty finished dressing and grabbed her clutch. She couldn’t remember if she’d killed anything while on her walks. Most shifters, when in their animal forms, did a little hunting because it soothed their beasts. No one thought anything of it. Of course, most of them weren’t being accused of skinning helpless bunnies and shit in the name of fashion. Goddammit, I’m in so much fucking trouble.
She sucked in a calming breath and left her room. She could handle this. The party tonight would help take her mind off her problems. Monk would be there and although it was something that would have sent her into a tizzy weeks ago, now she looked forward to seeing him and spending time with him. It wasn’t love. It was…friendly affection with a heavy dose of lust.
Snorting at herself, Kitty locked up her aunt’s house and walked to her rental car. She didn’t love Monk and despite what he’d shouted at her, he didn’t love her. He hadn’t said it again. And I’m glad. I don’t want a messy goodbye when I leave. Yeah, when she left. Gah, stop thinking about it. She reached for her door handle, the hair on the back of her neck lifting, and it had nothing to do with her thoughts.
She paused at her car door and looked around her aunt’s familiar yard. Nothing was out of place, but she had the feeling she was being watched again. Expanding her senses, she smelled the fresh air and the earthy scent of the bayou several yards away. Everything appeared normal, yet she couldn’t shake the sensation of eyes on her. Deciding it had to be an owl or something, Kitty climbed in the car.
The instant she was in the close confines of the vehicle, her mind instantly leapt to Monk and her need to go home. Kitty sighed and started the engine, pulling out of her aunt’s driveway with a heavy heart. She wasn’t quite ready to go back to New York. It was only because she’d missed being around her family. Monk played a small part in her reluctance to leave.
God, she was such a bad liar.
It took a conscious effort not to speed into town in an attempt to escape the thoughts whirling around her brain. Home wasn’t in Maison Rouge anymore. She’d made a life in New York. It was sometimes lonely, but it was all hers. She couldn’t just up and leave because of homesickness. Could she?
Kitty frowned at the empty highway in front of her. There was no way she was moving back here. This thing with Monk was temporary, just a little sexual stress relief. Right?
Rounding the last curve before the city limits, she was nearly blinded by headlights that seemed to appear out of nowhere. Kitty squinted against the glare just in time to see a truck scream around the curve taking up the middle of the road. Everything seemed to slow down. Ice trickled down her spine, a numb sensation spreading through her limbs. The truck didn’t slow, didn’t attempt to turn away.
Kitty said a quick prayer and jerked the wheel to the right and the wide, gravel shoulder.
Chapter Seven
“Where’s Kitty?” Monk asked Daisy Lynn when he met her in the reception line.
She rolled her eyes, looking beautiful in what he suspected was one of Kitty’s creations. “Mais,it’s good to see you too, Monk. Thank you for congratulating my fiancé and me on our upcoming wedding. Why yes, I do think it’s getting warmer out. No, you can’t kiss my feet for being the reason Kitty came back home, but you can get me a wonderful wedding present. How are you?”
He laughed and leaned over to kiss her cheek, ignoring Ram’s subvocal growl next to them. “Sorry, Daisy Lynn. You look beautiful and I already have a wedding present picked out. As for kissing your feet, I wouldn’t get near those things if someone paid me.” Ducking her swing, he laughed. “But seriously, I thought Kitty would be in line with y’all.”
Daisy Lynn frowned. “I know. She should be here by now. Mama said she was running a little late by the time they left the house, but you know Kitty, she’d have broken speed records to get here on time. Maybe she’s having a little trouble getting in. There’s a big crowd of spectators out there who came to watch Ram sashay his ass into the hall.” She squeaked and jumped, her mate obviously pinching her in retaliation. She stuck her tongue out at the lion shifter before turning back to Monk. “Besides, there’s that whole red carpet thing with photographers and stuff. A red carpet in Maison Rouge, who would’ve thought?”
She laughed and waved at someone across the hall. “They freaked Mama so bad, she almost tripped. Maybe the reporters stopped to ask her some questions.” More people walked in behind Monk and Daisy Lynn turned to them. “I’m sure she’ll be here any minute. Have a drink while you wait and thanks for coming.”
Strolling away from the line with his hands in his pockets, Monk nodded to a few people and tried to ignore the bad feeling in his gut. It was just paranoia because the past couple of weeks had been great. He and Kitty were bonding again as friends and lovers. She had a wicked tongue she used to cut like a knife, or to pleasure him until his eyes rolled to the back of his head. She was so much more than he deserved in a mate, but he wasn’t giving her up.
Monk leaned against a wall so he could see the door of the gym, which was decorated in silver and black. It looked elegant for a basketball court, but he saw Daisy Lynn had made sure there were several pirogues full of iced-down beer. He grinned at the blank looks on Ram’s band mates’ faces. Likely they’d never seen a party like this. He almost couldn’t wait for the wedding reception.
“You certainly look like you’re in a good mood,” a female voice purred next to him.
Stifling a sigh, Monk looked over to see Callie standing next to him. He supposed she was going for sophisticated, what with her glass of champagne and the little black dress, but all he could picture was her standing like that over a grave with the same smirk on her face. There was something cold about Callie that he hadn’t noticed as a younger man. Of course, all he’d thought about back then was fucking someone to make him forget Kitty. Yeah, and that worked out well.
“Evenin’, Callie,” he said politely. “It’s a party, of course I’m in a good mood.”
She shifted on her heels, moving a little closer to him. “Hmm, you sure weren’t in a good mood that day in the diner.” Her sly smile raised his hackles. “Then I heard Kitty Chambers turned that frown upside down.”
He didn’t say anything, looking away from her in the hopes she’d get the message that he wasn’t interested in talking to her. Besides, if Kitty walked in and saw him with Callie, there was no telling what she’d do. He hadn’t asked her what would happen, but he had a feeling it wouldn’t be good for either him, or Callie.
“So you and Kitty are back together, huh?” she continued, oblivious to his lack of interest. “Well, that’s a surprise, I must say. After what you told me about her so long ago, I would’ve figured you wouldn’t go near her with a ten-foot pole.”
“As you pointed out, that was a long time ago.” He shot her a hard look. “The past is in the past.”
She laughed, throwing her head back, exposing her fragile throat. “The past always comes back to bite us in the ass, Monk. Don’t you know that?”
Monk turned on Callie with a snarl that made her back up a step. “If you cause trouble for me and Kitty, you’ll regret it. Now go the fuck away.”
Her face paled, but bright spots of color appeared at the tops of her thin cheeks. She glanced away from him, her gaze sharpening on something across the gym. Her hand trembled as she raised her glass and drained the rest of the champagne. She licked her lips when she finished, turning back to him. “You wanted me once, Monk. I know you did.”
He didn’t want to be cruel, but she didn’t get it and never would without blunt honesty. “I was trying to use you to forget Kitty, Callie. It was wrong of me and I’m sorry, but I thought of her the entire time.”
Her nostrils flared and her dark eyes blazed with fury. “I know you’re lying,” she whispered but she stepped back. “I don’t know why you’re doing this, but I’m not giving up without a fight, Monk.”
Before he could say another word, she whirled away and stalked across the room. Feeling like a bastard for touching her and giving her hope, Monk glared at the door. He needed Kitty. His cougar paced in his mind, snarling at the arrogance of the raven who thought she could ever replace his mate. Callie hadn’t lied though, the past did come back to bite you in the ass because right now, he regretted going near her in an attempt to forget Kitty. It had given the raven a false sense of ownership. He didn’t get it. Sure, Callie had pursued him for years, but never so aggressively. It was only since Kitty came home that Callie stepped up her pursuit, following him all over town. It was unnerving and not in the least bit flattering. He didn’t want her anywhere near him. He just wanted Kitty.
As though some divine power heard his thoughts, Kitty appeared in the doorway of the hall, looking absolutely stunning. The print dress she wore showed off her curvy figure, the jewel tones making her dusky skin glow the way it did after they made love. His heart lurched in his chest at the sight of her, his cougar thrilled to see her again.
Monk started across the hall as she hugged Ram and Daisy Lynn and took her place at their side along with Nick, Ram’s best man. Monk approached them, not liking the appreciative look in the tiger’s eyes. His cougar snarled out a warning that made Nick laugh and back away with his hands in the air.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Daisy Lynn asked Kitty as Monk walked up.
Kitty smiled at him, ignoring Daisy Lynn’s question. “Hey, Monk.”
He grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips, inhaling her sweet, musky scent. “You look gorgeous.”
She gave a little laugh. “Thanks.” She surveyed him, her gaze like a caress he felt beneath his dark suit. “And you clean up very, very well.”
There was a breathless quality to her voice that made Monk’s cock twitch. He recognized that sound, especially when it was accompanied by the sharp scent of her lust. He licked his lips. He’d planned for them to dance tonight, to act as though this was a real date, but those thoughts flew from his mind as he took in her dilated pupils and her nipples, which had tightened beneath her dress.
Daisy Lynn snapped her fingers in front of Monk’s face, breaking the trance Kitty’s arousal had put him in. “I’m trying to talk to my cousin,” she said loudly.
Monk let go of Kitty’s hand, but couldn’t resist slipping into line next to her, his hand sliding across her waist to rest on her lower back. The heat of her skin scorched him through the fabric of her dress. He wanted to tear it off her and bathe her with his tongue.
Kitty grimaced at Daisy Lynn. “I knew I shouldn’t have said anything,” she grumbled. Daisy Lynn glared at Kitty until she sighed. “It was nothing, really. I didn’t even get a ding on my car.”
That managed to break through Monk’s lustful thoughts. “What?”
She flicked him a wry glance. “I was driving to town when a truck came barreling around that curve right by the big oak tree. They nearly ran me off the road, but thanks to Nonc Thomas’ defensive driving lessons, I got out of their way.”
Monk couldn’t believe she was being so blasé about her near accident. He gripped her hand again and looked her over carefully while Daisy Lynn fired a round of questions like the cop she was. Kitty didn’t look hurt and the fine tremor in her hands abated the longer he held her.
“I’m fine, I’m fine! I think it was probably either a drunk driver or a kid who was afraid of losing control in the curve. But you might want to call one of the deputies on duty to let them know it was a dark four-door truck with off-road tires.” She shrugged. “It was too dark to see exactly what color it was though. I’m just glad it was me driving and not someone else. They might have been hurt.”
“You could have been hurt, you idiot,” Daisy Lynn breathed, her face white.
Kitty sighed and extracted her hand from Monk’s grip to hug her cousin. “I shouldn’t have said anything.” She pulled back to look at Daisy Lynn. “I swear I’m fine.” She glanced at Monk. “Could you get her a glass of champagne or something to help calm her down?”
“I’m fine,” Daisy Lynn muttered and gave Kitty another tight hug. “I’m fine. I’ll have Dad call one of the guys to look for the truck. Now, let’s get this over with so I can sit down. My feet are killing me.”
As the cranky bride-to-be turned back to greet more guests, Monk brushed a kiss over Kitty’s cheek, breathing in her scent. He felt just as frantic as Daisy Lynn did at the thought of something happening to her, but he was trying not to crowd his mate. She eyed him as if she expected him to freak out and while he wanted to pitch a fit, he held his shit together.
“I’ll see you in a little while,” he murmured against her ear, feeling her shiver. “I have a surprise for you.”
When he pulled back, her face was lightly flushed and her breathing a little faster. “I look forward to it.”
Monk winked at her and stepped out of the line. He had to find the perfect spot to seduce his exhibitionist mate.
* * * * *
It was a lot harder to pretend everything was fine than Kitty thought it would be. She’d sat in the parking lot for a few minutes to compose herself, the rest of the drive to the gym occurring without further incident, but she’d been a nervous wreck the entire time. She hadn’t lied to Monk and Daisy. If it hadn’t been for Nonc Thomas teaching her how to drive defensively, she would’ve flipped or crashed into the truck. And the driver hadn’t even stopped to see if she was okay, roaring away with a squeal of tires. She grimaced. She shouldn’t have told Daisy about it because her cousin had been on the verge of having a shit fit. To her surprise, Monk hadn’t said a word, although his eyes had glittered with concern.