by Donna Grant
Still, it didn’t stop the ache inside him for someone to share his life with.
“You’ve been here only a year. I’m sure you’ll figure it out soon enough,” he said briskly and turned away once more.
The words were like acid on his tongue, but it had been necessary. For himself and the beautiful and tempting Davena. He wasn’t sure he could keep his distance. The words, as well as his brisk tone should make Davena rethink getting to know him.
It was what he wanted. Why then did he feel like shit for doing it?
Beau lengthened his strides to the checkout and set his basket down. Waiting for each item to be scanned and packaged felt like an eternity. He hastily tossed down some money and grabbed the bags as he hurriedly walked from the store.
Once inside his truck, he clutched the steering wheel, closed his eyes, and thought of Davena. Her face materialized in his mind, showcasing every detail. Right down to the flecks of gold in her eyes.
He sighed and snapped his eyes open. The sooner he forgot about her the better. Distance was his friend at the moment. Beau started the truck and backed away. He pulled out onto the road heading home, but even with music blaring through the speakers, he could still hear Davena’s voice in his head.
~ ~ ~
Davena watched Beau driving away. She hadn’t needed anything in the store, and it hadn’t been an accident running into him. Well, it had sort of been an accident.
She had been trying to find a way to run into him. Before she knew it, she had been so absorbed in her thoughts of how, that she had done just that. Literally. She had ended up in his arms and looked up into blue eyes so bright and vibrant that it was all she saw. They were penetrating, piercing. It was almost as if he peered into the depths of her soul.
Perhaps it was the whispers around town about the Chiassons that first caught her attention, but once she saw the tall, dark-headed Beau, nothing else mattered. After that, she was always looking for some glimpse of him and hoping that she might get to talk to him one day.
Davena didn’t know if it was the secrecy around the Chiasson family, or how others tended to keep their distance from them, but she was curious to know more. It didn’t hurt that Beau made her heart skip a beat and her stomach do that fluttery stuff that felt as if she were on a roller coaster.
All of the Chiasson brothers were good looking, but Beau stood out. From what she had seen, he was a little more reserved than the other three brothers. Vincent, the eldest, kept everyone and everything in check. Often by his side was the dark-haired beauty, Olivia. It was rumored that a wedding would soon be coming.
Then there was Lincoln. He was the one who wore the easy smile, the one who was never far from the beautiful flame-haired attorney that had set up a new practice here in town. The love shining between the two was so obvious that Davena wondered why they weren’t married yet.
Next up was Christian. He could be seen teasing his family, but with one look, he could stop a person in their tracks. To Davena’s knowledge, no woman was attached to either Christian or Beau.
She thought of Beau’s deep brown hair with its streaks of bronze from his time in the sun. Her fingers itched to run through the strands, to see if they were as silky as they looked. And the length. She’d always had a thing for guys with long hair. Beau’s came to just below his jaw, giving him a devil-may-care appearance.
“Damn, but he’s hot,” she mumbled to herself.
Davena turned once his silver truck was out of sight. The lone cashier, a thirty-something woman with dirty blonde hair and dark eyes was staring at her with a look of disapproval.
“You’ll stay away from those Chiasson boys if you know what’s good for you,” she stated with a sneer.
“And why is that?” Davena wanted to know why the entire parish was almost half-scared of the Chiasson family. What was it about them? They looked innocent enough.
“Heed my warning,” the woman said. “If you want to stay alive, you’ll keep your distance from that family. Even the sister was wise enough to leave.”
Sister. Beau had a sister? That was the first Davena had heard of it, but then she had been focused on Beau.
Davena didn’t bother to respond to the cashier as she walked back out into the rain. As soon as she returned to the veterinary clinic, Delia looked up from the receptionist desk with irritation.
“What?” she asked.
Delia rolled her eyes. “You know what. You went chasing after a guy. We’re supposed to be working.”
“And why not?” Davena leaned her forearms on the chest high counter and peered over the side to see what Delia was typing. “We’ve been safe for a year. Delphine thinks we’re dead. Everything is fine, and I haven’t shown any interest in a guy, unlike you.”
“Fine?”
Davena bit back a sigh at the anger and resentment in her sister’s voice. It was the same argument they’d had since the night they had run from their home.
“Nothing is fine,” Delia stated. “Our mother was murdered, and we didn’t even get to go to the funeral. Her killer is running around free as a bird.”
“You want to try and stop-” Davena paused to look around the office and then whispered, “Delphine?”
Delia met her gaze. “We could try.”
Davena couldn’t hold back a laugh. “You’re insane. We have nothing to fight against her magic.”
The door opened with the next client before Delia could say more in response. Davena hurried to the back, thankful that the conversation was over. She wasn’t fool enough to think Delia would drop it entirely, though.
Davena stopped in front of the cages filled with dogs and cats. The dogs, tails wagging, came to the front looking for some attention. Most of the cats remained asleep, while a couple deigned to crack open an eye at her, stretch, and then slip a paw through the bars to get her notice.
She lavished affection on each of them. She had always been partial to animals, so it had been fortunate that a position had been open at the animal clinic. Even more opportune was the fact that the doctor paid her in cash. It had taken a few months, but as soon as the receptionist left, Davena was able to get Delia hired on, as well.
It wasn’t that Delia needed someone to watch her all the time, but she didn’t always think things through. She wanted revenge for what happened to their mother. So did Davena, but she understood that to go up against a Voodoo priestess as powerful as Delphine meant certain death.
She wasn’t ready to die. There was still so much of her life in front of her that may or may not include a husband and a family.
But to Delia, the only thing that mattered was killing Delphine.
With Delia working at the vet’s, Davena could watch her somewhat. Her free time was severely cut down, which allowed Davena to sleep better at night, as well.
“Davena!” Delia shouted from the front
She gave the cat she had been petting one more scratch beneath his chin before she returned to her job. Davena opened the door and smiled at the elderly woman with her overweight dog. “Let me get Boomer weighed in,” she said and lifted the chunky Maltese.
Even as she spoke soothing words to the dog, Davena couldn’t stop her thoughts from drifting to Beau Chiasson with his captivating eyes and gentle touch.
CHAPTER TWO
Beau had just finished chopping the onion and bell pepper and moved on to the garlic when the back door opened and Vincent walked in. Beau glanced up at his eldest brother, noting the smile that was a constant on his face of late.
It hadn’t been so long ago that Vincent had thought to live his life alone. Then Olivia returned to Lyons Point, and everything changed.
“It’s all set for tonight,” Vin said as he pulled out a chair and sat at the table.
Beau nodded. “Which area do I have?”
“I thought we’d all stay together this time.”
Beau stopped chopping and turned his head to Vincent. “Since when? We cover more ground when we split up.”
“That’s a fact, and we’ve all been pretty lucky in keeping our injuries to a minimum. I think we should be more careful now, though.”
“Ah.” Beau understood all too well that this was about Olivia and Ava.
Vincent’s forehead creased. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It doesn’t mean anything.”
“Spit it out, runt.” Though Vincent’s words were said in jest, his tone had taken a hard note.
Beau set down his knife and faced him. “It means, that you’re thinking has shifted from protecting the parish to protecting Olivia, just as Lincoln is now thinking the same about Ava. Don’t get me wrong, I like Olivia and Ava, and I understand.”
“But,” Vin urged.
Beau looked around the kitchen remembering when they were children how they would all pile in there and watch their mother cook while their father readied his weapons for the night.
He swallowed and shoved aside the memory. “But nothing has changed for me, or Christian. The house and land are more protected than any other place for thousands of miles. If you and Linc want to stick close to your women, then do it. I still think we should split up.”
“Just last week we killed that swamp monster, and that took all four of us. If we hadn’t all been together, it could’ve killed whoever stumbled upon it.”
“I know.” Beau watched his brother, waiting to see what he would say next.
Vincent let out a deep breath and placed his hands on the table before he pushed to his feet. “Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
“No. We have a job to do. Isn’t that what you told us when Mom and Dad were killed? Didn’t we all step in and do our parts? That’s all I’m trying to do now.”
“We took risks. Too goddamn many risks!” Vincent shouted. “I don’t want to bury another member of my family, Beau. Can’t you see that?”
Anger Beau didn’t even know had been bubbling within him exploded. “And I don’t want any more people to needlessly die like Olivia’s parents because we were grouped together over worry that one of us might get hurt!”
“That’s enough. Both of you,” came Christian’s calm voice from the door.
Beau glanced toward the door to find Lincoln standing beside Christian. They walked further into the kitchen with Lincoln leaning against the wall, and Christian moving to the stove to see what was cooking.
Lincoln fingered the hilt of one of his Bowie knives strapped to his leg. “Both of you are right. We tried to tell you that, but the shouting was out of control.”
“I’m surprised Olivia and Ava didn’t come running in here,” Christian said with a chuckle.
Vincent ran a hand through his long, dark hair and sat back down. “I just want to keep the family I have.”
“We all do,” Lincoln said, his blue eyes briefly meeting Beau’s.
Beau turned back around and picked up his knife. He began to dice the garlic and felt Christian’s gaze. He shot a glance at his brother and raised a brow. “What?”
“What’s really bothering you?”
He wouldn’t – couldn’t – tell them about Davena. Vincent and Lincoln would encourage him, because if they could find women who understood what they did, then so could he.
The fact was, he wanted them to push him into going to her. It was that and that alone that kept him quiet. Both Olivia’s and Ava’s life had been in danger, and luckily both Vin and Linc had been able to save them.
But what if they hadn’t?
Beau knew it would’ve completely destroyed both of his brothers. They were strong, determined men, but their hearts belonged to their women. If those women were killed...it would end them.
Their mother’s murder had shattered their father. His grief had made him reckless, and that’s what got him killed the same night. In one fell swoop, the five Chiasson children had become orphans. Beau told the others he didn’t remember much of that night because he had been protecting their sister, Riley, but he remembered every second of it.
Love was so powerful it could do amazing things. Losing that kind of love, however, could obliterate someone as it had their father.
“Beau?” Lincoln called.
He swallowed and moved the diced garlic into the pan with the olive oil and onion to sauté. “I’m fine.”
“Bullshit,” Christian said.
Vincent’s hand hit the table with a slap. “You can’t fool us.”
“True,” Lincoln said. “You might as well tell us. We’ll be on your ass until you do.”
Beau dumped the chopped chicken breast into the pot. “Any word from our cousins? Was that bitch of a priestess taken care of?”
There was a stretch of silence, and Beau knew that behind him his brothers were looking at each other trying to determine whether to let him change the subject or not.
“Solomon called,” Vin said. “They released Delphine after she vowed to leave Ava and Jack alone.”
Lincoln gave a shake of his head. “I’m most grateful for that, but they could’ve had her reverse the curse upon the LaRue line.”
“They’ve been werewolves for so long they probably didn’t think it mattered,” Christian said.
Beau snorted derisively. “I saw the way Solomon acted with Kane. It matters. They want the curse gone.”
“They’re making do hunting in and around New Orleans just as we do,” Vincent said. “We survive, and so do they.”
“Speaking of surviving,” Christian said. “Instead of all of us staying together or separating, let’s pair up.”
Beau stirred the food and let his brothers sort out who was going where. It wasn’t long before Ava and Olivia came down and joined the conversation.
It made him cognizant of the fact that so very much had changed. The last time female laughter had been in the house it had been Riley’s. God how he missed his sister, but he agreed with Vincent that she needed to be as far from Lyons Point as possible.
Out of all of them, Riley had a chance at a normal life, and all four brothers were going to see that she got it. She made no secret of her anger at not being able to return home, but Vin came up with valid reasons to keep her in Austin as she finished her degree.
“It’s odd, isn’t it?” Christian said as he leaned against the counter near Beau.
“What’s odd?”
“This,” Christian said with a jerk of his chin to the table where the two couples sat.
Beau glanced over his shoulder and shrugged. “Mom and Dad would be happy.”
“Without a doubt. As much as I like the girls, I think we might want to think of moving out.”
Beau met Christian’s gaze and nodded. “I’ve been thinking the same thing lately. I feel like the third wheel most of the time. They want their privacy, and I think they do things because we’re around.”
“I know they do,” Christian replied with a grin. “They’d rather be having sex than watching movies with us.”
Beau chuckled and elbowed Christian in the arm. “Both Vin and Linc will argue that we remain. They’ll say there are enough rooms.”
“There are enough rooms, but that still doesn’t make it right.”
“Nor does living in sin, as Maria puts it,” Beau said, smiling as he thought of Olivia’s grandmother.
Christian’s smile widened. “Maria is getting her wedding to plan. It’s still a few months off yet though.”
“I’d just as soon elope than plan something big if it were me.” As soon as the words left his mouth, Beau regretted them.
Christian’s brow rose as he regarded him. “Is that so? Who are you considering?”
“No one. I was just making a statement.”
“You lie for shit, Beau. You’ve been thinking about it.”
He shot Christian a withering look. “Of course I have, dumbass. It’s all Olivia and Ava can talk about, and when they aren’t talking about it, Vincent and Lincoln are. I bet any day Linc proposes to Ava. Then there will be two weddings being planned.”<
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“Just kill me now,” Christian said sarcastically as he dropped his head back to look at the ceiling. “Do you know I couldn’t sit down in the media room the other night because of all the wedding magazines and notebooks? There were color swatches everywhere.”
“Hell, I didn’t even know what a swatch was until Ava brought them to Olivia and patiently explained them to me. In minute detail,” Beau said with a sigh.
Christian grunted as he folded his arms across his chest. “Remember when we didn’t have to worry about watching those chick flicks or having room for our beer in the fridge because of their vitamin water?”
Beau wondered if Davena liked beer. Then he grew angry because he shouldn’t care what she liked or didn’t like. She wasn’t part of his life and never would be.
“You’re doing it again,” Christian said.
“What?”
“Scowling.”
Beau opened his mouth to argue the point when he realized he was doing just that. He relaxed his face and concentrated on the meal.
Christian walked to the fridge and pulled out two beers. He opened them and handed one to Beau. “Who is she?”
“There isn’t anyone.”
“Remember when I said you lie for shit. You’re doing that again too.”
“Don’t you have someone else to bother?”
Christian smiled before he took a long drag of the beer. “Nope. Out with it.”
Beau wanted to tell him about Davena. Christian would be the voice of reason, the voice that set him straight on removing her from consideration for his future. Yet he didn’t.
“I realized today that you were right.”
“Holy shit,” Christian said and took a step back in mock surprise. “It’s only taken twenty-some odd years to hear that from you. As your older brother, I can say I’m proud of you,” he said and put his hand on Beau’s shoulder.
Beau jerked away from him and frowned. “You’re a dick.”