Chapter Three
Emelise
Two days after the very steamy kiss she shared with Caine, Emelise was at the Pard’s compound visiting with her grandmother. She’d just gotten herself an apartment and she would be heading to Phoenix the next day with Lily to get all of her things out of storage but she’d promised her grandmother she would have dinner with her so there she was. She was going to try her damnedest to avoid Caine. She was still in an emotional upheaval over the kiss they’d shared and the embarrassment she’d felt upon realizing she’d forgotten they had an audience. “Hello Mamere Eulalie,” she said when her grandmother opened the door for her.
“Hello, child. I’m glad you came for dinner. I thought you’d like to meet more of your family,” she told her because there were several people in the living room. “You’ve met Mia’s Mama, Eliza, but that’s her Papa, Efram, her sister’s Sophie, Adele, and Constance, and her brothers Beau, Auguste, Dempsey, and Julius. Eliza and Efram were blessed with two sets of twins, Mia and Julius and Adele and Auguste.”
Emelise was stunned. “I...had no idea I had such a big family. It was just me and Mama for so long, this is... a little overwhelming.”
“Don’t sweat it, cher, we don’t bite. Much,” Julius joked. “Call me Jules. It’s awesome to have you back in da family fold. When Mama filled us all in on ever’ting dat’s happened, we were pretty shocked, too. It’s not ever’ day you’re long lost cousin finds her way home.”
“I guess this is a bit of a shock to all of you as well. You can call me Eme, that’s what the people who matter to me call me.”
Sophie, the youngest at eight, approached her. “I made dis for you,” she said and held up a beaded bracelet. Each of her siblings had one already.
Eme smiled down at her. “Aw, thank you. It’s really pretty,” she said and slid it on her wrist. “How old are you, Miss Sophie?”
“I just turned eight last week. Mama says I’m gettin’ to be a big girl.”
“Yes you are. Well then, happy belated birthday. Soon enough you’ll be driving your Mama crazy wanting to stay up later and go out more,” Eme replied with a wink.
Sophie giggled. “I like your earrings,” she said, noticing the feathered earrings hanging from Emelise’s ears.
“I made these myself. I found an injured hawk when I was living in Phoenix and nursed it back to health, it left a few feathers behind and I thought they’d make awesome earrings.”
“Cool! It wasn’t ascared of you?”
“It was at first, but it settled when it realized it was safe.”
“Come on, Soph, it’s time to eat,” Eliza said to her daughter. “She gets excited easily,” she told Emelise.
“I was the same way when I was her age. Of course, some might say I still am easily excited,” she joked as she followed Eliza to the table. There was so much food laid out and before Emelise knew it her plate was piled high.
“So, Eme, what are your plans now dat you’re in New Orleans?” Beau asked.
“I purchased an old bar that’s been sitting empty for a few years and I’m converting it into a jazz and blues club.”
“You definitely picked da right city for dat kind of club,” Adele said with a soft laugh. “Da Big Easy is da home of Blues and Jazz.”
“Oh, I know. I’ve already got some potential acts lined up and when it gets a bit closer to opening I’m going to try to find local talent to give them a chance to shine too.”
“How are you financing dis endeavor?” It was Mia’s Papa, Efram, who spoke that time.
“Part of the money is money I’ve saved over the years because I’ve worked, by choice, since I was sixteen. The rest is from selling the house I grew up in back in Phoenix.”
“Dat couldn’t have been an easy decision. At least I know it wouldn’t be for me if I was in that position.”
Emelise looked at Eliza and shook her head. “It wasn’t but my Mama wouldn’t have wanted me to hold onto it just to let it sit empty.” She bit her lip a moment and turned to Eulalie. “Mama wanted to be cremated and then have her ashes scattered over her favorite area in the desert. I kept just a pinch, I’ve got them in a special box I had made, if you’d like them.”
Eulalie gave her granddaughter a somewhat sad smile. “No, child, you keep your Mama’s ashes, what you have left of dem. She’d want you to keep dem.”
“What was it like growing up in da desert?” Dempsey asked around a mouthful of food. He was twelve and like most boys, he couldn’t shovel the food fast enough.
“Dempsey Efram Lafluer you know better den to talk wit’ your mouth full!”
Dempsey swallowed what he had in his mouth and gave his mother a sheepish smile. “Sorry, Mama, sorry Mamere Eulalie.”
Emelise was enjoying this look into the family she’d never known about. She wondered what it was like having so many siblings, so many people in one house. Her own childhood had been fairly lonely and there were many times when she’d wished she had some siblings to play with. “It was really hot in the day time, but colder at night, especially in the winter. It’s not like the heat you have here, with all the moisture in the air. It’s a dry heat that can cause you to get heatstroke really fast if you aren’t careful because it will dry you out quicker than jerky over a fire,” she said with a wink at him.
They all cracked up at that. “You’re definitely one of us, cher,” Beau said after a moment.
Auguste nodded in agreement with his older brother. “She is. Dat’s someting Papere Buford used to say all da time.”
“So that’s where my Mama got it from. I always wondered about that but she didn’t like to talk about her past much.” She was quiet a moment. “I know she loved you though,” she said to her grandmother. “I remember a few times, when I was younger especially, I would hear her crying because she missed her Mama and Papa. She never regretted keeping me, but sometimes it was hard on her, especially during the holidays.”
“If I could go back in time and change tings, I would, child. I would have driven to where she was when she hung up on me, but I was afraid. I was afraid she’d slam da door in my face and I’d lose my Buford before I got back. He was so sick and we didn't know how much longer we'd have together in dis life. So I stayed and I lost da chance to make tings right wit’ her.”
“Don’t beat yourself up Mamere Eulalie,” Eliza said gently. “I don’t think Emelise told you dat just to upset you.”
Eme shook her head. “No, that wasn’t what I meant at all. I just wanted you to know she didn’t really hate you. She was hurt and she wanted to protect herself, and me, so she pushed you away when you called. I know that had to be why she did it. Life had taught her that no one stayed true, she couldn’t depend on anyone but herself, so she kept others at arm’s length. She didn’t even date, not after Sean Scotsdale, the only Papa I ever knew, left us six years after he moved in with us. He broke her heart and she just decided that was what people did.”
“That’s so awful,” Constance, the only one who hadn’t spoken yet, said. “I can’t even begin to imagine what it would be like to not have anyone else around. Having all dese brothers and sisters, it gets crazy sometimes, but I wouldn’t change it for anyting.”
“I was just thinking it must be something to have so many siblings. It got pretty lonely at times, being an only child. But Mama did her best, and I had a few friends. No one I could get really close to because they were human, but they were still friends.”
“How did you and Lily become friends?” Eliza asked.
“Lily lived in Phoenix for a while, before she ended up here in New Orleans. I was at the diner where Mama worked when she came in and we knew right away what the other was. She looked a little down at the time so I plopped down in the seat across from her with a strawberry shake and some curly fries, told her it was on the house, and introduced myself. We hit it off right away.”
“Lily seems to have a way of endearin’ herself to others,” Eliza agreed. “She did the same when she came to meet wit’ Caine. She wasn’t afraid to stand in front of him wit’ a bunch of leopards watchin’ her warily and by da time she left her and Mia were already makin’ plans to get together.”
Eme laughed “Sounds like Lily. I think it’s the Alpha female in her, it helps her to put others at ease.” She glanced at the time and groaned. “I should be getting out of here. I’ve got an early day tomorrow, but I promise I’ll be back to visit again soon.”
“Why don’t you just move to da compound?” Beau asked his cousin.
“Because I like my independence. Maybe if I’d grown up here I’d feel differently about it, but we can’t change the past, right?”
“As long as you come to visit, child, it doesn’t matter if you live here or not,” Eulalie told her granddaughter.
“Thanks. It was so great meeting all of you, it really was. I look forward to getting to know my extended family more,” Emelise said before she left to go find Remy. He was the one who had brought her there and he’d told her to let him know when she was ready to leave.
Caine
Caine was trying to work, emphasis on the word trying. His mind kept wandering to his mate and he wondered what she was doing. He really needed to get this trouble with the jaguars settled so he could focus on getting her where she belonged; in his arms and in his bed. With a frustrated growl he closed down his laptop and went outside. Maybe a run would help.
He was halfway across the compound when his gaze fell on a very familiar form. “Evenin’, Angel,” he growled as he approached her from behind.
Emelise turned quickly at the voice. “Hello, Caine.”
“What brings you into da bayou and were you really goin’ to leave wit’out sayin’ hello?” His gaze raked over her and his hands itched to pull her close so he could kiss her again.
“I was visiting with my grandmother and met the rest of Mia’s family, her dad and siblings. And, yeah, that was the plan. I just really don’t know what to do with you, Caine. You’re arrogant as hell, dominant, frustrating, and, okay, I admit it, you’re sexy as fuck. You make me a little crazy and I can’t cope with that right now. I have way too damn much going on at the moment with working on the club and trying to get to know the family I thought didn’t want me because my blood isn’t pure. I just don’t have the time to deal with you too.”
“At least you’re admittin’ you’re attracted, dat’s a start.” He reached out and brushed a wayward tendril of hair behind her ear. “Relax, cher, I’m not goin’ to pin you up against a wall and ravish you, even if dat’s exactly what I want to do. You’re a challenge, Emelise Rousseau, and I love challenges. But mark my words, Angel, I will have you in my bed begging for my cock, and it will be soon.” He saw Remy approaching and nodded. “See she gets back to New Orleans safe,” he told his lieutenant before he walked away from them. If he didn’t put distance between him and Emelise he was going to make a liar out of himself by pushing her against the nearest wall and devouring her mouth. She was just so fucking sexy and the heat in her eyes drove him insane with need.
Emelise
Fucking hell! Is the universe really so against me tonight?
“Took you long enough,” Emelise said with a glare when Remy finally joined her. She knew her cheeks were warm from Caine’s parting words and she was sure Remy knew whatever it was had also turned her on. That was the downside to being shifters; you could smell when someone was aroused. Damn the man for putting thoughts of them naked and sweaty together in her head.
“Sorry ‘bout dat, cher. We’ve had some run-ins wit’ da jaguars from over in Lafayette. One of our females was harassed earlier and I had to talk wit’ her.”
“Oh, shit, is she okay? That’s definitely more important than taking me back to the city.”
“She’s shaken up a bit but dey didn’t hurt her far as I know. If dey did, she ain’t talkin’.”
Emelise shivered. “I hope she’s okay.” Lily had told her the Pard was having some trouble with the jaguar clan but she hadn’t realized it was that bad. “Thanks for the ride back,” she said once they’d reached the docks where she’d left her car. “Maybe I should invest in a boat of my own and learn the route so I don’t have to bother anyone.”
“It’s not a bother, cher, but if you decide to do dat, let me know, I’ll hook you up wit’ a seller.” He glanced at her. “I’d offer to teach you how to drive a boat and teach you da route but I tink dat’s best left to your mate. My Alpha might get da wrong idea and I like my head attached to my body.”
Emelise rolled her eyes. “Yeah, he’s likely to go all neanderthal. Thanks again, Remy. Have a good night,” she said and headed to her car. A quick shower before bed was just what she needed to relax the tension in her shoulders. She had a long couple of days ahead of her.