The women continued the question and answer inside and the men circled Ayden outside.
"Who is she?” Joshua asked.
"Charlie is an old friend.” Ayden answered.
"No shit, spill it Wolf. A woman like that doesn't just fall from the sky on your doorstep without wings attached.” Joshua challenged him now.
"She is really hot.” Chase agreed.
"I second that notion.” Malcolm nodded.
"She looks like she stepped out of a
Victoria Secret
catalogue.
I know,
Grace has lots of them. And I have painted several of the women in them.” Ethan looked up at the back door to make sure they weren't going to get caught talking about this woman or they would all be on the porch tonight.
"She's a Vegas showgirl. Her sister was my first real case. Killed by a serial killer, I kept her safe, found the man who did it and Charlie has hero worship. A bad case of it.” Ayden huffed. They were still looking at him for more information. “Yes she is amazingly beautiful. But she is also smart, and quirky and afraid of crowds. Don't hover over her, don't stare at her and I'll break you in half if any of you touch her."
"Malcolm is the only one not married here Wolf, calm down.” Ethan laughed. Oh Charlie was more than just a friend all right. Ayden all but howled at them. If he was this defensive among friends and family he would be lethal to the general population of men in the area.
"I'm not on the make though, I have Stephanie. She's more than enough for me.” Malcolm held his hands up.
"What the hell does that mean?” Joshua growled at Malcolm.
"It means she is the love of my life, and I plan to marry her.” Malcolm wasn't as big as Joshua and he didn't want to fight with him. But Stephanie's big brother needed to realize that she was a grown woman, not a child.
"Congratulations man.” Chase put a solid hand on Malcolm's shoulder.
"She better be wearing white down that aisle.” Joshua growled.
"Look who's talking.” Ayden now growled at Joshua. “You thoroughly debauched my little sister."
"Oh contraire, your little sister
thoroughly
debauched me.” Joshua smiled.
He and Ayden were on the ground wrestling in a heartbeat.
"Gray go get your momma.” Ethan pointed his son to the door. Chase Jr. and Gray headed for the house, full of excitement.
Ethan tried to break them up but got elbowed and started wrestling himself. Chase tried to get Ethan and before they knew it everyone had a hold of everyone and it looked like a football pile up. By that time Ayden was on the bottom, followed by Ethan, Joshua, Malcolm then Chase. The women headed out side and Grace headed right for the pile.
"Up.” She grabbed Chase and Malcolm by the ear. They moved. “Next two?"
Ethan and Joshua scrambled before she could get a hold of them. But the Wolf was catching his breath. Grace bent down and stared him right in the eye.
"Ayden Wolf."
"Grace?” Ayden smiled as he pushed up to face her. Grace wasn't mean like Evelyn but she was known for pinching and grabbing an earlobe at an angle that no man liked. Evelyn had taught her well.
"You should be ashamed of yourself.” Grace lifted her eyebrow and pinched him on the arm. “Ashamed."
Ayden sat there confused for a long second. How did she know he started it? Or did she assume that because he was on the bottom of the pile? He took one look around the yard. All of the men were being scolded, hugged or pampered by their women, except him. Then he looked to the porch. There was Charlie, and damned if the sun hadn't cast a halo around her pale blonde head.
Charlie was really confused. She stepped outside and saw a pile up of pinching biting and twisting grown men acting like children. On the bottom of the pile, Ayden. She had never really seen him playful before. They all had marks from each other or from Grace. Charlie looked around and then looked at Ayden. She wasn't sure if she should go to him. Or just wait and see if he came to her. The women of the house seemed to have faith that if she gave it time and a concentrated effort she could indeed lure Ayden out of his den and capture her Wolf. Charlie hoped they were right.
Ayden pushed to his feet, dusted himself off and headed toward the porch. Charlie started walking toward him. She met him half way in the yard.
"What are you guys doing out here?” Charlie searched his eyes. They seemed more playful and free than she had ever remembered seeing them. She liked him this way.
"Just screwing around. Happens a lot when we get together. Too much testosterone in one small yard.” Ayden winked. “What were you gals doin’ in there?"
"Talking about you.” Charlie smiled.
"That can't be good.” Ayden huffed.
"Depends on how you look at it. I thought it was very good.” Charlie reached up and touched the scar on his eye. “How did this happen?"
"Joshua.” Ayden was surprised that she noticed. “I gave him that scar on his lip though. Don't worry."
"I'm not worried. I know if you wanted to you could kick all their asses.” Charlie dropped her hand. She realized that he was the only man there without a woman. What if he had a girlfriend? Maybe that's what kept him from showing up this year. “Are you always the odd man out at these things or is there another woman in your life? I don't want to mess up your plans for this week."
"I'm usually the odd man out. I'm used to it.” Ayden was used to it. And he didn't like it anymore. But Charlie was still too young. She could find plenty of men her age that would have more in common with her. Hell he didn't know what they had in common other than her sisters’ death.
"Well, you're not alone tonight.” Charlie took a deep breath and turned to walk back inside following the rest of the women.
Ayden swallowed that comment hard, digesting the meanings. He wasn't alone tonight. Charlie was here. And it had been so long, too long since he had the attention of a woman. All the men were in agreement that he was nuts for not snatching her up. Maybe he was.
But the life he had lived was dangerous. His father died because of a dangerous job. He wouldn't put a wife and kids through all that. But now he had nothing but time. Maybe he would spend some of it getting to know her. Give her a chance. Maybe, but first he had to figure out why she was here in the first place.
"You missed a perfect chance to kiss her.” Malcolm put a hand on Ayden's shoulder. “I know Stephanie wants me to kiss her if she puts her hands on my face. Unless I have food on my face, that happened once."
"Thanks for the advice.” Ayden snickered. Great now the kid was giving the old man advice. Malcolm was all of twenty-five years old. “I'd keep that out of Joshua's ear shot."
"I'm not afraid of the Big Dog. I know he can whip my ass. But I'm not backing down when it comes to Stephanie.” Malcolm shrugged. “She's waiting on his seal of approval. I know she is."
"You need to talk to Evelyn.” Ayden turned to the young man. “She's your only hope on that."
"She hates men.” Malcolm reminded him.
"No. She hates most men. She has softened a lot in the last year. Joshua can whip your ass, but Evelyn can whip us all.” Ayden nodded and headed inside. Charlie was spending too much time with the women. Not enough time with him.
Cara North began writing short stories as a child. Her first full length novel was written by hand in approximately seven different hard bound journals. Of course today she uses the computer. She is published in several different genres of romantic fiction, sweet romance, science fiction/fantasy, contemporary, and erotic romance. Both of her novel series’ will be released at Tease Publishing LLC.
Cara's goal is to continue winning readers over one by one and eventually make the NY Times Bestseller list. In a perfect world
The Beaufort Series
would be made into a movie. Ethan would be played by Josh Hartnett, Joshua by Jake Gyllenhaal, and Ayden by Ryan Reynolds. The heroines could be played by several talented actresses. Did you hear that Hollywood? I'm waiting...
In the meantime she lives with her own personal hero and husband, Chris. They share their home with two dogs, Brittany and Jonah, and two cats, Han-Solo and Shiva. Learn more about Cara at www.sirensandmuses.com or check out her MySpace at www.myspace.com/caranorthwriter
Yes, she blogs too, carolinanorth.blogspot.com