In Deeper (18 page)

She appeared thoughtful for a moment. “Yeah, I think so. More minds are better than one…or three. When is he calling the meeting?”

“I’m not sure. I’ll ask him at lunch.” Micah rubbed his hand down her hip and curved it around her buttock. “Are you sore?”

She winced and nodded. “A little.”

He moved lower, massaging the tight muscles of her thighs. “If it makes you feel better, it was a struggle to catch you.”

She grinned. “I wanted you to.”

The sight of her amused face made his heart beat in triple time. He loved this woman, like crazy loved her. “When this is all over, I’m taking you on a date.”

Her smile gradually faded. “A real date?”

“Yeah.” He slowed his hand, the massage becoming more of a gentle caress. “Dinner and a movie. Are you up for it?”

She bit her lip, almost shy. “Micah Randolph, are you asking me to go steady?”

He laced his fingers with hers and held her hand tightly to her side. “I don’t think I’m asking. I’m telling you that you’re all mine.”

She made a face of mock indignation, but he lowered his head and kissed the expression away. When he pulled away, he spoke the words he’d always held back. “Celeste Proctor, will you go on a date with me?”

She nodded, her eyes shining with happiness. “Name the date and time, and I’ll be there.”

“As soon as this is over.” He lifted their linked hands and placed a kiss upon her knuckles. “I want everyone to see you on my arm and know we are real.”

* * *

Later, after Micah had gone to join his family, Celeste sat cross-legged on his bed, balancing her laptop on her knees and holding a cup of coffee in her right hand. She brought up Proctor Publications’ web page to remotely access her business e-mails, but a headline on the default page gave her pause.

She hit the back button on the browser and waited for the images to load. When they did, she sucked in a shocked breath. There she was, in high definition, wrapped in Drake’s embrace. The headline “Proctor Heiress and Ex-Boyfriend on Again!” made her pulse pound with fury. Someone was doing this on purpose, trying to ruin her reputation and sabotage her company. But who?

She went back to the Proctor web site and clicked on the page that showcased her employees. She reviewed one smiling face after another. One of them was a traitor, but who was it? Her head ached with the remnants of poison, but anger made her more determined than ever.

She opened up the remote access system and keyed in her password. Her in-box displayed several e-mails. She scrolled through the unread messages, quickly finding the one she sought. Opening it, she gritted her teeth.

“Exchanging one brother for another,” it read. “Not very smart of you, Celeste.”

Her mouse hovered over the delete button, but at the last moment, she forwarded it to Drake. Micah had asked her to trust them, let them help her. If she wanted a relationship with him, she had to learn to let others in.

She opened up a new message and typed her assistant’s name into the blank recipient line. Karl could pass the information along and scan her any important correspondence that came in the snail mail. His reply was almost instantaneous. Satisfied that he would handle her requests, she set aside the laptop and went in search of Micah.

She found him downstairs, sitting on the deck with his brothers. The three of them together was such a familiar sight. Three tanned, toned shifters who were almost too beautiful to be real, but she only had eyes for Micah. He stood when she approached, snagging her around the waist and pulling her in close for a kiss. “Hey.”

“Hey.” She enjoyed his embrace before slipping away. “I received another message.”

Drake held up his cell. “We’ve seen it.”

She glanced at Micah, surprised that he hadn’t seemed upset by the communication. Her attention moved back to Drake. “This has to stop. Micah told me you wanted to meet with the Society. Let’s do it.”

Drake shoved his sunglasses to the top of his head and studied her. “OK. I’ll have them come here. It’s not safe to take you out. Not until we figure out what we’re dealing with here.”

“And I’ll be fully involved.” It was her one selling point. It was her life. Her company. They wouldn’t railroad her out of the meeting.

“Of course,” Micah answered before his brother. “Full cooperation. Right, Drake?”

The alpha shot a quick look at him before nodding. “Certainly, Celeste. You’ll be there and have a say in any decision.”

“The gala is the day after tomorrow. When is the meeting?”

Drake’s expression cooled. “Tonight. There’s not much time to spare.”

There wasn’t much time at all. Her dreams were being forced out of reach, and it wasn’t fair, damn it. If they didn’t solve the mystery, months of work would be for naught. Just the thought of all the people she’d disappoint made her want to scream.

“So we basically have one day to find the dickhead?”

Max chuckled and lifted his sweet tea glass to her in a salute. “Pretty much.”

She wasn’t aware when the youngest brother had returned. She directed a warm smile at him. “Welcome home.”

Max returned her smile, but his eyes lacked their usual warmth. Odd really, but she had bigger concerns to deal with. She turned her attention to Micah. “Can I see you?”

He stood, and she sucked in a breath at the sheer masculinity of his appearance. He wore swim trunks, his hair damp and tousled by the ocean breeze, and his tanned muscles were on full display. The trunks hung low on his slim hips, displaying the smooth expanse of his lower belly and the faint line of hair leading to his happy trail.

He grabbed her hand and tugged her around the corner, safely out of view of his brothers, and pulled her into his arms. “Hey, gorgeous.”

She weakened. Everything she’d meant to say to him went flying right out of her mind. It was too much, standing next to him, folded in his embrace, and dazed by the sexy smirk on his lips. “Hey.”

He kissed her, but it was mercifully quick. If he’d lingered, she would’ve thrown caution to the winds and seduced him with his brothers only a few steps away. Dipping his knees, he put his eyes on level with hers. “What’s wrong?”

She remembered why she’d sought him out in the first place. “You’re not mad about the picture, are you?”

His expression tightened. “Should I be? It was a long time ago, right?”

A sigh left her. “The reminder of my time with Drake has to sting, but it was several years ago.”

“Shit, Celeste. I was there the day of the picture. It hurt more when the scene played out right before my eyes; trust me on that. A picture won’t make me change my mind. Not now. I won’t say I’m happy seeing his hands on your ass, but what else can I do?”

It wouldn’t be easy, but she’d hoped they wouldn’t have to face it so early in their relationship. “The position I’m in is no different from yours. People will say what they want, do anything they can to sell magazines. Thankfully Proctor Publications doesn’t stoop so low as to put out gossip rags, but when our names are linked, there will be rumors. I can handle it.”

He kept his gaze on hers. “Can you? When I leave for another tour, or go to record an album, are you going to trust me to be faithful? Or will every false headline you read make you doubt me?”

She didn’t pause to consider his question. “Of course I can trust you.”

“Then I’ll do the same. Drake is your past. I get that. There’ll be people who throw it in our faces whenever possible. I get that too. I’m the one who knows where you’re spending your nights. I’m not letting you go. Not now. It’s too late for that, so if you’re trying to break it off—”

She placed a finger across her lips. “Never. I’m not trying to do anything like that. I want to be with you. Always have. Now I’m with you, I’m not planning on letting you go. So we’re agreed on that point.”

He took her hand and threaded their fingers together. “Then let’s find this dickhead and save your party. I’m ready for our first date.”

A smile teased the edges of her lips. Even aggravated that the picture had slipped out, and that her gala may be a bust, he made her happy.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

The members of the Secret Society of Savannah Lycanthropes milled around the patio and pool area. Drake had disguised the meeting as an impromptu cocktail party, hoping whoever was watching Celeste wouldn’t realize what was going on.

Micah stood in the center of it all, dressed in a suit and tie, and nursed a lukewarm bottle of beer. Max had already progressed to the hard liquor, a strange move for his clearheaded brother to make. Micah didn’t have time to worry about his twin. The threat to his woman was all he considered right then. Leo’s involvement was troublesome.

None of the lycans here tonight had ever crossed a lion shifter. Most of the feline shifters stuck to the metro areas, places like Atlanta or Dallas. They avoided the beach scene. So if Leo was on Tybee Island, he shouldn’t be hard to find, especially once Drake involved the members of the Society.

He’d invited every member, even the associates. Hundreds of people crowded the deck; some had even ventured onto the sand and played at the ocean’s edge. Music played in the background, some annoyingly cheerful pop album Emma had produced from her collection. Micah took a swallow from his bottle and allowed the mellow taste to soothe his worries. He needed to get back to his music. The tour had helped sales, but they wouldn’t survive on the success of their first album forever.

He lifted the bottle again and cut his gaze toward the sliding glass doors where a vision in red had just appeared: Celeste.

The dress she wore was tight. Delightfully so. The hem hit mid-thigh, and a deep V in the front displayed perfect, golden skin and the ample curves of her breasts. The red fuck-me heels she’d worn in Atlanta were once again on her feet.

His dick jerked to attention. Jesus fucking Christ, was she trying to kill him?

He shifted his stance and hoped no one would see the erection he sported. Celeste caught sight of him and made her way to his side. Her hair was loose about her shoulders, the ends flattened straight and spilling like a golden waterfall down her back. So many parties before, so many nights he’d watched her appear at a party like this, a vision in the latest fashions, and approach Drake. Tonight it was he who had all her attention.

She held his gaze as she snagged champagne from the tray of a passing waiter and lifted it to him in a salute. She took a sip and lowered the glass, never once breaking eye contact. When she reached him, her crimson lips parted in a wide smile, and the scent of flowers rushed over him. Roses would always remind him of Celeste, exotic and beautiful.

“Nice dress,” he commented.

She slid a hand around his waist and cupped his hip. “Dance with me.”

He deposited his bottle and her glass on the tray of another endlessly circulating waiter and took her hand. The dance floor was set up near the pool, the lounge chairs shoved aside to allow space for a few couples to enjoy the music.

Once she was in his arms and swaying to the soft beat of the music, he bent his head to whisper into her ear. “Are you sure you’re ready to let the Society know about us?”

She turned her head to trap his gaze with hers. “Absolutely.”

The night was perfect. Stars blanketed the sky, and a cool breeze wafted in from the ocean. Soon it would be fall and already a hint of coolness lingered in the air. The end of summer had always been bittersweet for him. The thought of having Celeste to cozy up to in the winter made it bearable. Beneath the stars, with the sound of waves crashing on the shore, and to the strains of a piano playing in the background, he kissed her.

The moment was perfect. Utterly and completely perfect.

Until the screech of a female voice ruined it. “Oh my God! You and Celeste?”

Micah sighed against Celeste’s lips before lifting his face and greeting his sister. “Hey, Alyssa.”

The new bride moved her astonished gaze from him to Celeste and back again. “Seriously? I’m gone for one month, and this is what happens?”

Drake joined them, and he touched Alyssa’s shoulder. “Don’t make a scene. Micah is with Celeste. That’s all the information you need right now.”

“You’re OK with this?” Alyssa directed a belligerent glare to her oldest brother.

Drake chuckled. “Why wouldn’t I be? And you should be too. Emma is in the kitchen, driving the wait staff crazy with her last-minute details. Why don’t you go help her?”

Alyssa narrowed her eyes, but she nodded. “Fine, but I demand the whole story when I get back.”

After she’d stomped away, Micah lifted an eyebrow at his brother. “You invited Alyssa?”

“She and Chase wanted to spend a couple weeks here before Labor Day anyway, so yes. Figured we could use all the help we could get.” Drake gave a sympathetic grimace. “I didn’t realize Emma hadn’t told her about you two yet. Wonder how she kept that a secret? I’ll make sure she stays out of your way until the morning. Then you’ll just have to deal with her thousand questions.”

“Thanks,” Micah responded. “Just throw me at the wolves, why don’t you? Pardon the pun.”

“Let me handle Alyssa. I’ll fill her in. To be honest, I’ll enjoy the girl talk. Something to take my mind off everything that’s been happening.” Celeste still held him, her arm tight around his waist.

He encircled her shoulders and pulled her close. A couple. They were actually a couple. Would the happiness ever fade? Or would every day of the rest of his life be like this, where he woke up and thanked heaven she wanted him?

Drake glanced around the crowd and gave a decisive nod. “We should get down to business. Help me gather everyone on the patio.”

Micah and Celeste pulled apart. He headed for the beach, while she moved around the deck. Working together, they urged everyone in a tightly formed group. Drake stood at the head of it all and held his hand up for silence. The murmurs and conversation ceased, all attention moving to the alpha.

“Thank you for coming tonight. I want everyone to enjoy themselves, but I have a purpose in gathering all of you. The Society prides itself on helping its members, and one of our members is in desperate need of help.”