Redemption is Here (An FBI/Romance Thriller Book 9) (39 page)

He started laughing. “You’re going to cook that baby yet,” he stated.

Elizabeth couldn’t help it. Charlie liked spicy.

Once more, she was prisoner to the fetus.

             
                  *     *     *

Tony was incredibly excited. He couldn’t believe that he was finally getting ready for his date. While he didn't bring any fancy clothes, he could pull off something appropriate for an evening out with a beautiful woman.

In the bathroom, he shaved
, putting on the finishing touches to get ready. He could hear Jaxon wandering around in her room doing the same thing.

Tonight
, there was one main mission bouncing around in his mind. He was going to try and get her back into his room again. The way she felt pressed against him made his heart pound. This was like nothing he had ever felt before.

Yeah, he needed her.

At this point, she’d become his compulsion. As Elizabeth discussed the scenario of what the men would do if their woman left them, he completely understood their rationale. If Jaxon left, he’d crawl on glass to get to her.

He couldn’t believe he was saying this, but he wanted her more than he desired breathing. She just called to him
on some deep level that he didn't understand.

It was like she was meant to be his.

Finishing up, he headed out to the small living room to wait for her. Having dinner was going to the pinnacle of this trip. When Jaxon declared she’d never had a boyfriend before, he knew what he needed to do.

He was going to be her first.

Yeah, and he hoped her last.

Now,
Tony only hoped he could convince her of that.

Jax
on was as nervous as hell. As she slipped into the black leather pants and heels, she couldn’t believe she was going to get some time alone with Tony. Whenever she was by his side, there was this compulsion to move into his body. Not only for protection, but because he smelled so damn good.

Her fingers went to her lips as she recalled the kiss they
had shared.

If there was a higher power, then she’d be granted her one wish. Tonight, she wanted to feel that again.

Tucking in the emerald green top, Jax stared into the mirror. Well, it was the best she could do in Devil’s Lake. Hopefully, it would be enough to catch herself a sexy anthropologist.

Jaxon laughed. Yeah,
that was completely insane, but she couldn’t help herself.

In her mind, Jagger’s words kept replaying.

It was most definitely time to start living for half the day.

Pulling the door open, she clicked her way across the wood floor to the waiting man. When he heard her coming, he got up from the couch.

Tony couldn’t help but stare.

She looked so beautiful.

The green of the shirt made her hair a deeper red, and the black leather pants showed off the lean lines of her body. Then, there were the shoes.

Holy shit!

His blood pressure surged.

“Do I look okay?” she asked, taking in his dark
shirt and khaki pants. Tony Magnus looked absolutely sexy.

Crossing to
Jaxon, he stopped in front of her. “You look perfect,” he admitted.

Hearing her brother’s words, she did something impulsive. Moving into his body, Jaxon took a chance. She kissed him.

At first Tony froze, not expecting it. Then, his body roared to life. Wrapping his arms around her, Tony held her to him. Yeah, tonight, she was sleeping with him.

There was no doubt.

After this kiss, there was no way he was going to be able to let her go. Maybe it was instinctual, or more, but she was going to be his.

He
knew it in his heart.

Slowly,
Jaxon broke the kiss.

“Wow, that was pretty amazing,” he admitted, sliding his fingers from her hair to wipe a smudge of lipstick from her skin.

When she did the same thing, his heart skipped.

“Yes, it was.”

Tony wanted to stay like that the rest of the night. She fit perfectly against him. Pressed to his body, they felt like one.

This was his light bulb moment. Finally,
he got it.

The feelings which were surging through his body were what Chris Leonard had tried to e
xplain so many times. Until that moment, he didn't know what he meant. Now that he’d held her in his arms, kissed her, and fallen hard, he understood.

“Should we go?” she asked, still clinging to his body. It was damn hard to focus
, since she was picturing him topless and freshly rumpled from sleep.

Yeah, she loved this ‘living’ thing.

It felt amazing. Once more, Jagger had been one hundred percent right.

“Yeah, we should,” he replied, releasing her body. The second she stepped away, he felt bereft.

Becoming bolder, since her kiss wasn’t rebuked, she took his hand in hers. At first his body tensed, but then he grinned down at her.

“I can’t wait for tonight to begin,” she said excitedly.

He had news for her. “It’s already begun.”

             
                  *     *     *

Well, where Elizabeth had expected
‘Bubba’s’
to be a total dive, it wasn’t. Half of it was indeed a bar, but the other half was a pub like restaurant. Apparently, it was popular too, because the parking lot was packed.

Callen held her hand in his as they headed for the door. Once inside, the hostess seated them. From the
ir table, they had a bird’s eye view of the bar. That worked for them, since they needed to observe their surroundings.

Where Callen had expected to be one of the few Natives in the place, he was wrong. There was a good mix throughout the bar and restaurant.
At least he wouldn’t be standing out like a sore thumb.

“Should we order?” he asked, picking up a menu. “You’re in luck. They have wings so hot, Charlie’s going to try and crawl out of your body,” he teased.

That made her snort. “How about you order an appetizer, and when Ethan arrives, we’ll get our food on.”

Callen knew what a free-for-all that was going to be. When Elizabeth didn't eat all day, she could take down her meal and both of theirs. He had better order somethings she’d like to eat.

“Works for me, angel.”

When the waitress approached, Callen ordered a beer and water for Elizabeth. After ordering
some nachos, Elizabeth jumped right into work.

“Can you tell me who owns this place?” she asked.

The waitress smiled. “Yeah, Katheryn Drake does. She bought the joint a couple years ago.”

“Is she here?” Elizabeth asked. “Don’t worry, it’s not about you,” she reassured, once the waitress looked nervous. “I just need to talk to her
about one of her customers.”

“She’s working the bar, ma’am. I don’t think I can pull her away.
That side of the place is pretty busy this time of night. It’s happy hour.”

“
That’s okay,” she replied, scanning the people there. There was a man and woman. By process of elimination, she narrowed in on her target.

Callen dropped his arm around her shoulders and began nibbling on her ear. “You smell really good, Lyzee.”

The second his body touched hers, she went all warm. “Mmmmm, so do you, Cal darlin’. I can’t wait until later.”

“What happens then?” he asked, as her hand slid up his thigh. Hidden from the view of the rest of the place, she stroked him through his jeans.

When he moaned in her ear, she grinned. “Tonight, I’m going to have my fun with you both and tomorrow too.”

He stared at her. “What’s tomorrow?”

Elizabeth laughed maniacally. “That’s when I get to play dress up and make you into my suit monkey, and your brother into my jean clad toy.”

He laughed. “Here, I thought you forgot.”

She snickered wickedly. “Hell no, Callen. I’ve been waiting for this little win for the longest time. I’m going to savor it and snap pictures to commemorate it.”

Leaning over, he kissed her. She owned his heart, and he knew she was trying to keep it light for his benefit. The kiss was in no way appropriate for a restaurant, but
he didn't care. Tucked beneath his arm, Callen had peace.

Finally pulling
away, he ran the pad of his thumb across her cheek. “I adore you with everything in me.”

“What a coincidence. I adore when you’re in me too
,” she teased.

He snorted. “You’re
all riled up tonight.”

“
Hell yeah, I am! Right now, I’m going to use some of this energy to find the owner,” stated Elizabeth. When he lifted his brow to protest, she pointed. “You had your one outburst today. Save it for tomorrow,” she warned, sliding out of the booth.

He really couldn’t comment. Elizabeth had cut him a break. Watching
her walk away, Callen thanked his lucky stars that she was his. There was no doubt Elizabeth put a little sway in that walk, just for him.

Yeah, and he appreciated it.

Glancing down at his watch, he sent a text to his brother. He had to be on his way there by now. Once he arrived, they’d start their evening and just be a happy couple. It would be nice to have all three of them enjoy a meal together.

It was always fun.

When he received the confirmation that Ethan was in route, he relaxed. He didn't like his woman away from him in a crowded bar, but he could see her from there.

“Excuse me, are you Callen Whitefox?”
asked a male voice. The tone sent waves of awareness through him. He’d heard it before. Yet, he couldn’t place it.

Then, he looked
up.

It was like life and e
verything in him came screeching to a halt. There before him stood an older Native man around his father’s age. Suddenly, there was the overwhelming need to vomit. Never in all his life did he think their paths would cross again.

In fact, he prayed
they wouldn’t.

“Well, well, it’s surprising to see you
, boy,” he said, practically leering. When he patted Callen on the shoulder, he immediately slid out of his reach.

The memories came rushing back as the fear and pain filled him.
In that moment, Callen was no longer an adult.

Now, he was once more that scared little boy.

“I see you’ve gotten yourself married and to a looker, boy,” he said, taking a seat across from him. “She’s hot for an outsider. I bet she’s good in bed.”

Callen struggled to calm his heartbeat. His breathing was already ragged
, and he swore he was having a panic attack. This couldn’t be happening.

This part of his life was over.

It died with his worthless mother.

This man had been dead to him for so long.

“Does she know about your past, boy?” he asked, grinning wickedly. “I’m going to bet she has no clue. You see, I watched you pull in with your fancy car and pretty woman. Outsiders like that don’t like to know their men have messy pasts. I’m betting that she’d run screaming if she knew the truth.”

Here was his worst nightmare.

His deepest fear.

Callen’s foulest secret.

Finally, he was able to get the words out. “What do you want, Dean?” Callen asked, sipping his beer to moisten the sawdust-like feel to his throat.

“I see you’ve hit it bi
g. Who would have thought that the skinny little boy would get off the Rez?”

He wouldn’t look at him. If he did, he’d panic. For now, he was watching Elizabeth at the bar. She was all that held him safe. Callen had to hope Ethan would arrive soon
to save him.

If he ever needed his big brother, it was now
.

“I’ve nothing to say to you,”
Callen stated. How he kept his voice neutral, he’d never know.

“Oh, well
, I have plenty to say to you. I think I’m going to march myself over to your pretty little lady and tell her how much you liked me touching you.”

He nearly threw up.
Callen fought against the rising bile as his secret was on the verge of being set free. His whole body shook. His life was about to change.

It was all coming to an end.

“Maybe she won’t want to be married to you then,” he stated. “Actually, when I’m finished talking to her, I’ll make sure she leaves you.”