Badass (26 page)

“Do you think Jessie will like the little bull we’re all giving them as a wedding present?”

“There’s no doubt in my mind that both of them will take to him right off, little bud. Jacob has been hankering after one of Machine Gun’s offspring for years. Those little guys are worth their weight in gold.” Joseph was sitting at the dining table, on his laptop, registering for his first dirt-bike race since the accident. He didn’t type fast, but used the hunt and peck method. “Nathan has been in charge of getting our gift all spruced up and ready for presentation,” he explained to Cady.

“I’ve made pralines, Nathan. Would you like one?” Cady held out a platter of the pecan caramel confections.

“Yes, please,” he accepted one the sugary treats. “Isaac just drove up with Avery. You know – if Noah brings home a girl, everyone will have one but me.”

Cady was amused. “Does that mean you are ready for a girlfriend?”

“Heck, no!” Nathan was emphatic.

“This is a family dinner, but I think it would be okay if you asked a date, Nathan.” Joseph took the opportunity to josh his brother. “Haley probably loves shrimp. Why don’t you give her a call?”

“Nah,” Nathan rejected his brother’s idea. “I think I’d rather spend time with that bull calf and Lady.”

“That will change.” Joseph laughed.

“Sooner than you think,” Cady added as she stirred the pot of gumbo. “Why don’t you take the little bull some sugar cubes? And you can give the horses a treat while you’re out there.”

“Can Lady have a piece of that candy? I think she would like that.” At the mention of her name coupled with the word candy, Lady peeked her head around the door.

“Does Libby know you’ve been sneaking Lady in every chance you get?” Joseph tried to sound stern, but he liked to have animals in the house. His Mom had never stopped them from having pets, even in their rooms. But Sabrina, Aron’s first wife had put a stop to the animals and they haven’t had any in the house since – until now.

“She don’t care, but she said I had to clear it with Jessie and Cady, too.” He gave Cady such a pitiful look that she walked over to the dog and offered a piece of the pecan confection. “You have my blessing, Miss Lady. You can sleep with me, anytime.” She ran her finger down the dog’s head. “I bet she’s smarter than we all realize. Aren’t you girl?” The dog seemed to give her a knowing smile.

“Now, wait a minute. Your bed is occupied – by me.” Joseph was teasing – maybe. Nathan filled his pockets with treats and he and the black lab were about to scamper out the back door when Lady perked up her ears.

“Isaac’s here!” Nathan announced as Lady dashed over to meet the man who had saved his life by rescuing her from the side of the road.

“Something sure smells good.” Isaac and Avery came through the door. “Hey, girl,” he stooped to pet the dog and Nathan came over for his hug. “Man, I missed you today, Nate. Guess what I had delivered at the bar?”

“What? A new bike?” Nathan couldn’t wait to have his own motorcycle, but Isaac was the one who had put his foot down. He wanted Nathan to wait until he was at least sixteen.

His wink told Avery that he was up to something – what she didn’t know.
“Where is everybody else?” Isaac wanted to know. “Are the newlyweds back from the courthouse?”

“Yes, they’re in their room,” Cady whispered. “Jessie was tired, she needed a nap.”

“And Jacob’s napping with her, I presume?” Isaac held the refrigerator door open for Nathan as he filled a plastic bag with apples and carrots for the horses.

Seeing the Pink Kitty suitcase in Isaac’s hand, Joseph asked. “Going on a trip?”

“Just up to my room, wise-ass - Avery’s moving in.”

“Sweet,” Joseph grinned. “There’s definitely something in the water around here – Nate my man – you better start drinking Kool-Aid.”

“Everything’s ready. As soon as Libby, Aron and Noah get here, we’ll call Jessie and Jacob and get started.” Cady handed Nathan a jacket. “Put this on and hurry back. Don’t make me have to send Joseph out to tear you away from the animals.”

“Yes, Cady,” he promised as he led Lady by the collar. “Come on girl, two down one to go.”

Cady saw Avery’s curious expression. “He still has to get the okay from Jessie about letting the dog in the house.”

“I love dogs and cats. Once, I even had a white mouse in the house,” she looked around wistfully at the big, comfortable kitchen. This was so obviously a home inhabited by people who loved each other. Would she ever feel at home here?

Joseph patted a chair. “Come sit by me, Avery and tell me what you see in this badass brother of mine.”

Isaac jumped over and pulled out her chair. “He’s a gentleman,” she offered as a start. “And I can get all the Shirley Temple’s I want for free.” Isaac roared with laughter.

“See, I have my uses.” He wrapped an arm around Avery and pulled her close. “I’ll show you my other ‘assets’ later.” She kissed his forearm that rested just under her chin.

“I enjoyed your engagement party,” Avery spoke to Cady. “The food was out of this world.”

“I can’t take credit for the buffet, the men prepared the meat and Jessie, Lilibet and Libby did the rest.” She set the platter of pralines on the table. “It’ll spoil our appetites – but these are wonderful warm.”

“Oh, these are my absolute favorite candies in the whole world,” Avery exclaimed as she laid claim to one of the treats.

“I’m glad; I made enough of these to fill the Mississippi. At the rehearsal dinner Friday night, guests get to take a little bag of these home with them. They’re my contribution to the celebration.”

“Oh, I want mine and yours, both,” she told Isaac with serious eyes. “I love them.”

“So, I gathered,” Isaac took one for himself. “I wonder if they make praline flavored massage oil.” Avery punched him; she knew exactly what he was getting at.

“Can I set the table for you?”

“Please do.”

Cady seemed glad of the help and Avery wanted to be useful. Joseph put up his laptop and he and Isaac pitched in until they had everything ready.

“Have you received any word from Austin Boot Company on whether or not they’ll help sponsor your rodeo?”

Joseph carried the heavy tureen of gumbo to the table as he answered Isaac’s question. “As a matter of fact, Beau called me today and gave me good news. Austin Boot is in and so is Barrington Rifle.”

“All right!” Isaac was so proud of his brother. “Avery, Joseph is putting together a benefit rodeo that will give handicapped children a chance to get up close and personal with some cowboys and all profits will go to help paralyzed kids.”

“Wow, that sounds great; I do some work for the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation.”

“Avery, you have got to meet Joseph’s friend, Beau. He is one of the most colorful character’s you could imagine. He lives on the banks of the Atchafalaya Swamp and has more alligator stories than you can count.”

“Speaking of marrying . . . . . .” Jacob escorted Jessie through the door. She was blushing and looked happier than anybody Avery had ever seen.

“Congratulations, you two.” Libby hugged Jesse, then Jacob. After much backslapping and kissing of cheeks, the family began to settle around the table.

“Where’s Noah?” Jessie asked.

Aron thought a minute, “I don’t know. I haven’t seen him since the party last night.” He looked around the table. “Who talked to Noah last?”

“I didn’t talk to him, but I did see him take a call and then he left. I thought he had a date,” Joseph didn’t look concerned.

“If it were any of the rest of you, I wouldn’t worry. But this isn’t like Noah.” Aron got out his phone and rang his number. Everyone waited. Finally, he closed it. “He didn’t answer.”

“Is that so?” Ajax sneered at him. Noah wasn’t worried – Ajax was big, but not that much bigger and he looked bloated and out of shape. But his eyes worried Noah – they were cold and dead looking like snake eyes. He could just imagine this bastard wielding a whip on Harper’s small body.

“You went too far with a friend of mind, and I’ve come to make sure you never have the balls to do that again.” Noah didn’t enjoy fighting, not like Isaac or even Joseph. But he could – he had brawled often enough with his brothers.

Grabbing his crotch, Ajax belched. “The skinny blonde wasn’t the best fuck in the world, but I did enjoy listening to her beg for my cock. That was one bitch who enjoyed the whip.” Noah lunged at Ajax, but he raised his boot and kicked Noah in the stomach. Noah grunted and sidestepped.

“Sick bastard, I’m going to cram your ugly head up your ass.” Noah grabbed Ajax by the shoulders and pulled him off the truck. He was able to land one blow, but out of nowhere he was grabbed from behind by two men and pulled off the rank biker.

Ajax stepped closer, “A McCoy, huh? Not the McCoy I was hoping to draw out. Maybe, I didn’t use the right bait. Still, I’m not one to look a gift horse in the mouth. Turn him loose, Troy. Let’s at least pretend this is going to be fair.” Ajax reached behind him and pulled out a bullwhip and Noah prayed that he hadn’t made the worst mistake of his life.

****

Noah hadn’t come home at all. They had waited dinner until everything was cold, and finally had eaten just so Jacob and Jessie’s evening wouldn’t be a total washout. Isaac was concerned, but Noah was a grown man and could do what the hell he wanted to, he just hoped he was all right. At this particular moment – as he walked into his bar with Avery, he had other things on his mind. “You said you wanted to learn how to ride. Right?”

“Yeah, that’s what I said,” the words came out slow and hesitant. “Although, I was talking about either riding you or a meek steed like your horse Molly. Libby says that she’s as gentle as a lamb.”

“Zeus can be gentle. I’ve got a pre-programmed setting all figured out. Besides, you aren’t going to be riding by yourself.” He turned her around, kissed her at the corner of her mouth and began undoing her clothes.

“I bet I could handle that,” he was already getting hard. She was excited, he could tell. Her nipples were hard, her skin was flushed and – yeah, he dipped his hand between her legs and it was sweetly damp. With a smooth move, she pulled his pants down, all the while running her tongue and lips over his chest. “I love the way you touch me,” he couldn’t help but let her know.

“How about this?” she slipped her hand down his tighty-whiteys and cupped his nuts and began massaging them.

“Damn, yea – that’s so good.” His balls weren’t the only things that got attention.

“Two hands are better.” He pulled his shorts down to give her more room to work as she began pumping his cock. Running her thumb over the tip, she found the dewdrop.

“My pussy wants you so much.”

Shit! Avery was such a firebrand. He was a damn lucky son-of-a-bitch. “Come on, or the rodeo will be over before we get on the back of the bull. They shed their last few pieces of clothing and he led her to the mechanical ride. There was a small remote control device that he picked up before climbing on the back and holding out his hand to help her get in place. He stood up in the stirrups and leaned as far back as he could and still stay on. “Come to me, sugar. “I’ll make you feel really good.”

She placed her hand in his and she used the stirrup to get on, scrambling in place facing him. Once she was there, he fit himself down and hauled her up next to him. She gasped with satisfaction and surprise as he picked her up by the waist and draped her thighs over the top of his. “Isaac, I’m so excited, I may come from just being close to you.”

“Good – I want you to enjoy everything we do,” Isaac spoke in a low, heated whisper as he nuzzled her neck – licking and nibbling, causing goose bumps to rise all over her skin. “Lean into me, I wanna feel your nipples poking me. Touch me, Avery.”

She got as close as she could and still stay in her own skin. When her tits rubbed up against him, she couldn’t be still. Wrapping her arms around his shoulders, she caressed his neck, petted his hair and nipped him on the earlobe – just because she could.