Forever Hers (20 page)

Amy had never met the Fitzgerald women, but she’d seen their pictures. According to Kara, the three girls were raised together by Baron’s mother. A third guy appeared with a leather bag slung over his shoulder. He was dressed casually in tan pants and a light-blue shirt. He must be Ashley’s husband. He said something to the pilot then the three men started toward the house.

Raelynn, who’d gone back to the sand pit to play with Jimmy, stopped playing and stared at them in awe. Amy didn’t blame them. The Fitzgerald women had nice taste in men.

A fourth man stepped out, but all Amy saw was a broad back in a cowboy shirt and hat, though there was something familiar about him.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Eddie murmured.

The guy didn’t follow the other three. He was busy talking to the pilot and female laugher drifted to Amy’s ears. Before she could ask who he was, Raelynn caught her attention. Her daughter stumbled as she tried to walk backward while keeping her eyes on the men. Then she broke into run, heading straight for Eddie, who scooped her up.

“Don’t worry, sweetheart,” he reassured her gently. “They are good guys…most of the time,” he added softly. From his clenched jaw, he was being polite. “Guys, this is an unexpected surprise.”

 
“We decided to bring the things you ordered instead of mailing them,” the guy in tan pants said then focused his attention on Amy. He had beautiful cobalt-blue eyes and dimples.

“Aren’t you going to introduce us, Fitzgerald?” he asked with an appreciative, masculine gleam in his eyes.

“She knows who you are,” Eddie said rudely, his gaze shifting to the fourth man, who was still flirting with the pilot. “I hope you’re not planning on staying long.”

Amy elbowed him. “Don’t be rude.”

“This is me being nice,” he said through his teeth.

“You can do better than that.” Then she turned and found the men studying her with such broad grins she flushed. “I’m Amy Kincaid and this is my daughter, Raelynn.”

As if possible, her daughter clung tighter to Eddie, her thumb in her mouth.

Mr. Cobalt-blue Eyes took Amy’s hand and planted a kiss on her knuckles. “Ron Noble. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Amy.”

He was charming.

“Quit drooling all over her, Noble.” The second guy elbowed him out of the way flashing a cocky half smile as though he was enjoying a private joke. His slanted, gorgeous green eyes combined with the high cheekbones made him look even more exotic.

“Kenneth Lambert, but everyone calls me Ken,” he said, taking both her hands in his. He didn’t let them go. Amy couldn’t explain why she glanced at Eddie. He was glaring at their joint hands.

 
“I’m Vince Knight,” Gray-eyes said. His voice was low, husky. Sexy, bedroom voice, Amy called it in her books. Up close he was even bigger. His steely gray eyes reminded her of Eddie’s but he had the look of a man who was always vigilant. He didn’t smile much either. “We don’t mean to impose, but we had to deliver a few things for you folks. Eddie said it was urgent.”

“Not that urgent,” Eddie retorted.

“That’s nice of you, and you’re not imposing at all. Isn’t that right?” She glanced at Eddie.

He gave her a tight smile then cut Noble another look. “Is the plane coming back soon?” The seaplane was taking off and the fourth guy was sauntering toward them, his cowboy boots making a steady beat on the wooden pier, the brim of the hat hiding his face.

“Relax, detective, the pilot went to refuel,” Noble said. “She’ll be back in a few hours.”

“Unless
he
scared her off,” Ken added.

“Now why I would I scare off such a lovely woman,” the fourth guy retorted as he came to stop beside them. He bowed toward Amy then tipped his hat. “My brother didn’t lie. You, Amy Kincaid, look as lovely as you sound over the phone.”

Amy grinned, recognizing him right away. He was Baron’s identical twin, Chase. Looking into his eyes was like looking into Baron’s eyes, except his had a devilish twinkle. She’d heard stories of his exploits and could easily see him charming women and leaving behind broken hearts. His hair was so long it brushed the collar of his shirt, another difference between him and Baron.

“Hi, Chase,” she said.

“Told you I wouldn’t need an introduction.” He placed his hat on Amy’s head, leaned down, wound his arms around her waist and lifted her clear off the ground. Amy had no idea what to do with her hands, so she placed them on his shoulders. He studied her face. “Did I mention how exquisite you are?”

She flushed, nodding.

“Put her down, Chase,” Eddie snapped.

“Oh, stay out of our bonding moment, Grouch. Do I get a kiss or do I steal one?”

Amy removed his cowboy hat from her head and planted a kiss on his cheek before putting the hat back on his head. “Now put me down before my daughter thinks you are about to kidnap me.”

He chuckled and carefully placed her on the ground then turned and faced Eddie. Ignoring him, he focused on Raelynn. “And who is this beautiful princess?”

Raelynn eyed him with a confused expression. “Mr. Baron?”

“No, sweetheart. I am Uncle Chase, Mr. Baron’s twin brother. He looks a little like me.” He indicated with his finger and thumb. Raelynn eyed him warily. “But he said you might like this.” He reached into the back pocket of his jeans and pulled out a plastic bag. Inside was a folded, pink cowboy hat with a gold star, which he carefully unfolded and held out to Raelynn.

Raelynn didn’t take it. Instead she looked at Amy, her eyes wide with excitement. “Mommy?”

“It’s okay, sweetheart. You can have it.”

Raelynn took the hat and gave Chase a hesitant smile. “Thank you, Mister…”

“Uncle Chase,” he corrected her.

Instead of repeating his words, her thumb went back inside her mouth.

“Please, come inside,” Amy said. “You must be famished. We were just finishing lunch and there’s plenty of soup left.”

Chase glued himself to her side and grinned down at her. “Ron’s flight attendants are nothing but efficient. They plied us with food on our way here, but I’ve heard great things about your cooking so I must taste some. Mom talked of nothing else after her visit too.”

“I’ll make sure I thank her next time she calls. Anyone want a drink? We have beer, wine, juices.”

“Beer,” they said in unison.

While they settled in the living room, she brought out drinks and glasses, but they didn’t bother with the glasses. Raelynn no longer held Eddie’s shoulders in a death grip even though Chase still tried to charm her into calling him uncle. If only he knew what a big step this was for her daughter. Sitting in a room full of men without cowering.

“Come with me, sweetheart,” Amy said.

“I’ll bring her outside,” Eddie offered.

“If you need more drinks or anything else, feel free to ask or raid the fridge,” Amy told the men before heading outside with Raelynn and Eddie. She could feel four pair of eyes watching them.

Eddie put Raelynn down then glanced at Amy. “Sorry about their sudden arrival.”

“It’s okay.”

“What are in the boxes?” Raelynn asked.

“Mats for the garage, so your Mommy won’t hurt herself every time she falls,” Eddie explained. “Her kicks suck.”

“No, they don’t,” Amy protested and punched his arm. She was touched by his thoughtfulness, even though she was beginning to worry about the cost of the sparring gear. He was going overboard with this.

“Jimmy says Mom kicks like a girl,” her precocious daughter said. “I told him she kicks like a Mom then I showed him how a girl kicks. Can I practice too? Jimmy said I can’t because it’s grown-up stuff.”

Eddie chuckled. “Jimmy is wrong. If your mom says it’s okay, we’ll buy you some gloves then you can use the punching bag too.” Eddie cocked his brow.

“Later.” She didn’t want her daughter thinking violence was the solution to everything. “Go and spend time with your in-laws. I’ll be in shortly.”

He hesitated as though he wanted to say something then appeared to change his mind and went back inside just as Chase was coming outside, minus his hat. Eddie gave him a pointed look then disappeared inside.

“Do you mind if I join you?” the handsome rogue asked.

“Not at all.” She studied him and marveled how identical he and Baron were. When he caught her gaze and cocked an eyebrow, she flushed. “Sorry, I’m staring, but it is uncanny how exactly alike you and Baron are. How do people tell the two of you apart?”

“Easy. My brother is the boring one while I’m the fun one.” He leaned forward, his expression becoming serious. “May I ask you a personal question?”

Amy frowned and braced herself. “Sure.”

***

Eddie wished he knew what Amy and his cousin were discussing so intently. With the door closed, he couldn’t hear a thing. Chase was making her laugh, damn it.

Someone cleared their throat and he focused on the three men drinking his beer and yapping. He didn’t want them here, especially Chase. His cousin had a way with women. A gift, he called it.

“Why are you guys really here?” Eddie asked, cutting through the conversation the three men had been having. “All you had to do was mail the damn things.”

“Believe me, we didn’t want to come, but our wives insisted,” Ron said.

Ken nodded. “Faith’s pregnancy has been difficult, so whatever stresses her, I fix it. Right now, she’s worried about you.”

“We didn’t know she was sick,” Vince said.

“Neither did we?” Ron added. “Ash is going to hit the roof when she finds out.”

Ken dismissed their comments with a wave of his hand. “She’s doing fine now, but we still have to be careful, so don’t say anything to your wives. You know how Faith likes her privacy.”

“If she’s sick, the family must be told, Lambert.” Eddie cut in. “I didn’t even know she was expecting.”

“That’s because you only make a brief appearance during Sunday brunch, detective,” Ron said. “I’m with you on this, Kenny. Keep the Fitzgeralds out of your business or they’ll take over. I haven’t forgotten Ella’s baptism.”

“That’s why Jade and I got married in the Orcas first. We wanted something small but they hijacked the wedding and turned it into a circus,” Vince added.

Eddie chuckled. “Quit your belly aching. You gave in to please your women, not because of family pressure. Lambert, my aunts and uncles may think you walk on water now, but if anything goes wrong and Faith winds up in the hospital, they’ll be gunning for your head. And don’t let me get started on Lex and what he will do.”

He watched the play of emotions on the faces of the three men, not feeling bad for giving them a hard time. All of them fought hard to win the hearts of their wives and deserved kudos for putting up with his family. Right now, he was pissed they invaded his vacation and brought Chase along.

“I’ll have Faith give Aunt Estelle a call when I get home,” Ken said grudgingly, looking like he’d swallowed something rotten.

“Anyone want another beer?” Eddie asked.

“I do,” Ken said, getting up and following Eddie into the kitchen. He glanced at the pot of soup Amy had left on the top of the stove. “This looks good.”

“If you want some, the bowls are over there,” Eddie waved toward a cupboard by the sink then opened a drawer under the kitchen island. “And spoons are here.”

Ken got a bowl, served himself and sampled a spoonful, then another. “Best tofu soup I’ve ever tasted.”

Eddie chuckled. He should have known Amy would slip tofu in their food. Not that he minded. She was an amazing cook. His gaze went outside and caught her laughing, Raelynn on her lap. Her eyes sparkled and she looked happy and carefree. That Chase was the cause bugged the hell out of him.

He and Chase had pursued their share of women together over the years. They’d even competed for the same women. Eddie had won some and never cared that Chase often got the majority. The thrill was always in the chase. Amy was different. She wasn’t one of those women you slept with and moved on. He would beat his cousin to a pulp if he so much as hinted he wanted her. The problem was Chase was ready to settle down and could give Amy everything Eddie couldn’t. When he’d told Eddie about wanting a special woman, he had thought his cousin was joking, until he bought the horse ranch in Montana. Now he was here, charming Amy and trying to win Raelynn. Worse, Eddie hadn’t known that the two of them had spoken over the phone.

“You should go out there and tell him to back off,” Ken said.

Eddie glanced around, surprised to find all three men seated around the counter, chowing down on Amy’s soup. He’d meant to get a second helping before the seaplane appeared. Ignoring Ken’s comment, he got a bowl and served himself.

“Do you guys want something else to go with this?” he asked. “We have oyster soup crackers.”

“One week and you’re already domesticated,” Ron teased.

Eddie gave him the finger. “Did you bring the surveillance system or are you just here to bust my balls?”

“Brought it and plan to install it with his help,” he jerked his head to indicate Ken, “The
Jujitsu
expert,” he nodded at Vince, “decided he wanted to show your lady a few sparring moves and that’s why he’s here.”