Simon: Le Beau Brothers: New Orleans Billionaire Shifters with BBW mates Series (Le Beau Series) (7 page)

“I’m not going to let the past dictate my future,”
she recited to herself ten times. Her shrink had told her whenever she fell back into the roll of a victim or let her past control her she needed to recite her mantra.

Drying her hair
, she scowled at her reflection. There was nothing to do but apply extra makeup to cover the dark circles under her eyes to make her look a little less corpse like. Then enjoy the day with Anna, Cade, and maybe Simon.

Fifteen minutes later she emerged from the bathroom dressed and pleased with her appearance. This day was going to be great.

The wonderful aromas of coffee and breakfast drew her to the kitchen. “Good morning,” she said as Cade and Anna came into view.

“Would you like some coffee
?” Cade asked, raising his cup for a sip.

“I
’d love some. Thank you.”

He rose to grab her a mug
. “Black or doctored?”

“Cream and sugar
, please.”

He handed it to her
, handle forward, so she wouldn’t have to touch the hot body of the cup. “Isaac called, he wants to host a barbecue for John, Thomas, and you,” Cade announced.

“He has invited a few friends as well. Since the boys are able to stay a few more days, he grabbed the chance to have a
cook-out. That man will use any excuse he can. Much like how the French Quarter seizes any reason for a parade.” Anna laughed. “I hope that’s all right with you.”

“I’m okay with whatever you plan. I have all the time in the world. Who are the fri
ends he invited?” She sipped the coffee and looked at Anna over the rim.

“Some of the local guys. He wanted to introduce the boys to a few men their age. Anna is hoping if they make friends they will want to move here
,” Cade said and winked at his mate.

“That’s awfully nice of him, it sounds like fun.”

“I need a few things from the store, you want to run errands with me?” Anna asked Rose. “We should be back in a few hours.”

“Perfect, I noticed a few things I forgot to pack this morning and I can pick them up while we’re out.”

Walking the aisles in the tiny corner store, Rose felt apprehensive… the hair stood on the back of her neck. It was like someone was watching her.

Intently.

Menacingly.

Turning her head, she scanned the
aisle, looking for the source of her discomfort. But no one was there.

Every time she checked, her
aisle was empty. Strange. Standing before a small mirror, she picked up a pair of sunglasses. As she lifted them to her face, she glimpsed a man in the reflection glaring at her. Her breath hitched as she spun around. No one. Glancing left and right, she was alone. Heart hammering, she grabbed a random pair of glasses and hurried to Anna.

“Are you okay, you’re shaking?” Anna looked her over
, a little worried.

“Let
’s pay, we can talk in the car,” she whispered.

Anna searched her face again
. “All right, if you have everything, I’m ready to check out.”

Minutes later they were on the road for home. “Okay, spill
,” Anna demanded.

“A man was watching me in the store. I think he was following me around, I spotted him once but he moved so fast I lost track of him.”

Anna’s eyes flew to hers, alarm spread across her face. “Can you describe him? We need to tell Cade as soon as we get home.”

“No, I barely got a glimpse of him. Do I need to be concerned?”

Looking a little guilty Anna confessed to Rose her experience with the mob boss and his goons. “It could be them looking for payback. Cade and the boys will want to put bodyguards on us when we leave the property from now on.”

“You, live a scary life
, my friend.”

“It’s not so bad, really.” Anna brushed it off, she didn’t want Rose to worry during her visit. The rest of the ride home they discussed the barbeque and avoided the scary events of the shopping trip.

Isaac rubbed his hands together like a mad scientist, he had a party to plan. Anna’s sons expressing an interest in meeting some of the local guys was a perfect excuse. Not only would he get to do one of his favorite past times, but he also got to prod his son with a few unsuspecting suitors for Rose.

Last night, after Simon’s initial reaction to meeting his mate, Isaac had sensed his son’s doubt and anxiety throughout the night. If Simon thought he could walk away from her, he had another thing coming. His plan to put a few single shifter males in close proximity to Rose should get Simon back on track.

He tapped his chin,
who will tweak Simons nerves the most?
He barked out a laugh,
Tony and Sam!
He grabbed his cell phone and dialed the young men.

“Hello?”

“Hello, Tony, this is Isaac.”

“Your highness, what can I do for you?”

“Tony, you know how I feel about you calling me that,” he growled.

“Sorry
, Sir, I have a hard time not seeing you as my king.”

“Forget about it, I’m having a small barbeque at my house
tonight. Anna’s sons are in town and her single friend Rose is staying with us.”

“Really? A single friend of Anna’s?  I’m in.” He could practically hear the man salivating.

“The party starts at 7 p.m.”

“I will try to be there at
seven but I may be late.”

“That’s fine, I
’ll have extra food in case you make it for dinner. We’ll see you when you get here.”

One down
, one to go, this is just too much fun.
He was humming to himself as he dialed Sam and repeated the invite.

Christ, what am I a thirteen-year-old girl
? Simon stood naked in front of his closet.
How can I have all these clothes and nothing to wear
? The party started at seven and he intended be there before any of the other men invited arrived. He wanted to assess the enemy the moment they stepped from their cars.

He pulled a shirt from its hanger, scowled, and tossed it to the floor. There were ten shirts scattered across the room before one met with approval.
Halfway there
, he thought as he turned his search to pants. Once dressed, he noticed the destruction called his bedroom.
Good thing Stefan can’t see
this
.

Simon made an extra effort in the grooming department, he couldn’t remember ever shaving a second time.
He wanted his face baby smooth. Rose would be there tonight, just the thought of seeing her again had his wolf salivating.
No.. No.. No, you need to let her go,
he reminded himself.
If I keep doing one eighties on this I’m going to give myself whiplash. Stupid wolf needs to let her go.

Scanning the deck
, he grabbed an Adirondack chair and positioned it close to the stairs, satisfied with a perfect view of both the patio doors as well as the driveway. There was no way for Rose to join the party without his knowing, and he could see the enemy coming.

Simon tried to draw air into his lungs, but there didn’t seem to be an adequate supply.
Rose trailed behind Anna and Cade as their group came up the stairs. Her head slowly turned as if she sensed him. Their eyes locked, vaguely he thought,
the cliché is true, time can stand still
. For that moment they were the only people on the deck, no one else existed in the world.

He held very still as her gaze
tentatively began moving very slowly over him, taking in the fine sheen of sweat coating his skin and whatever else a woman notices in a man. When her gaze returned to his eyes she seared him to his very core. He worried she could see beyond the outer facade he presented to the world to the tormented soul within. At once, the chatter receded from the party and all he heard was her, in his mind as she said
Simon Le Beau, you are a most intriguing man. If I had half a brain I’d be packing for Denver right now.
The pain from having too many people close by evaporated and his old control returned.

He remained very still, afraid if he moved the pain would come slamming back. He watched Rose moving through the party speaking first to Emma and then Cade. As she moved further from him the pain began to build
, if she moved closer it subsided. This was interesting; her soothing balm seemed to have a distance restriction.

She neared Marcus, and instantly his wolf went on alert.
He’d never been a jealous man and yet, feeling the astonishing flood of jealousy shocked him. No, not just jealousy, but that plus protectiveness and ownership. Shoving his hands into his pockets, he’d never experienced this emotion, and he didn’t like it, not at all.

You could have knocked him over with a feather. He sat for what felt like five minutes with his mouth hanging open before the realization sunk in. He may not be able to walk away from her like he had intended.

His pain was receding and he was having no problem maintaining his form, thanks to Rose. Did she feel this attraction between them too? He hoped so. He sensed she desired him but did she have affection for him? He prayed he wasn’t alone in his need of her.
I should give this another day or two. I can’t have my abilities fail me when Rose is involved.

As their eyes locked again and soft emotions filled her
gaze he received his answer.

He could almost feel the softness of her skin, taste her lips. She was
his beacon in the night. He was trapped in a web of sensual and emotional need. It took enormous effort to hold small talk with the family when his wolf wanted to carry her off where they could be alone.

He found, over and over through the night, regardless of his good intentions, all he could do was stare. He was spellbound by this woman, his woman. He focused on the soft strands of her golden blond hair begging to be touched. It was so great to have his wolf senses working correctly again. Her skin gleamed, impossibly soft and inviting. Her neck begged for his kisses and his mark. It was tan and a long expanse of skin was bared whenever she turned her head. It was screaming for his attentions and driving him to the brink of insanity. All he could think about was pressing his mouth there and wandering, exploring, losing himself in the lushness of her body.

Dinner had long ago been eaten yet the party wore on as he struggled to control his wolf’s demands in front of his friends and family. His jeans were so tight, he was afraid he’d burst, his aching, throbbing body had hardened to the point that the denim had him in a strangle hold. This party had better end early or he would have blue balls for a week.
Think Simon, think. How can you get her alone? STOP THAT! You can’t do that to her unless you can control your shift.
Grimacing at himself,
just call me Sybil with these multiple personalities.

Rose sucked in her breath, what the heck was going on? She would swear she just heard Simon speaking in her head. Trying to be nonchalant, she looked at him out of the corner of her eye. Simon was fixated on her in
an almost animalistic way. It was a bit scary and exciting at the same time.

“Hello, I’m Tony
,” pulled her from her thoughts, Rose looked into a pair of eyes so dark they were almost black as she accepted his outstretched hand.

“Hello, I’m Anna’s friend, Rose.”

“I’m pleased to meet you, Anna’s friend Rose. If I had known such a beautiful single woman would be here, I would have arrived much earlier.”

She felt the heat rise to her face at his comment. Before she could recover another man reached for her hand.

“Hello, beauty. I’m Sam.” He playfully pushed Tony to the side before he bent to kiss her hand. His lips never had a chance of making contact.

An animalistic snarl emanated behind her. Startled she looked over her shoulder as both men backed away, Simon stood casually leaning on the railing with his legs stretched out in front of him.
What the heck
? She search again but there wasn’t a dog in sight.

When she turned back to speak to Tony and Sam, they were both across the deck.
Okay…
?

Watching unmated males
touch his mate had been too much, his wolf hung at the surface and he knew, this time, his wolf would win out. Knowing his pain would return, he had no choice but to leave before he shifted in front of Rose. The moment she looked away he stole down the stairs and into the night. He would take a run while he gathered his control. This reaction and complete lack of control answered the question he had struggled with all night. He wasn’t fit to be her mate.

Two hours later, he entered his home and caught the scent of his father. He had wondered if he would get a visit after leaving suddenly.

“Hello, Father,” he said as he entered the living room.