Shannon met them at the door. “It’s about time you two showed up.”
“Hello to you too. Where’s the bloodsucker? Asleep in his coffin?” Rory asked his sister.
“Don’t mind him. He has penis envy. Everyone knows vamps are at the top of the paranormal food chain, which means they do everything better,” Shay stated. Glancing past Shannon, she called out, “Hey, Dad,” effectively cutting off the snarling comment she knew Rory was forming.
“You’ll pay for that later,” Shannon murmured as Shay brushed by, headed for her father.
“Aye, she will,” Rory confirmed.
Shay certainly hoped so. Otherwise what was the point?
As her father enfolded her in his embrace, she could feel Rory’s gaze. Ignoring wolf man for the moment, she concentrated on her dad, whom she hadn’t seen in a while. He pulled back and stared down at her face. “Baby girl, you work too hard.”
She shrugged away his concern. “I got sick on my last assignment. Stomach virus. Still getting over it,” she explained.
“Kiesha told us. You’d better get in there before the Drill Sergeant comes looking for you.” He gave her a gentle shove in the direction she assumed held the rooms Kiesha and the other girls were changing in.
“I’m going, and I’m telling Mom you’re calling her names again,” she teased, then jumped out of the way of the playful swat he aimed toward her butt.
Shay crossed the foyer, headed for the door in the corner that her father had indicated. Shannon left Rory’s side and joined her. The minute the door closed behind them, Shannon laid a restraining hand on her arm. “You marked him.”
“I…it just happened. I couldn’t control myself,” Shay explained.
“Does this mean you’re staying?” Shannon’s solemn gaze showed her concern for Rory’s well-being.
“Yeah,” Shayla slowly responded. “I guess it does. There’s more than me to think about, you know? Got to do what’s best for the little one.”
“And what about you? Despite what I said earlier, Rory would hate it if the only reason you’re with him is because you’re pregnant.”
“He…your brother…” She stopped, not sure how to put it in words. “He intrigues me, makes me crazy. I like yanking his chain, making him lose control.” She sighed, frustrated. “He affects me. I’m not sure how this will all play out. I don’t know. Maybe there is something to this true mates stuff.”
Shannon’s smile lit up the hallway where they stood. “It’s a start. Long as you don’t run, everything should work out fine.”
Shayla snorted. “This is me you’re talking to. I’m more likely to head into trouble than to run from it.” Hell, most times she was the one who’d started it.
Shannon laughed and threw her arm around Shay. “Welcome to the family, Sis.”
“Yeah, well, just don’t say anything like that in front of my parents. I’m not ready for them to know yet,” Shayla warned.
“Having met your mother, I understand completely. Are you sure she isn’t a shifter? She’s alpha enough. Doesn’t say a lot, but the look on her face…” Shannon shuddered. “That woman could teach a wolf a few things.”
“My father didn’t call her the Drill Sergeant for nothing. She has eyes like a hawk and this way of issuing orders that has you obeying before you even realize what you’re doing,” she said with a roll of her eyes.
“Like I said—alpha.”
“I’d better get in there before she comes looking for me.” Shay motioned for Shannon to lead the way. “How’s Kee?”
“Steady. Still worried about you but trying to hide it. This whole wedding thing is just a formality,” Shannon stated as she came to a halt in front of an unmarked door.
“For you shifters, maybe, but not for Kiesha. She’s been dreaming of this day her whole life,” Shay commented as Shannon opened the door.
As soon as she saw her mother, Shay squealed, “Mommy,” like the geek she was and ran to give her a hug.
“Shay-Nei.” Her mother hugged her tight, then pinched her cheeks. “Look at these dark circles. You work too hard. When are you going to quit this gypsy lifestyle, settle down with a man, and give me some grandkids? You’re almost thirty.”
“Moooom,” she groaned. “It’s been almost a year since we’ve seen each other, and you’re already starting in on me?”
“I’m not getting any younger. Neither are you. Kiesha’s found a nice young man of her own. Why can’t you?”
“Her next assignment is nearby in Tennessee. She’ll be there for six months. Maybe she’ll meet a nice man, Auntie,” Kiesha said.
Glancing over her shoulder, Shay gave Kiesha evil voodoo eyes. When her mom went into raptures, ruminating on the possibilities, she turned where her mother couldn’t see her, pointed at Kiesha, then put her hands to her throat, miming choking motions. Kiesha’s gaze dropped meaningfully to Shay’s stomach, and she arched an eyebrow. The message was clear. With a sigh of defeat, Shay looked around for her dress.
“My brother lives there. In fact, that’s who Shay will be working for. He’s single, and they seemed to hit it off fairly well when she was here a few weeks ago,” Shannon added with a sly grin.
“Really?” The glance her mother gave Shay was speculative. “And he’s single, you say?”
“Owns his own construction business and has partnerships in quite a few of the other local businesses,” Shannon stated.
“Best of all, he’s not scared of Shay,” Kiesha said with a smirk.
Grinning, Shay’s mother said, “I want to meet this man. Is he coming to the wedding?”
“He’s in it,” Kiesha said. “He’s paired with Shayla.”
I’m going to kill them, the both of them, as soon as this thing is over, Shayla thought to herself.
“And what’s this young man’s name? And why is he still single if he’s so eligible?” her mom asked suspiciously.
’Cause he’s crazy mean and no one would have him? Shay quickly muffled a laugh at her thoughts. If she commented in any way, it would just encourage her mother, so she got her dress and acted oblivious to the conversation around her.
“He wanted to make sure I was taken care of first. We shared a house until recently. Actually Rory practically raised me. He’ll make a good father,” Shannon said.
Shayla rolled her eyes.
“He’s become a good friend of Alex’s in the short time I’ve been here,” Kiesha stated. “I can vouch for his character. I think he’s a good match for Shay. She needs a firm hand, and he can definitely handle her.”
Come on, guys, laying it on a bit thick, aren’t you? Shay snorted.
“Did you say something, Shay-Nei?” her mother asked.
“Hmm? Oh, just that I don’t remember this dress being this loose,” she responded, thinking quickly. Kiesha looked over as her mother and Shannon came close.
“Turn around,” her mother commanded.
As she spun, her mother ordered, “Hold your hands out.”
Shay did as she was told. “Is it really noticeable?”
There was a brief knock, and the door opened to admit Kiesha’s best friend, Mary Elizabeth. “Hey, Tameka’s here,” Mary Elizabeth announced as she stepped to the side. Behind Mary Elizabeth stood a slender black woman with a hesitant look on her face.
“Oh great. Shay, Auntie, this is Tameka. She’s going to be doing my hair. Tameka, this is my cousin Shayla and her mother, Kiyona. Did you bring the stuff?” Kiesha asked.
“Right here.” Tameka held up a square, plastic container that looked sort of like a toolbox.
Things got a bit hectic. Kiesha and Tameka were discussing hairstyles. Her mother sent Mary Elizabeth to get the seamstress to take in her dress while berating Shayla about her poor eating habits. Alex’s mother, Mona, came into the already crowded room to see how things were progressing. But the shit really hit the fan when her mother absolutely refused to let her wear her combat boots under her dress.