“Remi has a unique way with the ladies. They find the looks combined with the devastating smile, style, charm, and lots and lots of money hard to resist. The money’s only secondary, though, because Remi’s a good listener who’ll move mountains just to see someone smile.” Molly finished, with Lisa nodding in agreement.
“Does that happen often?” Dallas joined the discussion for the first time.
“No, sweetie.” Lisa smiled at her. “The woman who captures that heart is in for a lifetime of bliss. Remi has a huge capacity for love. We see it all the time. It’s just that the right one hasn’t come along yet.”
“What are Remi’s hobbies?” Dallas asked, and Bob snorted over the stupid question.
Molly glared at him, then answered. “Everyone would say work and winning, just because they don’t know the real Remi. But the Remi we know loves to read adventure stories. You know, the ones with a damsel in distress, a dragon flying around somewhere wreaking havoc, and a knight who saves the day. The only requirement is that the word ‘vanquish’ appear somewhere in the text.” Molly paused.
Lisa took up where Molly had left off. “Remi loves to work, don’t get us wrong, but when the clock strikes quitting time, you’ve never spent time with a more fun-loving person. And we all know there’s a romantic hidden in that big heart somewhere. It’ll just take the right girl to bring it out. We know this because the idiots we’re married to get all their romantic hints from Remi.” Lisa patted Dallas’s hand.
“Sounds like someone who’ll be easy to work for,” Dallas said.
“Please return your seats to the upright position and down your drinks, people. We’re almost there,” Remi said in her low voice, walking back into the room to sit by Steve and Dwayne.
“It’s true Remi’s easy to work for, and I’m sure you’ll find out soon enough,” Lisa said, smiling at Dallas.
The suit Remi now wore fit her tall, muscular body perfectly, accentuating the tanned skin, and the black cowboy boots added over an inch to her height, making even Bob take another look.
Chapter Four
New Orleans, Louisiana
“Good God, Casey, you look like shit,” Cain told Dr. Sam Casey when she stepped into the exam room.
“Wait until you’re only getting an hour of sleep a night. Then we’ll see how great you look.”
“Don’t listen to this comedian.” Emma squeezed Cain’s fingers as a sign for her to behave. “I’m sorry we weren’t here for the blessed event, but we wanted to pass along our congratulations.” She handed Sam a gift for the birth of Sam and Ellie Eschete’s baby. “How are Ellie and the baby doing?”
“Thanks, Emma, they’re wonderful. I’d give up sleep for the rest of my life in exchange for holding that little angel when I get home.” Sam put the gift down and rubbed her hands together. “Let’s see what we can do about you losing some sleep,” she teased Cain.
Emma smiled and said, “Today’s the day, from the chart I’ve been keeping, so whenever you’re ready, Sam.”
Sam excused herself, and Cain helped Emma undress. “What are you thinking about, lass?” Cain rubbed her thumb just above Emma’s nose.
“How much better my ring will look when we add a stone to it.” She lifted her arms so Cain could slip the gown on for her and tie it. “If you’re having any second thoughts, it’s now or never, because I think I’ve proven how fertile we are.”
“I haven’t had many second thoughts from the day you came into my life. You, lass, and moments like this, balance out the bad I’ve done. You’re my salvation.”
Emma heard the rawness in Cain’s voice, and her perception of herself pained Emma. She placed her hand over Cain’s heart and pressed hard against her chest. “Do you think I’m a bad person?” Cain shook her head. “You love me enough to forgive me my mistakes—you love your children, and you’re the most honorable person I’ve ever known. Don’t say that about yourself again. I realize evil people exist. You, my love, are far from evil.”
“Aren’t you a wee bit biased?”
“You bet, but you’ll never convince me you’ve got a bad side. A mischievous streak as wide and long as the Mississippi, but not bad.” Emma kissed her and scratched the back of her head. “So tell me, mobster, are you feeling lucky?”
“Lucky enough to try for another girl, only blond this time, like her mama.”
“I’m not sure how specific an order we can place, but I’ll give it a shot.” She kept her arms around Cain’s neck as Cain lifted her up on the exam table. “I love you.”
“When you say that, you make me think I’ve done something right in my life.” Cain pressed her forehead against Emma’s and kissed her.
When Sam came in, their lips were still locked together. “Should I come back?” she asked.
Cain sat at the head of the exam table to get out of the way while Sam set up. After a quick exam, she handed Cain a syringe so she could push the plunger. Then she left them in peace.
Cain wiped away Emma’s tears. “You okay?”
“Just happy. These past months with you have been even more than I wished for when I was stuck in Wisconsin alone. Now I realize what an idiot I am.”
“You’re not an idiot.”
Emma put her hand on the side of Cain’s face. “I am, and I’m not just talking about the time apart I forced on us.”
Cain kissed her palm before kissing her lips, knowing how much Emma loved the sensation. “I’m sorry you feel that way.” She had moved back enough to see Emma’s face and outlined her lips with her finger. “Since I’m not really sure what you’re talking about.”
“I’ve been with you for so long because I love you,” Emma said, pausing as if to gather her thoughts. “But I never wanted to mess up the perfect picture of you in my head.”
“Oh, lass, I’m far from perfect.”
“My head might know that, but my heart doesn’t. I could’ve tried harder and a lot sooner for the kind of relationship we have now. You and our children are the most important people in my life, and I’m looking forward to bringing this little guy home in nine months.”
“Just remember what Sam said about having to try more than once.”
“Just once is all it’ll take.” Emma accepted Cain’s hand and sat up.
“How do you know?” Cain dressed Emma and glanced up from putting her shoes on when she didn’t answer. “Well?”
Still no answer as Emma took her hand and led her out of the office to the waiting car. No one on the house staff bothered them when they got home and headed for their room. When the door closed and Cain locked it, Emma stripped for her.
The way Emma walked toward her made any curiosity about her answer fly from her thoughts. When Emma pushed her forward, the bed bounced under her as she gave in to her wishes and sat down. She was rewarded by a naked Emma straddling her lap.
“Tell me you remember the last step in this process,” Emma said.
“Maybe.”
Emma lifted Cain’s hand to her mouth. “Then perhaps you need a refresher course.” She took Cain’s middle and index fingers into her mouth to the knuckle and sucked on them softly. Even though Cain closed her eyes and her breathing deepened, Emma had her full attention.
Emma opened her mouth and licked the length of her fingers, then just as quickly took them in again. “Is it coming back to you at all?” she asked before biting just the tips.
“Vaguely.” Cain opened her eyes and wanted to keep them on Emma’s face, but when she leaned back and spread her legs she couldn’t help but admire the length of her.
“Need more hints, huh?”
“Just a couple.”
Emma grasped Cain’s wrist and dragged her hand down her stomach, then back up to her left nipple. “Pinch,” Emma ordered, and Cain happily complied. She got only a brief touch before Emma moved her hand to her other nipple.