Night Critters (Collection) (15 page)

"You're right. I need to pound a few nails or something.” Lucky opened the door to the RV they'd parked right on Charm's weedy lawn, to the dismay of the landscape designer.

"You do have one other problem, Lucky.” Shawn closed the door and punched in the locking sequence. “Charm's not exactly the kind of mate your pack is going to favor, is she?"

Lucky curled his lip a bit before he realized Shawn spoke from experience. When he'd brought home a satyr for a mate, his mother had fainted. “Your mother wanted grandchildren."

"Sorry about her luck.” Shawn shrugged and laughed. “I don't have an entire pack crawling all over my private life, either. Makes me glad I'm human. Don't they normally have to accept her into the pack with a mating hunt?"

Lucky snickered at the vision of Charm ensconced happily in a tree with the entire pack baying and howling around the trunk while she made obscene gestures. “Somehow, I just don't see Charm putting up with the rituals."

"That's my point, Fur Boy.” Shawn ducked out from under Lucky's half-hearted swing at his head. He opened the door to the kitchen. “You've gained your fur face, but you may lose the pack's esteem."

"Like he ever had it.” JR stood upright from where he leaned against a freshly studded wall with the kitchen plans in his hands. “So, you've learned to shift after all these years, little brother? Congratulations."

JR's smile seemed genuine enough, so Lucky warily shook his hand. For once the clasp was warm and not a test of strength. “You're older by less than an hour, Jays. What brings you here, as if I didn't know?"

Shawn pulled the plans JR had out of his fingers. “Pardon me, but I need those.” Then he departed, yelling for Frank.

JR swept over to the small makeshift coffee area they'd built out of scrap lumber and poured two cups. He handed Lucky his, his smile amused and even—was the world about to end?—cheerful. “Believe it or not, I'm playing messenger boy. I have another message from Miss Merrill, since you've harassed the company accountant to the point she refuses to call you."

His jaw dropped. “Merrill? Charm's last name is Merrill? As in, Dr. Jon Merrill? As in, Ana Merrill, our vampire Pack Guardian?” Holy batshit. Had Lucky been sleeping with a girl who was practically his cousin and an honorary pack member? Lucky reached for his phone.

JR's hand grabbed Lucky's before it moved one inch toward his pocket. “The same. I had a long conversation with Aunt Ana by phone, so stop reaching for yours. Charm has been conducting interviews like a madwoman for the past few days. Your angel has been hopping intercontinental jets and sends this message.” He handed him a printout.

Completely flabbergasted, Lucky read the note aloud. “Stop hunting me like a bloodhound, you mangy bastard. I'll be back. Go make sawdust.” Relief washed over him. She didn't hate him if she was insulting him.

JR sniggered into his coffee. “That's a quote, by the way. I didn't add or subtract anything.” His mouth twisted into a half-grin. “I wonder if she's got any sisters."

A feminine voice snarled from the kitchen door behind them. “Not that I know of. You're shit out of luck, JR."

Charm attempted to lounge casually against the doorjamb, but the two werewolves holding her arms prevented her from her illusion of aloof calm. She jerked her arms to dislodge Josh's and Kent's grips. She gave her captors a filthy look that should have had them six feet under with lilies in their hands. “Would you mind calling off your low-life henchmen? They reek."

Lucky growled and felt heat flush his whole body. Fur and claws sprouted from his hands, and his coffee cup shattered, splashing the hot liquid on the bare subfloor. His mate was in danger and being touched by other males. He'd have no other touch her.

JR put a hand on his shoulder to stop him from freeing his mate. “Easy there, Lucky. She's in no danger. I asked Kent and Josh to keep an eye out for her return. Gentlemen, release the lady and return to the car.” JR dismissed his two accomplices with a negligent wave of his hand.

Both of JR's lame-brained servants’ jaws dropped at Lucky's shift, and they let go of Charm like they'd been burned. “Yessir!” The two idiots fled. Lucky was pleased to note Kent still limped from his previous encounter.

"If they ever touch her again, I'll send you their body parts in a box, JR.” His shift was nearly complete, and if Charm hadn't still blocked his way, there'd be blood on the lawn.

"The hell with that!” Charm proved she was a full Michael Neph by whipping out a flaming sword from nowhere, her wings flared to the bright fiery colors Lucky'd seen that first night, and advancing on JR with her eyes hot and red. “I'll leave them alive so they remember to treat a female with respect. You, however...” She backed JR up against the wall. “Only your status as Lucky's brother keeps this place from stinking of burned fur. Got it?"

JR's smile didn't waver, even with the heat of her sword close enough to singe his white jumpsuit. “Urk. Yes, dear sister-in-law. Welcome to the family."

Lucky choked back a snigger. He poured another cup of coffee before he broke up laughing. His mate was an Alpha Bitch with feathers, and Lucky wasn't about to interfere with her proving the point to his brother. “Try not to hurt him too much, Angel. He's heir to the pack."

Charm snorted and backed up one step. “A few singed hairs might improve his manners, but I've made my point.” The sword disappeared into thin air. “However, I haven't married Lucky yet, so I won't kick JR's ass. This time."

Yet. Lucky liked the yet. It implied a future. He relaxed and felt his fur receding.

JR straightened his coat and brushed at where the heat had left a discoloration on his suit. “You're already a pack member, Miss Merrill. Therefore, from the moment Lucky shifted, you were his mate."

Charm stole his coffee and drank half of it in one gulp. “I got that part. Look, I really enjoyed the skanky werecritter sex, but screaming ‘oh God, I'm coming’ isn't exactly what I'd call a marriage vow, if you know what I mean. I do plan on the white dress, the cake, the car, and the honeymoon in Aruba."

Lucky reached for his cell to call a travel agent and the pack wedding planner, who just happened to be his mother. “I'll get right on fulfilling your wishes."

His avenging angel mate flung out a hand, palm up. A small flicker of flame sparked in the center of her hand. Belatedly, Lucky remembered Michael Nephs could fling fire around like tossing confetti. “Don't touch that dial. You haven't heard my list of wedding presents."

JR barked out a laugh. “Somehow, I doubt it has anything to do with diamonds and other useless trinkets. A toaster, maybe?” He sat on a pile of flooring waiting for installation.

"I'll buy my own damn kitchen appliances, asshole. What I want from you is to back off on my house.” Charm tossed her purple hair out of her eyes, which were returning to their normal coloration, Lucky noted.

"Done.” JR stood and brushed construction dust off his formerly immaculate suit. “Anything else?"

Lucky had to ask. His brother didn't normally give up so easily. “Why the change of heart, JR?"

Charm's jaw was on its way to the subfloor. Her hand slowly lowered to her side. All the piss and vinegar remained, smoldering in her green eyes, but she frowned warily. “Yeah. Why? I know it isn't out of love or respect for either of us."

His dear brother, known more for his steely expression and hard-assed attitude, actually winked and grinned. “Surprised you both, haven't I? Truth be known, I've a similar goal to Charm's, even if our path on the hunt is different."

"No shit, Sherlock.” Charm's pithy comment only got her a warm and charming smile. She folded her arms across her chest and sidestepped closer to Lucky. “I really doubt you've got the interests of children and families at heart, you mangy scoundrel."

Lucky narrowed his eyes suspiciously. JR was well known for coming in the back door when the front was locked. “Cutting down a forest and leveling an entire—if blighted—subdivision doesn't sound all that people friendly to me, pal."

JR leveled a finger at him. “Bingo, brother mine. Blighted. This whole area was blighted, even the trees. I had a study done. Wood beetles and Dutch elm disease were destroying the forest anyway, not to mention the remains of the homes in this area were in just as bad a shape. Fully half of the homes had termites and carpenter ants."

Charm actually shuddered. “Yuk. I hate bugs. I had this house termite proofed before I moved here."

JR nodded. “I know. I was inspecting the progress of my workmen when your pest control company tented the house.” He poured himself more coffee. “I intended to buy your house last because of that. It's in a corner of an area that was not scheduled for urban renewal in my plans for another year or two anyway."

Lucky opened his mouth to say more, but was stopped by JR's open-palmed gesture. Okay, he was willing to hear him out.

"Let me finish, please. I think you'll find our plans do agree, to a certain extent, with minor modifications if we can compromise.” He sipped his coffee, confident as ever, but his brown eyes held a certain appeal in them directed straight at Charm.

His mate didn't budge from her pose of casual indifference, but if she'd been related to his grandfather Eduardo, her ears would have been perked forward. “Okay, JR. Why don't you tell me—us—your plans?"

Well, finally. Lucky was glad to see Charm was getting used to the idea of being his teammate as well as his love mate. Including him in her statement was a good start on breaking through her shell of tough independence.

JR nodded acknowledgment of the pair-bond. “We both want to make this a safe place for families to live and work, right?” He waited for their nods. “Good. My idea was to build a new shopping complex, park, and multi-family housing to do so. Your home, dear sister-in-law, sits in one corner of the housing complex."

Charm snorted. “New shit means expensive shit. I wasn't doing up this place for the rich bitches to perambulate down perfect suburban sidewalks on their way to shop at exclusive stores and get their nails done at spas, buddy boy.” Her voice dripped with contempt. “This house is for kids who don't have homes, JR. Not the sort of foster parents who take in children so they can live high on the money the government gives them. That's low, though I know it happens."

Lucky closed his eyes, remembering a friend in his high school who'd been the foster child in such a situation. He'd lived in the back of the house in what had been designed to be the butler's quarters, with bare minimums of furniture and clothes while his foster parents lived a lavish lifestyle and showed him off like an investment portfolio. It had been sickening to see, but Jeff had earned himself a scholarship on his own and was now a successful businessman.

Charm stared at Lucky like he'd just said something really profound. Her green eyes welled up with tears, and she wiped them away with a quick, furious swipe of her hand. “You do understand."

"Heavens forbid. Such uses of children are nauseating.” JR nodded at him with new respect in his eyes. “No, I want the housing to be what is politely termed low income for our unwashed masses presently crammed into the inner city. Kids deserve green grass, yards, and trees to climb in. Their parents need plots of land to grow gardens if they want to supplement subsistence food supplies, and low-cost education centers to improve themselves if they desire. If planned correctly, all this could be within reasonable walking distance or short transit rides.” He drew a breath. “I've even incorporated plans for tram transport to many major work and manufacturing locations for jobs."

Impressed, Lucky put his arm around Charm. He gave her a sideways squeeze to let her know he was still on her side. “So, where's the compromise Charm needs to make? All I see is that we're in the way of your grand scheme, good though it sounds."

"No, I see what he wants from me. He wants my kids in his workforce, sort of like the vanguard of proving to the poor that this area is for them, not the locust-like middle income folks who'd buy up the housing for investment rentals.” Charm's voice was awed for a moment, and then hardened. “I won't allow exploitation. The kids have been through enough. Give them jobs and a chance at a better life, JR. They don't want handouts—they want the right to make their own way."

JR knuckled her chin in a caress. “Just like you did? I had a long talk with Aunt Ana, Charm. Yes, I know who you are. You've been there in those foster homes and used like a trophy until providence brought you to the Merrill home. You are uniquely suited to ensure the children are never used as sex toys or displays of charitable works for tax relief. Will you help me?"

Lucky's brave angel crumpled in his arms and sobbed. “I guess this means I'm getting married to a former Faux Paws. Who'da thunk it?"

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Slung over Lucky's shoulder, Charm giggled and clung tighter with one hand to her overpriced stuffed mouse she'd gotten from the theme park and grabbed her mouse ears hat before it fell from her head. She playfully bit Lucky's butt and tucked her wings in as tightly as she could. “You know, I could have sworn carrying your bride over the threshold was supposed to be slightly more romantic!"

Lucky keyed in the passcode to their hotel room and laughed. “Tradition, Angel! Tradition must be followed. Since I couldn't figure out any other way to carry you, you'll just have to put up with a little indignity.” He kicked open the door with one foot. “Be grateful JR gave us this honeymoon in Eden's theme park grand opening."

She whooshed out a breath of air and staggered backwards a step to regain her balance as Lucky set her down gently. “Hey, I'm not knocking a wedding in Florida with all the trimmings."

Lucky's face turned red, and he stared at something over her shoulder. “You aren't just whistling Dixie, baby. Turn around.” A slow grin spread across his face.

"Uh-oh.” Charm did a smart about face, and her jaw dropped. A massive, steel-framed open box dominated the far end of a hotel room the size of her whole house. Chains hung from the top bars, ending in a wide leather seat, like an oversized swing. A big white bow with orange blossom bouquets decorated the top. “Holy crapola! A pleasure swing. Custom job, from the look of it.” Charm stepped reverently over to run a hand along the black steel upright supports. Absently, she set her mouse down on the tooled I-shaped seat so she could finger the fur-lined cuffs clipped to the chains. “Fully adjustable. Wow. I haven't seen one of these things in years, and this is the best of the lot."