Beneath the Skin: de La Vega Cats, Book 3 (10 page)

“My grandmother?”

He laughed then. “I meant my mother, but from what I’ve heard and how you are, I’d imagine that extends to her as well.”

“I’m not hard to win over.”

“Ha.”

“Ha? Is that the best you’ve got? Ha?”

“You’re stubborn. And temperamental.”

“I’m resolute and in touch with my emotions.” She tried to sound haughty, but in her attempt not to laugh it didn’t come off as good as she’d have liked.

“Ha.”

“So anyway, what’s the plan for tonight? I don’t have to give a speech or anything? Your mother was less than forthcoming.”

“She likes to keep people on their toes. But as far as I know, it’s just a dinner. My brother Max will make a speech of some kind. He’s a speech type of guy. He’s grateful for your service and not totally unaware of the history between our families.”

“We’ve been to jamboree events, you know. Every year we do the children’s hospital picnic. We answer the call when it’s made.”

“I can’t believe I’ve never noticed you at any of the gatherings.”

“There are too many people there to notice, I’d wager. We kept to ourselves and our small group. You were probably prowling around being scary anyway.”

“I’m sorry.”

She was reaching out to touch his hand before she’d even realized she was doing it. She brushed her fingertips over the back of his fingers, over his knuckles. “It’s not on you. And it’s old history, as you point out. I made the joke at the end, you know, to soften it.”

But he kept serious. “The jamboree is a source of great comfort to me. Safety. Loyalty. I’m sorry it wasn’t that for you and I hope things change. It shouldn’t have been a place of dread. Our job as the governing family is to open our doors and care for our cats. We haven’t done that with your family. I regret that.”

“Did you do it personally? Repeat lies about my grandmother?”

“No, and I understand what you’re saying. But it’s something we’d like to remedy. Not the lies, we can’t undo the past. But this is your jamboree. I…we want you to be at home within it.”

She gave in and smiled. “Thank you.”

She didn’t know why he was so anxious when they arrived. He went to get her door and for once she allowed it. That flustered him. Her hand in his as he helped her down was warm, and he kept it as they headed toward the house.

Chapter Seven

“Gibson, come in!” A pretty woman opened the door.

Mia froze a moment. The other woman’s scent was cat, yes, but something else too.

“Mia Porter, this is Kendra de La Vega. She’s Max’s wife.”

“And my Alpha.” And a witch, which is why she had that difference in scent. Mia dipped her head just enough. There was no call to be rude, after all. But she didn’t need to give her obeisance to this female just yet.

Kendra took her hands. “It’s really my pleasure to meet you. I like Gibson in one piece, you see. And you saved him. Thank you. Please come in and out to the backyard. Imogene is out there ordering people around and making it look like she’s only suggesting things.”

Mia couldn’t help but like Kendra, with her dry humor and easy affection toward her brother-in-law.

“Is my father around? I’d like to have him meet Mia before everyone arrives.”

A tall, beautiful man throwing off so much testosterone it was clear he was Gibson’s big brother, Max, came down the hall as they entered the main part of the house. “Mia Porter, I presume?”

Suddenly shy, she nodded. Gibson squeezed the hand he still held, and she found her courage again. “Yes, and you must be Max.” She averted her eyes a moment as she tipped her chin down.

“I am. And I’m very pleased to meet you in person so I can thank you for your service to our jamboree. Gibson has told us about the shooting and the situation with the car chase the other night. Though he’s often gruff, we like having him around.”

Gibson snorted and she relaxed a little.

She’d accepted thanks enough on this that she had gotten past her initial tendency to blow it off. As her grandmother had told her, it was important to let people thank you and important to be gracious in response.

“You’re welcome. Thank you for having me here this evening.”

Max’s smile went from all business to something more relaxed. “My mother loves to have parties. It’s nice to give her a good reason.”

Kendra came back to their group and Max pulled her to his side. “She hasn’t even made it outside yet, boys.” She turned her attention back to Mia. “Would you like a drink? There’s a full bar set up out back.” Their metabolisms were too fast to really get drunk, but a nice glass of wine was good for you—an adage her father repeated often.

“Sure, that would be lovely.” She turned back to Gibson. “I’ve met your father. Once, a long time ago.” She’d seen them all from afar as she’d grown up.

“I hadn’t thought of that. Of course. But he’d still like to speak to you.” He leaned in closer. “You’ll like him. Nearly everyone does.”

The backyard was set up for dinner. Several long tables were topped with pretty place settings and flickering candles. She envied them this huge outdoor space. Children ran and played off to the side of the main yard. Fenced and full of things for them to run and jump all over. It made her smile. The surreptitious guard posted didn’t make her so gooey inside, but she knew the reason for it and was glad their young were all safe.

“My nieces and nephews.”

She heartily approved of the way it appeared the de La Vegas cared for their young. Family was the most important thing.

Gibson liked the way she smiled as she caught sight of the kids. She was nearly shy, which he had imagined he’d find annoying given her general fearlessness, but instead he was touched by it.

“Ah! You’re here.” His mother, her expression lightening when she caught sight of them, paused to take some drinks from a tray before continuing on her way over, Cesar, his father, at her side.

“Mia Porter, thank you for your service to this jamboree and to my son. I am in your debt.” Cesar bowed deeply to Mia, who blinked, wide eyed at his father’s old-school chivalry.

“I…thank you. Even if he was a de La Vega.” She smiled to underline that it was a joke.

Cesar took her hands, laughing. “A sense of humor is most welcome. As are you. We’re happy to have you here.”

Imogene handed Mia a glass. “Champagne?”

Mia, now freed from his father’s grip, took the glass. “Yes, thank you.”

“Gibson, show her around. Introduce her. Oh and thank you for your recommendation. We have a case of the borsao from your shop. Cesar loves red wine.”

“And good Spanish red as well.”

His father grinned back, flirting now. “Indeed. We love wine and food.”

“It’s one of my favorite things about the Spanish.”

Gibson liked this side of her. The ease she had with his father warmed him. Imogene sent him a look and he knew she was thinking the same. Admittedly he was relieved. Things had most decidedly not been easy between Renee and Imogene when Galen first brought her around.

It was better now. In fact his sister-in-law and his mother were very close. But he’d have hated it if there had been tension.

Of course because he wanted the Porters back in the jamboree and he knew it was important for them all to be united in the face of all the chaos just outside.

He held his arm out and she took it. “I’m ready for my tour.”

She didn’t look too overwhelmed. In fact, she’d warmed up as they strolled around the yard and he introduced her. Several people already knew her, which he was glad of. Not so much the way a few of the males took her in, their gazes lingering on those legs he’d complimented earlier. He kept a hand at the small of her back, knowing he shouldn’t but not stopping himself. She wasn’t his, but she sure as hell wasn’t going to be anyone else’s. Not then anyway.

“Ah, there are my parents. Come on. You haven’t met them yet and I’ve been ordered to introduce you.” She waved to the cats who’d come out to the yard from the house. He’d seen pictures of course. He did look into her and her family after the first night. But it was so clear they adored her. He liked to see it.

“Mom, Dad, Grandma, this is Gibson de La Vega. Gibson, this is my mother Ellen, my father Jim and my grandmother Lettie.”

He nodded to the father and then the mother and bent over the grandmother’s hand. Lettie fluttered her lashes and flirted with him, nearly making him smile. He could see where Mia got her spine though when she straightened and gave the area a once-over.

“Last time I was here…well, never mind that.”

Mia kissed Lettie’s cheek and spoke in her ear. Gibson could have tuned it out. Because of super-sensitive shifter hearing, many times they had to force their attention away from a whispered conversation for courtesy’s sake. But he wasn’t feeling courteous, he was curious.

“If you’re uncomfortable, we can go right now.”

Lettie held her granddaughter’s gaze. “You’re a good girl. I’m fine. I still have sharp claws if anyone comes at me.”

He had to bite the inside of his cheek at that. He just bet she did.

Drew came out with his girlfriend, a cat whose family was quite active in jamboree events. And Dario’s sister. She waved in their direction and dragged Drew over. “Hello.” She hugged Mia. “My dad wanted me to tell you there’s going to be an apartment coming up available in my building. In two months.”

Mia’s expression brightened. “Really? Thanks for the head’s up. I’ll check in next week.”

He hadn’t known she was looking for a place. He’d have to follow up on that with her later on.

His sister Beth came out, holding his newest nephew. She’d had a rough time with both Kendra and Renee when they’d come into the jamboree. Her insecurity and resentment had made a once really wonderful and fun person into one weighted down with bitterness and a special sort of hate for humans. He didn’t know what to expect from her that night, but he hoped the baby would keep her calm.

He had to admit she was better, even just a little bit, in the wake of the horrible betrayal of their brother Carlos, who’d been working with the human anti-Other hate groups. That had shocked them all and had been a powerful—and painful—reminder of what was important.

Their mother moved to Beth, cooing and then snatching the baby from Beth’s arms. Few people loved babies more than Imogene. Beth smiled at their mother, shaking her head. He ached for the person his sister used to be.

“Dinner is about to start.” Cesar came out into the back. “Take your seats if you please. Gibson, please bring Mia and her family up here.” He indicated the table where the governing cats would sit.

“Ooh. Special.” She whispered it and he squeezed her hand, which he’d found himself holding an awful lot that evening.

“Don’t forget it, missy.”

His mother had spared no effort to make the evening lovely. The food was delicious, the drinks flowed and the chatter all around was easy and upbeat. It had been a while since it had been so drama free.

Max had given a speech. A warm, brief one that thanked Mia and her family. In his way he underlined how delighted they were to have the Porters there but managed to do it in a way that wouldn’t put anyone on the spot. There was a reason his brother was such a good Alpha.

At last he sat down, and everyone relaxed again and got back to eating and talking.

“So I’m told you were in the military. What did you do?”

Mia looked up from her plate to listen to Max’s question.

Instead, it was her mother who answered. “Mia’s a pilot. An amazing one. And she was decorated several times for bravery while she was in Iraq.”

Gibson hid a smile. Her mother was an awful lot like his. Clearly proud of her kids.

“Really?” Max flicked his gaze from Ellen back to Mia. “I don’t think I’m surprised given what Gibson has told me. What are you going to do now?”

“I don’t really know yet. I’m working on that.”

“Is it hard to get work as a pilot? Or are you wanting to do other things?” Kendra put another pork chop on Max’s plate before she added one to her own. Gibson loved the way she took care of Max. And truth be told, was a little envious.

“As you might be aware, Weres have been fired and barred from working for some airlines. Mainly I flew C130s and other large cargo planes. A challenge, but I enjoyed it.” Her lips flattened for a moment, and he wondered, yet again, what the hell had happened to her.

“Just give it time.” Drew spoke softly. But of course everyone heard and their nosiness took over.

“Did something happen? Were you injured in Iraq?” Renee asked.

“Renee is a healer. It’s her magickal gift.” Galen leaned over and kissed his wife’s temple.

“I was injured in Iraq, yes.”

“Twice,” Ellen added.

“Thanks, Mom.” She sent her mother a look, but it was Lettie who made a dismissive sound.

“She’s ashamed of her attack. As if it was her fault.”

“Grandma, that’s enough.” She vibrated with tension, and while he desperately wanted to hear the rest, Mia was clearly upset and didn’t want to talk about it. He found himself rubbing a hand up and down her back. And her father sent him a raised brow.