Bourbon Street Royalty: Jaded Series, Book Two (18 page)

“Shit.” His lips feathered against her shoulder. “The perfect girl,” he whispered.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Lucky

A light knock on the bedroom door startled Lucky. He shot up in bed and fumbled around for his jeans. He was exhausted from the night before but invigorated. He and Baby had made love for hours. It was raw and exciting. She brought every part of him to life.

Another knock sent him stumbling for the door.

“Joyce, what the hell? Is everything ok?” He glanced back over his shoulder, relieved to find Baby sound asleep. Her long hair looked like an ocean of black waves. A pile of her clothes rested on the floor. The crisp, white sheet lay over her slender hips, setting off her silky skin, barely covering her gorgeous, round tits.

Damn, she was fucking hot. His dick stirred. He stepped out into the hallway and pulled the door closed behind him.

“Yes, everything’s fine. Better than fine. Tilly will be released today. I came to prepare a room on the first floor. She can’t do those stairs.” She folded her arms across her chest. “You’re not alone, are you?”

“No.”

“Should I ask?”

“No.”

“You know how your mother can be.” Joyce searched his face before letting out a small sigh. She touched his arm. “I’ll prepare an extra room.”

“You know that’s not necessary.”

“Son, it’s your mother.” Joyce winked before walking away.

Lucky was relieved that his mother was getting discharged from the hospital, but she wasn’t going to be happy about Baby staying at the manor. Of course, that’s if he could talk her into staying.

“You are out of your damn mind. There’s no way I’m staying here with your mother coming home. Forget about the fact that it would be crazy awkward, she’s sick. She doesn’t need the stress of an unwanted house guest.” Baby ran around the room gathering up her strewn clothes.

“Come on, it’s not like that. She’ll be fine, and she’ll understand.”

She scooped up her shirt and glared at him. “Not a chance. Besides, I have things to do. I need to go check on my mom. I also need to touch base with Ma’Linn and run some errands. We can catch back up after.”

Lucky ran his hand over his beard. “I’m not ok with this, but willing to address it later. In the meantime, let’s get you some breakfast.”

He threw on a shirt and laced up his boots, all the while, unable to break his gaze away from Baby. Everything about her made his body react. His groin. His brain. His fucking cold-ass heart. He had no idea what he had been thinking when he ran away. There was no way he could survive without her. No one else could ever compare. He needed her, the same way he needed air to breathe.

His chest tightened as he watched her get dressed. She tamed her mane with a clip. No makeup, but her skin glowed. Perfection.

Lucky strolled into the kitchen with Baby trailing a few steps behind.

“Thought you might be hungry.” Joyce stood at the stove flipping French toast.

He gave her a quick peck on the cheek and poured two cups of coffee. “Joyce, I’d like you to meet someone.”

The older lady held the spatula in the air until Lucky took the hint and grabbed it. She crossed the room, surveying Baby before pulling her in for an embrace.

“Welcome, Baby.”

Baby Jade’s green eyes widened. To her credit, she smiled, but Lucky could see the uneasiness growing in her eyes.

“Thank you. You can call me Jade.”

Joyce waved a hand in the air. “Oh, please. That would be like me calling this little good luck charm James. Not going to happen. He’s been Lucky to me since day one. Sit. Eat.”

He peered at Baby, rounding his eyes and shrugging. He had mentioned Baby Jade to his parents, but they quickly shut down the conversation, calling the entire notion absurd. He should have known the old hen was eavesdropping somewhere in the background. Not that it bothered him. She had always been able to read him like a book. It was obvious that Joyce knew how important Baby was to him. The fact that she welcomed her with open arms, literally, spoke volumes.

For the first time in a long time, he had an ally.

The three sat up to the island bar in the kitchen, making small talk. For one fleeting moment, Lucky’s heart grasped at the idea of a family. Informal. Small, quaint. Chatting about the day ahead over coffee. It was so foreign to him, but he wanted more. He could get used to the sappy, family bullshit.

An unexpected pang pierced his hardened heart.

Joyce wrapped her arms around Baby Jade. “I do hope you’ll be back soon.”

“Sooner than you think,” Lucky responded from the doorway. Baby’s defiant gaze held his.

Joyce observed them both. “Well, there will be a bed with your name on it anytime you’re ready.”

“You’re sweet. Thank you.” Baby shot Lucky a death stare and grabbed the helmet he held out for her.

He kissed Joyce’s cheek and whispered, “Thank you.”

As he cranked up the bike, his heart raced as Baby hopped on behind him. He craved the way her perfect body formed to his when she rested her head against his back. He almost couldn’t contain himself when she looped her arms together around his waist, trailing her hands along his abdomen.

He winked at Joyce, drawing a smile from the old woman. “I’m dropping Baby off to check on her mom. Then, I’ll meet you at the hospital to pick up mother.”

Lucky eased through traffic, attempting to go slow. He still wasn’t sure how Baby felt being on the back of a bike after the accident. He edged up to the curb in front of the massive building. He slipped off and helped Baby do the same. He never grew tired of seeing her on his bike.

“So, what’s your plan?”

She attempted to run her fingers through her long, tangled locks. “Well, I’m going to check on things here, make sure Momma’s ok. Then, I’ll head home and pop in on Ma’Linn before I shower and head to work.”

His forehead creased. “You’re not thinking about going back to the club?”

She rolled her eyes. “Let’s not do this again.”

His back snapped straight. “Dammit, you have to take this shit seriously. You can’t just go walking into the fucking lion’s den.”

“Look, I know there’s a lot of shit going on, but I’m not going to hang around hiding with my tail tucked between my legs. I have bills to pay, and until some dead, rich bastard leaves me millions, I have to make due. I’ll be fine, I promise.”

Lucky searched her steady face. If she was scared, she wasn’t showing it. “And I can’t talk you into coming back to the manor?”

She quickly shook her head. “Go get your mom settled in. When you’re done, you can come check on me at my place. Cool?”

He wasn’t happy that she appeared so calm and collected. It wasn’t like her to let her guard down. “Deal.” He lowered his head and focused on her mesmerizing jade colored eyes. “But stay alert, and for fuck’s sake, get a damn cell phone.”

She leaned in, her soft, full lips brushed across his, setting off fireworks in his chest. His stomach leapt as he watched her stroll away.

He wanted to protect her. To throw her on the back of his bike and take off, but history has proven there’s no happy ending there. He had to stay and fight, to keep her safe. Things were about to come to a nasty head. It was all about to blow up around them; he felt it deep in his gut.

The shit storm was about to hit the fan.

***

“Hey, I hear someone’s ready to blow this joint?” Lucky was relieved to see his mother up and dressed. Joyce bustled around the room gathering all of the strewn about belongings.

“Well, it’s about time.” Tilly stopped yapping orders long enough to direct a disapproving scowl towards her son.

“Save it, Mother. You’re not even finished packing yet.”

She shot him a death stare from across the room. “Yes, that isn’t my doing either.”

With her hands on her hips, Joyce stared right back. “You’re about two seconds away from being left here permanently.”

“Pssh.” Tilly huffed. She ignored the comment and glanced back toward her son. “Any news?”

Lucky leaned against the wall and sighed. “Let’s just say, you were right to be concerned.”

His statement must have caught her full attention. Her tired eyes grew cold and hard. “I knew it. Carrie Scott is nothing but trouble.”

He bit his tongue. He had been telling them that same line for years. No need to rehash old war wounds. “You’ve got that right, but it doesn’t stop there.”

Tilly tilted her head and waited.

He hated to unload on his mother, especially with all that she had been going through. Her blood pressure was already unpredictable, but she would find out with or without him. “I still have some digging around to do, but I’ve been able to narrow down one major detail. Carrie’s only a middleman. There’s someone bigger behind the wheel. I have no idea who it is or their intentions, but I plan on finding out.”

Lowering her gaze, she appeared to be deep in thought. After a few moments, she lifted her head and pulled her thin lips into a grin. “Good, sounds like you’ve got it all covered. Let’s get me back home. Everything will be better once I’m sleeping in my own bed.”

Lucky weighed her words. Her quick change in behavior left him uneasy. He didn’t even bother trying to tell her to be safe or that she was in danger. Joyce knew, and that was more effective anyway.

The old woman just couldn’t help herself. She spot-cleaned the room as they waited on the discharge papers while he helped gather up all of Tilly’s personal items. Thankful when the doctor gave the all clear.

After finally making it home, Lucky helped the two women get his mother settled into the downstairs bedroom, listening to her gripe and complain the entire time.

“Damn, Mother. Seriously? You can’t get up and down the steps every day. You’re too weak. This is what the hospital suggested, and it’s what we’re going to do.”

“A suggestion is just that, a suggestion.” She leveled her gaze at him, only to have him throw the bags down and head for the door. “Fine, I’ll stay downstairs.”

Lucky picked up the bags and began unpacking.

Tilly hovered. “When are you going to make the announcement?”

He eyed his mother. He didn’t have time for this micro managing bullshit. “What are you talking about now?”

“The board. You’re going to need to set up a press conference to announce the change of command. The seat cannot stay vacant long. Clients will begin to pull their contracts. Rumors will start. It will be a huge disaster. The end of Gauthier Transport.”

She laced her long, elegant fingers together and placed them in her lap. Her frail chest heaved with annoyance.

“Mother, don’t get so worked up. I have things handled. It’ll be fine. Gauthier will be fine. You’ll see, I promise.”

“What do you have going on that’s more important than your father’s legacy?”

“Stuff, don’t worry about it. I can take care of more than one thing at a time mother.”

“James, we don’t have long. I hope you have your priorities straight. You’re not getting all caught up in that nasty, little stripper’s web, are you?”

Lucky rolled his neck for the umpteenth time since being in the crowded room with Tilly. He drew in a long pull of air. “Don’t talk about her like that. Stop being such a snob. All you need to know is that Baby is important to me, and that should be enough.”

The elderly woman scoffed. “Baby? How can I take the entire notion seriously with a name like Baby?”

His chest tightened. As he was about to blow a gasket and say something that he knew he would instantly regret, Joyce walked in with a lunch tray.

“Oh, Baby’s a doll. You would love her if you would just give her a second of your precious time.”

Tilly’s anxious, dull eyes widened. “You’ve met her?”

Joyce nodded and placed the tray on the side table. “Had breakfast with her this morning. Lovely girl.”

“She was in
my
house?” She directed her appalled stare towards her son.

He rolled his eyes. He adored Joyce, but she didn’t always have the best timing when it came to being helpful. The shit was about to hit the fan now.

“Yes, mother. She was at the house. I’m a grown man.”

“That doesn’t mean you can use my home for random sex visits.”

“Dammit, mother. It wasn’t like that, and you know it! Baby Jade means everything to me. If you want a relationship with me, or at the very least, my help, you’d better learn to find a way to get past your rich, bitch bullshit.”

Lucky knew he was pushing it with his tone, but he couldn’t let her get away with treating Baby like shit. If he had his way, she was going to be in the picture for a long time, and his mother would have to get used to it.

Tilly rounded her perfect brows. The little lines around her mouth creased. “You cannot talk to me that way. I am your mother and a Gauthier. You will show some respect.”

“Seriously? Do you hear yourself? You go around demanding everyone’s respect, but you refuse to even be in the presence of someone you know nothing about. Who do you respect? Is there anyone worthy enough? Maybe you have forgotten, but there was a time when you didn’t have a fucking penny to your name. Don’t you remember how much it sucked waitressing and answering phones all those years to send Dad to college? Who are you to look down your nose at someone else just because they have no other options, so they’re making due with the hand that they’ve been dealt? Baby Jade works her ass off the only way she knows how. You have no idea the bullshit that she’s been through, still going through. She’s a hundred times stronger that anyone I have ever known, Gauthier or otherwise. Maybe she’s no Carrie Scott, but I love her. She’s here to stay. Get used to it.”