Complication: BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance (Shifters Forever After Book 1) (5 page)

“
A
re you ready
?” Ky stood in the doorway, watching Laken doll herself up in the mirror. He couldn’t get enough of watching this woman. Every expression she made, every curve of her luscious body, every nuance of her character, all her strengths, her weaknesses… all the things that made Laken Araya who she was were the exact same things that mesmerized Ky.

She looked at his reflection in the mirror and grimaced. “Hell-o!” The grimace turned to a nervous smile. “Forgive me for being anxious. I’m only meeting your family for the first time.” She stuck her tongue out at him.

“You need something to do with that tongue?” He stepped up behind her and cupped her ass, his lips on the nape of her neck, just beneath her up-do.

Laken swiveled around. “Malachi Romanoff.”

“I guess I should be glad you remember my name—finally.”

He kissed her hard, destroying the careful application of lip gloss he’d watched her make. “They’ll love you,” he assured her. “Anyway, they have friends visiting from out of town, so the pressure won’t be on you as much.”

“And will your brothers be there?”

“Should be. You’ve already met Isaac. Jonah should be there too. He wasn’t last week. Missing two weeks in a row is risking a steep penalty with Aunt Miriam.”

She nodded, her expression serious. “I hope they like me.” She put her palms on his chest and pushed him gently. “Now go so I can repair what you messed up.”

F
orty-five minutes later
, they were walking through Uncle Mikhail and Aunt Miriam’s door. Ky took a deep breath.

Grizzly.

He scented grizzly in the air. More than one. The only grizzlies he’d seen in the city had been the respondents at the hearing.

Following the sounds of merriment and the aroma of delicious food, he and Laken walked to the room.

“Welcome.” Mikhail strode toward them and thrust his hand out. “Nice to meet you, Laken.”

Aunt Miriam slipped in front of him. “Hi, Laken. Don’t let that polar bear gruffness get to you. I’m so glad to meet you.” She wrapped her arms around Laken and looked at Ky over Laken’s shoulder.

She winked at Ky and gave him the smile that told him she was happy with something he’d done. He’d seen that smile many times during the years that she’d been like a mother to him, but this time, more than any other, it struck him deeply.

He was glad she was happy for him.

“Hey.” Layla peeled Miriam’s arms from around Laken. “My turn. I’m Layla. That’s Gavin.” She pointed behind her.

Gavin raised a hand in greeting.

That was when Ky looked at the visitors. Tanner Navarro and Marti Lee, and little Dominic. Another couple was standing next to them: a grizzly and a woman with dark eyes that had an indigo gleam in the background.

Tanner turned toward his uncle.

“My friends from Bear Canyon Valley.” Mikhail indicated the couple Ky didn’t know. “Mae Forester and Doc Evans. Mae and I go way back.”

“Way, way back,” Mae Forester added.

“I didn’t know you knew these people,” Ky said to his uncle. “They were the respondents at my hearing.”

“I knew them through Mae. I didn’t want to put you in an awkward position.”

Ky nodded his appreciation. “Nice to meet you, for real, rather than in the confines of the hearing,” he told Marti and Tanner. There was something about the grizzly’s straightforward gaze that reassured him. This was a good man.

“Likewise,” Tanner said.

Laken reached out and hugged Marti. “I know it had to have been difficult for you.”

Tears formed in Marti’s eyes. “I’m glad it’s over.”

“Courvoisier?” Mikhail pulled them aside.

“I’ll visit with your aunt and get the dirt on you,” Laken said, letting go of Ky’s hand.

“There’s no dirt.” Ky gave her a mock frown.

“Oh, we’ve got dirt,” Layla laughed. “We’ve got lots of dirt.”

Ky, Tanner, and Mikhail made their way to the far corner of the room where the luxurious bar with its Italian marble and rosewood trim was fully stocked with several bottles of Courvoisier. Gavin and Doc joined them.

In the other corner of the room, Laken was making herself comfortable was comfortable with his family and their guests. She glanced at Ky and gave him a small wave.

He smiled.
God, a week ago my life was so damned empty.

“How’s the case?” Ky asked Isaac as their uncle measured brandy into their snifters. “Catch your cat burglar yet?”

Doc raised a brow. “Cat burglar?”

“Don’t,” Isaac cautioned Ky.

Ky smirked. “Don’t what? Don’t say that a shifter’s looking for a cat burglar?” He bit back a laugh.

“Too late.” Mikhail laughed heartily.

“No luck. It’s been quiet the last week. He’s on hiatus, I guess.”

“Even cat burglars take vacations, I suppose.” Unable to contain himself, Ky laughed out loud this time.

“Ha, ha.” Isaac crossed his arms over his chest. “Want to ride with me next week?”

“Can’t. Got to wrap up a few things. Going out of the country.”

“What’s this?” Mikhail studied Ky’s face. “You’re not going back into the military, are you?”

“No, I’m going to Africa with Laken. I’m taking a leave of absence.”

“Does your aunt know?” Mikhail swirled the amber liquid.

“She’s the one who told me I shouldn’t think twice, that I should be where my mate is.”

Mikhail nodded. “When will you be back?”

“In about a month, right before Christmas.”

“Stay in touch. Let me know if you need anything.” His uncle was well connected, was even rumored to have some shady associations.

“Any chance that we’ll hear from Kozlov again?” Tanner asked Mikhail.

“I was told he’s still in the hospital, still unconscious. If he wakes up, he could make a fuss, but the decision is irreversible. There’s no such thing as appeals. It’s cut and dried. He’ll abide by it or he’ll face the consequences.”

Ky wondered out loud, “About Vey Kozlov…”

Tanner’s face grew serious. “I don’t think he wanted to live. I can’t imagine any other circumstance under which someone would do the things he did.”

“Understood,” Gavin said.

“You don’t have to elaborate.” Ky felt bad for him. He knew what it was like to be pushed, just as he knew Gavin knew. Gavin had killed a fellow officer in the Sigma Eps unit after that officer made a bad call and had most of their unit obliterated, including Gavin’s little brother.

“How long will you be in town?” Mikhail asked.

“We only came in for the hearing,” Doc Evans responded. “Mae will want to get back.”

“You’re coming to Dallas for the birth, right?” Gavin’s face, usually stoic, wore an expression of concern, and he looked across the room at Layla as if to reassure himself that she was still there and was still safe.

“We’ll be there in time for that. Though I should shop around to find a replacement, or at least someone who can help me out and take over some of the travel.”

“Couldn’t Astra?” Tanner asked.

Astra, Doc’s stepdaughter, was well trained to manage shifter healthcare.

Doc shook his head. “She’s got her own issues to deal with. I’m not sure I want to put that kind of pressure on her.”

“It’s that or bring an outsider in to Bear Canyon Valley,” Tanner said.

“Mae’s got some connections. Maybe she knows someone.”

A knock on the door interrupted them.

“Maybe Jonah’s decided to join us.” Miriam hustled toward the door.

Ky waited to hear Jonah’s voice, but instead he heard nothing.

Then he heard a name that gave him chills:
Kozlov
.

He froze for a fraction of a second, then bolted, his supernatural speed taking him to the front door quickly to be sure that his aunt wasn’t in harm’s way. Tanner was hot on his heels.

L
aken saw
Miriam detour from the appetizer to answer the knock at the front door. Then Ky bolted out of the room, Tanner right behind him. Puzzled, she looked at Marti, who shrugged. The two of them headed toward the front door after their mates. They didn’t make it quite that far.

Miriam, Tanner, and Ky reentered the room, and with them was Bain Kozlov. Marti gasped at the sight. Laken took her hand in support and then realized what she’d done and how it would look.

He’s going to think that we’ve known each other all along.

Releasing Marti’s hand, Laken stepped forward. “This isn’t what you think.”

Marti stepped back and put her hands on Dominic’s shoulders, then placed herself in front of her son.

“I’ve already talked to Secretary Partlay,” Bain said. “He’s given me some insight into the situation. I didn’t come here to perpetuate a feud or to start new trouble.”

Mae stepped forward. “Then why exactly did you come?” Her voice was level and not accusatory in the least.

“My father’s still in the hospital. Losing Vey hasn’t been easy for him. I wanted you to know that I don’t hold a grudge. There was something wrong with my brother, and when he stopped taking his meds…” He shook his head. “I’ve always known that Vey was my father’s favorite. We had different mothers.” Bain shrugged. “There were days he drove me to wanting him not to be alive.” Bain hung his head as if he were ashamed for having had those thoughts. “That’s all I wanted to say.”

“It must be tough.” Marti’s voice was colored with emotion, and tears shone in her eyes.

Bain nodded. “Maybe one day, when things aren’t so fresh… Maybe you’d let me see Dominic? And let me get to know my nephew? Maybe your heart can soften enough to let my father do the same.”

“Maybe,” she said.

“I’ll go now, and leave you to your family celebration. Secretary Partlay has my information, should you ever wish to contact me.” The big man, with shoulders that blocked a doorway and blue eyes the color of the sky, turned and headed toward the door.

Miriam walked him out and closed the door softly behind him. When she reentered the room everyone was silent and reflective.

“We should have dinner now,” Miriam said.

A
month later
…

K
y had gotten
darker from his time out in the sun. He was leaner, too, now that he was away from the gym and not eating the same diet as he had before they came to Africa, though he was still muscle-bound and sexy as hell. God, way too sexy.

Laken put her hand on his chest, high on the right side, where he’d gotten a tattoo two days before they left the United States. The tattoo commemorated their relationship: it was a poem she’d written, one he liked enough to have it inked on his chest.

He placed his hand over hers, covering it completely and then some. “Feel better?”

“Just stiff from the long plane ride, but ready to see your family again. And mine.”

Her sisters had agreed to come to Sunday dinner at Miriam and Mikhail’s. She’d missed them. She’d promised them before she left for Africa that she and Ky would make it a point to come home every month for a few days.

Ky knocked on the door, and it opened immediately. Laken wondered if Miriam hadn’t been standing right behind it, anxiously awaiting their arrival.

Miriam hugged her as she and Ky stepped inside. “How are you two doing?” She let go of Laken and wrapped her arms around Ky’s waist. “How was Africa?”

“Great!” Ky’s smile was bright in his sun-darkened face. “You wouldn’t believe how incredible it is to be there, to be a part of it all, and at the same time, it’s so sad.”

“I’ve never seen you so happy. Come in. Almost everyone’s here.” She took Laken’s hand. “Including Carina and Cadence. And they’ve missed you.”

“Almost everyone?” Ky asked. “Let me guess, Jonah’s not here.”

“Oh, no. He’s here. This time it’s Isaac. He said he’d be a few minutes late. Something to do with a case.”

“Did Mae and the others make it safely back to Bear Canyon Valley?”

“No incident, thankfully,” Miriam said. “And we’ve seen Bain twice. He had lunch with your uncle once, and dinner with both of us last week.”

Cari and Cade popped out of the other room and grabbed Laken in a hug.

“I’m glad you’re home!” Cari squealed. “Tell me you’re staying through the holidays.”

“Yes, say you are,” Cade insisted.

Mikhail handed Laken, Cade, and Carina each a glass of wine. “Merlot? You’ll love this one, if you’re a fan. It’s a special edition.”

“We’re staying through.” Laken laughed. “What have you two been up to?”

“Just work,” Cari said.

“You?” Laken looked at Cade.

Cade shrugged. “Work, mostly.” She took a sip of the wine.

Behind them, the door opened.

“Isaac!” Miriam ran to the door and hugged the big polar bear shifter. “You made it.”

Laken studied Ky’s brother. If possible, he looked even more worn out than the last time they’d seen him.

“How’s the case?” Ky asked his brother after giving him a shoulder hug.

“Goddamned cat burglar. Things escalated shortly after you left. But I think we may be getting close.”

“What?” Carina said to Isaac. “I’m Laken’s sister. Carina. Cari, preferably.”

“Isaac.” He shook her hand.

“What’s this about a cat burglar?” Cari asked.

“Isaac’s with NYPD. He’s a detective.” Miriam beamed with pride. “Let’s go into the living room. We’ve got appetizers galore.”

“Special Task Force,” Ky added.

“Quit that, you two.” Isaac shook his head, then said to Cari, “I’ve been working on the cat burglar case.”

“You said you were getting close?” Cari probed.

“Do you still think it’s a shifter?” Ky asked.

A crash, the sound of glass shattering, made Laken flinch. Cade’s wine glass had broken into tiny bits and had sent red wine splatters out in a wide circle.

Cade’s obsidian eyes were wide, her olive skin pale. “Sorry,” she whispered. “I don’t know what happened.”

Miriam patted her on the shoulder. “Don’t concern yourself. It’s an easy fix. I’ll be right back.”

“Let me help.” Cade trailed her toward the kitchen.

“Is she okay?” Isaac’s asked, following her with his eyes.

Laken noticed the amber of his bear in the depths of his eyes. Was it possible? Could he and Cade be…

Ky was watching her, a smile on his face. “I saw it, too,” he whispered, taking her hand.

“Is that something we want to discourage?”

“Good luck with that,” he smiled. “Isaac’s as headstrong as I am.”

Laken rose up on her toes and kissed him on the lips. “I wouldn’t have you any other way.”