RICHIE: New Orleans Wolf Shifters with plus sized BBW for mates (Le Beau Series Book 6) (6 page)

At least she was forewarned about Qball. Along with her new shoes, she’d also strapped on her dress weapons. It was better to be prepared than caught off guard. The hotel manager had assured her security was on high alert and extra officers were posted in strategic locations. Ryker ‘Qball’ Quintrell wasn’t getting anywhere near her family.

Her attention turned to the head table when she heard the tinkle of silverware on glass.

Her uncle stood and said, “everyone please take your seats, dinner is about to be served.”

Little table tents with names printed on them dictated where to sit. From her earlier visit, she knew Richie wasn’t assigned to her table tonight. The string of delays, which kept her and Richie apart, had graduated from bothersome coincidences to full-blown annoyance. Unhappily she took her seat and placed her napkin in her lap.

Piper used her predicament to locate Richie. With everyone forced to remain in one spot for the next thirty minutes she would be able to systematically sweep the room. There, three tables over. He was directly in front of her, and dang, looking straight at her. Her breath hitched, she felt like a side of beef in front of a starved lion.

Richie was silent throughout dinner, his focus on his mate, not the inane chit chat people felt required to generate with complete strangers. He noticed Piper rarely offered a response either. They were both too busy watching each other to bother with the people at their tables. His fingers itched to touch her. Forced to gaze at, but not touch one’s mate was cruel and unusual punishment for a shifter. His fingers flexed again. If he was forced to wait much longer, his claws were going to make an appearance.

Helen’s whisper of his name caught is attention. He glanced from Piper to his friends at the head table. They all sported blatantly curious smiles. Their faces were too alight with interest for his comfort. He’d seen them like this before, and it never ended well. Whatever they thought they knew was eating them alive. He was screwed. They’d never let up until they had the entire story.

Too bad. He had no intention of enlightening them. This was between him and Piper. Regardless, he couldn’t tell them about mates or shifters if he wanted to. So, he cocked a brow and gave them a look. If they were smart, which he knew they were, they would back off.

He held his glare until each of them looked away. Then he turned his attention back to his mate. He captured her gaze again and held it. She seemed to be on guard. Why would a gorgeous woman at her cousin’s wedding be so edgy? Who was she looking for? He scanned the room himself, ready for any threat to his mate.

Piper sucked in a breath, as heat surged through her body. She felt Richie’s intensity like an intimate caress from twenty-five feet away. Her brows furrowed and she concentrated on his eyes. They appeared to glow like they had last night in her room. Memories of his eyes glowing made her blush like a schoolgirl with a crush. The effect excited her, which in turn worried her.

She swallowed hard on a bone-dry throat and blinked. The glow was gone. Either he’d turned and the light hit his eyes differently or she’d imagined it. Piper reached for her water, shook her head to clear her wild and crazy thoughts, and took a good long drink. The last thing she needed was a distraction and illusions. Qball was stalking her and he was far too close for comfort.

The past thirty minutes felt like a lifetime. Finally, the clamor of dinner plates and silver being cleared filled the room. About time, too. She needed a drink to calm her nerves and clear her mind of romance. Piper took a sip of her whiskey Coke.

Damn, that’s good.

She nodded her approval to the bartender and stepped out of line. One well-mixed cocktail was exactly what the doctor ordered. She was on the job, which meant limited alcohol.

After years as a bounty hunter the habit of locating every exit and potential danger was deeply ingrained. A wedding reception was no exception. She found a spot away from the crowd and stood to the side of the room, sipped her cocktail and secretly observed Richie. He was genuine and courteous, his manners leaning toward old world and refined. In the short time she’d watched, two things she found incredibly sexy became evident. He was intelligent and had a sense of humor. She eavesdropped on a conversation between him and the bridesmaids when she’d made the circuit around the room. It seemed last night hadn’t been a fluke or an act. Richie was the real deal. Everything she’d ever wanted and smoking hot.

His suit jacket did nothing to hide his wide shoulders and sculpted chest. Piper leaned a little to the right to get a better look. Holy Moses did he have a nice caboose in those dress pants! She clenched her hands, her fingers itching to stroke his thick dark hair. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes, remembering his scent. He’d smelled so darn good. Opening her eyes again, she longed to see his expression. If he turned around, she’d see a twinkle of amusement in his deep brown eyes.

Richie shivered with awareness. The tiny hairs on the back of his neck stood at attention. They acted as a warning system when he was being watched or hunted.

And he was definitely being watched.

Intently.

Casually, he turned, ever so slightly. Piper stood hidden in the shadows of a large floor plant, with her eyes fixed on him. As if a thread were tied tightly around his heart, he was drawn to her. Without thought, his feet began to walk him across the room. He’d waited one hundred and fifty years to feel like this. The intensity both intrigued and thrilled him.

He couldn’t help but stare. He was both mesmerized by her beauty and afraid if he blinked she’d slip away and he would never find her again.

Like a mate should, she’d enchanted his wolf as completely as she had the man. In his mind, his wolf howled a sappy love song, rejoicing in the future that stood before them. He agreed with his wolf’s assessment wholeheartedly.

“Piper, I’ve been looking for you.”

“Hi, Richie. I’m sorry I didn’t meet you after the wedding. I was shanghaied into transporting a load of gifts from the church.”

He smiled at that and reached for her hand. “I wondered what happened. If I’d known, I would have helped.”

Piper swooned like a ninny when he gently kissed each knuckle. His lips were soft and warm, easing the zing that shot up her wrist. Heat flashed through her body with startling ferocity. Her condition worsened when her gaze clashed with his ravenous eyes.

Wait…What?  Ravenous? For me?

Maybe last night had meant more to him than a one-night stand or a wedding fling. This was getting out of hand. She really needed to find a way to tell him she couldn’t be with him right now.

She allowed him to pull her from her hiding place and guide her to an empty table.

A server held her tray steady as Richie plucked two glasses of champagne from the cluster and offered her one. “What were you doing back there?”

What the heck was she going to say? Checking the room for a crazed killer? Spying on your total hotness? Both were the truth. Neither were things he needed to know. But he steadily watched her, studied her with his damn unwavering gaze, and waited. She had to think fast.

“Checking to see if the plant needed water.”

Richie laughed, and his tempting lips curved into a contagious smile. “Goddess, I love your sense of humor.”

“I’m here all night. Stick around, maybe I’ll do a stand-up comic routine.”

They chatted, and asked a few casual questions about each other. The blasé thing two people do when they are getting to know each other. What’s your favorite color? Do you like action movies? Etc.

The amusement from earlier continued to warm his gaze, only now it evolved into something hotter, and much sexier. He stole her breath without moving a muscle. With only his personality, he revved her engine.

Piper took a sip and tried to swallow. Which was a problem because her hand shook. Shit, her hands were always…ALWAYS rock steady.

She took a quick survey around the room. When Richie touched her, her hand jerked away instinctively. Expecting Qball to appear had her on edge and his touch set off her automatic reflexes.

His jaw tightened. “What has you so rattled, cher?”

“Nothing.” Piper answered tightly as she pushed from the table and practically ran to the other end of the room. She couldn’t allow her calm to be affected. And Richie shattered her calm like no one ever had. If she didn’t pull it together, she was as good as dead. In desperate need of regaining control, she put a respectable distance between them.

She needed a moment to catch her breath and survey the room, a habit she would not soon grow out of. The life of a bounty hunter brought a certain amount of  - unease into a person’s life.

A thorough search told her Ryker (Qball) Quintrell hadn’t magically appeared amongst the wedding guests. Regardless of the security posted around the hotel, she couldn’t shake the feeling he was going to appear.

None of her marks had ever done anything of the sort. They always ran, as far and as fast as they could. For a criminal to come to her, was insane. The problem was, he WAS certifiably insane. By the courts, no less. Damn, she should have retired like she’d planned. Why she allowed Jerry to talk her into one last tag, she hadn’t a clue. The way this job was going, it could very well be the last thing she did, and that just pissed her off. She had plans, and they required she be above ground and breathing.

Richie sat back, confused.
What the hell just happened?
Piper fled as far from him as she could get. He knew better than to pursue her. That would only make it worse. So, he stayed where he was and watched. One way or another, he was going to find a way to get close to her again tonight.

After dancing the dumbass hokey pokey, it took a minute to catch her breath. Whoever made that dance up was a nutcase, too. If her cousin hadn’t pulled her onto the floor, she sure as heck wouldn’t have been caught dead doing it. Then to make matters worse, the woman next to her was in mile high stilettos. She was so worried she’d need to call an ambulance, she kept putting the wrong foot in. Who in their right mind does that ‘right leg in’ crap in a full-length gown and four inch heels?

The juvenile dance ended while she moved along the edge of the dance floor. Her feet slowed as the DJ started a new song – a slow, romantic ballad. The kind that made her picture moonlight strolls on a beach, and candlelight dinners. Piper smiled as Bob took Theresa by the hand and commandeered the floor. It was apparent the bride and groom took ballroom dance lessons.

Their intimate contact unlocked her long-ago caged heart and opened the door a crack. Piper’s attention was pinned to Bob’s hand, clenched around Theresa’s waist as he kissed her, passion permeating his every move. They were astounding. Until last night, no one had ever kissed her with such emotion. She’d never met a man she wished would kiss her that way, until Richie.

It wasn’t long before others joined the happy couple. She leaned against the wall and smiled. Letting herself enjoy the reception and forget all thoughts of Qball, if for only a minute. Still grinning, she walked to the cash bar. A mirror hung behind the bartender, an attractive and welcomed touch. She could turn her back to the crowd and still see the room.

Piper was ordering a soda when she heard a familiar voice behind her. The one person she was avoiding. Richie.

“It’s inspiring to see two people so deeply in love.”

Her stiffened shoulders were the only evidence he’d surprised her. Her face flushed with heat, but her eyes remained firmly on her drink. “Yeah,” she agreed with a sigh. “It is.”

Slowly, she lifted her gaze from the drink she stirred to the mirror and met his eyes. He felt the impact like a punch to the gut and the tingle in his scalp made him want to scratch like he had fleas. His pulse pounded through his veins, and flooded his groin.

Even though he kept his expression composed, a slight tick began at the corner of his left eye. His gaze jumped to her mouth when an amused grin tugged at the corners of her lips. She was enjoying his failed effort and obvious discomfort. Damn, she was more intoxicating than an entire case of scotch.

She took her time, making him wait. Finally, she glanced at his reflection again and he was able to see her eyes. He loved the silvery blue color and the way they often gave her emotions away. Then, he swore he felt fingers feather through his hair like a sensual touch.

He held her gaze, and felt a flutter of excitement and his chest squeezed. The sensations made it difficult to breathe. She was teasing him, forcing him to work for every glance and touch.

Finally, she turned toward him and leaned back against the bar.

“Why aren’t you dancing?” he asked.

“I was taking a break. Besides, no one asked me.”

“I’m asking.”  Richie stepped onto the temporary dance floor and held out his hand.

She took a breath. He held his.

“Piper?” he prompted with a lopsided grin.

Piper stiffened. Shit, he’d caught her ogling him. She gave him a slight, reserved smile. Her gaze flicked to his hand and then his face. The moment their eyes met, she felt a flutter in her stomach. He definitely distracted her. Ah, heck. What could one dance hurt? Piper set her drink on the bar and asked the bartender to watch it, then accepted his outstretched hand and followed him to the floor.

He grinned at her, a quick, confident smile. The instant their hands touched, unseen sparks jumped from him to her and back again. From his inhaled breath, she knew he felt the zing of excited energy too.

What the heck was that?

The tiny sting wasn’t enough to hurt, more startling than anything. She’d never experienced anything like it. It was as disconcerting as his smile, or a glance from his dreamy eyes with their teasing twinkle. How did he send her body into a meltdown so easily? A sudden, unexpected realization stopped her cold. She wasn’t even aware she’d stopped dancing in the middle of the crowded dance floor. She felt alive. Richie made her feel alive. When had she stopped living life?

Like a far off voice, she heard Richie calling her name. “Piper? Are you okay?”

“Yes. Yes, sorry.”

They began to waltz again, only this time, Richie directed their movements across the floor until they were on the very edge.

Quietly he whispered, “Want to tell me what happened back there?” His breath was warm on her neck, with his lips close to her ear.

“You made me realize something and it came as a bit of a shock. That’s all.” She shook her head, then tilted it to one side. “You’re a dangerous man, Richie. At least to me you are.”

His lips twitched into a mischievous grin. “Oh, cher, you have no idea. But I’m only intimately dangerous to you.”

That wicked smile implied all manner of activities that had nothing to do with dancing and everything to do with behind closed doors activities. Intimate horizontal, hell against the wall, male and female calisthenics.

Before she could excuse herself and get her mind back on track, Richie swept her across the dance floor with an expertise only acquired through professional dance instruction. The man had skills. As Piper followed his lead like a pro, she asked herself, why his softly whispered teasing, revved her engine and piqued her interest, not to mention other things. There was something intense and possessive in his eyes. And dang, it was appealing.

They moved in unison, two people in a room filled with friends and family and yet completely alone. Not even a whisper from her gown or his suit was heard. Piper was confused and alarmed by how in tune she was with Richie. He made her feel feminine, which was ludicrous. For a moment, she wondered what his reaction would be if he knew she was covered in concealed weapons.

Unlike the rest of the guests, her formal attire included a thigh holster that came fully loaded with a 9 mm she could hide from view in the palm of her hand. And then, of course, there was her tiny throwing knives, two in her bodice and three strapped to her calf. Not to mention the ornamental hair pins holding her chic messy up-do in place. Both honed to razor sharp points with lethal serrated edges. The protective sheath covering the deadly hair adornments took a full month to create. Like many of her weapons, she made them herself. Customized for perfect balance and weight.

And of course, thanks to a few military friends, everything was camouflaged with a high tech reflective shell that mirrored its surroundings so she could wear them in plain sight without detection. Under limited scrutiny, most people wouldn’t even see a weapon, only skin or hair.

“Richie, I need to ask you a personal question. It’s going to sound adolescent, but it’s important.”

“You can ask me anything, Piper.”

“Are you playing with me? You know, just having a wedding fling. Or, are you truly interested?”

His gaze met hers. Burned into hers. “I’ve never been more serious about a woman, cher. Ever.”

“In that case, since I can’t keep my distance where you’re concerned, and you don’t intend to give me the space I need to get this job done, I need to brief you on a situation.” Piper took his hand and led him from the dance floor.

“Let me get your drink and we can talk.”

Piper took a seat and watched Richie cross the room with the drink she left at the bar. This man approaching had managed to capture her attention, ensnaring her in a web that caused her to be oblivious to everyone and everything around her. And that was the crux of the problem.

Richie prepared himself mentally for what she was going to reveal. Whatever it was, she had nothing that could compare to his wolfy secret.

“Okay.” Piper took a deep breath. “Where to begin? Richie, I’m a bounty hunter. I’m contracted by a secret government office to catch criminals who have escaped and turn them over to the police.”

“Really? I’ve never met one before. So, what’s the problem?”

“You.”

Richie’s eyebrows rose. “Me?”

“Yes, you. I can’t be distracted in any way. My loss of focus could be a death sentence for a bounty hunter on the trail of a murderer, like I am. Especially when my tag knows he’s being hunted.”

Richie took her hand and held it between his own. “You couldn’t be more wrong. I can help you catch this guy.”

Piper shook her head. “I can’t afford the distraction, any distraction. And taking a civilian along on a hunt is out of the question. Attending my cousin’s wedding was dangerous enough for all involved. I need my wits about me.

“When I accepted this contract, I took it knowing it would be my last. I’m tired of the constant travel and endless chasing. I know I can handle this mark if I see him coming, but this bastard is good, really good, and it will take everything I have to collar him without someone getting hurt. I can’t risk you, Richie.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t involve a civilian. It’s too dangerous.”

“What if I told you I have special gifts? As a matter of fact, I’m sure you do, as well.”

Air whooshed into her lungs.
How could he know?

“Look, I need to visit the men’s room. Promise me you’ll be here when I get back.

“Sure, I’ll be here.”

“Good. We will finish this discussion when I return. I’ll only be a minute.” Finally, he knew how much danger his mate was in. His wolf was snarling with its hackles raised, ready to do battle. Nothing and no one would be allowed to harm their mate.

*****

Piper watched him go as she walked to the bar to refresh her drink. She was halfway to the table where he'd left her when a shiver ran up her spine. She was about to search the room when a hand clamped around her wrist.

“Dance with me, hunter.”

Piper calmly turned, knowing who gripped her arm without needing to look. She forced a polite smile as her suspicions were confirmed. It was him. Qball. The man who’d murdered a family of four in their sleep. And they were only his most recent victims. He’d destroyed five families’ before being caught. His luck held when he was jailed in a facility with a corrupt warden. A large payoff to the right person and Qball was back on the street.

With her extensive training, he didn’t pose much of a physical threat to her. He was average height and slightly built. For a woman like her, with police academy training, he would be easily handled.

His features were soft, almost cherub like which only enhanced his completely deceptive appearance that hid a monster from the world. He was a serial killer hiding in plain sight.

His grin widened, oozing evil, like the stench that drifted from a dumpster in one hundred degree weather. He was clean-shaven and in a suit, camouflaged as a wedding guest. She watched as he blinked and waited. His green eyes were bright with excitement. Not a good look on him. To her, he looked manic, which she knew he was.

She fixed a blank expression on her face. “I’d love to.”

She must be extremely careful, if she said or did the wrong thing she might set him off and someone would get hurt. As long as she danced with him, she knew exactly where he was and what he was doing. It was just one dance. She would get through it and maybe figure out a way to get him out of the room.

The touch of his clammy fingers made her wretch. Bile burned up her throat. Piper swallowed, forcing down her reaction, and allowed him to snatch her hand and lead her to the middle of the floor. Thank God her cousin and his new wife had already left the reception. With their departure, many of the guests had left as well. That left fewer victims to worry about.

Remain calm and think,
she told herself.

When Qball looked at her again, the intensity in his eyes had cooled to a calm, evil intent she’d seen too many times. The look a killer got before they plunged the knife into their victim. When she held his gaze he glanced away. He was evading her. Why?

Qball stepped closer and wrapped his arms around her back. Forcing her into close contact with him. Unable to avoid it, she lightly rested her hands on his shoulders, her skin crawling in objection to his touch. The very nearness of him was too many levels of wrong.

Alarms shrieked in her mind. She couldn’t react to this monster, she needed to remain calm and think her way out of this without anyone getting hurt. She pulled in a deep breath, and considered her options. Nothing. She had nothing. She couldn’t reach any of her weapons without tipping Qball off. That, and the dancers around her afforded no room for hand to hand combat. She was in a hell of a lot of trouble and saw no way out.

*****

Richie was washing his hands when Piper’s fear hit him hard. In his rush to get to her, he pushed a man coming into the men’s room out of the way without apology. His mate was in trouble and needed him.

He’d always been a calm, logical person with a healthy dose of confidence in himself and his shifter abilities. But as he rushed into the ballroom, his rage flared like a wild fire through him. He stared at his mate, held hostage before his eyes. He’d never felt so damned helpless. His chest clenched so tightly he could barely breathe.