Chapter Five
Kylie
Kylie looked at herself in the mirror. She wasn’t sure why she was nervous about her appearance. The Pard and the Ghostpoint Pack were getting together for a cookout and she’d offered to help with the food. It had taken a bit of cajoling before she finally got Emelise to agree. If the other woman wasn’t pregnant she probably wouldn’t have given in, but Kylie had a feeling that carrying twins was starting to take a physical toll on Emelise.
If she was completely honest with herself, she knew why she was nervous. Remy was going to be there. He had a quiet strength about him that made her feel like she could trust him even as she fought to keep him at a distance. She’d been in Louisiana for two weeks now and every time he spoke to her, it made her pulse race and her panties wet. She had the distinct feeling he was well aware of his effect on her even if he said nothing about it. Unlike most men, who seemed to only be interested in saying whatever they could to get a woman in bed as quickly as possible, Remy seemed to be genuinely interested in knowing her as a person, which both scared her and thrilled her. She just wished she could be unaffected by him but she couldn’t control her body’s reaction. That didn’t mean she had to act on it.
Taking a deep breath, Kylie pulled her hair up into a ponytail and left her room. She wore a pair of jeans that hugged her body, paired with a camisole top that gave glimpses of her stomach, and the very bottom edge of her tattoo, every now and then.
“Hey, let me get that for you.” Kylie moved to the door where Emelise was trying to balance a platter of uncooked hamburgers with one hand and open the door with the other. Instead of getting the door, she took the platter from her.
“Thanks, girl. Caine would probably flip if he saw me carrying that out. No, I wasn’t supposed to be getting it but it was just sitting there waiting.”
Kylie shook her head. “You are going to drive him crazy as this pregnancy progresses.”
“Probably. But he’ll get over it.” Emelise flashed a grin as they headed to the center of the compound where a large grill was set up for cooking on.
Kylie laughed a little and followed her. She set the platter down and turned to head back to the house. “I saw the steaks waiting to come out; I’ll grab them. You, just relax. You don’t need to be overdoing it with you being pregnant.”
Emelise rolled her eyes. “Not you, too. I’m pregnant, not an invalid. Women have been having babies for as long as we’ve existed. I’m perfectly capable of carrying some steaks out here.”
Kylie shook her head. “Nuh-uh. I am not having our Alpha growl at me for letting you carry it.”
“Fine, fine. I’ll just sit here and look pretty.”
Caine caught the end of her statement and growled playfully. “Pretty, hell, you look gorgeous.”
“You’re biased.” Eme blew her mate a kiss.
Kylie shook her head at them and headed back to the house so she could grab a second platter of steaks before carrying them out the door.
Remy
Remy was looking forward to the relaxed atmosphere the cookout would provide for all of them. Over the last two weeks, whenever he was around Kylie for very long, he noticed the way her posture stiffened. He knew she was unnerved; he could practically feel the vibes coming off her, and he could smell her unease. He also smelled her arousal. Oh yes, she might not want to be attracted to him but she was.
Still, she kept him at arm’s length even at work. When all the servers in the VIP lounge would joke or flirt with him, Kylie was usually a bit cold. It was frustrating beyond belief. He hoped today would give him the chance to get past her walls a little.
When he spotted her coming out of Caine and Emelise’s house with a large platter of uncooked steaks, he took the opportunity he was presented. “Let me get dat for you, cher.” He winked at her and was amused when it seemed to rile her up.
“I was perfectly capable of carrying it, Remy.”
Oh, there was annoyance in her voice but at least she was talking to him. “I know dat but I wanted to do it for you. Are you really goin’ to argue wit’ me over it?”
“No.”
That sigh. She acted like it was such a bother for him to offer to help her. A lock of her hair slipped from the loose ponytail she had and Remy reached out to brush it back from her face. He wasn’t thinking; if he had he wouldn’t have moved as quickly as he did. He saw her flinch as his hand neared her face and he silently cursed himself. “Easy, Kitten, I’m not gonna hurt you.”
Kylie blinked at him calling her kitten. “I’m not sure if you’re trying to be playful or insulting with that.”
“Oh, you wound me. You tink I’d insult you, cher?” He put his free hand over his heart and had a pained look on his face.
Kylie shook her head at him. “Whatever, Remy. You should probably get that over to Caine so he can get the steaks cooking.”
Remy smirked. “For da record, Kitten, it’s not an insult.” With that he carried the platter to Caine.
“How are tings goin’ wit’ winnin’ over your mate?” Caine asked after taking the platter from him.
Remy growled low. “Not good. Two steps forward, tree steps back, it seems. Ever’time I tink I’ve made some headway wit’ her, she pulls back. I just wish she’d let her guard down a little.”
