“I’m meeting your parents, Remy, as your mate, not just a Pard member. So, yeah, there is. What if they don’t like me?”
He stopped and turned her to face him. His hands lifted to gently cradle her face between them. “Dey are goin’ to love you, Kitten. Stop worryin’.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because you’re a good woman and you make me happy. Dat’s all dat matters.”
“I guess you’re right.”
He kissed her gently. “I know I am. Come on.” When they finally reached the house, he started to knock but the door opened before he could. “Hello, Mama.”
“I was wonderin’ if you were gonna stop by. Come inside.”
Remy ushered Kylie in ahead of him. “Mama, Papa,” he said when he saw his father sitting nearby in the living room. “I’d like you both to meet my mate, Kylie. Kylie, my folks, Landry and Caroline Delacroix.”
Kylie
Kylie stood nervously at Remy’s side while he introduced her to his parents. “Hello, Mrs. Delacroix. It’s nice to meet you.” She put her hand out to shake and was startled when she was pulled into a hug instead.
“None of dis ‘Mrs. Delacroix’ stuff. You can call me Caroline. I am so happy to officially meet da woman who has claimed my son’s heart. I was beginnin’ to tink we were gonna have to say goodbye to him so he could find his mate elsewhere.”
“I’ve started to come to the realization that fate works in funny ways, Caroline.” She was touched by the woman’s welcoming.
“It does at dat. It seems all da ones who’ve been findin’ dere mates of late have found dem in someone who finds dere way to New Orleans. It can make one wonder what deity is pullin’ da strings, yeah?”
Kylie laughed a little. “I have to agree with you on that. It does seem like an odd coincidence and I, for one, don’t really believe in coincidences.”
“Neither do I, cher, neither do I. Can I get y’all someting to drink?” Caroline asked.
Kylie looked to Remy for his answer before she gave hers.
“I’ll take a beer, Mama, you know dat.”
Kylie rolled her eyes at him. “I’d love something, thank you. Unlike your son, I’m not picky about what I drink, so whatever you have is fine.”
“Oh, I like you. You’ve already got him all figured out. Please, sit.”
Kylie went to the sofa with Remy and sat next to him. So far, his father hadn’t said anything and the nerves were coming back as a result.
“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Delacroix.”
“It’s Landry, cher. Mr. Delacroix was my papa. You’ve been a good influence on our boy. He used to be a bit wild.”
Kylie looked over at her mate. She knew he’d had experience but now she was wondering just howmuchexperience he had. Why did it bother her to think about the number of women he’d had? He was with her now so they didn’t matter. Unfortunately, her emotions didn’t seem to agree. “Wild in what way?” she finally asked his father.
“Cattin’ around wit’ women.”
“I’d already stopped doin dat before you came to N’Orleans, cher,” Remy cut in.
Kylie studied him. “In other words, you were a bit of a player. I can see why. I mean, you’re sexy, and you’re a male. But I know none of that matters now. You’re mine and I don’t share.”
“You’re a feisty one. Make sure you keep him on his toes. Welcome to da family, Kylie,” Landry said.
Kylie felt herself blush a little at his comment. “Thank you.”When Caroline returned with a bottle of beer for Remy and his father, and two glasses of wine, Kylie took the glass that was offered to her.
“To new family,” Caroline toasted.
“To new family,” they uttered in unison. Kylie sat there sipping her wine and answering questions about her life. By the time they left to go back to Remy’s house, she decided she didn’t want to sleep alone that night. She chewed on her bottom lip while she tried to think of a way to word what she was feeling.
