And stopped short.
Pippa stared at him with panic in her eyes. His field of attention expanded to include the man and woman flanking her… Herparents?
Bloody. Fucking. Hell.
In the electrified silence, Cull saw that Gavin Hunt hadn’t changed much over the years, except for some grey mixed into his tawny hair. He was still burly and larger-than-life, the knife scar on his right cheek a memento of his underworld roots. He slitted his gaze at Cull, a muscle ticking on his jaw. Beside him, Mrs. Hunt, a pretty blonde with merry blue eyes, looked like she was trying not to laugh.
Aware that he was half-naked in the presence of his lover’s parents, Cull felt his face burn.
“It’s been a while, Cullen.” Hunt’s deep tones dripped with menace. “Put down the bloody knife. I want a word with you.”
31
“Papa won’t do anything rash, will he?” Pippa fretted.
“Stop pacing, my darling,” Mama said. “Come sit with me.”
Pippa went to join her mother, who handed her a cup of tea.
“Drink this. It will calm your nerves,” Mama advised.
“How can I be calm when Papa and Cull have been locked in the parlor forhalf an hour?” Pippa wailed.
After the disastrous encounter in the kitchen, Pippa and Cull had rushed off to change. Then Papa and Cull had gone into the parlor to “talk man-to-man” while Pippa and Mama waited in the kitchen.
“If they were coming to blows, we would have heard it by now,” Mama said blithely. “I wouldn’t worry about it.”
“Notworry? But you know how Papa is! He is overprotective—”
“Which is why he will exercise restraint when it comes to your…ahem, gentleman. Give Papa some credit, dear. He won’t hurt anyone he knows is important to you.” Mama paused. “And I gather Mr. Cullen is important?”
Pippa bit her lip. “He is.”
“And you are happy?”
“Yes. Very,” she admitted.
“Then all will be well.”
“How can you be so certain?”
“BecauseIfell in love with a rough-and-ready fellow rather like your young man”—Mama’s eyes twinkled—“and look how splendidly that turned out.”
Pippa couldn’t help but laugh. “You are a hopeless romantic, Mama.”
“Love made me that way. And it is my hope, my dearest girl, that it will do the same for you.” Mama patted her hand. “Now tell me how you and Mr. Cullen met up again.”
Pippa hesitated. While she wanted to confide in her mother, she couldn’t betray the vow of secrecy she’d made when joining the Angels. It was a balancing act that all the Angels had to manage.
“I found myself in a spot of trouble, and he assisted me,” she said truthfully.
“What sort of trouble?” Mama’s forehead creased. “If you need help, Pippa—”
“No, I’m fine. I was helping…a friend. Through Lady Fayne’s charity.”
“Oh.” Looking relieved, Mama said, “Well, I am glad you’ve found a positive outlet for your energies. You are far too young to be moping about.”
“I’ve been in mourning, not moping,” she said wryly.
