Badass (9 page)

“Just a mite?” she laughed. “I’ll have to work on my scare tactics.”

“How do you do that?” he asked with all intentions of trying to keep his mind blank.

“Oh baby,” she patted his knee. “You’re easy to read. The thoughts coming from your brain shine like a message on a neon sign.”

“Great.” Isaac could just envision what she was picking up from him. “That can’t be good.”

The old lady chuckled as she sipped her tea, one foot pushing the swing back and forth. “You have been a rambunctious rascal today, haven’t you?”

Isaac leaned forward and put his head in his hands. “God, take me now.” Some Dom Badass he was - a chubby little woman with better than average radar had him nervous as a whore in church.

Nana made a harrumph sound. “Chubby?”

“Shit!”

Nana let loose a gale of laughter. “It’s all right, babe. I’m just messin’ with you. What I wanted to talk to you about was more important than mind reading games.” She sat forward and patted his knee. “First, I know you don’t realize this – but you are the strong one in this family.”

Being the fourth brother, he had always relied on Aron, Jacob and Joseph – and no way did he consider himself to be stronger in mind, body or will than those three. They were the Rocks of Gibraltar in his life. “I don’t think so.” He didn’t know what he would have done without them – especially when they lost their parents in the flashflood.

“Oh yes, you are,” she insisted. “That Dom nature of yours comes from a wellspring of strength.” When he turned to look at her – she laughed. “I won’t tell. Don’t worry.”

“Okay – so I’m strong. What are you getting at?” Surely, their troubles from varied psychos were over.

“You have the mistaken opinion that your value as a man is not as much as the others.” At his look of protest, she whacked him on the back of the head. When his eyes widened in surprise, she roared in laughter. “Don’t look like you want to backtalk me. Just because you have chosen a different path doesn’t make you any less of a good man.” She patted him on the back. “We’re all different, Isaac. And you are one of the good ones despite what you believe in your head.”

Isaac realized she wasn’t saying all she knew – and God, he wished he could believe what she said. “My lifestyle is not understood by many, and accepted by even less.” He was surprised that this well-dressed Southern lady was sitting here discussing his BDSM desires – but then – she was a witch. “Have you experienced much prejudice over your beliefs and practices?” He looked at her facial expression as he asked. She thought for a moment and a look of sadness briefly passed across her face.

Her hand on his back began to soothe him, rubbing up and down like his mama used to do when he was a boy. “You wouldn’t believe what my family has withstood over the years. People judge those who are different and they fear what they don’t understand. It’s the same as with you.” She gave him a quick hug. “What I’m telling you is that your penchant for being in control, especially with a partner who craves to submit – is no shame at all. No more so than those who prefer to drive a foreign car over a domestic.” He knew she preferred foreign cars, herself. “People are different, no harm no foul.”

“Thank you, Nana.” Isaac wanted to ask her other questions, but he sensed she had something more to tell him. Was he getting psychic?

“And one other thing,” she began and Isaac wanted to say ‘Whooo – ooo – ooo,’ that ‘I told-you-so’ spooky sound. “It’s just a feeling I have, but I’m rarely wrong.”

“Self-confident, much?” He winked at the older lady, and she chuckled. Growing serious, he leaned back on the swing by her and helped her push them as they swung. “What can you tell me?”

“All right, handsome, there’s something you need to hear.” As they sat, the crickets were chirping and in the distance a coyote howled. It was a perfect early October evening. “You are going to be tested, but don’t let it get you down. You and the family will emerge stronger than ever before. Your strength of mind and character will be the key.”

“Tested? What do you mean? I don’t like tests.” And then as if it had just registered about him being the key, he responded to that odd assertion. “The key? Yea, right. I don’t think so.” If there was an outsider in the family – a misfit – it was him.

“You are, and I plan on scrying for you on All Hallow’s Eve. I can feel things on the wind; this family is still in for big changes. Some will bring great joy and others, well – I can’t see anything specific, not yet. But if I scry, maybe I’ll be able to give you a little more guidance.”

“Yea,” he didn’t argue with her. “I will be interested in knowing anything you might be able to tell me. Hell, I sure don’t want anything to happen to my brothers, Libby, Jessie, Cady or the babies. And you probably already know this, but I have something going on in my life and its weighing heavy on my heart. I’m struggling with it.”

“Yes, you do. And she’s almost more than you can handle – isn’t she, Mr. Dom?”

“You’re damn right about that, Witchy Woman.” He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. “I’m heading in – are you gonna stay out here and change into a black cat or something?”

As he stood up, she swatted him on the butt. “It’s a bat, bad-boy. Ask Cady, she’s always told me I’m part vampire.” As Isaac headed toward the door, he couldn’t help looking back – just to make sure she hadn’t flown off into the night.

****

Glancing at his phone, he checked for messages. There was one from Levi. Isaac decided to check in with his employee. “Hey, did you get everything cleaned up?” Isaac asked as he climbed the stairs to his suite of rooms.

“Boss! Did you find Avery?”

Sometimes, Levi had a one-track mind. Isaac liked him for that. “Yea, I found her. And that’s all I have to say about that – for now. How’s my bar? Is it still standing?”

Isaac could hear the jangle of glass as Levi dumped the dustpan in the garbage.

“Almost like new, Crowbar helped me put everything back together – oh, and Madelyn left satisfied and happy.”

“Good, that’s good.” If he closed his eyes, he could still hear Avery’s moans of fulfillment. “Any more trouble after I left?”

“Nope, not a bit. Hold on, I’m setting the burglar alarm.” The sounds of beeping could be heard clearly over the phone. “Isaac, I forgot to tell you earlier, I’m missing that collar I got back from my last girl. Keep your eye open for it – it cost me a pretty penny. I might have left it in your truck. Also, I got those flyers out and everything’s a go for the dance contest tomorrow night.”

“I’ll watch for the collar. By the way, I have to hand it to you; you’ve come up with some good promotional events, Levi. You’re bucking for a promotion, bud.” Laughter floated down the hall and Isaac couldn’t resist going to see what the joyful racket was about. There was always something happening at Tebow.

“I don’t need a promotion, but I’ll sure take a raise.” Levi didn’t beat around the bush.

“If that dance contest packs them in tomorrow night, we’ll talk about it. Okay?”

“Deal.” Isaac closed his phone and put in his pocket just as Cady came running down the hall with Joseph hot on her heels. There was no doubt about it – seeing Joseph running and having a good time did his heart good. If anybody deserved happiness, it was these two. Just weeks ago, Cady had been electrocuted saving Joseph – now, she was giggling like a schoolgirl. She found out she was pregnant during the chaos as well. Joseph was back in fine form, healthy, happy, head over heels in love and anxious to be a father. No one who saw him now, would think he had ever been paralyzed and ready to give up on life. “Hey! Hey! What is wrong with you two? People are trying to sleep in this house.”

Cady slid to a stop in front of him. “I’m in trouble, Isaac. Save me.” Joseph made a grab for her and she squealed and got behind Isaac, putting him in between her and her fiancé. “I’m sorry, Joseph. I didn’t mean to insult your grand romantic gesture.” Joseph growled and reached for her, but she dodged and he found himself face to face with his younger, but equally large, macho brother.

“Shall we dance?” Isaac asked with a straight face. When Joseph erupted in a loud guffaw, Isaac thought it was one of the best sounds he had ever heard. “Do you two need a mediator or a referee?”

“Neither – I need to borrow one of your quirts. This little girl needs her ass spanked.”

“My quirt?” What the fuck? Did everybody know his business?

Isaac started to ask Joseph how he knew about the quirts when Cady began to explain. “Listen to this, Isaac. Let me tell you what your silly brother did.” She was still behind him, peeping around his shoulder at her beloved – both laughing so hard that Isaac couldn’t help but smile. “He sent me flowers.”

“Joseph, how could you?” so far, he didn’t see the problem.

“Hey, you said you wanted big flowers – so I sent you big flowers.”

Reaching around him, Joseph pulled a squirming Cady into his arms. She went, nestling up against him and laid her head on his chest. But she was still almost hiccupping from laughter. “Libby gets big flowers from Aron – birds of paradise and Asiatic lilies - you know hunky flowers.”

“Hey, baby – aren’t I hunky enough for you?” he teased her before finishing the tale. “I’ve been giving you flowers every week – roses, carnations, daisies. But you wanted something different,” looking to Isaac for support, he explained. “She asked for big flowers, so I sent them to her.”

“You sent me a funeral arrangement.” She whacked him on the shoulder. “On a stand – with a big sash across it that said – “I love you, Cady.”

Isaac grinned. “What’s wrong with that? You did want big flowers.”

“And it wasn’t a funeral spray – it was on a horseshoe and it was covered, literally covered in orchids. I thought I did a good job.” Joseph looked so satisfied.

“So, you put a lot of thought into that, didn’t you?” Isaac was about to crack up. “Were you serious? You sent your girl a racehorse wreath – you know, like the winner of the Kentucky Derby would wear?” This beat anything he ever heard.

Joseph looked offended. “Well, a horseshoe is sorta western, we have a ranch and it means good luck. Hell, I thought it was fittin’, since I’m the luckiest man in the world to have Cady.” He kissed her on the cheek, and then nearly choked with laughter as she punched him in the stomach.

“Where is this monstrosity?” Isaac had to see this.

Cady pulled away from Joseph and grabbed Isaac by the hand. “Come see,” she leaned into Isaac’s shoulder. “Actually, it’s beautiful. I just love to give him a hard time.” As they walked, he couldn’t miss Joseph’s eyes on Cady. He thought she was the beauty – not the flowers. And Isaac would have to agree. When Cady came to them, she was convinced she was plain. She had dressed plain, no make-up and no self-confidence. It had taken Joseph a while to see the real Cady, but when he had, she had bloomed. Love had made her beautiful and now she was so lovely, it almost hurt your eyes to look at her.

“Damn right, it’s a masterpiece. I went to that new florist and designed it myself.”

They stepped into Joseph’s sitting room and Isaac had to suppress a cackle. “Well, - uh – that’s the most unique bouquet I’ve ever seen.” Sure enough, just like Cady had said, it was a huge horseshoe covered with orchids sitting on a funeral spray stand. And across the expanse, like a Miss USA state designator, was a sash that proudly proclaimed – I LOVE YOU CADY.” He shook his head; sometimes his brother didn’t have enough sense to come out of the rain. But looking at the couple as they hugged one another close, he was relieved that Joseph had been wise enough to look beyond the unassuming surface to find the real beauty inside.

“I heard you had a wild night at Hardbodies,” Joseph met his gaze over Cady’s head.

“It was interesting.” Word traveled fast in the McCoy clan. “Is there anything I can do to help with the party Saturday night?” It felt safer to change the topic. He wasn’t ready to discuss Avery with the family. “I’ve already got the booze set aside. Do you need help setting up for the band? I could bring some more speakers and monitors.”

“Libby is handling all the details – she’ll let you know if she needs help. What I want you to bring to the party – is you – and a date.” Cady winked at him as her cell phone started buzzing and Joseph reluctantly let her go to answer it.

“We’ve got everything we need, I think, but thank you.” Joseph’s eyes followed Cady and he had the most contented look on his face that Isaac had ever seen. Jealousy washed over him again, like a waterfall. Joseph continued, “I appreciate you getting the set-ups for the bar. Lance brought up those big metal tubs from storage so we could ice down a few cases of beer.”

“No problem.” Suddenly, he felt claustrophobic. “I’ll see you guys in the morning. I’m dead on my feet.” Isaac made his escape and wondered if he would ever find the happiness that his older brothers had found. The right woman made all the difference, it seemed. Isaac couldn’t help but wonder if he was pushing the right woman away – and if he was – would she ever forgive him?

****

Avery yawned, rubbed her eyes, and held the piece of paper a bit closer. “Dance Contest at Hardbodies – freestyle.” The only limitations were no lap dances and no total nudity. “I think I can work with that.” Avery felt a renewed sense of determination. She stared at the blue piece of cardstock that detailed the event. It would be ladies night, men had to pay a ten dollar cover charge and all drinks were half-price. The place would be packed. This would be another chance to prove to Isaac that she was his kind of woman.