Lucky Streak (17 page)

Last night, Amber had reached out in a way nobody ever had before. She wasn't just beautiful, she was smart and caring and he and his family were currently benefiting from those two attributes. He already knew he couldn't resist her sexually. Now he was having trouble resisting the pull her sweet, caring nature had on him—and the loneliness he hadn't realized he suffered from until she entered his life.

He had no choice but to put her life as a con on the back burner, and focus on letting her help his father. Which would lead to her becoming more intimately involved with his family.

And with Mike.

Before heading to breakfast, he checked his voice mail, but there were no calls from the P.I. in Texas. It was two hours earlier there, so he left another message at the man's office.

After the effort Amber was putting into helping Edward, he owed her. He needed to take care of King Bobby. Before King Bobby took care of Amber.

 

A
MBER COOKED BREAKFAST
for the men in the Corwin house, basic pancakes from boxed batter mix and orange juice. All the while, she thought about Mike's reaction to her suggestion about taking Edward to a doctor. He'd been agreeable and yet reticent.

Clearly she'd touched a nerve. Amber wondered
if Mike was annoyed that his “temporary wife” was butting into family matters, or if there was something more at stake. What, she didn't know.

But she intended to find out.

Once she'd placed the pancakes on a platter in the center of the table, she called for Mike and Edward to come and eat. Before either of them made their way into the kitchen, the doorbell rang.

Amber heard Mike's footsteps, then his voice in greeting. “Gabrielle! What are you doing here so early?” he asked.

“I heard there's been a lot of excitement in this house. I wanted to see for myself,” Gabrielle said. “You're looking good, Mike. I'd have to say marriage agrees with you.”

Amber winced and headed out of the kitchen to head any matchmaking attempts off at the pass.

“You'll have to try another tactic if you want to know anything,” Mike said, laughing as he kissed her cheek. “I'm not talking.”

“Well, you should be. You're a lucky guy to find a woman like Amber.”

“Thanks.” Amber stepped forward, alerting them to her presence. “But I think Mike can make up his own mind about me.” She smiled at the other woman, whom she'd come to like a lot in such a short time.

Gabrielle raised her hands in the air. “Okay, I'll back off. No more meddling. So tell me, where is
she?” Gabrielle glanced around, obviously looking for someone.

“Where is who?” Mike asked.

“Clara Deveaux. The Wiccan woman who has Edward so worked up.”

“News travels fast,” Amber said, surprised.

Mike groaned. “That's because I told Derek.”

“Which is the equivalent of telling me.” Gabrielle grinned. “So…?”

“It's not like she lives here,” Mike muttered.

Over his shoulder, Amber met Gabrielle's gaze, without words that Mike didn't appreciate Clara Deveaux's presence in Edward's life.

“She left yesterday. But she said she'd be back,” Amber added, daring a glance at Mike.

He merely nodded. “If you're here for the show, I'm afraid you're too early. But based on yesterday's performance, I'd say chances are good for a repeat.”

“Edward took one look at her and lost it. And Clara showed no signs of backing down.” She glanced toward the table. “Listen, why don't you come and have breakfast with us,” Amber suggested, changing the subject.

Gabrielle took the hint and dropped the subject. Instead, they shared breakfast and conversation—without Edward, who had somehow managed to sneak into the kitchen, take his pancakes and leave the way he came, probably through the back-porch door.

Mike finished eating first and anxiously shifted in his seat. “Would you ladies mind if I headed outside to talk to my father?” he asked at last.

“Go ahead,” Gabrielle said.

Amber shook her head and waved him away.

He left through the back door and it banged shut behind him.

“He seems uptight,” Gabrielle said, staring after him. “Is it that Clara woman?”

“It's probably a combination of things. Me, Clara, his father….”

“Family stress,” she said, nodding. “Speaking of family, tell me a little about yours,” Gabrielle said.

Amber filled the other woman in on her father's situation. “If things work out with Mike, I'd like to move my dad to a nursing home near here.” She missed being able to visit her dad whenever she wanted, missed talking to him, even now when she didn't know whether he understood.

A knock sounded at the back door. “It really is busy around here. All the commotion must be killing Edward,” Gabrielle said.

Amber turned as Clara opened the door and stepped inside. “Edward's son told me to let myself in. He said I'd find you here.”

“Of course.” Amber gestured for Clara to join them. “Clara, this is Gabrielle…Donovan or Corwin?” Amber asked her sister-in-law.

“Corwin. I only use Donovan in business because
that's how people already know me.” She rose to her feet, her excitement to meet the infamous Wiccan woman tangible.

“Gabrielle, this is Clara Deveaux.”

Clara eased by Amber and stood in front of Gabrielle. “I'm thrilled to meet you. I carry your books in my store.”

“Even though I specialize in explaining paranormal phenomena?” Gabrielle asked, surprised. “I'd think that was something of a conflict of interest for you.”

“I'm a businesswoman and your books sell. Besides, everyone is entitled to their own beliefs and opinions, yes?” Clara asked.

Gabrielle nodded, her smile warm. “Of course.”

Clara extended her bracelette-laden hand and Gabrielle took it, returning the gesture. “Anyone who can stir up Edward's world instead of the other way around is welcome here anytime,” Gabrielle said, laughing. “I love your dress and your jewelry.” Her eyes sparkled as she looked over Clara's bold-colored outfit.

“Her ensemble matches your shoes,” Amber said, taking note of Gabrielle's fashionable choice for today.

“I'd love to wear something like that, but I'm not used to having so much fabric flowing around me,” Gabrielle said. “But it looks beautiful on you.”

“Thank you,” Clara said. She stared at Gabrielle intently, her wise gaze traveling from Gabrielle's
eyes to her flat stomach. “You're going to be wearing more material soon though, aren't you?”

Gabrielle narrowed her gaze. “I'm not sure I know what you mean.”

“You're with child.”

Obviously surprised, Gabrielle stepped back. “What makes you say that?” she asked warily.

Gabrielle might be surprised by Clara's insight, but Amber wasn't. Nor did she need to dig too deep for an explanation. Amber had sensed something unique about Clara from the beginning. Now, she was more than willing to just
believe.

“The special glow in your cheeks is a giveaway to one who knows what to look for. Besides, I sense these things.” Clara paused and studied Gabrielle intently. “I'm right, aren't I?”

Gabrielle nodded slowly.

Amber could tell Gabrielle didn't know what to make of Clara's pronouncement. Was it psychic intuition or a lucky guess?

But she quickly became more concerned with making sure nobody else had overheard their conversation. “I haven't told my husband yet,” she said to Clara, glancing warily around the kitchen.

“And your secret is safe with me.” Clara touched Gabrielle lightly on the shoulder. “Do not be put off by me. I only do good by people.”

Before Gabrielle could reply, the sound of Edward's shouting distracted them.

“What is that old coot up to now?” Clara asked and took off running outside, leaving Amber and Gabrielle to follow.

 

M
IKE SEARCHED OUTSIDE
for Edward for a full fifteen minutes before finding him. He'd checked around the perimeter and down by the lake, finally locating his father behind the boathouse he shared with his neighbor, Harry Winters. Derek located Edward almost the same time, and together Mike and his cousin tried to get Edward to talk about Clara Deveaux. But the mere mention of the woman's name sent the older man into a frenzy of pacing and muttering to himself.

Mike decided not to tell his father that Clara was inside the house. To Mike's way of thinking, Edward must have cared for Clara, or his reaction wouldn't be so strong now.

Edward had only one coherent comment about Clara and he'd said it over and over. “I don't need to be worrying about Clara Deveaux and neither do you boys. The curse will take care of that woman. You wait and see.”

Another reason Mike thought his father's heart had been—and maybe still was—involved. Edward wouldn't be mentioning the damn curse otherwise.

Edward had disappeared into the boathouse to do heaven knew what, and Mike knew when he'd lost a battle. “How about we see what the women are doing?”

Derek nodded. “It's not like we're making any progress with him.”

“He'll keep himself busy for hours in there.” Mike gestured toward the old building where his father organized tools and things that didn't need organization.

They walked across the back lawn until Mike broke the silence. “Do you think he's insane?” he asked, voicing his greatest fear.

Derek paused and turned to face him. “Is that a serious question?”

Mike grinned. “Strangely enough, yeah. Like, insane as in should he see a psychiatrist?”

“Do you think he would?” Derek asked.

“No, but that's not what I'm asking. Do you think he
should?
”

Derek scratched his head. “Probably. Now that you mention it.”

“So you haven't thought about it, either.”

Derek shook his head, a sheepish expression crossing his face. “Maybe one of us should have, but no, it never crossed my mind.”

Mike exhaled hard. At least he wasn't alone. That made Mike feel better.

“What made you think about it now?” his cousin asked.

Mike shrugged. “Amber mentioned it and I'm thinking she's got a point. But so do you, when you
asked if he'd even go. Getting him there won't be easy.”

A loud crash sounded from the small boathouse followed by a shout. “I caught an intruder!” Edward yelled.

Mike and Derek did an about-face from the house and ran to see what kind of trouble Edward was causing now. They approached to find that Edward stood outside the boathouse door, gesturing wildly with one hand. In the other, he held his skunk, which was never far away.

Mike's heart pounded in his chest. “Dad, put that animal away and tell us what's wrong.” Mike tried to get a look into the storage area, but Edward blocked the way.

“Someone's inside. I didn't get a good look, but I'm gonna get him now.” He turned and picked up a large stick. “I'm going in.”

Mike put a hand on his father's shoulder. “Let me take a look inside first,” he said, easing Edward out of the way.

Derek held Edward back as Mike slipped into the boathouse. It looked like it was going to be another one of those days….

A
T FIRST GLANCE
, Mike didn't see anything unusual inside the old boathouse. And he sure as hell didn't see anyone.

“Hello?” Mike called.

“Mike? Is that you?” a familiar voice asked.

His cousin Jason.

“Thank God you're here,” Jason said. “I came around back looking for your father. I couldn't find him, so I went into the boathouse to see if he was in there. I tried to talk to him, but he pulled a goddamn skunk out on me like a weapon. I've been hiding in here so I wouldn't get sprayed.” Jason rose to his full height from the corner of the room.

Mike swore under his breath. “It's safe now,” he said. “It'd have been safe anyway. The skunk has been descented.”

“What the hell?” Jason stepped forward.

“Don't ask,” Mike muttered.

Amber was right about Edward needing help. This kind of behavior couldn't continue.

For now, though, he was worried about his cousin. “What are you doing here back in the States? Aren't you supposed to be overseas training or qualifying or something?” His cousin was a United States snowboarding champion, headed to the next Olympics and destined for gold.

“I take it you haven't heard the news?” Jason asked.

“Apparently not. What's going on?”

Jason groaned and ran a hand through his long hair. “I tested positive for steroids at the World Championships. I probably won't even be eligible to qualify for next year's Olympics.”

Mike stared at his cousin, certain he'd heard wrong. “You don't do drugs. How did this happen?”

“Thank you!”
He swung his arm in the air in victory. “If only everyone else had trusted me the same way, we wouldn't be having this conversation
here.
” He pointed to the dirt floor.

“What's going on in there?” Edward called, interrupting.

“Everything's fine. I'll be out in a second,” Mike yelled back and turned to Jason again. “Go on.”

“I got suckered by a woman I thought I could trust. I was set up.” His voice held all the exasperation he must be feeling.

“You fell in love, didn't you?” Edward leaped in front of them, seemingly out of nowhere. “Didn't you learn nothing from me? Your father? Your uncle?
No, you let the curse get the best of you, too.” He asked and answered his own question in the voice of a raving man.

“You're still sneaking up on people, I see. Hello, Uncle Edward. Where's your pet skunk?” Jason asked, ignoring the subject of the curse like all good Corwin men.

“Outside with that crazy woman,” Edward said.

“What crazy woman?” Jason asked.

Mike inhaled, the musty scent of his surroundings suddenly becoming more than he could take. “Let's move this outside.”

“Can we go into the house?” Jason asked. “I've got the press stalking me. My father's home is the first place they'll look. So I thought I'd stay with Uncle Edward. Nobody would think to look for me here.”

Apparently Jason had come up with the same solution Mike had for Amber, which in Mike's opinion, made this place a less appealing hideout for both of them.

“I've got more company than I know what to do with. All uninvited, I might add,” Edward piped in. Mike didn't need to see his father's face to know he scowled as he spoke.

Jason cleared his throat, an unspoken request for an explanation.

“It's a long story,” Mike told his cousin. “And when you walk out the door you're going to meet
those visitors. But don't worry. We'll keep your presence under wraps.”

Mike's cell phone vibrated in his back pocket. A quick check told him it was a Texas number.

The P.I
.

The man's timing sucked, Mike thought. He let the message go to voice mail, planning to deal with it as soon as possible.

As they stepped into the sunlight, a scene of chaos unfolded. Clara held the skunk and chided Edward, while Amber and Gabrielle surrounded Mike and Jason, demanding answers and introductions. Derek, arms folded across his chest, could only watch in horrified fascination.

“Quiet!” Mike finally yelled, silencing everyone.

All eyes locked on him.

“We need to take this inside. Now.” His voice was a command and everyone followed him up the grass, through the back door.

But there was no escaping the fact that something needed to change. His father's once-quiet house had turned into a refuge for people running from their troubles. Edward couldn't handle it and since Mike had helped cause the problems, it was up to him to find to find a way out of this mess. God help him.

 

A
S
A
MBER WATCHED
Mike handle his family, she learned more about her husband. Like her, he was a
people person. He knew what made each person tick and how to give them what they needed to calm them down.

He started by sending his father to the garage, instructing him to clean up the boxes and make room for Amber's car inside. She knew it was busywork, but it kept the older man away from the people and chatter inside, which clearly overwhelmed him. Before Clara could join Edward, Mike asked her to make tea for all the guests, sending her to the kitchen, far from the garage. Clara enjoyed taking care of people and hurried to please Edward's son. Gabrielle, clearly fascinated by the other woman, offered to help.

And though Amber preferred to stay with the men and find out what had happened to Mike's famous snowboarding cousin, she didn't think Mike would want her intruding. “I'll help Clara and Gabrielle in the kitchen,” she said, turning to leave the Corwin men alone to deal with their family issues.

“Amber, wait.”

At the sound of Mike's voice, her heart picked up rhythm. “Yes?” She glanced back over her shoulder, meeting his gaze.

“Would you mind sticking around?” He gestured to the family room where his cousins had settled into their own seats. “You've got a clear head and I think you might be able to help.”

His words caught her by surprise. “Of course I'll stay.”

“Thank you. I figure that as a concierge, you've dealt with situations and people that were harder than this,” he said, winking at her.

They both knew that as a cop, he could handle people and situations as well as she could.

He
wanted
her by his side, she realized, warmth filling her as she walked over to him.

“Jason, how big an issue do you figure the press will be?” Mike asked.

“If they find me? Pretty big,” he said, clearly unhappy with the prospect. “I literally paid someone to sneak me out of the place I was staying, took a flight without prebooking…anything to stay under the radar.” He kicked back in his seat, propping his feet on the ottoman in front of him.

“Our cousin is like a rock star,” Derek told Amber, teasing Jason.

Like his cousin, Jason had the Corwin good looks with his blue eyes and brown hair. But he distinguished himself with a scruffy beard and longer hair. Yep, Amber could understand the rock-star comparison.

“Don't listen to him. Snowboarding isn't a sport that gets all that much media attention, but the count-down to the Olympics has already started. When the positive drug test is released, all hell is going to break loose,” Jason said.

Mike groaned and ran a hand through his hair.
“Okay. But hiding out here may not be the best idea.” He went on to explain about Amber's situation, and the reasons they couldn't afford media scrutiny.

“Mind if I ask why you'd bring her to Edward's when he hates visitors? Even I'm going to be an intrusion and I'm family.” He glanced at Amber. “No disrespect intended.”

“None taken,” she said.

They all knew how Edward's mind worked.

Mike grit his teeth, realizing his cousin didn't know everything. He drew a deep breath. “Because Amber is my wife.”

Jason's gaze traveled from Mike to Amber and back again in obvious surprise. “You're
married?
”

Amber remained silent and glanced at Mike, waiting for him to reply.

“We got hitched in Vegas. It's a long story. Let's just get back to your problem. I think I have a solution.”

Jason frowned. “Okay, but I want details later.”

Derek, who'd been quiet until now, snorted.

“What was that for?” Mike asked.

Derek glanced at Jason. “That was a snort of disbelief. As in good luck getting anything out of him.” He tilted his head to Mike. “He's not saying much.”

Amber shifted from one foot to the other. “Can we
not
talk about me later, when I'm not in the room?” she asked wryly.

Jason laughed. “Sorry, sweetheart. That was rude
of me. I'm just jet-lagged and shocked by my cousin's news. I'll make a better impression next time.”

Mike rolled his eyes. “Can we get down to business? Jason, I suggest we sneak you out of here. You can stay at my apartment in Boston. Nobody will look for you there.”

“That's brilliant!” Amber squeezed his hand only to find both Jason's and Derek's eyes on her.

Watching Mike for his reaction. True to form, there was none.

Amber sighed. “Okay, I'm leaving you men alone. You can catch up while I go see if I have enough to pull dinner together for the whole family before you take Jason to Boston.”

“Sounds like a plan—” Before he could say anything more, the doorbell rang.

“Good God, what now?” Mike muttered.

“I'll handle it,” Amber said, wanting to ease his stress.

Mike raised an eyebrow. “No, you will not. You're supposed to be in hiding.”

She didn't think the person at the door would be looking for her, but she didn't want to add to the tension. “Okay, then I'll make myself scarce. I'll be in the kitchen.”

“I'm going, too.” Jason rose to his feet. “But not into the kitchen, in case whoever's at the door ends up in there. I really don't want another living, breathing soul seeing me here. This is way more than I bar
gained for. Come keep my company,” he said to Amber.

“Okay, the kitchen can wait.”

He walked to where she stood. “Let's go get better acquainted.” He placed his hand on the small of her back in a gentlemanly gesture. “After you,” he said.

With a shrug, she nodded.

As they headed down the hall, Mike's voice traveled after them. “Hey, cousin, keep your hands to yourself.”

Jealousy, Amber thought to herself, surprised. She bit the inside of her cheek and grinned, enjoying the ray of hope that little gesture implied.

 

W
HEN
M
IKE ANSWERED
the doorbell, he found Jason's father, Thomas, and Derek's father, Hank, on the other side.

Uncle Hank was ornery and full of bluster and dressed casually without much care.

Not Thomas. Of all the brothers, he was the most rational when it came to the curse and also the one who cared most about appearances. His khakis were always clean and pressed, his white collared shirt starched.

Both men stood at Edward's door. Neither had been welcome in decades. At least not according to Edward.

“Uncle Thomas, Uncle Hank, come on in!” Join the party, Mike thought wryly.

The men stepped inside, waited until Mike shut
the door behind him. “Where's my son?” Thomas asked.

Mike raised an eyebrow.

“Come on, Michael. I know he's here. He told me himself. I drove in circles to make sure nobody followed me. My car's around back.”

“I just want to see the ladies,” Hank said. “Gotta make sure they're behaving and keeping their men happy.”

Mike merely shook his head. “They're in the kitchen, Uncle Hank. Uncle Thomas, follow me.” He led his uncle back toward the bedrooms.

The sound of Amber's laughter told him which room they'd chosen. His. His and Amber's. A bolt of jealousy hit him in the stomach hard.

He was jealous of his own cousin. Again. For no rational reason other than he wanted to know he had Amber all to himself. Which he did, thanks to a marriage license he wanted to invalidate. Mike's stomach churned. He wasn't rebelling against the notion, he was hungry. Right.

Uncle Thomas stepped through the bedroom doorway with Mike right behind him.

“Jason!” the older man said, pulling his son into a bear hug.

“Hey, Dad.” Jason patted his father on the back. “I'm so sorry—”

“Do not apologize. We both know you didn't do anything wrong and you'll prove it.”