inched over to provide some much-needed space. “Nothing’s going to happen between us, Pete.”
“Is that in reference to right now, or never?”
Heaven help her, if she told him never, she’d be lying. Honestly, she ached for him. Ached for one more time, one more night. One more memory. “Why don’t we just see what happens?”
He tipped his head against the seat and let out a long draft of air. “Okay. We’ll see what happens.” He sounded as if he knew exactly what would happen.
“We’re here,” Luc announced, disturbing the momentary silence.
When Pete didn’t bother to move, she shifted toward him and frowned. “Are you coming?”
His smile was wry, and incredibly sexy. “Bad choice of words, Renee.”
She felt her face fire up like a backyard grill. “I meant are you ready to go get your nephew.”
He drew both hands down his face. “I need a few minutes. Otherwise, I might make a lasting impression on your family, and not a good one.”
Renee leaned out the car to find Luc standing by the hood, staring at the night sky. “We’ll be out in a bit,” she said, then pulled the door partially closed.
Renee couldn’t imagine what Luc was thinking. She really didn’t want to know what he was thinking. On the other hand, she could barely think at all.
She took the seat across from Pete, who seemed determined not to look at her. “Do you want me to go get him?”
He leaned forward, lowered his head and forked both hands through his hair. “No. I’m okay. Let’s go.”
“Just one thing you need to be aware of. Or maybe I should say someone you need to be aware of.”
He lifted his gaze to her. “Let me guess. Your grandmother owns a pit bull.”
“My grandmother is a pit bull. We refer to her as ‘The Queen,’ behind her back, of course. She’s in her eighties, and she’s rather blunt.” That was an understatement of the first order.
Pete didn’t look at all concerned. “I can handle blunt. Besides, how bad could she be?”
CHAPTER SEVEN
I F LOOKS COULD KILL , Pete would be taking one right between the eyes. The frail-framed elderly woman delivering the near-fatal visual shot looked as if she could hold her own in any given situation, in spite of her age. Maybe even wrestle a few Louisiana alligators. Or men she saw as a threat to her granddaughters, and he figured he fell into that category.
“It’s about time you returned,” she said as they moved into the foyer. “You’re five minutes late.”
Looking uncomfortable, Renee said, “Your watch is fast as always, Grand-mére . And I’m surprised you’re still up at this time of the night.”
“When I’m not able to remain awake to see that my grandchildren are safe, then I will be ready to be put out to pasture.”
“And I’m sure that won’t be happening anytime soon.” Renee’s smile looked stiff. “Pete, this is my grandmother, Celeste Robichaux. Grand-mére , Pete Traynor.”
“I’m pleased to meet you, Mrs. Robichaux.” Pete held out his hand to her and for a moment thought she might actually ignore the gesture. Hell, he thought she might even toss him out on his ass. He honestly believed she could do it, too.
After a brief handshake, she said, “I assume you’re the boy’s uncle.”
Considering her less than friendly tone, Pete questioned what he was in for after he confirmed that fact. It didn’t matter. He had no intention of denying his nephew. “That’s right. Hope he wasn’t too much trouble.”
Her expression softened somewhat. “He has a definite joie de vivre, and for the most part, he’s well-mannered. I admire that in a child.”
As close to a compliment as she got, Pete guessed. “Where is he now?”
“In the den, asleep in front of the television,” Celeste said. “They both tired out not long after dinner.”
“And where’s Mother?” Renee asked.
Celeste rolled her eyes. “She disappeared some time ago. Most likely she’s packing her things in preparation to
“Is that in reference to right now, or never?”
Heaven help her, if she told him never, she’d be lying. Honestly, she ached for him. Ached for one more time, one more night. One more memory. “Why don’t we just see what happens?”
He tipped his head against the seat and let out a long draft of air. “Okay. We’ll see what happens.” He sounded as if he knew exactly what would happen.
“We’re here,” Luc announced, disturbing the momentary silence.
When Pete didn’t bother to move, she shifted toward him and frowned. “Are you coming?”
His smile was wry, and incredibly sexy. “Bad choice of words, Renee.”
She felt her face fire up like a backyard grill. “I meant are you ready to go get your nephew.”
He drew both hands down his face. “I need a few minutes. Otherwise, I might make a lasting impression on your family, and not a good one.”
Renee leaned out the car to find Luc standing by the hood, staring at the night sky. “We’ll be out in a bit,” she said, then pulled the door partially closed.
Renee couldn’t imagine what Luc was thinking. She really didn’t want to know what he was thinking. On the other hand, she could barely think at all.
She took the seat across from Pete, who seemed determined not to look at her. “Do you want me to go get him?”
He leaned forward, lowered his head and forked both hands through his hair. “No. I’m okay. Let’s go.”
“Just one thing you need to be aware of. Or maybe I should say someone you need to be aware of.”
He lifted his gaze to her. “Let me guess. Your grandmother owns a pit bull.”
“My grandmother is a pit bull. We refer to her as ‘The Queen,’ behind her back, of course. She’s in her eighties, and she’s rather blunt.” That was an understatement of the first order.
Pete didn’t look at all concerned. “I can handle blunt. Besides, how bad could she be?”
CHAPTER SEVEN
I F LOOKS COULD KILL , Pete would be taking one right between the eyes. The frail-framed elderly woman delivering the near-fatal visual shot looked as if she could hold her own in any given situation, in spite of her age. Maybe even wrestle a few Louisiana alligators. Or men she saw as a threat to her granddaughters, and he figured he fell into that category.
“It’s about time you returned,” she said as they moved into the foyer. “You’re five minutes late.”
Looking uncomfortable, Renee said, “Your watch is fast as always, Grand-mére . And I’m surprised you’re still up at this time of the night.”
“When I’m not able to remain awake to see that my grandchildren are safe, then I will be ready to be put out to pasture.”
“And I’m sure that won’t be happening anytime soon.” Renee’s smile looked stiff. “Pete, this is my grandmother, Celeste Robichaux. Grand-mére , Pete Traynor.”
“I’m pleased to meet you, Mrs. Robichaux.” Pete held out his hand to her and for a moment thought she might actually ignore the gesture. Hell, he thought she might even toss him out on his ass. He honestly believed she could do it, too.
After a brief handshake, she said, “I assume you’re the boy’s uncle.”
Considering her less than friendly tone, Pete questioned what he was in for after he confirmed that fact. It didn’t matter. He had no intention of denying his nephew. “That’s right. Hope he wasn’t too much trouble.”
Her expression softened somewhat. “He has a definite joie de vivre, and for the most part, he’s well-mannered. I admire that in a child.”
As close to a compliment as she got, Pete guessed. “Where is he now?”
“In the den, asleep in front of the television,” Celeste said. “They both tired out not long after dinner.”
“And where’s Mother?” Renee asked.
Celeste rolled her eyes. “She disappeared some time ago. Most likely she’s packing her things in preparation to
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