Angels of Bourbon Street (18 page)

She nodded. “You can’t?”

I shook my head. I’d been aware of a connection when we were sharing the same soul, but now that my soul had split, I couldn’t feel her at all.

“Interesting.” She dropped a spoonful of sugar in her coffee and stirred. “When you’re around, your soul is like some sort of beacon. I can tell where you are within a certain range. It’s not imposing, just sort of an ‘I know you’re there’ sort of thing. It’s not really a big deal.”

“Even when you’re sleeping?”

She shrugged.

“What does that mean?”

Setting her mug down, she turned to me. “I’m not consciously aware of your soul while I’m asleep, but I woke up suddenly and you…or your soul was gone. Like it had disappeared.”

Of course it had. How could I be so stupid?

“Kane dreamwalked me to Bourbon Street.” It was only a few blocks away. But far enough for Camille to follow me. To try to take me over. How odd that she was able to invade my soul without my body. I shuddered. It was creepy enough when she was using me physically, but to take over my soul completely…that was the worst violation ever. The walls closed in on me. I couldn’t even go anywhere in Kane’s dreams without being in danger.

“That would do it,” she said.

Feeling like an idiot, I stood, nearly knocking the stool over. “I’m going to try and get some more sleep,” I said through a yawn.

“Good luck. And don’t let Kane pull you back into a dreamwalk.”

Nodding, I stumbled back to bed.

Chapter 16

I slept fitfully, and after a few hours, I silently slipped from the bed and headed for coffee. When I couldn’t take it anymore, I grabbed my phone and called Mom. I was done waiting for answers about my dad. Each attempt went straight to voicemail. I gave up and started texting. Camille had found a way to invade me during my sleep, the time I was most vulnerable.

I shook my head and texted Mom again. When my fifth text in a thirty-minute period went unanswered, I called Gwen. Voicemail. Damn them. What the hell? Did Gwen even know how to turn her ringer off? I sent Gwen a text, demanding she call as soon as possible, and then stormed back into Kane’s room.

He was laying crossways, the sheet barely covering his firm ass. The sight instantly drained some of my frustration. I blew out a breath and sat next to him, running a light hand through his mussed hair.

His long eyelashes fluttered and a slow grin spread on his chiseled jaw. “Come here,” he murmured. He looked so damn sexy, I couldn’t resist. He turned on his side, leaving me a space to curl up next to him. With my head resting on his shoulder, he tucked me close to him and deftly untied my robe, splaying his large hand on my naked belly. “That’s better,” he said into my hair. “Where’d you go?”

“Coffee.”

“Hmm.” His fingers traced a slow caress on my sensitive skin, sending familiar tingles through my middle. “Coffee. That could be good.” I started to pull away, but his grip tightened. “Wait.” And suddenly I felt his warm lips just below my ear as he nibbled. “I don’t want to get up just yet.”

I smiled. “We can’t stay here all day, you know.”

“Yeah.” His lips trailed lower, leaving a hot trail down my neck. I stretched, giving him more access. “But once we leave this room, reality will take over, and I’d rather not face it any sooner than necessary.”

His lips, combined with his touch on my now-naked torso, were more than enough to convince me. After the dreamwalk, I needed something to take away the memory of Camille trying to seduce him. Thoughts of phone calls and texts vanished from my mind as I turned into him, ready to let the world slip away for just this moment. A moment I desperately needed.

I buried my hands in his hair and closed my eyes to the outside world, concentrating on nothing but his hands sending sensation after sensation through the most intimate and personal areas of my body.

Precious moments later, Kane rolled me on my back, my robe discarded. He stared down at me with love and passion radiating in waves.

The intensity of the moment brought tears to my eyes. “I love you,” I whispered.

“I love you, too, Jade. More than you know.” Then he lowered himself and slowly, gently, lovingly, he entered me.

***

A shower and two more cups of coffee later, I stood in the kitchen, staring at my silent phone. It was after ten, and I knew Gwen had to be awake, even if Mom wasn’t.

“Nothing?” Kane asked, placing dishes into the dishwasher.

I bit my lip and shook my head. “I think we need to go over there.”

“Okay, give me a minute, and I’ll drive you.” He shut off the water and then dried his hands on a dishcloth. I couldn’t help but smile. He even did dishes.

“We can walk.” I dropped the phone on the counter. “There probably isn’t anywhere to park anyway.”

“Right.” I watched him disappear back into our bedroom and then went to find Meri.

She was curled up on an oversized armchair, surfing the Internet on an iPad.

“Hey.” I sat across from her. “I need to go to my apartment. Mom and Gwen aren’t answering their phones. I’m worried.”

She glanced at the clock and stiffened, then uncurled and stood. “Give me a minute.” She disappeared into the guest room, leaving me alone in the living room, fidgeting.

I held my phone, willing it to ring or buzz or flash a Facebook message, even though neither of them used the application much. I just needed something, anything to let me know they were okay. Hell, with the way my life was turning out, they could’ve been kidnapped by wolves for all I knew. What time had they left last night? The French Quarter was generally pretty safe, but it still had its share of crime. “Damn,” I mumbled and paced.

Kane emerged and wrapped his arms around me. “I’m sure they’re fine.”

I eased out of his embrace, not in the mood to be soothed. “You don’t know that. And Mom left agitated last night. What if she pissed someone off? They both could be bleeding out in a gutter right now.”

He raised his eyebrows. “That didn’t happen.” He leaned down and kissed me on the forehead. “I know you’re worried, but no use getting worked up until we know for sure where they are. It’s more likely your Mom is just trying to give herself a bit of time before she has to deal with the dad issue.”

“And Gwen?” I challenged. “She wouldn’t ignore me.”

He shrugged. “Maybe Hope turned her phone off as well. Maybe she’s in the shower? Maybe she went down to the cafe and forgot her phone? It could even need a battery charge. There are plenty of logical explanations.”

I bit back a retort. He was right, of course. I knew that. It was just hard to believe.

Meri appeared wearing a black turtleneck, black jeans, and black boots. Her sleek black hair was pulled into a ponytail. She looked more like she was headed to crack a safe than check on a couple of middle-aged women. Not that Mom looked middle-aged.

“After you.” Kane pulled the door open for us. Meri went first, and as I passed him he whispered into my ear, “Cat woman.” He nodded at Meri, and I stifled a laugh.

If only she had the ears. I didn’t know why, but the image managed to settle my nerves for the time it took to walk from Kane’s house to Bourbon Street. But once we rounded the corner, the events from the night before flashed through my mind and all I could think about was Camille trying to take over my soul. I quickened my pace. By the time we stopped in front of The Grind, I was slightly winded. Crap, I needed to work out more.

Kane and Meri both appeared to be unaffected by the brisk walk. I cursed them both silently. Kane held the door open for us once more, and Meri and I scooted into the cafe.

“Hey, hey!” Charlie called from behind the counter. “It’s the boss man and his beautiful bride-to-be.” Her gorgeous smile lit up her heart-shaped face as she winked at me. “How’s the wedding planning going?”

I grimaced. “Stressful.”

She came out from behind the counter and gave me a hug. I hadn’t seen her since our engagement party.

I took a long look at her. She radiated with happiness. “Looks like life is treating you well.”

“Can’t complain.”

“How’s the girlfriend?”

Her grin turned wicked. “Fuckin’ amazing. And I mean that literally. You should—”

Kane cleared his throat, cutting her off before she delved into too many personal details. Charlie wasn’t known for being discrete, especially when it came to the women in her life.

I choked back a laugh. Kane owned a strip club, for God’s sake, but he couldn’t handle it when Charlie spilled the details of her love life? I glanced around, noting the lack of customers.

Charlie followed my gaze and then turned to Kane. “You’re a lot more modest since this one”—she pointed at me—“came into your life.”

He shook his head. “Just respectful. You might want to take a lesson.” The words seemed harsh, but he said them with a soft smile and plenty of affection for his club manager.

She nodded, not at all offended. “You probably have a point.” She cleared her throat. “My girlfriend is gorgeous, laugh-your-ass-off funny, and quite possibly has the biggest heart on the planet.” She raised an eyebrow at Kane. “Better?”

He gave her a warm smile. “Much.”

I shook my head at them, but my heart swelled at their interaction. Charlie was good people. “Where’s Pyper?”

“Upstairs, body painting. Her apartment.”

“Oh.” That meant Mom and Gwen weren’t with her, and they certainly weren’t in the cafe. “Have you seen my mom or Gwen?”

Charlie’s brilliant smile turned mischievous. “Who do you think she’s painting?”

“What?” I all but shrieked.

Kane laughed, and Meri snorted.

“Oh, Jesus.” I took off without another word through the back of the cafe and rounded the stairs to Pyper’s apartment. What the hell were they up to?

Standing outside of Pyper’s door, I took a moment to collect myself. Meri, who’d followed me—thank God—stood beside me smirking. Kane leaned against the wall, clearly prepared to wait outside. If Pyper was really body painting them, they could both be naked. I closed my eyes, horrified at the thought of seeing both my aunt and my mother in the buff. How did Pyper do it?

I knocked.

Nothing.

Knock, knock.

A muffled voice sounded from behind the door.

“I know you’re in there. You might as well open up, or I’ll use Kane’s key to get in.” I glanced at him for confirmation. He patted his pocket, indicating he did indeed have his key. He was the landlord and had kept a spare room at Pyper’s apartment for the nights he worked late at the club. He didn’t stay there anymore, instead opting to sleep with me in my apartment when necessary.

“Come in!” Pyper’s faint voice called through the door.

Kane handed me the key. “I’ll be in my office.” I gave him a quick kiss and watched him retreat. Something inside me didn’t want him to leave, but it wasn’t as if he could watch Mom and Gwen get body painted.

I slipped the key in the lock and let myself into Pyper’s apartment, Meri close behind me. But the room was empty. I headed for Pyper’s bedroom until the sound of laughter coming from the kitchen rerouted me. Terrified of what I’d see, I tentatively peeked through the doorway and gasped.

“Holy shit! What’s going on in here?” I asked.

Pyper had moved her breakfast table out completely and draped the area with a white sheet. Mom sat on a clear plastic backless chair, her top off, her torso covered in sparkling blue glitter.

Gwen, thank the powers that be, was fully clothed and only had traces of blue glitter on her hands.

Pyper laughed, her whole face lit up with a happiness I’d never seen before. “Gwen’s learning to body paint.”

“Umm.” I glanced at Gwen.

She smiled sheepishly and shrugged. “Your mom offered to be my canvas.”

“Of course she did,” Meri mumbled behind me.

I shot her a confused look before turning my attention back to my lunatic family members. “I’ve been trying to reach you all morning. Where the hell are your phones?”

Gwen grimaced. “Sorry, sweetie. Back at the apartment, I suppose. We went down for coffee and got to talking to Pyper about her side business and one thing led to another and…well, you can see how it turned out.” Her gaze flicked back to my mom, who was grinning like a fool.

“It’s the most fun I’ve had in over a decade,” Mom said, her eyes twinkling.

“I don’t doubt it,” Meri said under her breath.

This time, I shot her an irritated glare.

“Did everyone forget about my little problem? I thought we were going to work on it today.” I spun, staring at Mom intently. “I need to talk to Dad. Whatever it is you’re holding back, I need to know about it. Now.”

Mom’s smile died on her lips, and I had to fight back the guilt clawing at my throat. This moment really was the only time I’d seen her happy and unguarded since she’d returned to us. But why did she have to choose now? My soul was in danger…again. If we didn’t find Dad I was screwed. Didn’t she see that?

“Maybe we should give them some privacy,” Pyper said. She placed a tube of paint on her makeshift painter’s table and gestured for Gwen and Meri to follow her. As she passed me, she touched my arm. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to cause any problems. I just thought they could use a little reality break. I didn’t think we’d be here long.”

The concern in her eyes touched me. “It’s not your fault. It’s no one’s, really. Just another crap situation. It’s all right. Really.”

She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes, and I wanted to kick myself for taking her happiness away. She’d looked so down the night before, and this morning she’d obviously been having fun. I’d taken that away from her again.

I was going to kick Ian’s ass the next time I saw him.

When the trio left, Mom pulled on a terrycloth robe and moved to the kitchen sink to wash her hands.

I waited for a few beats and then blurted, “Mom, you have to tell me what you know.”

She spun. “What I know,” she gasped out, “is that your father decided he wasn’t interested in spending his life with us. He left us alone to fend for ourselves. Do you really think he’s going to come back now because you need a favor?” Her eyes were bright with unshed tears. “Do you really want to put yourself through that, Jade?”