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Francine gasped, coming to her feet in outrage. “As if I’d
do something like that! Daisy Lynn told me about that truck before we came out
here today and said it was a couple of kids who took their parents’ truck for a
joyride. They were too scared to stop when they nearly ran you off the road.”
She sniffed. “As for the paint, you can thank Callie Hebert for that.”

“What?” Kitty and Monk asked in unison.

The older sow nodded, looking self-righteous and pissed off.
“Someone named Margaret called last night while we were trying to figure where
you’d run off to and said the leak came from Callie Hebert.” Her lips
tightened. “Seems she decided to hedge her bets since it looks as if Zach isn’t
falling into line the way she wants, so she figured she’d stir up trouble that
would make you leave for New York. Margaret said she’s already contacted the
lawyer you keep on retainer to sue for slander.”

“I told you Callie had it in for me,” Monk murmured in
Kitty’s ear.

She jabbed his ribs with her elbow and broke away from him.
“I’m sorry, Mama,” she said as she hugged her mother. “It’s been so confusing
and crazy and then this happened… I know you wouldn’t do anything to hurt or
scare me.”

Francine wrapped her arms around her daughter and squeezed.
“Of course I would if I thought it would make you see sense. Sometimes I wonder
where you get that hard head of yours. And Hunter, you can stop coughing now.”

The Chambers patriarch moved forward, wrapping both his
women in his arms, the three of them bonding by scent. Monk wanted to be a part
of that, maybe not with Hunter, but with Kitty. He shuffled his feet and fought
a rising tide of jealousy.

Movement next to him raised his head to see Walter had come
to stand at his side, his Special Forces training keeping Monk from sensing him
until they were shoulder to shoulder. The older cougar looked at the Chambers
family and back at Monk.

“I really am sorry, son,” he said in a low tone that
wouldn’t carry across the room. “I thought I was doing the right thing for both
of you.” He tilted his head in Kitty’s direction. “You’ve got yourself a fine
female and if you’re smart, you’ll do everything you can to hold on to her.”

Not sure how to take the fatherly advice so soon after
learning of his father’s lies, Monk spoke a little stiffly. “I plan to.”

They stood together awkwardly, the sounds of Kitty’s family
excitedly talking together, reassuring each other of their love making the
moment tenser. Monk cleared his throat. “How long have you been in town?”

Walter shrugged. “’Bout three weeks. Francine called me when
it looked as if you and Kitty were getting along better. She thought it was
time to tell y’all the truth.”

Monk shot his father a glare. “Is that why you were spying
on her?”

The older man had the grace to blush lightly. “I just wanted
to make sure she was the right female for you. I didn’t want you to fall into
the same trap I did. Kitty isn’t anything like Carla was.” He ran a hand
through his hair, a nervous habit Monk had picked up long ago. “Your mama
wasn’t a strong woman, son. She…well, she was selfish, but I loved her and
thought she’d grow out of it. Kitty isn’t like that. She’s got a spine of solid
steel and she loves you.” He nodded approvingly. “She’s a damn good female
who’ll make you a strong, loyal mate.”

Since Monk knew that already, he said nothing for a moment.

“How long you stayin’ in town?”

Walter glanced over at him. “I don’t know. Thomas Picou
invited me to Daisy Lynn’s wedding. I thought I might stay until then at
least.”

Monk shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “You’re
welcome to stay with me,” he mumbled awkwardly.

“That’d be nice.”

The Chamberses’ hug-fest wrapped up and Kitty turned to Monk
with shining eyes. He was sure it was an indication of her happiness, but his
cougar was still in protective mode. He started for her, unwilling to wait for
her to cross over to him.

He took two steps toward his mate and paused to say over his
shoulder, “It’s good to see you again. Dad.”

Chapter Ten

St. Patrick’s Cathedral was packed when Kitty peeked through
the doors leading to the altar. Ram and his band mates were standing at the
front of the church, looking entirely too gorgeous in their deep-gray tuxes.
Even Nick had gone for a more subdued look for the wedding, wearing his hair
tied down instead of in his usual Mohawk, but Kitty only had eyes for Monk.

He’d taken a pew not far from the front on Daisy’s side of
the church, his father standing next to him. She couldn’t stop her sigh at the
sight of them together. Walter Badeaux was a handsome older cat, which told her
Monk would age gracefully. In the week since she’d woken up next to Monk in his
family’s hunting camp, things had been too hectic for them to do more than talk
on the phone, or have dinner either with her parents or his. Kitty had her
hands full finishing Daisy’s dress, making statements to the press about
Callie’s attempts to slander her, and organizing her business in order to
remain in Maison Rouge.

Monk, on the other hand, had been recruited by Claudette to
help organize the reception. As the Chairman of the Pointe-Aux-Chat Festival,
he’d agreed to allow the wedding reception to be held on the fairgrounds since
it was the only place big enough to hold the nearly six hundred people who’d
been invited to the wedding.

“I’m going to throw up,” Daisy moaned behind Kitty.

Dragging her eyes from her handsome cougar, Kitty turned to
her cousin, who looked very green. “I swear to God if you throw up on my dress,
I’m going to kill you, Daisy,” she swore as she pulled up the skirt of her gown
and hurried over.

“Here, give her this,” Monica Doucet said as she thrust a
few crackers in Kitty’s hand. “That should help her.”

“Crackers?” Kitty asked doubtfully.

The bobcat shifter shrugged. “It’s good for morning
sickness.”

Mouth dropping open, Kitty stared at Daisy with new eyes.
Despite the misery etched across her face, Daisy glowed with something. A
careful sniff at her cousin told the whole story. “You slut, you’re pregnant!”
she exclaimed in a soft whisper.

“I cannot believe you’re swearing in church, Kitty. I’m
telling Aunt Francine.”

Kitty ignored that, gripping her cousin’s arms in her hands.
“You’re pregnant. Oh my God! Does Ram know? Does
Tante
Claudette?”

Daisy groaned. “Not yet, but when I throw up on his feet at
the altar, I’m sure he’ll realize.”

Kitty squealed, wrapping her arms around her cousin, but
still being careful not to wrinkle the gown. “I’m so happy for you! Oh my God,
I’m going to be an aunt.”

The other bear hugged her halfheartedly. “I’m excited too,
but I kind of need to get married, otherwise I think Daddy might kill Ram for
knocking me up.”

Giddy with happiness, Kitty pulled back and looked for her
uncle, but didn’t see him, although the other three bridesmaids were watching
them curiously. “I think we’re safe for the moment, but I’ll keep it on the
down-low.” She hoped. She was so excited she thought she might burst with it.
“Oh Daisy, you’re going to be such a great mama.”

Her cousin’s mouth curled into a trembling smile. “So will
you when you’re ready.” She squeezed Kitty’s hands. “You’re next, you know. We
always did things together, so no more playing, my kinky little bear,” she
whispered with a wink. “My kid’s going to want a cousin to play with.”

“I love you, Daisy,” Kitty whispered with a tight throat.
“Thank you for kicking my ass.”

“Well, someone needed to do it. God knows Monk just wants to
stroke it, pet it and call it his,” she teased, referring to the many times
she’d caught Monk’s hand on Kitty’s ass. “I mean really, I keep expecting him
to call you his ‘Precious’ or somethin’. Seriously, put that man out of his
misery.”

Kitty blushed but said nothing because
Nonc
Thomas
chose that moment to arrive with a huge smile. Stepping back to allow Daisy and
her dad some privacy, Kitty knew her cousin was right. The reservations she’d
had about mating with Monk again had withered beneath the onslaught of
information she’d received. It was messed up how everyone around her had gone
out of their way to keep her in the dark, but she understood their reasoning.
It was what you did for those you love, protecting them even when they didn’t
want it.

Dining with Walter, she’d heard stories about Monk she’d
never known before. More than that though, she’d seen the love the elder
Badeaux had for his only son. It touched her heart to know father and son were
becoming closer, their need to protect their loved ones helping them bond.

Fate is so screwed up.
She smoothed out her skirt. If
she and Monk had married and mated when they were eighteen, neither of them
would have appreciated what they had now. She could almost thank their parents
for interfering in their lives because it’d allowed both Kitty and Monk to grow
up.

“Bridesmaids, line up,” someone called out.

Kitty barely had time to move back to avoid being stampeded
by her fellow bridesmaids. The women were giddy to be wearing original gowns
and more than ready to show off for the wedding guests. Because Daisy’s gown
was a surprise to everyone except her parents, they’d all dressed at the
church. Her cousin had been adamant that when she stepped out for her first
picture as a bride, she wanted it to be with her mate at her side.

Music played overhead and the doors opened. One by one the
bridesmaids led the way down the aisle. Kitty stayed back, waiting for her cue,
but couldn’t resist peeking around the door to enjoy the gasps of delight from
the audience. The gowns she’d designed for herself and the bridesmaids were
flattering on any figure. At Daisy’s insistence, Kitty had given them all
different colors the girls decided upon themselves. Designing the gowns for the
wedding had been fun, but she knew she wouldn’t be taking on such a big project
again. Bridesmaids were hell to work with.

Proud of her designs and almost trembling with the
excitement of Daisy’s gown finally being revealed, Kitty moved to the doorway.
She recognized most of the people on both sides of the church. Family and
townspeople packed into the pews behind Daisy’s parents, while Ram’s friends
from LA as well as his small family filled the seats behind his mother. Cameras
flashed as she stepped out of the lobby and onto the carpet leading to the
altar.

She didn’t see any of that though. Not when Monk was looking
at her as though he’d never seen her before. Her heart pounded and her hands
shook, causing her to clutch her bouquet of flowers tighter. She wanted to run
to him and throw herself in his arms. God, she loved the impossible cat. And he
loved her as well because he didn’t even try to disguise his admiration or
feelings from anyone. It was out there for everyone to see.

Kitty practically floated to the altar, barely aware of the
people whispering around her. It was vastly different from the last time she’d
felt this happy because this time she knew her man loved her.

Once in place, Kitty turned to face the congregation. The
song changed to
The Wedding March
and everyone stood for a view of the
bride. The doors at the back of the church opened and a collective gasp
sounded. Kitty didn’t need to see what held them enthralled because she knew
Daisy had never looked so beautiful in her life.

She peeked at Ram, who looked as if he’d just been punched
in the chest. He recovered. Barely. Kitty grinned. The dress was magnificent.
The very best design she’d ever made and she couldn’t have been happier to have
made it for her best friend. The ivory silk gown floated around Daisy’s long
legs, outlining them with every step before sweeping into a tight bodice that
displayed her smaller waist and round bosom. Kitty had done some clever dart
work to draw attention away from Daisy’s broader shoulders, but it was the back
of the gown that was the masterpiece.

And as Daisy walked down the aisle, everyone got a look at
it, their whispers following her like a wave. The back of the gown had a large
cutout with fine, skin-toned netting covered in tiny crystals that sparkled
with her every step. There was no bow, despite what Kitty had threatened her
cousin with. Just absolute elegance that had been tailored to Daisy’s unique
beauty.

The cousins’ eyes met for a moment and Kitty could read the
love and happiness on Daisy’s face. It was enough to make her tear up. Turning
away, she glanced at the audience, only to be caught in Monk’s reverent gaze.
Her heart pounded and a smile of happiness pulled at her mouth.

It was so damn good to be home.

* * * * *

Monk strolled through the crowd of people at the
fairgrounds, talking with those he knew and smiling at those he didn’t. He
hadn’t minded at all loaning the sprawling fairgrounds for the reception. He
adored Daisy Lynn for giving him the ass kicking he’d so desperately needed.
Without that, he wouldn’t have had a chance in hell of getting back together
with Kitty.

“Monk,
comment ça va
?” Alvin Callais, one of the
oldest shifters in Maison Rouge, stopped him with the hail.

Monk paused to smile at the old swan shifter.
“Ça va bien, et tu?”

“Can’t complain because no one will listen,
hanh
?”

Chuckling at the older male’s words, Monk clapped him on the
shoulder. “You can always marry a young woman to listen to your complaints.”

The old swan, one of the richest males in the parish,
chuckled as well and sat back down. Monk continued on his way to the small lake
where the wedding party had collected to take pictures. He still couldn’t
believe how amazingly talented his mate was. When he’d seen the bridesmaids’
dresses, Monk knew she was an artist, but when Daisy stepped out, he’d known
his mate was beyond amazing. He’d wanted to stand up and applaud for her, let
out a shout or something to show his support of her, but he didn’t think Ms.
Claudette would approve. She’d cast looks at anyone who made a sound other than
a whisper of awe, not wanting to miss a single word spoken between Father Bryan
and the couple.

He grinned at the memory. It made him anxious to convince
Kitty to marry him. He could imagine her mother’s reaction during the ceremony
and it made him want to laugh. The good feeling didn’t last long, however.

Stopping on the edge of the crowd watching the pictures
being taken, Monk tried not to stride forward to punch the shit out of the
tiger who had his hands on Kitty’s hips. The asshole stood entirely too close
to Monk’s mate. It mattered little to him that the other bridesmaids and
groomsmen stood the same way, as if they were taking a prom picture. The other
females weren’t his.

But Kitty happened to look over and see him, her smile going
from forced to blinding. Feeling better because he’d been the one she smiled at
that way, Monk relaxed slightly.

The torture session lasted another ten minutes before
someone called out, “Ram and Daisy are ready!”

The photographer let the bridal party head for the bank of
the lake. Monk fought his way to Kitty’s side, sliding his arm around her
waist. “Hey, beautiful,” he murmured in her ear.

She snuggled up against his side. “Hey, handsome.”

The bodice of her dress dipped dangerously low, giving him
an unobstructed view of her breasts and just like that, Monk went from mellow
and happy to horny and happy. He wanted to rub his face between her breasts,
wallow in her scent, and follow her sweet skin down her—

“Oh my God, what are they doing?” Kitty suddenly shrieked,
jerking out of his arms.

Convinced some catastrophe had happened, Monk leapt after
his mate, who tore through the crowd standing on the bank of the lake. He
apologized as he followed her, wondering what the hell had happened.

Finally catching up with her at the very edge of the bank,
he saw she was yelling at the photographer. “You’re out of your damn fool mind!
Do you have any idea what kind of damage this water could do to that dress if
they overturn?”

The photographer, some snooty LA type, sniffed at Kitty.
“Mr. Reinhardt assured me they’d be perfectly safe. They’ve been practicing for
this surprise.”

Kitty almost lunged for the photographer’s throat, but Monk
caught her by the waist to reel her in. “Baby, what’s wrong?” he asked, never
having seen Kitty get so worked up unless she was pissed at him.

“Look!” she declared in a tearful voice, pointing toward the
lake.

Monk followed her gesture to see Ram and Daisy Lynn rowing
out into the middle of the small lake in a pirogue. Ram rowed the
shallow-bottom boat effortlessly, looking far more confident than Monk would
have guessed. Hell, he had no idea what they were doing, but he had to admire
how easily the lion shifter handled the small boat. Monk knew from experience
how perilous the balance in a pirogue was.

Ram brought the small boat to a stop in the middle of the
lake. He said something to Daisy Lynn, who laughed and carefully stood. The
boat barely moved, Daisy Lynn being a bayou girl through and through. Ram was a
little slower to stand, but followed suit. Kitty groaned and buried her face in
Monk’s shoulder. He had no idea what she was so scared about, but whatever it
was had her freaking out.

“It’ll be okay. Look, they’re barely moving,” he soothed
her, even as his heart sped up.

The newlyweds stepped toward each other, careful not to rock
the pirogue. They looked at each other a moment, the clicks of the
photographer’s camera the only sound other than the distant rumble of voices as
people at the other end of the fairgrounds moved closer. Monk could see why
they’d want to get a picture like that. It was romantic with the bride and groom
outlined against the setting sun. Not that he’d do anything similar. And with
the way Kitty moaned in the back of her throat, he suspected she felt the same.