The rest of the drive to LaSalle passed in relative silence. Edward got bored with his binoculars and pulled out his Kindle to play some games while Devon kept her gaze trained on the window. Deuce should know, since he spent almost as much time watching her as he did the road. Not exactly the safest thing to do, but she was like a lodestone, drawing his eyes again and again.
She got quiet after the comment about him having kids, the vibe between them growing tense, and he could only hope it was because she was thinking about how he’d be making those kids. Because he sure as shit was. He hadn’t really given much thought to having children. He was thirty-five and had always patted himself on the back for lasting as long as he had without having any. He loved his nephews, adored Hennessey, but he’d always liked his peace and quiet, treasured it the only way a single man could. Now though…
He glanced at her to see she’d leaned back on the headrest, her drooping eyelids casting fan-shaped shadows on her cheekbones. Now, he could see the appeal of family. He checked on Edward, who was out cold, his mouth hanging open, the light from his Kindle shining on his face. Yeah, Deuce could definitely picture himself bringing his family home after a long day spent with his parents and brothers’ families. Devon exhausted but happy, Edward sleeping from playing hard with his cousins.
The image stuck with Deuce as he drove the familiar route to his parents’ place. They’d lived in the same old house in LaSalle since before he was born. From the moment Broussard, as the oldest, got his license, there had been a Gaudet boy raising hell in the college town. A college none of them had gone to but they’d known like the back of their hands. Co-eds, parties, being kids and exploring every inch of their kingdom meant the Gaudet boys had given their mother gray hair before her time, but no one ever got hurt and they retained the respect for women their father had taught them.
Bringing Devon here, to his territory, eased some of the tension in his body. Even if nothing came of their chemistry, if she left LaSalle after they found and locked up her stalker, Deuce was glad to have her and Edward here. This was what’d made games of chance so attractive to him. Dreaming of the big win, hoping for the best while he used his skills against the very best, yet preparing for the worse had been an adrenaline high he’d almost lost himself to. But this wasn’t prize money up for grabs. It was the possibility of a long, happy life with the kind of woman you brought home to meet mama, and kids. Lots of kids, he thought with another glance in the mirror. Mostly because he wouldn’t be able to keep his damn hands off her.
He shook his head before his dick went hard. Again. About to meet with his loving, yet annoying family wasn’t when a man wanted to spring an erection. Besides, it was too early to start thinking of making his move on her. She was still gun-shy from Brady’s abuse and now, with this stalker shit, the timing was all wrong. But at least she’d be in his house, be able to see the potential of them. Hopefully.
Pulling into the lane that led to the family land, Deuce had to bite back a groan of frustration. The front yard of his parents’ place was packed with cars. He recognized his brothers’ trucks and his sisters-in-laws’ cars crowding the driveway. As though Broussard even had to drive to their parents’ house. Each of the brothers had five acres of land out of their parents’ one hundred, but only Broussard had developed his. Welsh, Kinder, Breaux and Deuce had moved to houses nearby, but not right in their parents’ backyard.
But if Broussard drove here from his place, that could only mean they’d had to bring extra tables and chairs, which meant the whole fucking family was at the homestead, waiting for Deuce to arrive with his mystery guests. Swallowing a sigh, because there was nothing he could do about it now, he pulled into the last spot available on the drive, as though they wanted to make damn sure he had plenty of space to park and unload his precious cargo.
Proving that, despite her being well into her sixties and slowly going hard of hearing, a mother can tell when her child’s home, his mom opened the door and stood in the halo of light the way she had so many times before. Back then, it’d been drunken, lust-filled nights for him while she stayed home praying he made it there in one piece. Deuce shook his head and shut off the engine, waiting for the rest of the clan to get up to speed on their arrival.
The quiet must’ve penetrated Devon’s daze because he noticed her moving in the backseat, and he peered into the rearview to see her cover her mouth as she yawned. “Are we there— Good lord,” she whispered.
He didn’t need to look out the windshield to know the flood of Gaudets had started. He already knew by the sound of excited chatter. Still, he followed her gaze to the front door of his childhood home to see all thirteen boys ranging in age from sixteen to seven tumbled out of the house, followed by their mothers, Deuce’s brothers, mom, dad and Nessie bringing up the rear. All they were missing were Welsh and Breaux, but even as the thought crossed his mind, two sets of headlights cut across the front yard, highlighting the crowd about to swarm his SUV.
He glance back at Devon, who was staring in horror at the people headed their way. “I’d apologize now, but it’s really not a bad thing,” he said gently, although his voice stirred Edward awake. “They’re all excited because, uh…” He paused and scratched the side of his nose. “Well, I don’t bring women home. Here. You know, to meet my parents.”
Fuck. The more he tried to make it sound less creepy than it was, it just sounded worse.
But he didn’t even have time to try to fix it because his family had the SUV surrounded like they were fucking fans at a Beatles concert. “Jesus,” he muttered as he got out of his seatbelt. “They act like they’ve never seen people before.” He opened the door, careful not to hit the boys who were pushing and shoving at each other, trying to see into the vehicle. “Back off, squirts. Y’all are gonna have them stealing my truck just to get away from the patients who escaped the asylum.”
Of course that didn’t faze the youngsters in the least. Stone, Frost and Ocean, each of them between six and eight, laughed and launched themselves at his legs, barely missing his groin. The older ones were too cool to hug their uncle, but they did give him head nods before turning their interested gazes on the vehicle.
“Y’all come away from there before you scare that poor girl and her son,” his mama ordered sharply.
She didn’t take her own advice though, gently jostling her way through her much taller daughters-in-law, sons and grandsons to stand at the front of the crowd. Deuce gave her a hug, nearly having to bend in half to reach her, but her hold was just as strong as it had been when he was shorter than she was. And yeah, call him a mama’s boy, but it was comforting to have those arms wrap around his shoulders.
She kissed his temple and pushed him away enough to brush his hair back from his forehead. “Everything okay?” she asked quietly.
He smiled. “Everything’s good, Ma.”
“Well? Are they gettin’ out of the car, or are they sleepin’ in there tonight?” his dad boomed.
Before Deuce could tell him Devon and Edward would get out in their own time, and that maybe they were a little intimidated by the big crowd of strangers, Remington Gaudet opened the back door and began unbuckling Edward from his booster.
“Hey boy, welcome to my house,” he said, as he got the seat undone in record time. He snatched a silent Edward out of the car and held him in his big, brawny arms. “You sure are a cute little boy.” He peered into the shadowy backseat. “Look like your mama. Marla, come look at this boy.”
“I can get him,” Devon argued uselessly, because there was no stopping his parents when they went into nurturing mode.
“Cher t’bebe!” she exclaimed and took Edward from her husband. “Are you hungry?” She too looked into the car. “And you are the prettiest little thing I’ve ever seen! Remy, help her out of that big ol’ thing and let’s get them inside before they starve to death.” She gently set Edward on the ground and ran her hand over his hair the same way she had Deuce. “Look at you! You’re such a handsome young man.”
Deuce’s face caught fire, both with frustration and embarrassment over their excitement. But when his dad put his hand out to help Devon from the backseat, his heart melted at the awe on her face. She took his father’s hand, who seemed to take extra care to support her as though she would fall apart from rough handling, and scooted across the seat and out of the vehicle. Something in his chest caught when he saw her standing next to his dad, looking up at him as though she was seeing a real life hero.
His dad beamed down at her, his craggy face creased with delight. “You’re right, Marla honey, she’s the prettiest little thing I’ve ever seen, other than you and our girls. I’m Remington Gaudet, Duson’s dad.” He introduced himself with a pat of her hand. “I hope that boy of mine has been taking good care of you. If he hasn’t, you let me know so me and his brothers can teach him a lesson.”
“Dad.”
But Devon smiled, showcasing that dimple in her cheek, and, yup, Remington proved to be no more immune to it than Deuce was, because the big, gruff offshore worker, who was nicknamed Hardass by his coworkers, melted.
“Has anyone ever told you that you look just like Charlton Heston?” Devon asked him.
“Oh lord, don’t go making his head bigger than it already is,” his mom muttered. “The man already thinks he’s Sean Connery, Robert Redford and Tatum Channing all mixed into one.”
Deuce’s sisters-in-law laughed. Candy said, “Its Channing Tatum, Mama.”
She waved her hand. “Either way, that boy has moves Fred Astaire would’ve been too ashamed to do.” That got a groan from Deuce and his brothers, but before they could keep visiting right there in the driveway, she said, “Inside. That food ain’t gonna eat itself. We’ll introduce this bebe to his cousins once we get inside.” She looked at Edward, who hadn’t taken his huge eyes off of her, as she started for the house, the rest of the grandchildren falling into line like little ducklings. “You can call me Mimi Marla like my babies do, okay? Do you like cookies? Because I made a whole bunch and I protected them from these little monsters just for you.”
Devon sent a sharp glance at Deuce who shrugged. What could he say? His mom was a born grandmother.
Hennessey scooted up next to him. Deuce threw his arm over her shoulder, hugging her to him. “Hey Nessie, how’s my best girl?” he asked, as he bussed her forehead. “Why aren’t you out breaking hearts so we can break legs?”
Her blush was spectacular and she ducked her head, but she laughed. “Uncle Deuce, God, don’t get Dad started on school again.”
Breaux chose that moment to saunter up, snatching Lea up in his arms and planting a big kiss on her lips before he turned to Deuce and Nessie. “If that boy makes you cry, I’ll destroy him.”
“You’ll have to stand in line,” his dad said, as he drew Devon closer to his side. “The Gaudets don’t stand for men takin’ advantage of pretty girls. Now, your mama’s been fussing around that kitchen all afternoon cooking for us. Let’s eat. Deuce, unload their bags before you go do what you gotta, while we catch your lady up on what she missed the first thirty-six years of your life.”
Given his marching orders, Deuce shot Devon a sheepish smile and shrugged as she was led toward the house like royalty. Yeah, it looked like the Gaudets weren’t going to give her the option of saying no to becoming one of the family. Welsh and Kinder sniggered as they passed by, punching his shoulders while they had their women under their arms.
“I’m so glad Mom told me to bring the home movies,” Broussard muttered as he passed, a wide smirk on his face. “Right, Du-du?”
Deuce felt his face pale and he had to fight the urge to storm the house and drag Devon out before she was subjected to a Gaudet Gauntlet. As though he knew exactly what Deuce was thinking, his dad looked over his shoulder with the same scowl he’d had every time he thought he was being back-talked to.
Resigned to his fate, and the fact that Devon would learn things about him she’d never wanted to, he muttered, “Fuck. Me.”
The house where Deuce grew up reminded Devon of her childhood home, with a few exceptions. Where her mom had put their pictures up on the walls of the living room, they didn’t cover nearly every available square inch until the paneling was barely visible. Marla Gaudet had turned her family room into a montage of photos of her children and grandchildren at various ages, the pride she took in them clear to anyone who entered the house.
But to say Devon was more than a little intimidated was an understatement. There were just so many people around, she wanted to grab Edward and hold him to her. But her baby was soaking up the attention of Deuce’s mom and seemed fascinated by all the other kids. Devon was the one sitting quietly in the corner, a plate of food in front of her, because she was…terrified.
Not of them, not necessarily. Deuce’s family seemed a little crazy, a little loud, but very loving. The men didn’t mind when their kids interrupted their conversations. The women were just as quick to sass their husbands as they were to kiss them. It reminded her of the interactions her sisters had with their men, the same easy love her mom had with her dad. This was what a family was supposed to be, this was what she thought she was getting when she married Brady.
But what truly frightened her was how easy it was to just slip into their warmth and forget her troubles. When Marla announced that Edward would get to know his cousins, she’d nearly had a heart attack. This wasn’t her family, their family. This was just a temporary shelter while Deuce fixed the mess her life had become, but it was hard to ignore the yearning to be a part of it all.
Especially when they seemed determined to draw her into the fold. Despite her obvious desire to disappear into the background, to observe from the outside, they wouldn’t allow it. Deuce’s sisters-in-law constantly asked her questions about her life in Grand Terre, about Edward’s birth, school, you name it, they drew her in. His brothers and nephews did the same without seeming to even try. They asked about Eli Tucker, Sinclair, because apparently Broussard and Breaux knew him well, and they apparently also knew J.B. and Ant, although not as well.
Then there were Deuce’s parents. Remington—“Call me Dad”—planted himself right next to her and kept up a running commentary on what was being said around the room, adding little asides to help her put names to faces. He also helped Deuce’s mom feed her. Every time she took a bite, more food would appear on her plate and while she hadn’t thought she was hungry, she ate it.
Remington—Dad—nudged her arm. “Looks like we’re gonna be havin’ another baby in the family,” he murmured under his breath and inclined his head in the direction of… Candy? whose face turned green when a plate of potato salad passed under her nose.
The poor woman gagged and hopped up from the table, disappearing down the hall with her husband… Devon tried to remember which one it was. Kinder maybe? He followed her at a quick jog, throwing a triumphant grin over his shoulder. “Y’all owe me fifty bucks, suckers!” he crowed.
Devon looked up at Remington who explained. “They had a bet going to see who’d get to five kids first. Breaux said it’d be him and Lea, but Lea put her foot down after Dodge was born. Said she wasn’t dealing with the Gaudet big head anymore.”
“They all have huge heads,” Marla announced as she smoothed down Edward’s hair again, earning a shy grin from Devon’s son before she sat on Devon’s other side. “I would’ve had five more if Deuce’s head hadn’t been so big.”
“I was glad to stop at five,” Remington stated. “They were more than enough. My brothers each had six.”
Devon shook her head, horrified and amused by their frank talk. “There are only three of us,” she told them. “Mom and Dad aren’t from big families either. Dad was an only child, Mom was one of four. Edward was their only grandchild, but that’s about to change because my sisters are both pregnant.” She paused and had to clear her throat. “I hope I can make it back home before they have the babies.”
Marla patted her hand. “Deuce will take care of it, don’t you worry. That boy has been finding himself in and out of scrapes ever since he was old enough to walk.”
Her comment caught the attention of the other Gaudet men. “With four older brothers, we made sure he knew how to handle himself in every situation,” Breaux said, arm around his wife, fingers playing with her fiery red hair. He looked over at Broussard. “Remember when we were playing parachutes and it was his turn to get on the roof to throw them?”
The other man laughed. “Welsh took the ladder so he was stuck up there.”
“Welsh!” one of the women gasped, scandalized.
“What? He found his own way down. Took him a few minutes, ’cause he was only seven and had short legs, but he got down.”
“He was on the roof when he was seven?” Devon asked, horrified at the thought of Edward doing the same. She looked at her son whose eyes were wide and fascinated. “No roof,” she told him sharply.
“Aw, c’mon, Mom!” he whined, making all the adults and some of the kids laugh.
“That’s boys for you,” Marla told her gently. “They need to get all that adventuring out early so they can settle down and be good men.”
“And the Gaudet boys did more than their fair share of adventuring,” one of the women muttered, making the men duck their heads sheepishly.
“But they’re good guys,” another one stated… Maureen maybe? Devon was never going to get their names straight. “They love their girls, are firm but fair with their kids and have each other’s backs against the rest of the world.”
“That’s family,” Remington said sagely. “Family sticks together and whatever Deuce needs to keep you and your boy safe, he’ll get it.”
The rousing murmurs of agreement made Devon feel a little better about the whole situation. She still wasn’t sure she needed this much protection, but Deuce’s family was so welcoming, so open, she couldn’t help but think that maybe this time away from Grand Terre—and all the side looks she got there—would be a good thing.
“Now, how about we go to the family room to watch those home movies I had Broussard bring over?” Marla asked as she stood up from the table, taking Devon with her. “He took all of my old family pictures and put them on a DVD. Wait until you see Duson when he was a baby. He was so cute!”
When Deuce finally got back to his parents’ house it was nearly midnight, but he’d accomplished a lot. On his way back to Grand Terre, he’d picked up Ivan Tarr, a college kid who liked to earn a few extra bucks doing tech stuff for him. It’d only taken a couple of hours to set up cameras in key points around Devon’s house, allowing Deuce remote access to watch for her intruder.
It hadn’t been hard work, but he was exhausted by the time he pulled into the drive, quickly noting that the only vehicles still there were Welsh’s and his parents’. Everyone else had cut out, no doubt eager to get their kids in bed. Everything was quiet when he let himself into the house using his key, but when he entered the living room it was to see his dad, mom, Welsh and Maureen sitting around talking softly.
They looked up and his dad answered his unspoken question. “We put her and Edward in Welsh’s old room. They were wore out. We sent Hennessey home with the boys.”
Deuce nodded and ran a hand through his hair. Bed sounded damn good. “Did they eat?”
His mom hopped up and hurried to the kitchen. “Yes they did. She’s just the sweetest thing,” she said as she began taking food out of the fridge, making a plate without asking what he wanted. Not that it mattered. It was his mom’s food and it was always kickass. “She insisted on doing the dishes before she gave Edward a bath and put him to bed. Wouldn’t let me even touch the sink.”
He dropped into a chair at the table, the others filling in the seats around him. “I didn’t get a chance to talk with y’all before I was given my marching orders,” he said with a mock glare at his dad. “Did y’all have any tails?”
Welsh shook his head. “Not that I could tell, and Breaux said the same. Perry picked up the SUVs not long after you left and said he’d get yours in the morning. Of course he wants to know why we needed three blacked out vehicles, so you’ll be getting an earful tomorrow.”
Perry Simoneaux was a friend of the Gaudet boys from high school. He owned a car dealership in Metairie and had been more than happy to provide the SUVs Deuce needed for decoys, but he’d known his old friend would be curious.
“I’ll talk to him,” he sighed, just as his mom set a plate in front of him. His stomach growled and he dug in.
“I like her,” his mom announced. “She’s sweet and she adores her son.”
“Pretty too,” his dad added.
Deuce nodded because he agreed with their assessments.
“She’s terrified,” Maureen tacked on. He looked up at his sister-in-law, who was watching him with wise eyes. “Not just of this stalker bullshit, but of you. Us.”
“Did we come on too strong?”
That brought all eyes to Marla, who looked upset.
But Maureen laughed. “Maybe, but that isn’t why she’s scared. She’s scared because she liked it.” She looked down at her hands, fingers laced together on the table. “Y’all know my dad was…abusive,” she said softly. Welsh reached out to cover her hands with one of his big ones, earning him a grateful smile as she clutched it. “You get so used to the abuse, the humiliation and shame, that when good things do happen, you don’t believe it. You just can’t believe you deserve it and think it’s just a dream that’ll go away when you wake up and you’ll be right back where you were.” She looked back at Deuce. “She wants to wrap herself in all of this, but she’s also afraid she doesn’t deserve it.”
Deuce swallowed hard, the food stuck in his throat as he absorbed Maureen’s words. He’d seen the wariness in Devon’s eyes, but thought it was more about her stalker than what she might be feeling for him. Sure, he was aware moving her out of her house into his would make her leery, but he’d thought it was just general suspicion. Not that it was something she wanted, but was too afraid to try to take.
“You’re gonna have to show that girl she deserves only the best things,” Remington told him with a finality that brooked no argument. Not that Deuce had any problems with that. “And if you don’t manage to wrap that girl up and make her yours before this asshole stalker of hers goes to jail, you ain’t a Gaudet.”
“Remy!” his mom exclaimed with a slap of his arm. “She isn’t a kitten at a shelter.”
“The boy wants her, Marla,” his dad argued. “It’s plain as the nose on my face he’s all tied up in her. When was the last time you had to dodge a phone call from one of the crazy women who follow him around? Any of y’all?”
A thoughtful silence followed, but Deuce ducked his head and shoveled food into his mouth. Yeah, so some of his conquests liked to plague his family for information on him, or on how to make him theirs. But if they calculated how long it’d been, they’d realize he hadn’t been with one of those women since right before he started the Folsom investigation. Once he met Devon, realized what she’d been through, all those other women just didn’t compare. There had been plenty of opportunity to fuck in the year since the investigation and trial, but he hadn’t been interested in what was offered.
“Well I’ll be,” Marla breathed in awe. She clasped her hands together. “Y’all would make beautiful babies together.”
“Mom,” Deuce mumbled, partly from embarrassment.
But she wouldn’t be budged. “Don’t ‘Mom’ me, Duson Charles Gaudet. Your dad’s right.”
“That’s a first,” his dad muttered, earning a glare from his wife, which he responded to with a wink and a smile.
She sniffed, turning back to Deuce. “You need to lock that girl down and make me some granddaughters.”
The others chuckled and Deuce just focused on finishing his plate of food, doing his best not to think about how so many things could go wrong.