RICHIE: New Orleans Wolf Shifters with plus sized BBW for mates (Le Beau Series Book 6) (3 page)

Breathless from laughing, Billie said, “He got us back though, and made us sing two songs.”

“What did you have to sing?”

Karen pulled her phone out of her purse and found the video Richie had taken. “Here, you can watch it. Richie is such a brat, he posted it to YouTube.”

Piper watch as the girls sang “We Are Family” by Sister Sledge and then followed that up with “It’s Raining Men” by the Weather Girls. They danced and pranced their way through both songs having a blast.

Piper laughed and started to hand the phone back when Karen said, you have to see Etienne and Billie, too.” She scrolled through videos until she found the right one.

Billie was grinning ear to ear the entire time Piper watched Etienne sing “Love Me Tender” and “I Can’t Help Falling In Love With You.” During the second song, she’d joined him on stage.

“Holy crow, he’s really good.”

“I know, right. And isn’t Etie cute!” Billie squealed.

“Yes, he is,” she agreed as she handed the phone back to Karen. “Is he your boyfriend?”

Richie let out a soft growl. His mate didn’t need to notice how nice looking other men were.

“We only met that night. I gave him my number and he’s called me almost everyday since. We haven’t really defined our relationship though.”

Helen patted her friend’s hand. “I hope it works out, Billie. I liked Etienne a lot.”

Billie sighed. “Only time will tell.”

Dinner was over and people were beginning to mingle. Richie had spent most of the time the girls were rehashing their last night together, trying to figure out how to get Piper alone.

As he pushed his chair back to stand, Piper sprang from the table like she’d touched a live wire.

“It was great meeting all of you. If you’ll excuse me, I need to say hello to my cousin.”

“See you around,” the girls chorused and went back to talking.

Richie’s eyes narrowed, tracking her. He watched as she stopped next to the groom and hugged him. Then, with a glance around the room, she slipped out the door.

The manner in which she monitored her surroundings raised his hackles and had a low growl rumbling in his chest. Exactly how close was the danger that worried her?

He lifted his nose to pull her scent deeply into his lungs, and used it to track her to the bar. The closer he got to her location, the tighter his fists clenched. Males. There were several men in the same location as his unclaimed mate. Pausing outside the entrance, he took a moment to calm his wolf. If he found his mate with another man, he’d lose what little control he held onto by the skin of his teeth.

He forced his fists open, took one last breath, and stepped into the darkened bar. A quick sweep located her at a far table, deep in the shadows.

Piper narrowed her eyes.
What is Richie doing here? Is he following me?

“Hi, there. Mind if I join you?”

She studied him, hesitating. He interested her like no man had, but she was in no position to start anything with anyone. Although, Qball hadn’t shown his ugly face so maybe…

Finally, she gave him a small smile. “Sure.”

He took a seat and smiled brightly. His focused attention a little unnerving. Piper sat quietly while he ordered a drink.

She would have bet good money that the management turned up the heat in the bar. There was no other explanation for her feverish body, at least none she would admit to. She was hyper aware of Richie’s proximity and his leg pressed against hers beneath the table. Her libido really wanted her to get up close and personal with this handsome man.

Then she thought about it. Other people gave into their urges all the time. There was no denying, she was unbelievably attracted to him. As long as Qball was keeping his distance, did it really matter she was on a job? She decided to go with the flow and see where the night went.

Then a thought crossed her mind, trying to derail her momentary confidence.
Don’t guys like him go for ditzy bombshells with huge fake breasts and fluff for brains?
If he was like all the rest of the men on the planet, she was screwed.

As if on cue, a blonde wearing more makeup than Piper used in a year, sauntered over to the table. If her dress were any smaller she would be arrested. Smiling brightly, she looked right past Piper and leaned over Richie.
Good lord, how is she not falling out of that dress?

Richie leaned away from the bleached blonde. She was so close, all he could see was massive cleavage. He forced down a cough before it escaped from his throat.
Holy mother! She must bathe in perfume.

“Buy me a drink, handsome?” the blonde asked in a high little girl voice and giggled.

Richie cleared his throat. “I’m sorry, but that wouldn’t be appropriate. My fiancée sitting beside me wouldn’t appreciate that.”

Piper looked at him and raised an eyebrow.

The blonde clutched her bosom, and feigned surprise. “Oh. I didn’t see her there.” With that, she turned and zeroed in on her next victim.

Piper grinned and suppressed a chuckle. Richie was a really nice guy, and exactly the kind of man she would like to get to know better. But he was a puzzle she wasn’t sure she had time to figure out. At least not until Qball was behind bars. Then she considered his fiancée excuse. Maybe she had a chance after all, unless she was reading too much into it and she was just an easy out with Miss Boob-a-lot.

She glanced around the bar and noted every woman in the place was eating Richie up with hungry eyes. Maybe she should give up now before she made a fool of herself?

He was Prince Charming and she was the frog. Like every young girl, she had dreamed of being loved and cherished by her prince, a man not unlike Richie. But at the same time, she wanted to be the only thing on her man’s mind and the way Richie drew the attention of the opposite sex, she knew that wasn’t ever going to happen.

Silence engulfed them, making her hyper aware of his scent. What an odd but totally sexy cologne. It smelled like gun cleaner and patchouli. The scent drew her like a magnet. She was tempted to press her nose against his neck and breathe deeply. It would be so easy to lean into him and take a good long whiff.

Holy moly, Piper. Get a grip.

Richie was in a panic. Piper’s thoughts were way off base. He had no interest in any other woman and he intended to set her straight on her misguided conceptions.

“Sorry about that,” Richie apologized, as he reached for her hand and smoothed his thumb across her knuckles. He was pleased when she didn’t pull away.

“It’s quite all right. Obviously she inhaled too much hair spray when she shellacked her hair into submission and became confused,” Piper replied straight faced.

Richie barked out a laugh. He liked his mate already.

For the next hour they made small talk. He flirted with her shamelessly and at the same time tried to wheedle out a clue about the danger surrounding her, but she was an expert at dodging questions. He was no closer to protecting Piper from whatever it was she feared than he was the first instant he’d met her.

He glanced toward the bar to order another round when a woman he knew from New Orleans caught his eye.
Shit.
What is that bitch, Lori doing here?
He quickly looked away and tried to blend in.

Too late.

“Richie? Richie, is that you?” an intrigued voice from across the bar yelled.

Her high, whiny tone grated on his nerves. What had he seen in her?
Oh, yeah. She was easier than getting a beignet at the Café Du Monde, and willing to do anything.
That was a long time ago and
now, she made him cringe and he felt like he needed a bath in lye.

“Lori. What brings you to St. Louis?” Richie asked in a frigid tone that could have frozen hell over.

“I met a new guy at the Backwater. I thought he was a really nice guy; boy, was I wrong. That shit brought me here and abandoned me,” she spat.

Piper cocked a brow. What was he? Bimbo crack? This one wore a long, tight, black dress with plunging neckline to her navel, and a slit that went so high on her thigh it ended only inches from her waist. She watched, strangely intrigued, as Richie expressed zero sympathy for the woman – hooker – whatever she was.

Who is this guy? Don Juan?

“Call your sister. I’m sure she’ll help you get home.”

“I already did. She’s driving up in the morning.” The bimbo’s head turned and she fixated on Piper. “Who’s the broad?”

Piper crossed her arms and raised both brows.

Time seemed to slow as he first glanced at Piper and smiled warmly and then turned his attention to the woman standing before him. Richie’s eyes narrowed and his lip curled back. “Leave Lori. Now. Before I forget I’m a gentleman and throw you out.”

Lori’s eyes bulged in fear when he flashed his wolf fangs at her. As always, he was careful. No one else saw his display of aggression. Next time she insulted his mate, he wouldn’t warn her, he’d just heave her ass out the door.

“Yes, of course,” she stammered. As she stumbled over her dress and backed away, never taking her eyes off his very sharp white teeth now hidden discreetly by his tightened lips.

Once Lori was out the door, he turned back to Piper. Concern shot through him as her eyes glazed over like a person in the throes of a memory or daydream. His brows pulled tight. What had he done to trigger such an odd expression on his mates face?

Piper was shocked, she’d never had a man make it blatantly clear to another woman that he was with her and not interested. They weren’t even on a real date and he’d behaved more honorably than any man she’d ever known. His eyes hadn’t wandered over her body like men normally did to a woman. She’d never seen anything like it.

When she first met her ex-fiancé, Jeff, he’d been sweet, romantic, and loving. He was good looking, but not what she classified as hot. He was just a regular guy who treated her like a princess. That was what made the difference for her.

The problem was, as soon as he had his ring on her finger, his true colors emerged. He criticized everything she did, wore, or said. Every hint of romance evaporated like he hadn’t a clue what the word meant. Then the secret phone calls and late nights began. She should have seen that coming a mile away. But as they say, love is blind. She had been trusting, never expecting a law-abiding man to be as violent, manipulating, and secretive as the bounties she often tracked.

She’d used her numerous tracking skills to follow him and a short two weeks later sent him packing. Apparently Jeff had an insatiable need to share his manhood with any willing woman that crossed his path. And there had been a shocking number of willing ladies to accept his offer. Thank God for best girlfriends and her little brother. They came running the minute she told them what happened.

She could still hear his voice as he shouted, “I’m going to destroy your life for this.” Evidently, he was much more consistent in his follow through of a threat than maintenance of their relationship. No one said no to Jeff and now he was obsessed with destroying her private life.

Over the past nine months, the few dates she’d gone on, mysteriously ended in inexplicable cancelled dinner reservations, a keyed or towed car, a threatening gang of hoodlums following them, or all of them combined. Once, the sick bastard left a gutted cat on her front porch. To her date’s credit, he hadn’t let it end the evening.

After that, she’d gotten a restraining order to keep him away from her and her house. The problem was, that didn’t limit him from damaging her date’s car away from her property.

When messing with her dates began to bore him, he added rumors to the mix. He even went as far as to contact her boss at the organization claiming she was a drug mule. Fortunately, no one believed his dribble, which really pissed him off. Unless she could catch him causing damage or collect evidence of it, she would have to wait him out. That brought her back around to Richie and how utterly polar opposite he was from her ex. She may have only met him, but she saw his inner radiance, he was the real deal.

Shaking her head, she shrugged her memories off and laughed softly. “What did you do? You scared the crap out of her.”

He shrugged. “I guess I can be a scary guy.”

“Sure you can,” she snorted.

To her utter surprise, he flashed a charming grin and leaned toward her to kiss the tip of her nose. Then he settled back to continue gently stroking his thumb across the back of her hand. “I don’t understand why a woman would degrade herself like those two do.”

Piper shook her head. “For the most part, many of the women who use sex for attention were either abused mentally or physically growing up. They have no idea how to get positive attention because no one has ever given them any.”

His lips thinned. “What is wrong with parents these days? How could anyone treat their child with less than unconditional love?”

She drew a breath, sighed. “It happens much more often than most people realize.”

“Now I feel bad. Next time I see Lori, I’ll try to be nicer.”

Piper studied Richie closely and looked for his inner radiance. After seeing him with his friends and now Lori, a person he disliked, she was curious what she’d find.