Lucky Streak

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

AT FIRST GLANCE, Mike didn’t see anything unusual inside the old boathouse. And he sure as hell didn’t see anyone.

“Hello?” Mike called.

“Mike? Is that you?” a familiar voice asked.

His cousin Jason.

“Thank God you’re here,” Jason said. “I came around back looking for your father. I couldn’t find him, so I went into the boathouse to see if he was in there. I tried to talk to him, but he pulled a goddamn skunk out on me like a weapon. I’ve been hiding in here so I wouldn’t get sprayed.” Jason rose to his full height from the corner of the room.

Mike swore under his breath. “It’s safe now,” he said. “It’d have been safe anyway. The skunk has been descented.”

“What the hell?” Jason stepped forward.

“Don’t ask,” Mike muttered.

Amber was right about Edward needing help. This kind of behavior couldn’t continue.

For now, though, he was worried about his cousin. “What are you doing here back in the States? Aren’t you supposed to be overseas training or qualifying or something?” His cousin was a United States snowboarding champion, headed to the next Olympics and destined for gold.

“I take it you haven’t heard the news?” Jason asked.

“Apparently not. What’s going on?”

Jason groaned and ran a hand through his long hair. “I tested positive for steroids at the World Championships. I probably won’t even be eligible to qualify for next year’s Olympics.”

Mike stared at his cousin, certain he’d heard wrong. “You don’t do drugs. How did this happen?”

“Thank you!” He swung his arm in the air in victory. “If only everyone else had trusted me the same way, we wouldn’t be having this conversation here.” He pointed to the dirt floor.

“What’s going on in there?” Edward called, interrupting.

“Everything’s fine. I’ll be out in a second,” Mike yelled back and turned to Jason again. “Go on.”

“I got suckered by a woman I thought I could trust. I was set up.” His voice held all the exasperation he must be feeling.

“You fell in love, didn’t you?” Edward leaped in front of them, seemingly out of nowhere. “Didn’t you learn nothing from me? Your father? Your uncle? No, you let the curse get the best of you, too.” He asked and answered his own question in the voice of a raving man.

“You’re still sneaking up on people, I see. Hello, Uncle Edward. Where’s your pet skunk?” Jason asked, ignoring the subject of the curse like all good Corwin men.

“Outside with that crazy woman,” Edward said.

“What crazy woman?” Jason asked.

Mike inhaled, the musty scent of his surroundings suddenly becoming more than he could take. “Let’s move this outside.”

“Can we go into the house?” Jason asked. “I’ve got the press stalking me. My father’s home is the first place they’ll look. So I thought I’d stay with Uncle Edward. Nobody would think to look for me here.”

Apparently Jason had come up with the same solution Mike had for Amber, which in Mike’s opinion, made this place a less appealing hideout for both of them.

“I’ve got more company than I know what to do with. All uninvited, I might add,” Edward piped in. Mike didn’t need to see his father’s face to know he scowled as he spoke.

Jason cleared his throat, an unspoken request for an explanation.

“It’s a long story,” Mike told his cousin. “And when you walk out the door you’re going to meet those visitors. But don’t worry. We’ll keep your presence under wraps.”

Mike’s cell phone vibrated in his back pocket. A quick check told him it was a Texas number.

The P.I.

The man’s timing sucked, Mike thought. He let the message go to voice mail, planning to deal with it as soon as possible.

As they stepped into the sunlight, a scene of chaos unfolded. Clara held the skunk and chided Edward, while Amber and Gabrielle surrounded Mike and Jason, demanding answers and introductions. Derek, arms folded across his chest, could only watch in horrified fascination.

“Quiet!” Mike finally yelled, silencing everyone.

All eyes locked on him.

“We need to take this inside. Now.” His voice was a command and everyone followed him up the grass, through the back door.

But there was no escaping the fact that something needed to change. His father’s once-quiet house had turned into a refuge for people running from their troubles. Edward couldn’t handle it and since Mike had helped cause the problems, it was up to him to find to find a way out of this mess. God help him.

AS AMBER WATCHED Mike handle his family, she learned more about her husband. Like her, he was a people person. He knew what made each person tick and how to give them what they needed to calm them down.

He started by sending his father to the garage, instructing him to clean up the boxes and make room for Amber’s car inside. She knew it was busywork, but it kept the older man away from the people and chatter inside, which clearly overwhelmed him. Before Clara could join Edward, Mike asked her to make tea for all the guests, sending her to the kitchen, far from the garage. Clara enjoyed taking care of people and hurried to please Edward’s son. Gabrielle, clearly fascinated by the other woman, offered to help.

And though Amber preferred to stay with the men and find out what had happened to Mike’s famous snowboarding cousin, she didn’t think Mike would want her intruding. “I’ll help Clara and Gabrielle in the kitchen,” she said, turning to leave the Corwin men alone to deal with their family issues.

“Amber, wait.”

At the sound of Mike’s voice, her heart picked up rhythm. “Yes?” She glanced back over her shoulder, meeting his gaze.

“Would you mind sticking around?” He gestured to the family room where his cousins had settled into their own seats. “You’ve got a clear head and I think you might be able to help.”

His words caught her by surprise. “Of course I’ll stay.”

“Thank you. I figure that as a concierge, you’ve dealt with situations and people that were harder than this,” he said, winking at her.

They both knew that as a cop, he could handle people and situations as well as she could.

He wanted her by his side, she realized, warmth filling her as she walked over to him.

“Jason, how big an issue do you figure the press will be?” Mike asked.

“If they find me? Pretty big,” he said, clearly unhappy with the prospect. “I literally paid someone to sneak me out of the place I was staying, took a flight without prebooking…anything to stay under the radar.” He kicked back in his seat, propping his feet on the ottoman in front of him.

“Our cousin is like a rock star,” Derek told Amber, teasing Jason.

Like his cousin, Jason had the Corwin good looks with his blue eyes and brown hair. But he distinguished himself with a scruffy beard and longer hair. Yep, Amber could understand the rock-star comparison.

“Don’t listen to him. Snowboarding isn’t a sport that gets all that much media attention, but the count-down to the Olympics has already started. When the positive drug test is released, all hell is going to break loose,” Jason said.

Mike groaned and ran a hand through his hair. “Okay. But hiding out here may not be the best idea.” He went on to explain about Amber’s situation, and the reasons they couldn’t afford media scrutiny.

“Mind if I ask why you’d bring her to Edward’s when he hates visitors? Even I’m going to be an intrusion and I’m family.” He glanced at Amber. “No disrespect intended.”

“None taken,” she said.

They all knew how Edward’s mind worked.

Mike grit his teeth, realizing his cousin didn’t know everything. He drew a deep breath. “Because Amber is my wife.”

Jason’s gaze traveled from Mike to Amber and back again in obvious surprise. “You’re married?”

Amber remained silent and glanced at Mike, waiting for him to reply.

“We got hitched in Vegas. It’s a long story. Let’s just get back to your problem. I think I have a solution.”

Jason frowned. “Okay, but I want details later.”

Derek, who’d been quiet until now, snorted.

“What was that for?” Mike asked.

Derek glanced at Jason. “That was a snort of disbelief. As in good luck getting anything out of him.” He tilted his head to Mike. “He’s not saying much.”

Amber shifted from one foot to the other. “Can we not talk about me later, when I’m not in the room?” she asked wryly.

Jason laughed. “Sorry, sweetheart. That was rude of me. I’m just jet-lagged and shocked by my cousin’s news. I’ll make a better impression next time.”

Mike rolled his eyes. “Can we get down to business? Jason, I suggest we sneak you out of here. You can stay at my apartment in Boston. Nobody will look for you there.”

“That’s brilliant!” Amber squeezed his hand only to find both Jason’s and Derek’s eyes on her.

Watching Mike for his reaction. True to form, there was none.

Amber sighed. “Okay, I’m leaving you men alone. You can catch up while I go see if I have enough to pull dinner together for the whole family before you take Jason to Boston.”

“Sounds like a plan-” Before he could say anything more, the doorbell rang.

“Good God, what now?” Mike muttered.

“I’ll handle it,” Amber said, wanting to ease his stress.

Mike raised an eyebrow. “No, you will not. You’re supposed to be in hiding.”

She didn’t think the person at the door would be looking for her, but she didn’t want to add to the tension. “Okay, then I’ll make myself scarce. I’ll be in the kitchen.”

“I’m going, too.” Jason rose to his feet. “But not into the kitchen, in case whoever’s at the door ends up in there. I really don’t want another living, breathing soul seeing me here. This is way more than I bargained for. Come keep my company,” he said to Amber.

“Okay, the kitchen can wait.”

He walked to where she stood. “Let’s go get better acquainted.” He placed his hand on the small of her back in a gentlemanly gesture. “After you,” he said.

With a shrug, she nodded.

As they headed down the hall, Mike’s voice traveled after them. “Hey, cousin, keep your hands to yourself.”

Jealousy, Amber thought to herself, surprised. She bit the inside of her cheek and grinned, enjoying the ray of hope that little gesture implied.

WHEN MIKE ANSWERED the doorbell, he found Jason’s father, Thomas, and Derek’s father, Hank, on the other side.

Uncle Hank was ornery and full of bluster and dressed casually without much care.

Not Thomas. Of all the brothers, he was the most rational when it came to the curse and also the one who cared most about appearances. His khakis were always clean and pressed, his white collared shirt starched.

Both men stood at Edward’s door. Neither had been welcome in decades. At least not according to Edward.

“Uncle Thomas, Uncle Hank, come on in!” Join the party, Mike thought wryly.

The men stepped inside, waited until Mike shut the door behind him. “Where’s my son?” Thomas asked.

Mike raised an eyebrow.

“Come on, Michael. I know he’s here. He told me himself. I drove in circles to make sure nobody followed me. My car’s around back.”

“I just want to see the ladies,” Hank said. “Gotta make sure they’re behaving and keeping their men happy.”

Mike merely shook his head. “They’re in the kitchen, Uncle Hank. Uncle Thomas, follow me.” He led his uncle back toward the bedrooms.

The sound of Amber’s laughter told him which room they’d chosen. His. His and Amber’s. A bolt of jealousy hit him in the stomach hard.

He was jealous of his own cousin. Again. For no rational reason other than he wanted to know he had Amber all to himself. Which he did, thanks to a marriage license he wanted to invalidate. Mike’s stomach churned. He wasn’t rebelling against the notion, he was hungry. Right.

Uncle Thomas stepped through the bedroom doorway with Mike right behind him.

“Jason!” the older man said, pulling his son into a bear hug.

“Hey, Dad.” Jason patted his father on the back. “I’m so sorry-”

“Do not apologize. We both know you didn’t do anything wrong and you’ll prove it.”

“Not in time to compete next year, I don’t think,” Jason said, his voice hollow.

“Then in four more.”

“No.” Jason shook his head definitively.

Mike caught the look in his eyes, a look Mike had seen many times growing up. When Jason made a decision, he stuck to it. He’d had to have that stubborn personality in order to be successful in his sport.

“Why the hell not? This is your dream. It’s everything you’ve worked for.” Thomas sounded as devastated as Jason had to feel.

Amber eased herself around the two men to sneak out of the room. Mike caught her hand and joined her.

“Why did you follow me? Don’t you want to be in there?” she asked, gesturing to the bedroom.

He shook his head. “They need some privacy.” And he appreciated that she’d picked up on that fact, too.

She nodded. “Are you okay?”

He leaned one shoulder against the wall and met her gaze. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Well, to start with, it’s crazy around here. And now, you’ve learned your cousin’s lifelong dream has gone up in smoke. I imagine you’re hurting for him,” she said softly.

“It’ll be fine. Jason will figure something out.”

She tipped her head to one side. “He seems like a strong man. I’m sure he’ll pull through this. It will just take some time.”

“I wonder what he’ll do once this blows over.”

“Whatever it is, I’m sure you’ll be there to help him decide. That’s what family is for.” Amber nodded in certainty. “Speaking of family, I really need to call the nursing home and check on my father.”

At the mention of Amber’s life, Mike’s brain, which had been solely focused on himself and his family, kicked back into working mode. “And I have a voice mail that came in while I was out back, dealing with my father’s outburst. It was a P.I. in Texas. With all the commotion, I forgot to tell you I’d hired him.” He pulled out his cell phone and dialed his voice mail.

Amber stood beside him, waiting, her eyes wide and hopeful. “Maybe you’ll have something on King Bobby and we can settle this misunderstanding once and for all.”

Mike frowned at her. “You stole from him. I wouldn’t call it a misunderstanding,” he said, his voice suddenly harsh, thanks to the reminder of who she was and what she’d done.

For a while, he’d allowed himself to forget. He had to admit she handled his nutty father and the family chaos like a trooper. He could probably attribute it to the people skills she’d acquired in her former job, but he sensed there was more to it than that.

When Mike was in high school, he’d never brought girlfriends-or friends, for that matter-to his father’s home, for obvious reasons. And as an adult, it hadn’t been an issue. He’d never been serious enough about any female to subject them or himself to this. He hadn’t trusted that any woman, after meeting with his father, would want to stay with him afterward, Mike realized for the first time.

As he stood in the hallway and looked at the woman he’d married, a stranger at first, one he was coming to know better, he realized that she was the one woman he could entrust with his family…and his heart.

Pushing aside the unsettling thought, he dialed 1 and his voice mail began to play the lone message. “Hey, there, pardner, it’s your P.I. pal in Texas. Got that info on King Bobby, but I seem to keep missin’ you. I’ll give you a hint in one word. Mistress. Call me back for details.”

Mike glanced at Amber, his mind still on his earlier thoughts. Yeah, she was the one woman he could trust…if only she were different.

Reality was a bitch, Mike thought.

“What did he say?” Amber asked eagerly, unaware of his inner turmoil.

Mike shook his head. No good would come of re-hashing her past here and now. Or ever, since nothing could change it.

“The P.I.’s got something I can use to convince King Bobby to leave you alone.”

Her beautiful blue eyes lit up with excitement. “What is it?”

“He said something about the man having a mistress, but I don’t know anything definite right now. I’ll let you know once I do.”

She nodded her understanding. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you doing this. For Marshall to go so far underground that I can’t get any information from the people we both know, he has to be running scared. And that makes me scared.” Her voice cracked and she rubbed her hands up and down over her forearms.

Her vulnerability got to him and he reached out, pulling her close. “It’ll be okay,” he said gruffly. “I’m not going to let him hurt you.”

Protective instincts, as well as baser ones, kicked in as he held her against him. Her soft hair, warm body and fragrant scent tempted and aroused him. Unable to help himself, he bent to kiss her forehead, but she tilted her head and his lips caught hers.

She tasted warm and sweet, but her kiss was anything but innocent, and filled with much more than gratitude. He needed this, needed her, and soon her back was pressed against the wall, his hands braced on her shoulders. All the while, his mouth devoured hers and she returned the kiss with equal fervor.

Until Edward’s shouting penetrated the fog of desire between them. As Mike’s mind cleared, he heard his father’s words more clearly. “I recognize my brother’s car. That woman-stealing rat bastard better not be inside my house!”

Mike stepped back, Amber pulled in a deep breath and the bedroom door opened, as Jason and Uncle Thomas came to see what the commotion was all about. Although it was pretty obvious.

“Why don’t you let me deal with my father,” Mike said to his uncle. Mike could take him into the kitchen to calm him while his uncles slipped out the front door.

“I think it’s time your father and I talked.” Thomas barreled straight past Jason, Mike and Amber, heading directly for the family room. “Edward? Are you looking for me?”

Mike groaned.

“Let’s go make sure they don’t kill each other,” Jason said needlessly, since they were already following Thomas.

“How could any of you let him into my house?” Edward yelled, the skunk in his hand. “Doesn’t anybody have respect for my authority round here?”

Mike’s stomach churned, not wanting his father to go completely off the deep end. A psychiatrist was no longer optional, it was mandatory, he thought.

Uncle Thomas met his brother in the center of the room. “It’s time we end this ridiculous feud, once and for all.”

“You stole my woman,” Edward yelled, his face beet red.

“She chose me,” Thomas said. “And in case you’ve been too caught up in your own insanity to notice, my life was no bed of roses-” He turned to Jason. “No insult, son. You know what I mean.”

“And he knows why your life sucked eggs. It’s the damn curse at work,” Edward yelled.

Jason nodded, humoring him. The cousins all knew the Corwin-curse saga. They could repeat it in their sleep. Whether they believed it or not was another matter entirely.

Amber suddenly, quietly stepped up beside Edward. “If you think the curse caused it all, then why are you blaming your brother?”

“He could have controlled himself!” Edward still yelled loudly.

“It was over thirty years ago,” Thomas countered. “Get over it already!”

“Over my dead body,” Edward said. “Or better yet, over yours.”

“Edward Corwin, there is no need for invoking evil, and against your own family, no less.” Clara Deveaux burst in from the kitchen.

Gabrielle rushed out after her along with Derek and Mike’s uncle Hank.

Clara strode through to the center of the room, her brightly colored, flowing dress almost a bigger distraction than the woman herself.

“God, this is really going to set my father off,” Mike muttered, intending to pull Edward away from the confrontations.

Amber’s hand on his arm stopped him. “Wait. Let her try to get through to him first.”

“Why not just end this now?” Mike asked, speaking so only she could hear.

“Because I trust her.” Amber met his gaze, her eyes pleading. “And because I think they have something special.”

Mike wasn’t so sure, but he couldn’t say no.

“Who is this woman?” Uncle Thomas asked.

Nobody answered. Everyone was too busy watching Clara as she walked up to Edward, whisper something in his ear, take his hand and lead him out of the room, away from the chaos.

“Well, I’ll be damned,” Mike muttered, staring at Amber in disbelief. He couldn’t help but be startled by Clara’s hypnotic effect on his father.

“What the hell was that all about?” Jason asked.

“Simple. He trusts her.” Amber smiled, obviously pleased with herself and the outcome.

Uncle Thomas cleared his throat. “Would one of you please tell me who that glorious woman was?” The older man stared after Clara, obviously entranced.

“Just an old friend of Edward’s,” Amber said in a clipped tone. One Mike had never heard from her before.

“I’ve never seen anyone like her,” Thomas said in an odd tone.

It was almost…love struck?

That’s when Mike realized what had Amber’s guard up. A feeling of déjà vu swept through him, even though he hadn’t lived through the brothers’ rivalry over a woman the first time.

“I must formally meet her.” Thomas took one step toward the front door Edward and Clara had left through seconds before.

“Two morons about to repeat the past,” Hank said more to himself than anyone in particular.

“Shut up, Dad,” Derek said to his father.

Mike glanced at Jason, shooting his cousin a stern glare. A silent push to intercept his father. But before Jason could act, Amber jumped in front of Thomas.

“Oh, no. You will not go near that woman. Don’t look at her, don’t introduce yourself, steer clear,” she ordered, hands on her hips in clear defense of Edward.

Mike stared at her, warmth in his chest, appreciation filling him.

“Young lady, you can’t possibly mean to tell me what to do,” Thomas said, sounding appalled.

“Oh, yes, she can, Uncle Thomas,” Mike said, backing up Amber.

Jason stepped forward. “Dad, you heard the family.”

“Family? She’s not-”

Mike groaned. “You didn’t tell him?” he asked his cousin.

Derek shook his head. “I didn’t tell either of them. Figured it was simpler to keep Amber here and out of trouble that way.”

“Tell us what?” Hank asked.

“Amber’s my wife,” Mike said. “And before either of you say one word about her, the curse, or anything else, remember, we’re discussing your stupidity,” he said, glaring at his uncle Thomas. “Not mine.”

“Gee, thanks!” Amber said.

Mike glanced her way, surprised to find her laughing.

“Enough is enough!” Jason stepped forward to confront his dad. “Either you want peace with your brother or you don’t. But if you go after that woman or any other that Uncle Edward is interested in, I won’t be around to see the mess you make of your life,” Jason said, obviously meaning every word.

Uncle Thomas blinked. “Of course, you’re right.” He ran a hand through his neat hair, his face turning red.

“Come on. The whole family is in one place for the first time in years. Let’s try to salvage what we can,” Derek suggested. He wrapped his arm around Gabrielle.

Mike paused in thought. The family was all together. That in itself was a miracle.

“You’re right. I don’t know what came over me, acting like that.” Suddenly unsteady, Thomas lowered himself into the nearest chair, looking older and shaken.

“Maybe it was the curse,” Mike joked to diffuse the situation and ease the tension.

Nobody named Corwin laughed.

KING BOBBY WAS HALFWAY through a bottle of whiskey when the private investigator he kept on retainer called him with a report. King Bobby had asked the man to dig up some dirt on Detective Michael Corwin.

“Give me something I can use, Clint, or else I’m gonna serve you at my next barbecue,” King Bobby barked into the phone. He couldn’t take Boston a day longer. He had to get back to the ranch.

But he wasn’t leavin’ without his money.

His high-priced P.I. rambled on about how the detective Amber Rose married had a clean record, on and off the job, and King Bobby’s frustration grew. “That’s useless to me. I don’t pay you for shit I can’t use.”

And from what Clint had reported so far, it’d be damn hard for even a man of King Bobby’s persuasive skills to get the detective to turn on his pretty lady.

“What else ya got?” King Bobby asked, pulling on a long sip of whiskey. The liquid burned, firing up his belly as much as his anger.

“Not much ’cept some background. Detective Corwin’s got family in a small coastal town. A place called Stewart,” Clint said.

“You don’t say…” King Bobby grabbed a pen and made notes. “Tell me more.”

He listened to Clint’s irritating whine and scrawled the name of the town on the paper. He’d look the place up on a map and see if he could drive there. “Gimme an address.”

Clint hemmed and hawed.

“Spit it out, boy!”

“Corwin’s father’s address is unlisted.”

“Shit!”

“Yes, sir, but I’m working on finding it out,” Clint said, rushing to assure him. “Don’t you worry, I’m on it,” the other man assured him.

“Quit kissin’ my ass and find me that information!” King Bobby snapped his phone shut, then began slamming through drawers in the hotel room looking for a map, but all he found was a Bible. “I don’t want to pray,” he muttered.

King Bobby downed the rest of his drink. “Maybe the concierge can git me a map or directions. Concierges are good at getting their hands on things.” Ripping the sheet of paper with the name off the pad, he folded it and slipped it into his pocket.

That yahoo Clint could keep digging until he found the lady or the cop’s father, but King Bobby didn’t have the patience to wait. “I’m gettin’ closer. I can feel it.” With a little luck, by the time Clint uncovered anything, King Bobby would already have the pretty lady in his sights.