BAYOU NOËL

  BAYOU NOËL

  Christmas In The Wildlands

  By

  Alexandra Ivy

  & Laura Wright

  Smashwords Edition

  Copyright © 2013 by Alexandra Ivy and Laura Wright

  Editor: Julia Ganis

  Cover Art by Patricia Schmitt (Pickyme)

  * * * * *

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer's imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the author.

  ISBN - 9780986064142

  Dear Reader,

  We want to thank you all so much for supporting this series. It means the world to us. As a little gift at this holiday season, we’d like to invite you to peek inside the Wildlands back before the start of the Bayou Heat series. It’s 2005, Raphael has no mate, and though the Pantera still grieve the loss of their ability to produce young inside their waning magical boundaries, there is much love, laughter and celebration to be had.

  We truly hope you’ll enjoy this holiday short story.

  Joyeux Bayou Noël!

  Alexandra and Laura

  CHAPTER 1

  Paris, 2005

  Night had just fallen when Garrick Loriot strode into his opulent Parisian apartment with a scowl on his lean, starkly handsome face. After months of delicate negotiations, he’d at last reached a tentative deal to purchase an apartment building in Montmartre to use as a safe house for Pantera Diplomats, only to have the negotiations fall apart when it was declared a historical landmark.

  Seriously. Was there anything in this city that wasn’t a fucking historical landmark?

  His pissy mood, however, swiftly disappeared when he flipped on the light and caught sight of the envelope that had been slipped beneath his door.

  It was from her. He could just catch the scent of vanilla mixed with earthy cypress. His heart did that familiar leap as he bent to grab it off the priceless Parisian carpet.

  He always looked forward to hearing from Molly. Especially this time of year. With his father deceased, these letters were his one and only connection to the Wildlands and the mother who had never fully recovered from a near-fatal accident.

  Like both his parents, Garrick was a born Diplomat which meant he never knew where he would be from one week to another. He depended on those letters to keep him connected to his home.

  Unlike those of the previous Nurturers who’d cared for his mother, Molly’s letters weren’t dry reports of medical facts. Hers felt like family, and were filled with wit and humor, and captured his mother’s spirit, making him feel as if he were there.

  And after his shitty day, he could use a pick-me-up.

  Tearing open the envelope, he dropped into a chair near the window, his six-foot-plus frame dressed in one of the Armani suits Molly always called his “stick up his ass armor.” And by the white glow of the Noël lights strewn on buildings, lampposts and even the Eiffel Tower in the distance, he read:

  Dear Mr. Loriot:

  I am writing to inform you of my resignation as caretaker to your mother, Virginia Loriot, effective December 24.

  This was not an easy decision for me to make. These past five years have been very rewarding, but it’s time for me to move on. I have accepted a position at Medical, and will be starting straight away.

  Thank you for the opportunity to work with your mother. I wish her nothing but the best. You’ll be pleased to know I’ve found a suitable replacement. Virginia has met and approved her.

  Best regards,

  Molly Cochell

  What. The. Fuck.

  It was as if all the air had been pulled from the room. And the lights, which had only a moment ago twinkled merrily behind him, dimmed. Garrick crushed the letter in his fist, wondering if it was some kind of sick joke.

  No. It couldn’t be. Molly didn’t play cruel jokes. It wasn’t in her nature. She was kind and sweet. Too damned sweet.

  So what the hell was going on? She’d seemed happy and content the last time he was there. When was that now…? Nine, ten months ago? Had something happened while he was gone? Had someone made her unhappy? What was this new position she’d found? At Medical…

  His jaw tightened.

  At Medical, with all the other Nurturers. Females, yes. But many single males, as well. Christ, maybe she was looking for a mate…

  The thought had him out of his chair and heading toward the phone to order a car before he even realized he’d made the decision to leave.

  Screw the negotiations.

  It could wait. Everything could wait.

  He was going home for Noël.

  CHAPTER 2

  Molly glanced around the room that had been her home for…

  What was it now? Five years.

  God almighty.

  How had time passed without her ever noticing?

  It seemed only yesterday that she’d arrived at the elegant, rigidly formal house near the center of the Wildlands. As a newly trained Healer she’d been eager to prove her worth by tending to the infamous, always acerbic Virginia Loriot. The female was considered one of the finest Pantera Diplomats ever born.

  Of course, Virginia was the reason she’d come to this home. But Garrick was the reason she’d stayed.

  With a low hiss she slammed the door on her traitorous thoughts.

  She was done thinking about the male who’d stolen her heart. After five years, only an idiot would continue to hope that her feelings would be returned.

  And while Molly was many things, she wasn’t an idiot.

  Time to pack it up and call it a day.

  Closing the lid on the last suitcase, Molly shoved her fingers through her unruly mop of golden curls that contrasted with the dark, velvet beauty of her eyes. She’d often regretted her resemblance to a china doll.

  Who wanted to be cute and cuddly? Even if she was a Nurturer. She wanted to be a tall, super-slinky brunette who screamed SEX APPEAL. Ha. She’d bet her favorite pair of Jimmy Choos that Garrick wouldn’t have ignored her then. Hell, she would’ve had to lock the door to keep him out of her bed.

  Dammit.

  She was doing it again.

  On the point of grabbing her bags, she hesitated as she heard the unmistakable sound of Virginia’s cane hitting her door and shoving it open.

  The older female might be frail, but she still commanded the entire house with the precision of a military general.

  She even had the look of a general.

  Entering the room, Virginia stood with a rigid posture, her body tall and thin and her face angular. As always, her dark hair was pulled into a tight bun at the nape of her neck.

  “You sure you have to leave?” the older female demanded.

  Molly swallowed a wistful sigh.

  She didn’t know when or how it’d happened, but at some point she’d started to think of this place as her home.

  Perhaps not so surprising.

  She’d lost her parents in an accident years ago, and while she’d been taken in by other Nurturers, she’d never truly had a place to call her own. It was understandable she would ache to build a sense of home and family.

  A pity that the male she loved didn’t feel the same way.

  The painful reminder was all she needed to stiffen her spine.

  “It’s time.”

  Virginia arched a dark brow, a mysterious smile tugging at her lips. “You know Garrick won’t be pleased about
this.”

  “I can’t worry about him anymore.” Molly shrugged, though just the mention of his name sent curls of awareness through her. “I have to get on with my life.” Before it’s too late, she silently added.

  “You know you always have a home here with me,” the female affirmed.

  Molly did know.

  Virginia could be cool, even aloof, but over the years, Molly had slowly discovered the caring female beneath the proper façade.

  “I appreciate that,” she said, her gaze skimming over the room that looked starkly bare now that she’d packed away the small touches that had, only a few days ago, made it seem like home. “But I don’t truly belong.”

  The older female looked as if she might argue, before she gave a small shake of her head. “Maybe this is for the best,” she said beneath her breath. “Garrick needs a little wake-up call.”

  Molly frowned in confusion. “What do you mean?”

  “Ms. Loriot,” Sylvia called, poking her head in the doorway. The Nurturer who had been sent to take Molly’s place was a young, fresh-faced, innocent, with dark hair and kind blue eyes. Molly didn’t doubt for a second that she would be a more than adequate replacement for her. “Time for your medicine.”

  “You go with Sylvia,” Molly urged. “I’m going to take my suitcases downstairs.”

  The female cast her a warning look. “Don’t forget to say goodbye before you leave.”

  “Course not,” Molly assured her.

  She felt a pang of loss as Virginia left the room. She would miss the older female. Despite her sharp-edged tongue, Virginia had become a true friend. And the closest thing Molly had to family.

  With one last look around the room, she grabbed her bags and easily carried them downstairs.

  Virginia had offered the assistance of her household staff to haul Molly’s belongings back to the dormitory used by unmated Nurturers, but she’d declined.

  She needed to leave as she’d arrived.

  Bags in hand…her heart filled with hope for the future.

  Call it closure.

  The thought had barely flared through her mind when the door flew open, hitting the wall with enough force to make the priceless paintings rattle on the wall.

  Molly shivered, but it wasn’t because of the blast of chilled, early evening air. No, that honor belonged to the tall, dark-haired male with rich caramel skin and eyes the color of melted honey.

  Garrick.

  Molly felt as if she’d been kicked in the gut.

  God. Even after five years the sight of him still managed to steal her breath.

  He was so freaking gorgeous.

  The chiseled perfection of his features. The ebony gloss of his hair that had been neatly trimmed. The whipcord body that was encased in one of his outrageously expensive suits, this one a pearl gray with a dark burgundy tie.

  He looked like he should be stepping off the cover of GQ. Until you glanced into those honey eyes.

  Then it was easy to see the razor-sharp intelligence and lethal danger of his cat that lurked just below the civilized surface.

  And tonight, his cat was more obvious than usual.

  “What the hell are you thinking?” he snarled, his powerful presence cloaking her.

  Molly had always found it ironic that this male was so distantly elegant, and yet carried the scent of the wild elements.

  Tonight he smelled like an impending thunderstorm.

  “Garrick,” she breathed, the suitcases dropping from her suddenly numb fingers. “You’re supposed to be in Paris.”

  He prowled forward, his expression clamped down tight. “Your letter brought my ass home.” He halted mere inches from her, his anger whipping through the cavernous formal living room. “You aren’t going anywhere, Molly. So you can bring those bags right upstairs. Better yet,” he reached down and picked up one of her bags. “I’ll do it for you.”

  Finding her backbone, and ignoring the flutters of excitement that raced through the pit of her stomach, Molly snatched it back.

  Not this time.

  She wasn’t going to allow her aching awareness of this male to blind her to the fact that he saw her as nothing more than just another Healer.

  She lifted her chin and feigned impassive, business-like composure. “If you read my letter, you know I’m no longer your mother’s caregiver. If you want to bark orders at someone, find Sylvia.”

  “I don’t know Sylvia,” he snapped. “And I have no intention of knowing her.” He grabbed her shoulders, his voice softening to a low rasp as his gaze swept over her face. “You belong here, Molly.”

  She let him touch her, a deep sadness settling in the center of her soul. “No, Garrick. I don’t. And that’s the whole point.”

  Without warning, Garrick’s face paled to an ashen shade. “You met someone.”

  She pressed her lips together. If he only knew. If he only understood and cared and wanted… “I told you in the letter that I have a new position.”

  “One you clearly don’t need, since you already have a position here,” he returned hotly.

  Frustrated at him, at herself, she pulled away. “I think I’m capable of deciding where I want to work.”

  She watched the glow of his cat reacting to her rejection, snarling, upper lip curling.

  “And caring for my mother is no longer good enough for you?”

  “Don’t you dare imply I don’t love your mother,” she rasped, her chin tilted to a defiant angle.

  She’d be damned if he demeaned the devotion she’d offered over the past five years. Virginia was not just a patient, not just a friend, and he knew it as well as she did.

  Reaching up, Garrick tugged on his tie, his irritation clearly being replaced by genuine confusion.

  “Why are you so mad?” He gave a baffled shake of his head. “Why are you acting like this? Or reacting like this? It’s not you.”

  Her heart squeezed painfully. “You don’t know me.” She met his gaze squarely. “You never wanted to know me.”

  He stiffened at that, the predictable wariness settling on his fiercely beautiful face.

  It was exactly what Molly expected. Had come to expect. They might share the most intimate details of their thoughts and desires through their letters, but whenever Garrick returned to the Wildlands, to this house, he reverted to treating her like a mere employee.

  It was ridiculous.

  And insulting.

  To be sure, she knew more about this male than anyone else in the world did. Including his own mother. But he only revealed that true self when they were a thousand miles apart.

  Enough was enough.

  “Will you say goodbye to your mother for me?” she asked coolly.

  His nostrils flared and those honey eyes turned molten gold. “What about me, Molly?” he demanded, the air prickling with the heat of his cat. “Were you going to say goodbye to me? Or was that what the fucking letter was about?”

  She was done with this conversation, this back and forth. She had made her decision. Hell, should’ve made it a long time ago. She tightened her hold on her suitcases, and, slapping an expression of determination on her face, she swept past his rigid form.

  “Goodbye, Garrick.”

  CHAPTER 3

  Garrick felt feral as his puma slashed through moonlit grass and darted around fragrant cypress, hissing at anything that had the misfortune to cross his path. Flora, fauna, and if it had a heartbeat—so long, sucker. He couldn’t believe Molly had just walked out.

  On his mother.

  On…him.

  He snarled at a lone squirrel as he ran past, even bared his teeth and licked his chops, though he despised the taste of small game. The thing froze, then turned bushy tail and fled.

  A new job.

  Fuck. If she was going to leave him, didn’t he have the right to know what kind of job it was? Why she wanted it? Who had offered it to her?

  And if it had anything to do with a male?

  The thought had
his blood surging hot and fast through his veins. Growling, he picked up speed, zipping from tree to tree. Only when he heard the high-pitched and very pissed-off cry of a fellow puma did he stop short. Breathing heavy, his puma’s sides heaving, he realized he’d startled off the prey of the massive male puma who’d obviously been on the hunt. And not just any male. He cursed inwardly and shifted into his human form. The other puma shifted as well.

  “Garrick?”

  Backlit by the moon, the tall, blond Suit stared at him, confused and more than a little irritated. “What the hell are you doing here? I thought you were finishing the contract for the safe house.”

  “It fell through.” Garrick’s gaze lifted and connected with that of Raphael, his superior and mentor. “I have another space in mind, but I had something to deal with here first.”

  The irritation in the male’s gold eyes waned. “Your mother?”

  “No,” Garrick said quickly as a sudden breeze off the bayou moved over him, cooling his hot skin and his hotter blood. “She’s well. It’s her damn caretaker who’s got my fur ruffled and my fangs out.”

  “Sweet Molly?” Raphael said, his eyes widening with disbelief. “She’s too nice for such frustration. Although,” he amended with a wicked grin, “with that perfect face and lush body, there is a line of Pantera males who wouldn’t mind her ruffling their fur or coaxing their fangs out.”

  The instant explosion inside Garrick’s brain was rabid and uncontrolled. He rushed at the male, and in seconds had his back against a tree trunk. “Is that right?” he snarled, his pulse slamming against the cord of muscle in his neck. “And who would be at the front of that line?”