Page 2 of Pierre (Voodoo Guardians #40)

Ambry McDonald was part of a trio. A trio born together, raised together, living together. Her siblings, Bailey and Cole, looked nearly identical to her. They were tall, lean, blue-eyed, and blonde hair.

Cole was extremely protective of his sisters, always sitting between them on the bus, following them home from school, ensuring that no one touched them.

He also had the help of all of his cousins and friends from Belle Fleur.

It was a constant merry-go-round of oversized male bodies willing to protect.

“Cole, can’t you just let me talk to him?” she asked, hoping to have a few moments alone with Jessie Vanguard.

“No. He’s not the right boy for you,” said her brother.

“How would you know? You’re only a kid too,” she said with her hands on her hips.

“Because I know what he thinks about girls and how he treats them. I won’t let any boy, any man, ever treat you that way. They will treat you with dignity and respect, and if they want to ask you on a date, they’ll do it the right way and ask my permission first, or Mom and Dad’s.”

“God! You’re so annoying. Bailey and I are going to die alone, and it will be all your fault!” she said dramatically. Cole only shrugged.

“I can live with that.”

Over time, Cole shot up like a flagpole.

He was extremely thin but had grown to nearly six-feet-five by the time he was a junior in high school.

Ambry and her sister were both five-feet-ten in flat shoes.

They rarely wore heels because they made them so much taller than boys in their class, or later, men.

But the glaring marquee of ‘the McDonald triplets’ was always above their head, much like their cousins had the marquee of ‘the Jordan triplets.’

Their mother, Sadie, was also a triplet. Sadie and her brothers, Marc and Luke, were born to Wes Jordan and Virginia Divide. Wes, his father Angel, Marc, Luke, and Cole were all SEALs.

Ambry didn’t have a chance. Constantly hounded by either her brother or her cousins, no boy stood a chance at getting close to her.

Imagine being surrounded by SEALs or former SEALs and trying to get a date.

There was no way it would work. No way a poor guy could get past them.

It had honestly become too much work to even try.

There was no boy worth all the trouble. At least not yet.

Instead, she buried herself in school and friends. That part was easy.

Raised in the island mansion, once haunted by little Claudette, she and her siblings, as well as their cousins, all triplets, lived on the island together.

Twelve children, all born within three years of one another.

Twelve. Nine boys and three girls. Her Uncle Christopher and Aunt Ramey had two sets of triplets.

It didn’t take Ambry long to decide a few things.

One. She would never, ever have children. The risk of triplets was so high, it was mind-boggling.

Two. She would never marry a SEAL or a Ranger. Their possessiveness and desire to constantly protect were just too much.

And three. She would go away to school and not come home.

So far, she’d been able to keep two of the three promises she’d made to herself.

“It’s good to have you home,” smiled Bailey. “I’ve missed you. It’s hard being around all the guys, all the time.”

“You could have gone away to school, like me,” she said, smiling at her sister.

“I know. I thought about it, but it made me cry every time I remembered that feeling of being away from family. I don’t know how you stood it.”

“Just like you. It’s what I wanted, so I did it.

Nursing seemed a safe occupation, and I’ve been able to focus on trauma and emergency room nursing.

That’s paid off well for me. I like being on the hospital ship.

I get to help people all over the world and see things I wouldn’t see in a regular hospital or clinic setting. ”

“Well, I’m really proud of you,” smiled Bailey. “You look great. You must still be running.”

“I am. Not as much as I used to, but my hours are so erratic it’s hard to keep a schedule. You look great too,” she grinned.

“That’s because I look like you!” laughed Bailey. It was true. They looked identical, and had Cole been a girl, he would have been identical as well.

“We can’t help that,” she chuckled. “I guess Cole didn’t make it home, huh?”

“No,” frowned Bailey. “Don’t tell Mom or Dad, but I have this awful feeling in my chest about him. You know that triplet thing we get.”

“I know,” she nodded at her sibling. “I’ve had weird feelings as well. Dad said he spoke to him a few weeks ago, and everything was fine. I guess we just have to trust that it is.”

Ambry watched the eyes of her sister cross the dance floor. They’d both come home for the wedding of Wyatt and Ulani. Although Wyatt was a few years older, Ulani had been closer to their age group, and the girls considered her an honorary sister.

“He’s so handsome,” whispered Bailey. Ambry frowned at her sister.

“Pierre?”

“No! I mean, yes, he’s very handsome. But I’m looking at Joey. He’s like this perfect blend of rugged, handsome, sexy, and just oozing with masculinity.”

“Not that you’ve noticed,” smirked Ambry.

“I’ve noticed. Just like you’ve noticed Pierre,” said Bailey.

Her sister said nothing, just looking down at the table.

“Ambry, don’t wait forever. I know you’ve had a crush on him for years now.

He was worth waiting for, and don’t embarrass yourself, I know you’ve waited.

But don’t wait any longer. You’re plenty old enough for the two of you to date now. ”

“I don’t want to have a crush on him,” she said resolutely.

“Yes, you do. I don’t know why you won’t admit it.

I know that Cole chased away all our prospects in school, but we’re not kids any longer, and Cole’s not here.

And if he were, he’d approve of Pierre and of Joey.

You like him, I know you do, and you can’t run from something like that.

You may not have a choice. He’s a good man.

Solid. Kind, intelligent, a body to die for. ”

“Why are you looking at his body?” her sister snapped. Bailey laughed, shaking her head.

“That tells me everything I need to know. Oh. Speak of the devils and here they come.” Ambry followed her sister’s gaze to see Pierre and Joey walking toward them.

“Hi, guys,” smiled her overly friendly sister. “How are you?”

“We’re great,” grinned Joey. “Care for a dance, Bailey?” She nodded and left her sister seated at the table.

“Hey, Ambry.”

“I hope you’re here to ask me to dance,” she smiled, standing as he held out a hand.

“I am.”

“I wondered if you would ask me,” she grinned. “If I recall the last time I got to dance with you, I was dancing while standing on the toes of your shoes.”

“Well, you were ten, so it seemed okay back then.” He brought an arm around her waist, pulling her close to his body. “This time, I’d appreciate it if you danced on your own feet.”

Ambry just laughed, shaking her head. He smelled so good she was having a hard time concentrating. It was an unusual fragrance. She picked out the notes of bergamot, lavender, and pink pepper. There was a slight hint of amber and vanilla, and she breathed in deeper.

“You okay?” he asked, frowning down at her.

“Y-yes. It’s your cologne. I just inhaled and got all the fragrant notes of its formula. It’s wonderful.” He smiled, nodding at her.

“Thank you. Mom and Dad sent it to me a few years ago for Christmas. I think Mom was hoping it would attract a woman. I don’t get to wear it much.”

“Why not?” she asked, wrinkling her adorable little nose.

“Because my teammates don’t appreciate me stinking up the joint, and it doesn’t bode well for me if I’m trying to hide from the bad guys,” he laughed.

“Oh. Right. I guess I was thinking you would wear it when you went out or something.”

“Ambry, I don’t really go out much. If I do, it’s for one beer, and then I go back. There’s not a lot of opportunity for me to date casually, and that’s not something I would want to do anyway.”

“I see. So, you’re not dating anyone?”

“Nope. You?”

“Nope.”

“Good to know.”

“Is it?” she asked quietly.

He pulled her tighter to his body, and Ambry lost every ounce of breath in her body. He was rock solid, rock hard, and just plain rocking. This was way better than she imagined, and that was saying a lot.

“Yeah. It is. Ambry, it’s a common problem for our men here. We’re raised with all these beautiful, funny, energetic little girls that turn into stunning, brilliant, amazing women before our very eyes. The challenge is always to wait until their age is right, our age is right.”

“Wh-why is that a challenge?” she whispered.

“Because I don’t kiss little girls, and I damn sure don’t kiss a woman without intention.”

“Are you going to kiss me?” she asked, staring up at him wide-eyed.

“Yep.”

“Wh-when? I mean, I’d like to be prepared for it.”

“Prepared?” he laughed.

He shook his head and took her hand, guiding her out of the tent. He walked toward the gardens and noticed that several other couples had the same idea. Turning, he moved toward the maze and encountered the same problem.

Then he had another idea. Seeing the numerous boats at the dock, he boarded one, carefully lifting her on board as well. Neither said a word as he drove away from the docks and toward a clearing in the bayou. Setting anchor, he leaned back in the seat and looked up at the stars.

“It’s a beautiful night,” she said softly.

“It is. I dream of this when I’m away. I think about being here with my family, friends, and you.”

“Me?”

“Yes. You. You’re all I thought about, Ambry. You.” She swallowed, staring into his dark eyes. “Did you think of me?”

“Y-yes. I mean, of course. I worried for you. I worry for all our guys serving.” He nodded but said nothing. She realized that she was messing this up and needed to change her tune quickly.

“But I especially worried about you, Pierre. What you do, what all of you do, is so dangerous. You’re big, tall, and wide, and I keep thinking that someone can easily see you and harm you.

“I see men and women come in from the field all the time. Their injuries are usually minor as wounds go. But sometimes, they’re severe and-and all I think about is…”

“Us,” nodded Pierre.

“No. You. I think about you, Pierre. I think about you, I worry about you. I’m not even sure when it happened. It started to get worse when I was in high school. I thought, I’m old enough, almost. I’m almost old enough to kiss him.”

“You’re old enough now,” he said in a throaty voice.

“I am. And yet here I sit, still not kissed by you.”

“I can fix that.”

He gripped the back of her neck, pulling her closer. She slid across the leather bench, her hands flat against his chest, feeling those rippling muscles once again.

She couldn’t look away from him. Her huge eyes took in his every movement. As he lowered his full, luscious lips, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and held on for dear life.

Ambry had been kissed a time or two, but nothing could have prepared her for this. Nothing could have made her aware of how a real man kisses a woman.

Pierre could sense her hesitation and inexperience.

He rested his lips against hers, her hot breath sending shivers down his spine.

As she scooted closer, he gently nibbled on her lips.

He was all ready to push back when she opened her mouth wide, inviting him in.

And he was no fool. He accepted that invitation.

As his mouth massaged hers, their bodies wiggled and wormed their way against one another until Ambry found herself sitting on his lap. Her dress was hiked up around her thighs, and he lay one large hand on her upper thigh, gently squeezing.

“Am-Ambry,” he said breathlessly. “I think we have to stop, or I won’t be able to.”

“I-uh, I don’t want to stop,” she said sweetly.

“Oh, baby. Me too. But we have a lot to talk about, and we need to get to know one another as adults, not just old friends,” he grinned.

She looked so disappointed, it gutted Pierre.

“Ambry, listen to me. I’ve waited, not so patiently, for you.

You, honey. I want to do this right. I want to ask your father’s permission to date you, and if I’m lucky, to marry you and love you for the rest of our lives. ”

“Oh. Oh, wow,” she said, staring up at him. “Really?”

“Really. Don’t you feel the same?”

“Y-yes. I mean. Yes. I just want us to talk about children.” He nodded, smiling at her.

“I know. I’ve heard you’re a little afraid of the triplet gene.” She stared at him with confusion, then grinned.

“Right. Big mouth Bailey.”

“Your sister loves you, and she was nice enough to tell me that you might feel the same about me as I feel about you.”

“When do you have to go back?” she asked.

“Day after tomorrow.”

“Okay. I guess we squeeze as much into twenty-four hours as we can.”

“Let’s start with that kiss again.”