Lucky Streak

“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.”