Page 11 of Javier

CHAPTERFIVE

His sour mood at not finding his mom home turned black. Memphis Creed’s red GTO and Daphne’s brown Jeep joined his truck in the shade.Fucking hell.He secured his helmet to the handlebar and got the box of eclairs from the storage compartment, stomping the porch floorboards with displeasure as he made his way to the back of the house, confident that’s where the women would be.

Mom was always welcome. She had a key, but she rarely used it. The back bifold patio doors were unlocked on most days. No one in their right mind would enter the lair of Javier Cabrera. His reputation guaranteed it.

He rounded the last corner.

Daphne gazed up and bathed him with a warm smile, taking the edge off. “Good morning, honey. You look a little stormy. How can that be on such a perfect day? I’m having a nice talk with this lovely young woman. What’s that under your arm?”

He glanced at Memphis then back at her, planting a kiss on her white hair. “I was bringing you eclairs, Mom.”

“I was just starting to sample this scone Memphis brought you. She was about to fill me in on Ransom. Can you believe it? His daughter. I’ve started drinking the coffee she brought, also intended for you. Did you make some this morning?”

“Yeah. It’s probably still hot.”

“Good. Sit. I’ll get you a fresh cup, and you too, dear,” she said, addressing Memphis. “We can have a nice chat together out here.”

“Mom—”

“Sit, Javi. I’ll be back in a jiffy.” She disappeared inside.

He remained standing. There was no arguing with Daphne Kayce when her mind was made up. The question was, what was her agenda? Judging from the twinkle in her eye, she had one.

Memphis watched him. “You’re not happy I’m here.”

“Astute. Who told you where I live?”

“A little birdie.”

“Hm.” He could play the game, too and unzipped the mesh jacket. Eyes locked on hers, he shrugged out of it, revealing the black wicking sleeveless tee that hugged his muscles and displayed a lot of ink.

Her eyes widened and rounded, and her mouth hung open, making him recall her expression when he had been showering.

“I’d strip off the rest, but my mom wouldn’t appreciate that. And you’ve seen all of it anyway.”

“What has Memphis seen?”

Shit. Mom was too quick, spoiling his fun. He hurried to grab the tray she carried, filled with plates, forks, knives, napkins, a carafe of coffee, and stacked mugs.

“Nothing.”

“Behave yourself, Javi. Memphis is family.”

Notfamily, he corrected silently.Nothis niece, he reminded himself, but a sultry redhead he intended to hook up with. Memphis had told Daphne about Ransom, but not that he was dead, or Daphne would be upset. The fact that she wasn’t and was not returning to the topic of Ransom could be proof that his mom knew far more. Or it could be that she was far more intrigued by Memphis and why she had shown up at his house so early on a Saturday morning. Nothing seemed to escape Mom. Did she know Ransom was dead? Or was she playing her waiting game?

He set the tray in the middle of the rectangular table, pulled a chair out for his mother, and eased into a chair across from Memphis, praying this wasn’t going to evolve into a shitshow.

* * *

With Daphne present, Memphis was able to relax and study Javier. He adored his mother; that much was obvious and, at her request, oozed charm. He excelled at small talk and frequently flashed a smile—at his mother only. So much so that Memphis’s guard slipped.

Daphne poured a fresh mug for her. Javier placed an eclair on her plate and cut another in half, putting it on another small plate and sliding toward Memphis.

“Thanks, but I don’t think I can eat anymore. That scone filled me up.”

He grinned in return. A broad one with two impressions evident in his salt-and-pepper stubble.

Oomph.She was a sucker for dimples and seeing them on him lit her blood on fire and had her pulse accelerating. The transformation was astonishing. Javier no longer appeared moody and unapproachable but open and devastatingly handsome. If he pursued her, she’d be unable to say no.

---