Chapter 30

30

Powell stared. She couldn't help herself. That wasn't Eden Coleson and one of the Coleson kids like Powell had first thought.

That was Brianna.

Brianna Claireson was with a child. A little girl, no more than seven or eight or so. The little girl looked like a very tiny version of Cara from a distance. Powell looked closer, to make certain it wasn't a rogue Coleson youngling about to get eaten by Brianna—Cara had two cousins that were identical twin girls around that same age. Powell was almost certain of it.

That little girl could be one of them, maybe.

Those two little Coleson girls looked like Hope, with almost black hair that it curled like the girls' mother's. This little girl's hair was the same shade and curly, but…she didn't think that was a Coleson. Maybe?

One of those kids wouldn't be with Brianna. Ever. But why was there a real, live kid with Brianna in the first place? That was insane.

"Spying on the neighbors is weird," a voice said behind her. "You have voyeuristic tendencies, Pow-Pow?"

"I am almost certain she was watching me and Cara out the office window today," Alex added. Powell turned slightly. There they were. Tweedledee and Tweedledumb. Two of her darling big brothers. They'd been waiting for these two boobs to show up, so that they could eat. Meat loaf. Powell was suddenly very, very hungry here. "When Cara came by to talk to Adaya for some reason."

Adaya was the paralegal at B-3 Cara had worked with the most. Powell had noticed Cara in the lobby and had stopped to talk to her. She hadn't known Cara was back from Wyoming yet. She was determined—she was getting Cara back to B-3 somehow. Fast.

Even if she had to lock Alex outside every day while Cara was there to make it happen. She'd just tell the custodial crew to order Alex to clean up his own drool off the window each night before he left.

"You shouldn't have been trying to do what you were trying to do with one of our interns," Mac told him bluntly. "Definitely not on B-3 property."

Well, hell. Powell wanted Alex to do what he was trying to do with Cara. How else was Powell supposed to get cousins for her baby to play with? She wanted Coleson babies as her nieces and nephews. Mac wasn't going to ever make that happen with Heather—he couldn't get it up for her, as Powell had heard very recently—so Powell's only hope was through Alex and Cara.

Unless…Mac and another of the Colesons, maybe?

Powell was not ruling that out just yet.

Someone was bound to take Mac off Powell's hands eventually, right?

It would have to be a woman with nerves of steel. And a really high tolerance level. She wondered if some of the other Colesons fit that bill.

"I want to do a lot more with that particular intern. She just doesn't seem to realize that," Alex said, shrugging. But he had a shrewd look in his eyes. He was definitely plotting something. For Cara. "And technically, she isn't one of our interns any longer. She quit."

"Because of you, dumbass," Mac pointed out. Entirely unnecessarily. They all knew why Cara had quit. Still, Mac liked to point things out unnecessarily. He'd been doing it Powell's whole life, after all. "You are lucky she didn't sue you."

Alex was definitely plotting something. He was so sneaky, that one.

"Maybe she just doesn't want to come right out and say you are a total frog?" Powell said it just because he was her big brother, and he deserved it. And she wanted to make sure he wasn't just pursuing Cara because Cara wasn't falling for his lines as fast as he'd expected. Seeing Cara as a challenge or something.

Although, part of the reason Powell wanted Cara back at the firm was for Alex. He hadn't been the same since Cara had resigned. He had seemed happy in Wyoming with Cara. That was all Powell really wanted for the frog who was her brother.

"Hardly. But…I am taking it very slowly. I have noticed something about my beautiful, gorgeous, wonderful, but terrifying gaggle of befanged neighbors," Alex said. "It is a bit puzzling, actually."

"And what is that? That they all have poison fangs, and you should stay far, far away?" Mac asked, giving Powell a quick hug. As if they hadn't just seen each other a few hours ago.

"Well, they do all have fangs and very witchy eyes, but devouring men is something they apparently do not do. None of them have had a date in the five weeks I have lived there. Not one of them. Well, except for the beautiful but married- for-eighteen-years Marcia, who was recently wined and dined by her not-so-normal husband. Which…strange, considering. Men have stopped by—I helped Miguel chase some brothers off recently after they almost killed each other over little Cashie in my share of our driveway—but the Coleson Coven does not seem to date or pursue romantic relationships . A very skittish vampire coven? Pack? Pride? What does one call a family of gorgeous female vampires living next door?" Alex asked.

"Colesons. They call them…Colesons," Mac said, scowling. "That vampire queen goddess Heather one sent Luc's latest letter back this morning with a nine-inch cartoon vampire sticker that looked just like her under a speech bubble that said ‘leave us alone, Lukie-poo-poo, or your auntie Heather is going to ground you and put a hex on you—and your little Mackie Mac McBarratt friend too!'"

Mackie Mac McBarratt? Seriously?

"How do you know it was Heather?" Alex asked, then snickered.

"She signed it, you dork. Then that Rodriguez guy delivered it to my office personally with a warning. "

Powell laughed. Heather could be really, really funny when she wanted. And there was no doubt Mac set her off. Not like Daniel had, but enough that Heather was reacting.

It would be hilarious to see Heather versus Luc. There was no denying that. Almost as much fun as Heather versus Mac, come to think of it.

"I think Heather likes making things difficult for you specifically for some reason," Alex said. "I think they had a meeting and plotted exactly how to do that as soon as they got back from Wyoming. They vote on things, you know."

"He probably deserves it." Powell turned back to the window. "But if you would like to go discuss it with her right now—purely for mine and Alex's entertainment, of course—she just showed up at the park with Iagan and her girls, and it looks like some of her nieces."

Just like she suspected would happen, Alex and Mac both went straight to the window. Alex scowled. " Kid nieces. Not Cara. Very funny, little-bitty Pow-Pow."

So, so pitiful.

"Who else would be at a playground, Al? Well, come to think of it, I can imagine Cara playing at a playground with the kids. She really enjoys life ," Powell said, looking again. "Yep. Cara's out there. Look again. There she is. Frankie's pushing her on the swings. I'm sure that's her and not Cashlyn."

Both her brothers were still staring out the window.

How utterly predictable. Oh, those boys of hers. Both of them were so droolly sometimes.

Wait a minute. Both?

Both of her brothers were staring at Coleson women right now. Hmm. Her eyes narrowed. She studied her oldest brother for a moment. Was he on red alert right now? Was that drool on his chin?

Mac wasn't fooling her at all. He was enjoying battling with Heather over Luc. He probably greatly enjoyed the challenge of matching wits with a beautiful woman like Heather. Heather was very quick-witted and highly intelligent and snarky.

Then again, so was Mac.

Almost brilliantly so.

They really would be well-matched. Match of the century kind of thing.

Powell was almost certain of it. If it wasn't for that whole despising each other thing they had going on right now. "Just…treat Heather carefully, Mac. I don't think she's fully up to dealing with Luc right now. I just don't think she is. Considering. I think she acts like it, but she isn't."

"That, I do happen to agree with," Alex said. "Heather's really struggling now. The Coleson Coven is worried."

"Luc and I have discussed a possible strategy where his Coleson vampire lady relatives are concerned. But I will not be discussing it with you all tonight." Mac grabbed Alex by the shoulder. Turned him toward the kitchen. "I think Mom's meat loaf is about ready. Al gets to set the table after he wipes off the drool."

"But I want to go say hi to the neighbors," Alex said, grumbling as always. "It's just being neighborly."

"You live next door. Be neighborly later. What have they done, put a spell on you? I think that's Cara and Cashlyn, right? With Heather?"

Alex knew, of course. "Cara, Cashlyn, and Samia. Samia is the shortest one, except for Heather's twin Joy. Joy is the really hot little blonde with the witchy eyes and the wicked laugh. She's as diabolical as the rest, though. You should ask Joy out, Mac. Do the whole daddy thing, or something. Hook up with Heather's beloved twin forever."

"Nope. A smart man stays away from witches and vampires, bro. Stays away. It's a matter of self-preservation."

"Does anyone know who that kid with Brianna is?" Powell asked. Her brothers had grown up with the Clairesons, just as she had. "I have never seen her with a kid before."

"Isn't that a Coleson? She looks like she could be," Mac said, looking. He was so easy to distract sometimes. "I don't know how many smaller vampire creatures are attached to the vampiresses who live next door to our poor helpless ensorcelled brother."

"That is not a Coleson kid," Alex said. "I thought Brianna was allergic to children? Doesn't she drain them dry to look youthful or something? Should we intervene?"

The little girl ran to Brianna excitedly. Brianna actually nodded—and zipped the little girl's coat. Wow. That was almost…nurturing.

Alternate reality, maybe?

"I thought Brianna hated kids," Powell said. "But it's obvious she knows her. And wants her to leave. Now."

As they watched, Brianna said something—to Heather, of course. Something probably really rude. Yes. Heather snarled—so visibly Powell could see it. Brianna jumped back like she was terrified. Powell snickered. Brianna was so predictable sometimes.

Heather most definitely wasn't.

"Maybe we'll have a knock-down drag out on our front lawn? Maybe Heather will mud wrestle?" Alex said so, so hopefully. "I mean, I am so not blind. That is the hottest woman on the planet right there . Heather just is. The Colesons voted on that one night while I was there too. Mig and I each get a half vote on most things discussed at Coleson Castle now. It was almost unanimous. Heather was not pleased. She was the only dissenting vote in the batch. Zoey was voted in as second-in-absentia. But considering how much they look alike...not exactly all that surprising, is it?"

"You are being a dog," their mother said from behind them. "And Heather deserves more respect. From both of you. No more taunting her, McKinley Mason McBarratt. I read that last letter you sent, you dork, and I am not pleased with you at all. Where is your compassion? I raised you better."

"I am being all lawyer-y like your husband," Mac said. "It's all Daddy's fault I am this way."

"I know exactly who is to blame." Her mother was not a fool. "Be a good boy with Heather Coleson, or you will have me to deal with."

"Yes, ma'am. You are even scarier than Heather," Mac told her. "I don't know how you are, but you just are."

"Do you know that little girl?" Powell asked her mother.

"I do not, but I saw her with Brianna a few days ago too. She may be staying with Brianna, poor child. She has my sympathy. Now, if you three are done spying on the neighbors—why we bought a house right next to the park, I do not know, and am starting to regret, especially after seeing who was next door today—dinner is ready." Her mother was a busy woman, but at least two nights a week she cooked dinner. And pretty much demanded her babies show up on time. Then she made them clean the kitchen after.

Neither Powell nor her brothers had ever complained. Or dared to decline. Powell couldn't imagine ever wanting to either.

"You bought a house next to the park because you had four wonderful children you wanted to entertain when we were little, mama," Mac told her, scooping her close to hug her. "You love us."

"That I do. But since none of my children have given me grandchildren who can also benefit from that park, I am starting to pine. That park is a sharp, sharp jab every time I see those beautiful, beautiful children. Now, dining room. One of you needs to set the table. Get to it."

Powell impulsively hugged her mother. She loved this. Being able to see her family whenever she wanted, to have nights like this.

The only thing that would make it better was if Brandt was there now too. She took a photo of her mother's meat loaf and texted it to her twin and told him she hoped he was eating mud for abandoning her to Mac and Alex and everything.

He texted back almost immediately—a photo of egg-free chocolate cake that looked beyond delicious. His little cook had made it for him. Hopefully things were going well for him up there. She'd call him later.

This was what she wanted for her baby, she decided. Exactly what she wanted. Her mom was going to be thrilled. Powell couldn't wait to see her mom's face in that moment she realized...

"Powell, something is going on with you," her mother said suddenly as Powell listened to her brothers bickering over setting the table. "It's time you spilled."

There were two things bothering her, but she wasn't talking about her concerns with Cara's family in front of Mac yet. She just wasn't. Not until she figured out his battle plan where the Colesons were concerned.

But her dad had just come in. He'd been finishing up with a client phone call in his home office. Now, they were all there, except Brandt. No better time, was there?

"Mom, Daddy, there is something I really need to tell you," Powell said. Her stomach growled and she was suddenly starving. Meat loaf sounded phenomenal. Followed by dessert. She had a real craving for chocolate cake. And right there on the counter… "Once…we are eating."

"Is it bad?" her dad asked, hugging her again. Just like he hadn't seen her in a few days instead of the two hours it had been. Just like Mac had. Her dad looked like an older version of her three big brothers. She loved them all so much.

Bad? No. Far, far from it. It felt perfectly right. "Not at all, Daddy. I…am happy. More than words can ever say."