“All this time I thought it was when I was making coffee.”

“Kitten.” He waited until her lashes fluttered and rose just enough that he could see her blue eyes. “I like looking at you all the time.”

She laughed softly and closed her eyes again.

16

“YOUR woman has a beautiful laugh,” Jake Bannaconni stated.

The sound of Catarina’s laughter felt a little like music. Eli tilted his chair back, sprawling his legs out in front of him, the bottle of beer in his fist. He could listen to her laughter all day long and never tire of it. She sounded carefree. Happy. He knew he had a hand in her happiness and that made it all the more sweet.

“You are gone, Eli. A total goner. That woman has you wrapped around her little finger, and you’re never going to get the upper hand.”

He grinned at Jake Bannaconni. His neighbor looked relaxed sprawled out next to him on the long, wide verandah outside the kitchen.

“Catarina doesn’t know she has the upper hand and I intend to take full advantage and savor every moment as long as I can before she realizes I’d do anything for her.”

Jake laughed and saluted him with the beer bottle.

“She was terrified to come over here, but Emma’s put her at ease. I can’t thank her enough for that. Catarina needs to know she can have friends. She thinks she’s going to get everyone around her killed,” Eli said softly.

“That’s not going to happen,” Jake said, and there was a hard edge in his voice. “This won’t be the first time we’ve faced this kind of thing, a rogue coming after one of our women. Emma will sort it all out with her.” He had absolute faith in his wife’s ability to ease Catarina’s mind.

“I’m counting on that,” Eli admitted. “Have you looked into Rafe Cordeau?”

Jake nodded. “He’s related to a family from the New Orleans area. Woman was killing using her leopard. He’s a cousin a couple of times removed. Leopards can be vicious, as you well know, and if you don’t keep them in line, they can take control of you. Cordeau is a very vicious killer. I’m surprised Catarina managed to escape him. From what I understand, he’s called in every favor ever owed to him trying to find her.”