Bitter Sweet Deception (The Kingsmen M.C Book 4) (9 page)

I’
d been able to gather from the bits and pieces here and there that Clink had spared the young guy after a thorough ass whooping, and the kid was banned from the Kingsmen for good. He was telling me the truth when he promised he did
n’
t kill him. He never said he did
n’
t beat the ever-loving shit out of him, just that he did
n’
t kill him.

The experience gave me an inside
r’
s look at how the club doled out justice. After everything
I’
ve seen on the other end of things at the hospital,
I’
m not a fan of violenc
e…
but
I’
m proud of him for not taking things further than he did. And the club respected him for it, I think.

Hawg, I think that was his nam
e…
maybe it was Hog? Well, he came up to me personally and apologized before we all made way, heading home. He apologized to Clink, too, and thanked him for handling it quickly.

I bandaged Clin
k’
s hands up properly when we got back to my place, cleaning out the split skin over his knuckles. Between the handful of nights spent at his place, and then the two nights in the cabin, I really just needed to chill in my own bed, in my own space for a night.

The timing worked out pretty well, though. He had some sort of delivery to make for the club last night, anyway. With a quiet apartment all to myself, I lit a candle, drew a bath and then vegged out in front of a sappy TV movie before passing out. Other than the few texts from Clink checking in, it was a night of sweet solitude.

The ride to Oakton should take me just over two hours. Mo
m’
s supposed to meet me at Tempur
a’
S at around two
o’
clock, so I make sure to leave Chisolm before noon. Mom has never been a patient person; if I leave her waiting in a restaurant more than a few minutes,
I’
ll just be opening myself up to her passive/aggressive payback when I finally show. I
t’
s just easier to get there first and throw her off-kilter a bit, leave her scrambling for something else to harp about.

Tempur
a’
s is a modern Japanese steakhouse with a kick-ass sushi bar. I eye the scrumptious rolls as my waiter leads me to my table, and as the uniformed sushi chefs create their delicacies. No one in Chisolm eats sushi. Wel
l…
maybe Li
l’
s does, but being knocked is
n’
t exactly conducive to eating raw fish. I plan on ordering at least two or three things to make up for lost time. The waiter leaves me with our menus and sees to it that we have a round of tall water glasses before leaving me to wait for my guest to arrive.

I check my watch. I have eleven minutes to spare. I check my makeup in my small compact mirror. Looks OK, even for mo
m’
s standards. I smooth my black wrap dress and tighten the bel
t…
would
n’
t want her claiming
I’
ve put on a few pounds. My knee high boots are trendy but now
I’
m second-guessing mysel
f…
God, I hope she does
n’
t think the
y’
re trampy.

After my thorough inspection of my appearance, I grow restless waiting for her. My glass of water is almost finished, my chopsticks opened and practiced with.
I’
m rusty at first, but
I’
ll get the hang of it. The pinging of my message alert on my phone saves me from beginning to play with the sugar packets. I
t’
s Li
l’
s.

HEY CHARLI
E…
MY PO
P’
S NOT FEELING WELL

H
E’
S BURNING UP

GONNA BRING HIM IN TO THE E.R.

YOU WORKING THERE TODAY?

Crap. I have
n’
t had a chance to speak to her since we got back from the campout yesterday. Sh
e’
s probably getting herself all worked up about Butch getting high or drunk and having a bad reaction. I
t’
s pathetic. At his age, he should start acting like a damn adult and not a deadbeat. Even though I know tha
t’
s not likely.

SORRY.
I’
M OFF TILL THURSDAY.

I’
M JUST RUNNING SOME ERRANDS

DO YOU WANT ME TO CALL THE NURS
E’
S STATION

AND SEE WHAT DOC IS ON DUTY?

I ca
n’
t believe he has the fucking nerve to put his daughter out like this.

What am I saying?

Of course I can believe it. Just look at his track record. I
t’
s disgusting.

“
Darling
!
”
 
my mom is in earshot. I look up from my phone and search for the face to match the voice. Sh
e’
s dressed to the nines, hostess leading her to me.

An
d…
sh
e’
s not alone.

“
Hey, sis
,
”
 
Dana calls out, less than enthusiastically.

I let out the slightest moan, not sure if the
y’
ve heard,

“
U
h…
hi,
guys
.
”
 
I stand to give mom a light hug and peck on the cheek. Dana reaches out next, but I stiffen up.

I purposely asked mom several times if she was coming alone. After the falling out Dana and I had, I have no desire to see her, let alone share a meal with her. My mom watches our interaction carefully.

“
Fantastic! I knew this was a great idea. A girls lunc
h…
just like we used to have
.
” Sh
e’
s so damn proud of herself right now.

I breathe deep, keeping my frustration in check before it makes a very public appearance. I smile tightly, before taking my seat and unfolding my napkin. The hostess hands us each a leather-bound mini-portfolio with the da
y’
s specials listed. Ther
e’
s an extra one in her hand and she places it in the middle of the table.

“I’
ll just leave this here for the last member of your party
,
”
 
she smiles before attempting to leave.

I clear my throat.
 “
Ahe
m…
you must be mistaken. This is all of us. W
e’
re all here
.
”

My eyes sweep over my family members sitting across the table from me to signify who
I’
m talking about.

The college-aged hostess looks visibly confused.
 “I’
m sorry. A gentleman called to add one more to your reservation
.
”

My eyes dart directly to my mother, who looks equally perplexed. Reluctantly, I move my gaze to my younger sister, but she just shrugs her shoulders. The hostess starts to look uncomfortable.

“
U
m…
should I take the extra place setting away
?
”
 
She looks to me for an answer.

I honestly thought they had sat me at a table set for four due to availability, but now with my sister popping up and the hostes
s’
s statement,
I’
m beginning to get nervous. I feel like
I’
ve been set up.

“
Hey, Sugar. Sorry
I’
m late
.
”
 
I get whiplash as I turn to face the approaching voice.

Holy. Fucking. Shit.

CHAPTER EIGHT

This is it. This is the moment
I’
ve been trying like hell to avoid. My mother and Clink, together, in the same room. And as a little bonus, why not throw Dana in the mix, right? As if I do
n’
t have enough land-mines to dodge, le
t’
s just keep piling them in.

He looks differen
t…
cleaner somehow. His dark hair is a little shorter, freshly cut. Still long enough to run your fingers through, but neat. The five
o’
clock shadow that I know he spends more time trying to make look like he actually does
n’
t spend time on it, is shaped up. A long-sleeve, baby blue button-down shirt with the white collar of his undershirt peeking through manages to hide all traces of his ink. Dark blue jeans and black dress shoes round out his look.

Well, almost. An unadorned, soft, black, leather coat is like the cherry on top. No patches, no metal, just your regular run of the mill leather coat. I trail my eyes up and down again and again taking it all in. He looks unrecognizable and yet exactly the same
.
… How is that even possible?

Mom and Dana have finished their own inspection and now shoot their gaze to me for explanation.
I’
m speechless and can offer none.

Clink bends down to kiss me chastely on the lips. Tha
t’
s a first. This man has never been able to resist molesting my mouth with his tongue.
I’
m shocked.

“
U
h…
hi. I- I did
n’
t think yo
u’
d be able to make i
t
…”
 
I try to mask my surprise. Dana kicks me from under the table and I wince,
 “
Ow
!
”

Mom steps in as I recover from my assault.

“
Hello
,
”
 
she extends her hand.
 “I’
m Charliz
e’
s mother. Mrs. Griffith. An
d…
you are
?
”

Clink flashes that drop-dead gorgeous smile of his,
 “
Brian Abbott. The pleasure is mine
.
”
 
He kisses my mo
m’
s hand. I try to suppress my gag.
 “
Charlize 
inherited her mothe
r’
s beauty
.
”

Tha
t’
s the first time
I’
ve heard him say my full name. Hell, it may even be the first time h
e’
s heard it. My mom is eating this shit up with a spoon. Compliment the woman and sh
e’
s your new best friend.

“
Hi
!
”
 
my baby sister half-stands to introduce herself.
 “I’
m Dana. S
o…
are you, like, dating my sister? Oh my God! Are you the doctor
?
”

Holy fucking hell. She did not just say that
.  I watch Clink as he reacts to it.

He laughs.
 “
Darli
n’
,
I’
m a lot of things. But, to my paren
t’
s disappointment, doctor is
n’
t one of them
.
”

Compliment or not, mom is now deflating. Sh
e’
s probably run away with her imagination by now and told the whole family that
I’
m dating a doctor. Clink hangs his coat up on post near our booth and takes a seat next to me as I slide in.

“
So, Brian, what is it that you do, if not medicine
?
”

And so it begins. I take a large sip of my water while flagging down the nearby waitress,
 “
Wine
,
”
 
I instruct her,
 “
Bring a bottle. Or three
.
”

Clink covers my nervously tapping hand, putting an end to the clattering of my fingernails on the wood table. Dana immediately drops her eyes to our joined hands.

“
You
are
dating
!
”
 
she exclaims.

“I’
m a businessman. I have ownership in a handful or so small businesses
.
”
 
He makes sure not to elaborate on exactly what type of businesses those are, not sure mom would appreciate the earning potential for a strip club, a pawn shop, bike shop, and the other fine establishments Clink has claim to through the club.

Her eyes light up.
 “
I see! Well, Charlie must have told you about her father, then? He was one of the most successful business owners in Dayton County. He owned eight dry cleaning businesses. He worked himself hard every single day to see that his girls never went without
.
”

Mom smiles at both her daughters.

Clink sits back to allow the waitress to set wine glasses in front of each of us.

“
Sounds like my kind of man.
I’
m sure w
e’
ll have a lot to talk about
.
”

Mom looks as though sh
e’
s been slapped. Dana just stares at me as mom speak.

“
He- he passed on last year. Has- has
n’
t Charlie told you
?
”

Clin
k’
s hand turns to stone in mine. I shut my eyes tight.

“
I
t’
s not something I really like to talk about, mom. Can we please change the topic
?
”

Mom clears her throat.
 “
Yo
u’
ll have to excuse my daughter. She was very close to her father
.
”

Clin
k’
s hand comes to life, squeezing mine reassuringly, although he does
n’
t move to look at me.

“
So i
t’
s just you ladies now
?
”
 
He pours us each a glass of wine while mom prepares her answer.

“
Just Dana and me, left at hom
e…
since Charlie moved here to take her new job. I was hoping sh
e’
d move back home eventually
,
but it seems sh
e’
s setting down roots in Oakton
,
”
 
she thinly veils her accusation of Clink being a possible cause for that.

“
Mom
,
”
 
I sternly beg her to stop her passive/aggressiveness. She holds her hands up as she feigns innocence.

Dana jumps in to relieve her.
 “
So, Bria
n…
how did you two meet
?
”

Clink takes a deep breath,
 “
Charli
e’
s car needed some work, so she brought it into one of my shops. We struck up a conversation and the res
t
…”

“
Is none of your business
,
”
 
I finish his unanswered sentence, although
I’
m sure he had a different choice in words.

He finally looks to me and raises his eyebrow. I finish my wine as our guests place their lunch order with the waiter. When i
t’
s my turn, I ask for a miso soup and salad with ginger dressing.
I’
ve suddenly lost my appetite. Clink orders a teriyaki glazed steak.

I’
m busy pouring my second glass of wine when Dana catches my eyes and poorly shields her mouth from the other two, mouthing
 “
H
e’
s hot
!
”

I chug the wine. Great, my spoiled brat of a sister has a crush on my man. Fantastic. Maybe when he kicks my ass to the curb after everything comes out, she can give him a call. They can go get some coffee.  I
t’
ll be fucking great. My overly sarcastic booze bitchiness is seeping in.

“
So, do you girls come visit Charlie often, in her new hometown of
Oakton
?
”
 
Clink asks my family.
I’
m sure he wants to hear their answer, but the real purpose of the question was for me to hear it. Oh God, please just let this be over already.

Almost every embarrassing base has been covered by the time w
e’
ve finished lunch. Le
t’
s se
e
… terrible stories of when I was determined to try out for the boys football tea
m…
check. Dying my hair black in middle school and wanting to change my name to Rave
n…
check. Failing my drive
r’
s exam three time
s…
check.

I’
ve tuned the voices out as the three of them continue to bond. Dana is the president of the Brian Abbott fan club. Mo
m’
s deciding whether or not sh
e’
ll be an honorary member. He has them eating out of his hand.

I lift my glass to take another deep sip of my wine when Clink, or
Brian
,  I should say, mindlessly intercepts it and takes it from me. He slides the glass far away from us without breaking his conversation with my mother. She eyes his movements and smiles, gloating that someone has some sort of handle on me, since she obviously does
n’
t.

I roll my eyes. Fine. I reach for the wine bottle and tilt it to take a swig. Dana laughs loudly at my barbaric act. Mom ignores me, although I know i
t’
s pissing her off.

“
Excuse me, Regina
,
”
 
he politely interrupts my mother and her telling of how I failed eighth grade gym class by refusing to join swim class.

He angles himself toward me, cocking his head to the side. I finish my sip and release my suction from the bottle with an echoey thump. He cocks his eyebrow and waits. I squint, burning him with my eyes for joining their
 “
team
.
”
 
I aim to raise the wine bottle once more when he clears his throat heartily.

Ugh. I hand him the pinot noir, although I concede nothing. He takes it, and flags down a passing waiter.
 “
W
e’
re quite done with this
.
”

Dana laughs again.

Clink hands his credit card to the waitress during her next stop, instructing her to take care of the bill. Mo
m’
s just been bought, hook, line, and sinker. Sh
e’
s a stickler for manners and chivalry. I have to laugh, though. I wonder if sh
e’
d think he was being chivalrous to let me come first in bed, all the time?

“
Thank you so much, Brian. It was such a lovely, unexpected surprise to meet you today. Now, if yo
u’
ll excuse me,
I’
m going to visit the powder room before the ride home
.
”
 
Mom is incapable of using any other term other than
 “
powder room
.
”
 
How very 197
0’
s of her.

Clink helps me to my wobbly feet before putting his jacket on.

“
Brian, will we get to see you again
?
”
 
Dana asks her new BFF.

He turns to me and smiles.
 “
Sure. I know i
t’
s a little bit of a ride, but you have an open invitation to Chisolm anytime you want
.
”