Uncut (Unexpected Book 4) (14 page)

T
he music has died. It's replaced by the sound of chairs being dragged through the floor and voices drifting away. A warning that the night has ended and the place is closing down. My time with the pretty bartender is over. It doesn't take long for Reed to send her home. I gaze at the sway of her hips as she waltzes out of the room followed by one of the bouncers. Her long legs wrapped in a pair of sexy skinny jeans.

There goes my distraction for the night—the week. Tomorrow is back to work. That’s not my thing, sitting behind a desk, but I have to do it. I rather be in a conference room brainstorming with the guys. The best part of my job is when I create new shows, produce them, and direct them. Instead, I have to focus on making admin decisions like budgets, hiring contractors, and all that shit. Adding to the load, I’ve been also checking on Decker Records.

I wish I could stay here with Thea when she doesn't have much to do and can chat. Thea is great at that talking shit, and I need a friend. My sister is busy with her baby, Jacob is gone, and Tristan is busy—avoiding me? I should find more time to swing by the Silver Moon, that’s my best bet.

“Eyes off the girl, Decker.” Reed pats my shoulder using that fatherly voice. He's too protective of his employees. “How's the family?”

“Parents are doing well, Jacob married, and the sister has a sweet little baby girl.” I unlock my phone to show him the latest pictures of Gracie.

“That's Mason Bradley's baby, right?” I nod. “He showed a few pics of her the other day when he came to check on the security system. Cute baby. Your family is growing, and now you’re opening that nightclub. A shitty move; you're going to affect businesses like mine.”

Jacob came up with the idea of opening a place big enough to use it as a venue for concerts. When it isn't, the building will house three different themed clubs, plus we’ll host an open mic session every week. A way for him to find our rising stars and for our own band to have a home to play when we feel like it.

“It's far away from here. A different concept, and your regular crowd is another kind of animal,” I say looking around the minimalist break room.

“Maybe, but times change, Decker.” He walks toward the same back door where T disappeared earlier and holds the handle. “This bar needs a facelift. Maybe you guys are pushing me to retire sooner than I thought. We’ll see.” He shrugs and opens the door. “Time for you to leave, kid.”

“Don't even think about selling, Reed, but if you retire, I'll buy this shithole from you.” I hug him before heading to my truck.

The cold air hits me as I walk out of the Silver Moon. At this time of the night I do miss Cali. Summer nights are warm, unlike Seattle where you’re lucky if it’s not raining. Well, I guess this week I’ll be skipping the sun and enjoying the gloom-and-doom weather of the Northwest Coast. I take another glance at the Silver Moon and realize that Reed is right. The building needs some TLC. New signage is in order, and maybe it wouldn’t be a bad idea to keep the place within the Decker family. But I know nothing about owning a bar. The idea sparks just as I’m about to climb into my car. Tristan.

“Decker?” He answers on the first ring. “A little late for calls. I thought we agreed, no more
benefits.
Unless you’re drunk and want me to pick you up.”

“That’s all you, my friend. Are you . . . drunk?” I laugh to lighten the question, but worry because he does like to consume crazy amounts of alcohol.

“No, I’m not, Matt.” His loud exhale is a hint that I’m annoying him. “Let’s cut to the chase. How can I help you? I have shit to do tomorrow morning.”

“Dude, I'm calling because I might have a business proposition for you.”

In the past, Tristan has acquired and refurbished bars and nightclubs. We can do this together. He’s a sure bet as all of his places are successful. I'd like for the Silver Moon to rise like a phoenix instead of going down after Reed retires. The place is an institution and helped Chris, one of my fathers, start his new stage into the music business after his band broke up.

“Are you in California?” he questions. There's no background noise and I'm guessing he's at home. “We can meet for a late dinner, or an early breakfast if you want.”

“No. I'm staying in Seattle this week. Long, boring shit I won't get into.” I start my truck, pull out of my parking space and decide to crash at my sister’s place. The apartment isn’t the same without Tristan there. “There's a bar that is run down but in a good location. The owner is a family friend and he might sell the joint. We can buy it, be partners.”

“I see,” he says, sounding bored. That man needs a chill pill. After several breaths he finally speaks. “No. I don't like partnerships, Matt.”

“You're a pain in the ass.” He has trust issues. When my brother tried to bring him on board of our venue it took a lot to convince him to be a part of it. Including a bunch of fucking clauses and only wanting to be Jacob’s partner. He pushed AJ and me out of the negotiations. “You have to check out the joint. It’s an institution. Look, Reed hasn’t put it up for sale, yet. Next time we’re both in Seattle I’ll bring you over. If you’re not convinced, you can tell me to fuck off.”

“Look up the meaning of the word no, Matt. It's time for me to call it a night,” he growls.

“You’re missing out on such a great opportunity, Trist.”

He growls with the nickname, and I can’t help but laugh. “As much as I miss you, I have to go. Good night, Decker.”

“Night, dream of me.” I hang up before he explodes or I tell him that I miss him too.

“Rise and shine,” an annoying voice calls out.

And without any warning, a flare of sunshine hits me all at once.

“Go away, Ainsley Janine.” I pull the blankets over my head, regretting yesterday’s decision to come and crash at her house. “It’s too early.”

“No. It’s ten in the morning,” she adds with her chirpy morning voice. “You said something about having shit to do. A meeting or something.” The covers are ripped from my grasp and her eyes meet mine. “Yes, I remember. Work. I think that’s what the peasants call it.”

“These accommodations are terrible.” I scratch my head. “There’s no breakfast in bed and the help is way too noisy.”

“If you wanted me to feed you, you’d have to be downstairs before eight.” She looks at her bare wrists, pretending to read the time, and shakes her head. “Past feeding time, sorry. You can use those housekeeping skills and do it yourself. Now wake up.”

AJ reaches for something on the nightstand. A mug. She starts moving it closer to where I lay down and I jump up from the bed before she pours that shit on me.

“What?” She pulls her best innocent voice. “I’m handing you a cup of coffee.” The sweet smile doesn’t fool me.

I snatch the mug, take a few sips, and narrow my gaze. “You’re evil.” She bats her eyelashes at me, gifting me that innocent smile I can't be upset at. “You sure you can’t whip one of those fancy omelets for your favorite brother?”

“My favorite brother is out of town,” she lies. AJ loves us both, but she babies me more than she does Jacob. “Tell me why you came to crash so late at night and maybe I’ll feed you.”

Information. That’s AJ’s weakness. Give her information-knowledge and she’ll do anything.

“I’m your favorite.” I put on my T-shirt and leave on the sweats Bradley lent me last night. “I didn’t want to go home. It’s not the same without Jacob. Plus I helped with the three o’clock feeding.”

“You did?” She arches a perfectly delineated eyebrow. “What was Mase doing?”

“Well, I changed her diaper and all that shit while he got the baby bottle ready. Something about the temperature and shit I wouldn't get right.”

AJ nods a couple times as if she understands and then spins around walking toward the door.

“Come on, Matthew. Let’s get you breakfast. I guess you worked for it.”

“Since we’re in such a great mood, can I also borrow your computer to do some of that . . . work?”

“Is that how you go to work at the office? I doubt the suits would approve,” she huffs, spinning her body around and giving me that inquisitive gaze. “When are you going back to Lalaland?”

“Next week. I decided to change my schedule and travel every other week. Unless the people at Transcending Productions start bitching about my absence. It all depends.” I trail off, not wanting to add that the suits might take the opportunity to kick me out of the company and take over.

“Depends,” she says with a deflated body. “I don’t like that word.”

I don’t like it either. If I could change things, I’d move the entire company to Seattle—or Vancouver. My leverage to skip my usual trip is that I have to keep an eye on everybody’s business.

“For the next three months you’ll see me around more. There’s Jacob’s shit to take care of, and you need a hand too.” Mason brought to my attention that my sister is starting to overwork. AJ twists her mouth, but before I let her speak and give me the speech that she’s invincible, I interrupt her. “You have that blood sugar shit to figure out, AJ, and a kid to care for. My princess needs her mama, so you need to step back and take it easy.”

AJ has type 1 diabetes. She knew how to control her sugar levels until she got pregnant. Now it’s all about recovering while nurturing her baby daughter.

“You need a real life, Matthew. Your own little family,” she says, giving me a hug, and not discussing my little hiccup with Tristan. Thank God she listened this time, as I would hate to argue about my sex life with her. “Get rid of that emotional constipation, and stop trying to dip that spoon into so many ice creams. Focus on one thing. But thank you for taking care of me. I love you so much for that.”

“Ice creams? I don’t eat ice cream. That’s your sister-in-law, the one who would shoot her own husband for a pint of rocky road.”

“No, but she’ll do it for an entire truck of Ben and Jerry’s.” She laughs, pulls me out of the room and takes me to the kitchen. It's good to have someone to pamper me sometimes. No one is better than my sister for that shit. “Meanwhile we can talk about organizing your life. Help you settle down.”

Oh please, no. I'm going to become her new fucking project. Damn it.