“No more men, remember?” she said aloud. With a strong shot of determination coursing through her body, Olivia switched on the ceiling light, walked over to a stack of boxes, and began to unpack them, banishing all thoughts of the opposite sex from her brain.
Chapter Four
The flames curled and swayed, crackling as they burned the dry wood in the fireplace. Animal sat on the couch, feet plopped on the coffee table, watching the wisps of silver-gray smoke dance their way up the chimney. He brought a bottle of beer to his lips and took a long pull. Lucy was in her room playing LEGO Jurassic World that his sister had given her the week before. He’d offered to play with her, but Lucy had shot him down, preferring to hole herself up in her room and play it alone.
Since Emerald had left Lucy in Animal’s care, his daughter seemed to grow angrier and more withdrawn as the weeks rolled by. He attributed part of it to the fact that Emerald hadn’t made one fucking phone call to Lucy in almost three months. She’d called when she arrived in Illinois, and then nothing. Not even a damn postcard. And to make matters worse, Animal was fighting a seven-year bashing campaign that Emerald had instigated against him. He couldn’t blame Lucy for hating his guts.
Animal took another gulp of beer and leaned his head against the back of the couch. Lucy drove him fucking crazy most of the time, and he had to keep his anger in check when she’d give him attitude, but he loved having her in his life, and that surprised the hell out of him. The only problem was that he didn’t know how to reach her.
When Animal saw the SOLD sign in front of the yellow cottage, he’d hoped the new buyer had a kid around Lucy’s age who she could play with since it seemed his daughter hadn’t made many friends at her new school. That was about as much thought that he’d given to the new potential neighbors until that afternoon.
When Lucy had first come running into the house, telling him that he had to help carry some furniture, his first reaction was “Fuck, no.” But one look at his daughter’s sparkling eyes and he was out of the chair. Animal snapped off the football game, grabbed a couple of screwdrivers and his work gloves, and followed Lucy out the door.
The china cabinet stood out like a sore thumb, and as Animal had walked toward it, a shot of lust buzzed through him after he’d seen Olivia bent over, her killer ass facing him. For a split second he just stood there and admired the view, then Lucy tugged on his arm and snapped him out of his sexual fog. But when she’d straightened and turned around from the piece of furniture, Animal hadn’t expected her to be such a knockout, and if Lucy hadn’t been in his life, he would’ve laid it on thick. Animal was on his best behavior even though he’d stolen a couple of long sideways glances toward her as he worked on taking the cabinet apart.
And, damn, if she wasn’t a looker with long dark-chocolate brown hair that would make any man long to wrap the tresses around his hands, green eyes the color of spring leaves on an aspen tree, and a pert nose that twitched when she’d pretended not to have checked him out, which had been often. And her lips. Fuck. They had him betting they were as soft as they looked. Her full tits, which made a groan rumble up from his chest and get stuck in his throat, a small waist, and rounded hips filled out the package quite nicely.
Animal kicked his feet off the table and put the empty beer bottle on top of it. Ever since Lucy had come to live with him, he’d been as good as a fucking choirboy, and he couldn’t afford to blow it, especially with the tempting next-door neighbor. Lucy was his focus now. She was his daughter and she deserved his care and attention. Her bitch-of-a-mom had abandoned her, and Animal knew Lucy was hurting something awful because of it; he had to try and ease her pain—to make her whole again. And pretty Olivia was a dangerous distraction he didn’t need.
Animal pushed up from the couch and glanced at the time: 6:30 p.m. He smoothed back his hair, climbed the stairs to Lucy’s room, then knocked on her door.
“What?” A thread of irritation wove through her soft voice.
He turned the knob and swung the door open. Lucy sat cross-legged on the bed with her eyes fixed on the television screen, a black control in her hands.
“You kicking ass?” he asked, entering the room.
A small shrug. “I guess.”
“How ’bout getting some dinner?”
Another shrug. “I guess.”
Animal wiped the corners of his mouth with his thumb and index finger. “Whaddya feel like?”
Another damn shrug. Fuck!
“Work with me, kiddo. Do you wanna go out or order in?”
Lucy paused the game then turned toward him, her eyes narrowed, her body tense. “Why don’t you know how to cook?”
He jerked his head back. “Never had to do it. I’ve lived at the club since I patched in twelve years ago.”
“So we’re gonna have pizza all the time?”
“Guess that’s the plan until you’re old enough to cook. Now, what the hell do you wanna eat?”
“I don’t care.” Lucy turned away and restarted the game.
His stomach hardened as he watched her grip the control. “You gotta give me a fuckin’ break here,” he said, scrubbing a hand over his face. “I know this is hard for you, but I’m tryin’ to find the way for us, you know?”
Lucy didn’t say a word, her gaze still glued to the screen as her fingers pushed various buttons on the game device.
“Just fuck it,” Animal muttered under his breath as he stalked out of the room and walked down the hall to his bedroom.
Perched on the edge of the bed, he tapped in his sister’s phone number and stared out the window at the snowflakes that had begun to fall.
“Hey, Jada,” he said.
“Hey. How’re you and Lucy doing?”
“Not so good. I don’t know how the fuck to reach her.” Animal pushed up from the bed, walked over to the window, and looked out. A sharp wind swept the trees, blowing snow into crystalline clouds. He glanced at Olivia’s house, hoping to catch a glimpse of her. Some windows were uncovered, the light spilling out in golden squares and rectangles across the frost-nipped lawn, but there was no sight of her.
“You need to give it time, Animal. You and Lucy are still getting to know each other.”
“I know, but I can’t seem to communicate with her. She’s so fucking pissed at me because her mom has been trashing me for years.”
“Just be patient with her. I know patience isn’t one of your finer qualities.” Jada laughed.
“It’s not.” Animal blew out, his breath faintly steaming up the windowpane.
“How can I help you?”
He smiled—good ol’ Jada was always willing to lend a helping hand. That was a lot more than he could say about his mother. “You cooking dinner tonight for Dad?”
“I am. Do you and Lucy want to come over? I’m just making chili and cornbread.”
“Sounds better than pizza or that boxed macaroni and cheese shit I’ve been feeding us for the last couple of weeks.”
“Dad would love to see Lucy, and so would I.”
“Is Mom home?”
A long pause. “No … she went out.”
“Out? Where to?”
“With some friends. So you guys can come over anytime.”
“I’ll tell Lucy and we’ll see you in a few. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome, but you know you don’t have to wait for an invitation to come over for dinner. I cook at least four times a week.”
“I’m surprised you’re home on a Saturday night. I thought you’d be out dancing with Veronica and Lori.”
“I didn’t feel like it tonight. We were super busy at the carwash because it was so warm most of the day, but it’s really cold out there now.”
“Yeah—it’s snowing.”
Then he saw Olivia in the middle of her living room. Her long hair fell over her shoulders and down her back—untamed crossed his mind—and she wore a long-sleeved T-shirt that ended a few inches above her knees. The shirt hugged her rounded hips so dam
n nicely. When she bent over a box, which was sitting on top of what looked like a coffee table, her shirt rode up, and he had to wipe the steam off the window to see out.
“Are you still there?” Jada’s voice brought him back to the phone call.
“Yeah … uh, sorry about that. So, we’ll be by in a bit. Later.”
“Bye.”
Animal held the phone in his hand and watched as Olivia unpacked the box, her lovely ass moving so damn perfectly. All of a sudden, as if she sensed him watching her, she stood up, tugged the hem of the T-shirt down, and gazed out into the dusk. He pulled away from the window quickly, but—he was sure, given the illumination in his room—not fast enough. He switched off the lamp then looked out again and saw Olivia standing in the middle of the large living room window staring right at his house. After a few seconds passed she moved away, then turned out all the lights in the room.
Animal cursed his lameness under his breath as he pulled down the blinds. He’d bet that come morning, Olivia would have coverings on all her windows. He sauntered into the bathroom and splashed cool water on his face several times. Get a fucking grip and stop acting like some damn perverted Peeping Tom. There was no doubt that Olivia was a pretty woman who piqued his sexual interest, but he had the club girls to scratch an itch if he needed it that badly. A nice woman like Olivia was bad news. Women like that wanted the whole fucking package: love, marriage, and babies. He had his hands more than full with an angry, mouthy seven-year-old, so a woman looking for the damn Cinderella dream was something he definitely didn’t need. In his experience, the nice girls always wanted the fairytale endings. He saw that with his sister, Jada, and all her friends, and he’d been pressured more than a few times by women he’d dated to settle down and start a family. Hell, he already had a family, and he was fucking that up big time.
Animal hung up the towel and walked back to Lucy’s room. She was standing by the window looking out, and turned around quickly when he cleared his throat.
“It’s really coming down,” he said.
“If I was at home, I’d be out playing in it with my friends,” she said, her gaze fixed on the pale brown carpet.
“How ’bout I ask Jax to bring Paisley over tomorrow and the two of you can play? You remember her from the rally we went to last month. She’s around your age and she told her mom that she’d like to hang out with you.”
Lucy glanced up. “Really?”
“Yeah.” It wasn’t entirely true, but he knew Jax, a fellow Insurgent, would bring Paisley over, and Animal was pretty sure the two girls would hit it off. “Does that sound good?”
“I guess.”
“Great—I’ll arrange it. But right now we’re going over to Grandma and Grandpa’s house. Aunt Jada’s making chili with cornbread, and it’s all from scratch.”
The corners of her mouth twitched a little, but he caught it, and that small movement made his fucking day.
“I guess that sounds good,” she mumbled.
“Then we’ll go as soon as you’re ready.”
Lucy walked over and turned off the television then looked at him. “I’m ready now.”
“Then grab your jacket and let’s head out.”
Minutes later, they were backing out of the garage, and Animal flicked on the windshield wipers. He glanced over at Olivia’s house and noticed a large sheet covering the living room window, and he grimaced.
“That snowflake’s the biggest,” Lucy said, pressing her finger against the passenger window.
“Yeah, that one kills all the others.”
The wipers squeaked across the slightly icy windshield, and he cranked up the defroster as the SUV headed toward his parents’ house.
“Do you think Paisley would like to build a snowman tomorrow?” Lucy asked as her finger traced a thin trickle of water that ran down the window.
“I’m sure she would.” Animal glanced over at her, then reached out and ruffled her hair, resting his hand on top of her head.
Lucy turned, her eyes wide and startled, and he withdrew his hand and gripped the steering wheel, his gaze fixed forward. They drove in silence the rest of the way, and when he killed the engine, she scrambled out of the car and ran up the sidewalk to the porch. Jada flung the door open and pulled Lucy into a tight hug, and Animal lifted his chin to his sister as he walked up the concrete steps.
“I’m so glad you came over,” Jada said to Lucy as she led her into the house. “I’m glad to see you too.” She looked behind her shoulder at Animal and smiled.
He grunted and stomped his boots on the outdoor mat then entered the foyer. Heat circulated around him as he shrugged off his leather jacket and gloves. Jada and Lucy had disappeared, and he hung up his coat then strode into the family room. Overstuffed chairs and a long couch filled the space, and a stone fireplace held a crackling fire, making the room warm and cozy. His father sat in his wheelchair close to the hearth and in front of the TV. The sound was low and it looked like he had on some kind of crime drama. A colorful afghan fell about his shoulders, and as Animal watched his father doze, his head jerking at intervals onto his chest, he noticed how thin and frail he had become. Before his dad had stepped on a land mine and blew off his legs during a tour in Iraq, he had been a robust and healthy man. But after numerous surgeries, skin grafts, and physical therapy sessions, his dad was just a shell of his former self.
Animal rubbed the heel of his palm against his tightening chest as he moved toward his father. He crouched down on his haunches and plucked out two tissues from the Kleenex box on the TV tray next to the wheelchair. With the tissue, he gently wiped the spittle from his father’s chin. The gesture must’ve woken his dad, because the older man’s head bounced up and his bleary eyes stared at Animal.
“Hey, Dad. I didn’t mean to wake you,” Animal said, running the back of his fingers across the old man’s cheeks.
A wide smile spread across his father’s face. He cleared his throat then grasped Animal’s wrist. “It’s good to see you. How long have you been here?”
“Lucy and I just got here. How’ve you been? You look like you lost some weight.”
His dad shook his head. “Don’t go worrying about me—your sister does enough of that for all of us.” He chuckled, which rippled into a coughing fit that made tears stream down his cheeks.
Animal handed his dad the glass of water from the tray, then gave him a few tissues that he promptly swiped across his eyes, cheeks, and then his mouth. He put the water back on the tray and settled back in the wheelchair.
“Do you wanna sit on the couch? I can help you with that,” Animal said.
“I’m good. I smell chili—your sister’s a good fucking cook. We’ll be eating soon. How’re you getting along with Lucy?”
Animal rose to his feet then dragged one of the armchairs close to his father and plopped down in it. “We’re still at an impasse, but I don’t think it’s as bad as it was in the beginning. It’s just gonna take time, I guess.”
“It will—it’s all still pretty new to her.”
“Yeah. I’m gonna have Jax bring Paisley over tomorrow so they can play together. Paisley’s a friendly kid, so it should work out. Although, Lucy can be sorta snarky and shit, but I think she reserves most of that just for me.”
His dad snickered and patted Animal’s hand. “She’ll come around. You did. Remember what a hell-raising pain in the ass you were at around eight or nine years old? And I’m not gonna even mention your damn teenage years.”
Animal scrunched his face. “So what you’re saying is, Lucy’s attitude is payback?”
The old man shook his head. “Nope. I’m saying it only gets worse.”
“Fuck … That’s something to look forward to.” Animal laughed. “You wanna a beer?” he asked his dad as he rose to his feet.
“I could go for one.”
“Where’s Mom?” Animal walked into the kitchen and took out two cans of Coors.
“Out with some friends. She has it hard with
me like … this.” His dad shifted in the chair.
“Bullshit.” Animal popped the top and handed the beer to his dad. “Look at Savannah and Ryder. They’re together all the time. They go out to dinner, even to nightclubs, and on the weekends, they’re always doing something with Timmy. Don’t think that Mom never being around is your fault. She’s always put herself first—you were the one there for us, Dad … not Mom.”
“Watch what you say about your mother. She had a hard time growing up with that crazy mother of hers and no dad. Anyway, we got it figured out, and I’m glad she’s able to enjoy herself—that’s what I want for her.”
Flashes of anger streaked through Animal, but he held his tongue and guzzled half his beer instead. For as long as he could remember, his father had been the one to read bedtime stories to him and Jada, take them to the park, on hikes, help with their homework—the whole nine fucking yards. His old man had been both mother and father to them, and he never once complained. All Animal remembered about his mother was how she’d loved creating drama, craving to be the center of attention all the time. When Jada had entered high school and had all the guys panting after her, his mom had the fucking gall to be jealous of her. Her own fucking daughter—what kind of a damn mom is that?
“There’s my sweet granddaughter.” His dad’s voice broke through Animal’s thoughts, and he looked over and saw Lucy standing next to Jada, smiling. “Come on over here, sweetheart, and let your grandpa see you better.”
Lucy darted her eyes from the older man to Jada then to her dad. Animal winked at her and tilted his head toward his dad. “Do as Grandpa says.”
The girl walked over very slowly, and once she was close enough, her grandfather held out his weathered hand and she placed hers in his palm. Warmth spread through Animal as he watched his dad and daughter holding hands without her flinching or scurrying away as she’d done on numerous visits to his parents’ house. Maybe Lucy was beginning to trust them all a bit more.
“The cornbread will be out of the oven in fifteen minutes. Why don’t you watch some TV with Grandpa?” Jada asked as she shuffled to the kitchen.
Animal’s Reformation Page 5