Wicked Whiskey Love

by Melissa Foster

  Sarah crumbled against him. “Why did this happen? Why couldn’t she have found happiness? It’s like we’re cursed. I knew when she came to the hospital she wasn’t in a good place, but I hoped and prayed I’d overreacted.”

  “We don’t know what she’s been through, but I promise you, Sarah, she’s not alone in this, and neither are you. We will do everything we can to find and help her.”

  “Part of me wants to tell you to go fall in love with Josie, to make her feel safe like you make me feel. But I’m too selfish for that.”

  “The fact that you’d even think that way tells me how truly unselfish you are.” He pressed his lips to her and said, “I’ll do everything I can to make Josie feel safe and loved, but my heart is already spoken for.”

  A half smile lifted her lips. “Will you stay with me tonight? Hold me?”

  “I thought you’d never ask.” He pressed his lips to hers, tasting her salty tears. “I’m going to put out a call for the Knights to look for Josie.”

  “They’ll scare her if they roll up on their motorcycles.”

  He kissed her again, slow and sweet, and when she melted against him, he kissed her longer. When their lips finally parted, he said, “Did that scare you?”

  “Not at all.”

  “See? Not all bikers are scary. Trust me, darlin’. I wouldn’t chance scaring your sister or her child.”

  On their way back to the house Bones called Bullet and explained the situation. “You know the drill,” he said. “She’s got a little one underfoot, so tell the guys to take it easy. No fear, B. She’s a runner. I’d go myself, but I want to be with Sarah. She’s had a rough time of it.”

  “You got it, bro,” Bullet said. “I’ll call as soon as we have news. Until then, tell your girl we’ve got her back.”

  AFTER AN EVENING of playtime, bubble baths, and bedtime stories, Sarah took a warm shower to try to relax, and Bones talked with Scott. “Any idea what’s going on with Josie?”

  Scott looked like he’d aged five years in the past few hours. “No. I wish I did. She was never harmed by our parents, as far as I know. I can’t think of a single reason for her to be this way toward us.”

  “Guilt, maybe? For not being one of the children your parents went after?”

  Scott shrugged. “Like I said, I wish I knew. All I know is I’ve got enough guilt on my back for all of us. I never should have left them. I should have killed that bastard and taken whatever punishment they doled out. Then both my sisters could have lived better lives.”

  “Dude, that’s a lot of responsibility to put on a kid. You know about Quincy and Tru’s background, don’t you?”

  He shook his head. “Just that Tru found Kennedy and Lincoln in a crack house when their mother OD’d.”

  “Their mother was a drug addict of the worst kind. When Quincy was thirteen, a dealer raped her, and he killed the guy. Tru showed up and took the fall for the murder. He spent years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. He’d thought he was saving Quincy, but then Quincy became an addict. He’s clean now, but it was a mess.”

  “Damn, I had no idea.” Scott shook his head.

  “There are no perfect ways out of bad situations. You did the right thing. You got out, and you sent money to help your sisters. You can’t let guilt eat away at you. If you’d killed your old man, your mother would have had you arrested. And it doesn’t sound like she was any better than your father. When you dump anger on top of whatever was driving your mother to treat you guys that way, your sisters would have been stuck in an even worse situation. Thank God you did the smart thing.”

  “Thanks, man,” Scott said. “Let’s hope we get lucky and find Josie before she and her son end up in even worse circumstances. It’s a weird thing to be separated from someone for so many years and then suddenly you’re all adults and your little sisters have children and you realize how strong the little girls you knew grew up to be.”

  “You’re all strong, Scott.”

  He pushed to his feet. “I can’t just sit here. I need to go look for Josie. I appreciate the Knights looking for her, too. I don’t know what we did to deserve you guys coming into our lives, but I appreciate everything you’ve done.”

  “No worries. You mind if I stick around tonight?”

  “Not in the least. Until you came into Sarah’s life, I’d never seen her happy for more than a few minutes here and there with the kids. She’s lived through hell. She deserves a taste of heaven.” He grabbed his cane from the corner of the room and said, “Hit me up if you hear anything.”

  “Will do. Be careful.”

  Hours later, Scott still wasn’t back. Bones sat on the couch reading with Sarah’s head in his lap, running his fingers through her hair as she drifted in and out of sleep. His cell phone vibrated, and as he reached for it Sarah jolted upright.

  “Is it about Josie?”

  He read the text from Bullet. Found her in a shithole. Finlay convinced her to go to the shelter. She’s safe. We tried to get her to come to our place, but Fin says I look too scary. WTF? As he was reading, a text popped up from Sunny and another from Bear. He read Sunny’s message. She’s here with her son. I’ll take good care of them, but she told me not to let Sarah in to see her. Sorry. He quickly scanned Bear’s message, which relayed the same information, and said, “She’s safe. She’s at the shelter.”

  “Oh, thank goodness.” Happy tears slipped down her cheeks. “Sorry. Pregnancy hormones make me cry over everything.”

  He put his arms around her and said, “Those aren’t pregnancy-hormone tears. They’re happy-that-your-sister-is-safe tears. They’re emotionally-and-physically-spent tears.” He kissed the tip of her nose and said, “Finlay convinced her to go to the shelter. She tried to get her to go home with her and Bullet, but I guess that was asking for a little too much trust for a single mother.”

  “Finlay and Bullet found them? Maybe that’s a good sign since Bullet is the one who saved me and my family. Look where we ended up.”

  He didn’t need to break her heart by telling her what Josie had asked of Sunny. Instead he said, “I think she needs space, babe. Let her settle in at the shelter so she doesn’t run scared again. Once she realizes she can trust you and Scott, hopefully she’ll come around.”

  “Like I had to learn to trust you,” Sarah said.

  “Something like that.” He pressed his lips to hers and then helped her to her feet. “Come on, beautiful girl, let’s get you out of those clothes and into bed.”

  She let out a sleepy laugh as they walked to the bedroom. “Dr. Whiskey, are you going to try to take advantage of my precarious emotional state?”

  He closed the bedroom door and went to her. “I’d never take advantage of you.” He lifted her sweater over her head and said, “But I am going to rub your back.” He trailed kisses along her shoulders and down her spine. “And your legs and feet.”

  He carefully removed the rest of her clothes, kissing each bit of skin as it was revealed. Then he took her hand and led her to the bed. He pulled down the blankets and helped her lie down. He stood at the edge of the bed, began kneading the arch of her foot, and said, “And any other parts of your body that need special attention.”

  She sighed, relaxing into the mattress as he rubbed each foot. Then he worked his way up her legs, massaging and kissing in equal measure. He helped her onto her side and began massaging her shoulders, taking his time as he eased every muscle from there to the tips of her hamstrings and every beautiful inch in between.

  “You know what would make this exquisite massage even better?” she asked in a husky voice.

  “I can think of a few things.”

  He kissed her shoulder and she turned dark, seductive eyes toward him and whispered, “If the masseuse were naked.”

  “Your wish is my command.” He stepped from the bed and stripped off his clothes. Her heated stare and the way she licked her lips as he took off his briefs made him hard as steel. But it was more than lust fil
ling his chest. He wondered if it was possible to love her more than he did right at that second.

  “Show me where you hurt and I’ll rub the ache away.”

  She reached for him, her beautiful eyes full of emotion, and said, “My outside parts feel better, and knowing Josie and her son are safe makes my heart happy. But I have other inside parts that need a little attention.”

  Chapter Twenty

  BONES’S HOUSE HAD been buzzing with activity and had smelled like family, love, and happiness when Bones, Sarah, and the children had arrived and found half his family inside. Bones had told Sarah that he and his brothers shared house keys in case of an emergency. She had tucked that knowledge into her Things I Love About Bones and His Family mental file. Now, as she waited the last two minutes for the oven timer to ding, she glanced into the living room. She’d worried about dressing right for her first holiday with Bones’s family, and he hadn’t been much help with his response. You look gorgeous in everything—and particularly when you’re naked. She’d gone casual with a red blouse and jeans, and she fit right in. The guys wore their vests and jeans, and the women looked nice and comfortable, but not dressy. The holiday was just an excuse to celebrate what mattered most to the Whiskeys—family—as was evident in the pink and blue balloons and streamers decorating the entire first floor of the house. Truman had made a birthday banner for Bones and Lila, and he’d drawn a picture of Bones from the waist up with Lila in his arms. She had a pink bow in her hair and a smile meant for her Ba.

  She glanced at Bones standing with Bullet by their father, who was sitting on the couch with Bradley on his lap. Bradley wore his vest and boots to match Bones, and at the moment he also wore an adoring, carefree smile. Lila sat in a splash of sunlight on the floor beside Tinkerbell, playing house with Lincoln and Kennedy. It was still a little strange, seeing so much love for her children, but she wasn’t complaining. Isabel and Penny chatted nearby, watching over them. Sarah wondered if Isabel and Penny were aware that Quincy and Jed had their blue eyes locked on them from a few feet away, where they stood talking with Scott, Bear, and Truman. Jed’s dirty-blond hair hung over his eyes but was cropped short on the sides, while Quincy’s brown hair was longer all over. They were cocky guys, and she wondered why they didn’t just ask the girls out.

  Scott lifted his chin, catching her eye with a look of unmistakable longing. Josie’s absence seemed more tangible around such a big family. She wondered what Josie was doing tonight. Bones had called Sunny before they’d left the house this morning and had asked her to let him know if Josie took off. Knowing she and her son were safe helped, but it didn’t fill the void that could only be remedied by reuniting with her sister.

  The buzzer on the oven sounded, and Sarah pulled the baked sweet potato casserole from the oven, earning appreciative sounds from the girls in the kitchen. Gemma and Dixie were busy setting the table, while Crystal cut the corn bread and set it on a pretty tray and Finlay put garnishes on the other side dishes. She made cranberry sauce, mushroom stuffing, roasted Brussels sprouts, and a vegetable medley look like they belonged in a fancy restaurant.

  “That smells delish,” Gemma said as she grabbed a handful of forks.

  “This has become my favorite dish,” Sarah said. “It has all sorts of goodies inside: pineapples, apple chunks, cinnamon, marshmallows, and brown sugar. Bones found it online the other day. I made a big batch and have been eating it with lunch every day. I’m sure I’ll be scolded for my weight when I go for my doctor visit next week. I can’t stop eating it.” Thanks to Finlay, she had a plethora of foods she could eat without worrying. And since Bones had taken an interest in helping to find recipes, they’d collected quite a few more.

  “You’re a tiny little thing,” Red said as she cleared a place on the counter for the dish. “And you never seem to look tired, even with two little ones to chase after.”

  “Thank you.” She didn’t look tired because Bones had let her sleep in today. He’d gotten up with the kids, fed them breakfast, and had even taken them on a walk to the park a few blocks away. Sarah hadn’t woken up until they’d come home at nearly ten o’clock. She never slept in, but the last few days had worn her out. Between thinking about Lewis’s parental rights and seeing Josie, she hadn’t realized how fried she’d been.

  “Bones said you were going to see Drs. Rhys and Blair?” Red said, bringing her mind back to their conversation. “They’re good people.”

  “Yes. I’m seeing Dr. Blair. It’ll be nice to see the same doctor each time I go.”

  “Damon Rhys’s grandfather delivered every one of my babies,” Red said. As usual, she was dressed in black, and yet somehow she radiated light. “I was sure that boy would go on to play pro sports. Guess he proved me wrong. You’ll like Stephanie Blair. She’s a sharp woman, and she tells it like it is.”

  “I’m seeing Dr. Rhys next week,” Crystal said as she grabbed plates from the cabinet. Then she said, “Shit.”

  Red and Sarah exchanged a curious glance.

  “Shit, like maybe there’s more than turkey in the oven?” Red asked as Gemma and Dixie came into the kitchen. “Or shit, like I just hurt my finger on the plates?”

  Crystal turned with an oops I spilled the beans expression, clutching a stack of plates to her chest.

  “Crystal!” Gemma squealed and threw her arms around her. “Congratulations!”

  “Shh!” Crystal urged as the rest of them converged on her. She set the plates on the counter and peeked into the living room.

  “You’re pregnant?” Dixie asked in a loud whisper. “Does Bear know?”

  Crystal nodded. “But we haven’t had a blood test. We did a home pregnancy test and it turned positive wicked fast, but still. Bear wanted to wait until the blood test was done before announcing it, just in case something goes wrong.”

  “Just in case my ass.” Red hugged her. “Since when did my overzealous boy become so careful?”

  “Since he fell in love,” Dixie answered. “All your sons lose their minds when they fall in love, Bones included. The man bought so many toys the other day, we had to hire a truck just to get them here. I’m the only sane one of the bunch these days.”

  Sarah glanced at Bones, who now had Bradley on his shoulders so he could reach the string of a runaway balloon. Didn’t he know that he was enough for them? No toys needed.

  “We celebrate together,” Red said to Crystal. “And if anything goes wrong, we mourn together.”

  “Now you’re going to make me cry.” Crystal opened her arms and waved them all in for a group hug.

  “It’s those pregnancy hormones,” Red said as she put her arms around all the girls.

  “You told them, didn’t you?” Bear’s voice startled them apart, but his big smile told Sarah he didn’t mind sharing the news after all.

  Crystal bit her lower lip, shrugging one shoulder. “Kinda, sorta, yes.”

  He hauled her into his arms and gave her a loud kiss. “It’s all good. I was struggling to hold it in when I saw you at the center of the crazy-girls hug, and I knew I was in the clear.” He turned toward the living room and raised his beer bottle. “We think we’re having a baby!”

  “A baby!” Kennedy jumped up and down clapping. “Uncle Beah is having a baby!”

  Laughter and a whirlwind of activity followed as Biggs and the rest of the crew from the living room piled into the kitchen to shower Crystal and Bear with congratulations.

  Bones wrapped his arms around Sarah and said for her ears only, “I can’t wait to do that.”

  “Hug Crystal?” she asked.

  “No.” He gazed into her eyes and said, “Maybe one day that’ll be us.”

  “Us…?” Holy moly, what was he saying?

  “Unless you’re done having babies after this little one?” He touched her belly. “That’s cool, too.”

  “Um…” Am I? Is this really happening?

  “Let’s eat!” Biggs announced.

  Bones put a hand on her back, gu
iding her toward the table, which was good, because she couldn’t think straight with all the commotion and Bones looking at her like she was not only his girlfriend, but his future.

  Dinner was delicious and loud, with endless sibling teasing and talk about Crystal’s pregnancy. Lila and Bradley were right there in the thick of it all. Bradley chimed in with comments about being a big brother.

  “I have a new big-boy bed,” Bradley announced.

  “I have a big-girl bed,” Kennedy said louder. “But Linc is a baby. He sleeps in a crib.”

  “So does Lila,” Bradley said. “But Mommy sleeps in a big-girl-boy bed.”

  Silence fell over the table, amused eyes turning to Sarah and Bones.

  “I’ll bite,” Bear said. “What’s a big-girl-boy bed? Sounds fun.”

  “It’s a bed where a girl and boy sleep together, like Bones and Mommy.” Bradley looked at Sarah, who was sure her cheeks would burn right off, and said, “Right, Mommy?”

  “Outed by a three-year-old,” Bullet said under his breath. “Gotta love it.”

  Bradley turned his adorable wide eyes to Red and said, “Do you and Papa Biggs sleep in a big-girl-boy bed? If you do, can I come over and sleep in it with you one day? I won’t wiggle too much.”

  “Bradley, adults don’t share beds with kids,” Sarah said, wondering if it were possible to snap her fingers and delete this from everyone’s memory banks.

  “But you did,” Bradley said innocently.

  “And so did we, for many years,” Red answered. “Bobby, who you know as Bear, used to climb into our bed and cuddle before joining his big brothers, Brandon and Wayne—Bullet and Bones—on the floor, wrestling like wild banshees. But my boys are all grown up. I could use some little-boy cuddles sometimes. That is, if your mama doesn’t mind.”

  “She doesn’t!” Bradley exclaimed. “I’m the best cuddler. She says so all the time.”