Jack and Dev said goodnight soon after and an hour later Donnie locked up the top shelf liquor, like he always did before he took off. He clocked out early now, swapping spots with the late night bartender, a new prospect named George .
George was so new, he didn’t even have a nickname yet .
“Hey, before you go Donnie.” Callaway grinned at him. “Leave us a bottle of the good stuff .”
Donahue shook his head, giving us a reproachful look. But then he unlocked the top shelf cabinet and slid a mostly full bottle of silver tequila down the bar to us .
“Try not to do anything too stupid .”
Callaway slung his arm over my shoulders .
“Don’t worry, Donnie. You know us .”
Donnie just shook his head .
“Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of .”
Chapter Nine
Becky
“H ush little baby, don’t say a word… mama’s gonna buy you a mocking bird …”
I walked Petunia back and forth until she settled. She was such a good baby. She was sweet and rarely cried. But she did wake up fussing sometimes in the middle of the night .
Even the tiniest whimper seemed to wake me up from across the hallway, even with the AC on .
Having a baby had forced me to learn to go to bed a lot earlier than I used to. I valued rest in a way I never did before. I used to stay up reading or texting with friends until after one. I had always loved sleeping in and missed it more than I could say. But Mae had promised to force me to stay in bed late a few days a week .
It was impossible not to worry about my baby, but with Mae on duty, I could relax a little bit .
Petunia made a soft snoring sound where she was huddled against my chest. I smiled and carried her into the nursery. I pressed a kiss to her forehead and carefully laid her down, settling her into the position the baby books had recommended. I couldn’t resist watching her sleep for a few minutes, just like I always did .
Eliza had been unexpected to say the least and I was woefully unprepared to be a mother. But I did my best and caught on soon enough. I loved my snuggly little burrito more than life itself .
Even if she did have her daddy’s eyes. Or maybe that just added to the magic I felt when I looked at her. It was one of his best features after all. Heck, all his features were gorgeous .
And he’d passed those good looks onto his daughter. I’d just have to get used to it. She was perfect in every way. Even if she would remind me of him every single day .
Hopefully, she’d have my personality along with her daddy’s looks. Or at least, not be a two timer! Still, I’d love her all the same .
I gave a silent ‘harumph’ to that .
I did not want to spend the rest of my life mooning over Whiskey, that much was certain. Maybe if I met someone else, they would wash his memory away. I doubted it, but it was worth a shot .
What I needed was a rebound. Just for fun. Sure it was already a year later, sure. But nobody had to know that .
I was certain Whiskey had had more than his fair share while I was sitting at home with a bun in the oven. He’d probably had rebounds on top of rebounds. And then some more .
Maybe even some double rebounds .
Rebounds a trois .
I sighed, tiptoeing back to my bedroom. I did not want to think about that. Ever again .
But my mind was sneaky and kept showing me imaginary pictures of him with other girls. I groaned, sitting and resting my head in my hands .
Whiskey was so handsome, and so damn sexy, what girl could resist? I sure hadn’t been able to. It was going to be next to impossible to forget him, even if he was a dog. With a capital D !
I knew there wasn’t a snowball’s chance in hades of washing him away. That was never, ever going to happen. I would just have to learn to deal with it. He was my cross to bear, but since he’d given me my little love, it was worth the pain .
I crawled on top of the covers, still wearing my robe over my silky nightshirt and matching shorts. I kicked off my fuzzy slippers and shut my eyes, feeling exhaustion wash over me. I’d been up early with the baby, then worked a double .
Not to mention having two separate confrontations with my past. One pleasant and one… not so much. It was a hell of a lot for one day !
I was beat .
That’s when I heard it .
Singing .
Someone was singing .
It sounded like it was right outside my window. I sat up abruptly. It was right outside my window .
I hurried to shut my door softly, so the sound wouldn’t carry. Then I ran to the window, praying that Petunia wouldn’t hear the ruckus in her room. Or Mae. She needed her sleep too .
I threw the window open, pressing my face against the screen. I didn’t have to look far. It was dark but I knew who it was .
Two big, muscle-bound men in black leather jackets were out there, singing at the top of their lungs .
Freaking Whiskey and his buddy Callaway were in the backyard, howling like a couple of cats. Of course it was them. They were serenading me apparently, wailing an old school rock ballad soulfully right at my window .
“Be quiet! Have you lost your minds ?”
Whiskey staggered forward, smiling at me goofily .
“ Hey babe .”
“Do not call me babe .”
He just smiled wider .
“You are so pretty when you are mad .”
“I’m mad because you are going to wake the whole neighborhood !”
He looked instantly contrite, like a little boy who was told he’d have to finish his dinner before he got a cookie .
“I’m sorry .”
“You should be! Now, go home! Both of you !”
“But I wanted to see you .”
I rubbed the bridge of my nose, praying for patience .
“You already saw me .”
The smile was back .
“I did. You’re so pretty .”
“You are drunk !”
“ I’m sad .”
“Please do me a favor, Whiskey .”
“I would do anything for you, Becks. Just name it .”
“ GO HOME !”
I slammed the window shut loudly. Too loudly. Petunia let out a wail. I didn’t spare a backwards glance to see if the fool had actually left. Or worse yet, if he’d heard the unmistakeable cry of a baby .
“Dammit !”
I pushed my feet back into my fuzzy slippers and stomped down the hall .
Chapter Ten
Whiskey
I stared up at the stars, staring at them from the roof of the clubhouse. The bar was closed, with a couple of people passed out on the chairs and sofas. There was even a guy conked out on the pool table .
It was that late .
Even the complete degenerates were asleep .
Callaway and I had stumbled around town, passing a bottle back and forth. We ended up here. By then our bottle was empty .
Luckily, I had the keys .
Callaway handed me a fresh bottle and I took a deep swig. It hit the spot, even though I knew I’d be paying for it tomorrow .
“You still like her , huh ?”
“ Uh huh .”
“Even though she took off on you and disappeared without a trace ?”
“ Uh huh .”
“You are so screwed, my friend .”
“ Uh huh .”
I passed the bottle back .
“Maybe you just need some new ink. Maybe that will help .”
I shrugged. I realized I was probably going to end up sleeping on the roof. I knew other guys had done it. I’d always thought they were idiots .
It was a new low. But I didn’t care .
Becky didn’t want me anymore. Worse than that, she seemed to actually hate me. But I wasn’t giving up .
I’d do anything to get her back. I had to at least find out why she had left. And what I’d done to mess things up so royally .
&
nbsp; Otherwise, how could I even start to fix it ?
“Whiskey ?”
“Yes, Callaway ?”
“Did you hear a baby ?”
“Hmmm ?”
I grabbed the bottle, taking a deep pull .
“At Mae’s place. I could have sworn I heard a baby crying .”
“Huh. I thought it was a cat .”
“No man, that was a baby .”
A baby… how cute. Maybe Mae had family in town. But Mae didn’t have any other family. Neither did Becky .
Maybe Becky had a baby. I bet she would have the cutest baby. She’d be a great mama too .
I wanted to see her with a little baby someday. More than anything .
The bottle slid out of my grasp and rolled across the roof. I heard a light snore from beside me. Callaway was passed out cold .
I fell asleep not ten seconds later, smiling faintly about something .
I just forgot what it was .
Chapter Eleven
Jack
I stood in the Stop and Shop, frowning at the list in my hands. There was the regular stuff, sure. But then it got weird .
Pickles and ice cream. That was standard but I was shocked at how early Janet was getting her cravings this time .
And they were even stranger than her other pregnancies .
Salt and vinegar potato chips were at the top of the list. That was new. Janet hated junk food. And so were all the ingredients to make s’mores. Even newer .
Janet hated s’mores .
Plus, this time she wanted both dill and sour pickles. And olives. She had also written down all the regular stuff we needed for the kids and for me. But this was out of hand. There were way more snacks than usual. I had a feeling it would be hard to hide all the junk food from the hellions .
They were always getting into something, I thought fondly .
I shook my head. She must be having twins again. It had to be. Then I smiled, hoping it was two pretty little redheaded girls this time. I already had two daughters and a son, but I’d love a couple more .
Hell, I’d take as many of each as my beautiful wife was willing to give me .
“You okay there , Jack ?”
I turned to see Dev’s old lady, Kaylie. Even beyond the years I’d spent protecting her, she was the glue that held the Devil’s Riders’ family together. She was best friends with my wife, and Donnie’s. The three of them were thick as thieves. And to be honest, so were we .
I loved Kaylie like a little sister .
She was one of the sweetest and most sincere women around. Even Janet would agree with that. My own wife was phenomenal. Strong and spunky and far too good looking for my peace of mind. But nobody ever used the word sweet to describe her .
Firecracker, maybe. Wild thing, definitely. But not sweet. Even though she had a soft spot about a mile wide .
I cracked a smile, thinking about how ‘not sweet’ she could be when we were alone at night .
To me, Janet was just about perfect .
“Did Whiskey and Callaway really serenade Becky last night at 1 AM ?”
I groaned. I should have known. I was about to get interrogated .
This was not just a happy accident then. As much as I loathed getting involved in other people’s business, this was Whiskey. He was my third brother and I owed it to him to find out what I could .
I’d promised .
So I folded my arms and gave Kaylie a stern look .
“I won’t tell you.” I arched a brow at her crestfallen look. “Unless you share information with me .”
She giggled .
“An even exchange ?”
I nodded and she clapped her hands together gleefully .
“Deal! So did they ?”
“Apparently, it seemed like a good idea at the time. I dragged them off the roof of the clubhouse this morning .”
“Drunk as a skunk ?”
I nodded in the affirmative .
“Why does Becky hate him ?”
She shook her head sadly .
“She doesn’t hate him, Jack. He broke her heart .”
I grunted. I’d suspected as much .
“How exactly ?”
“He doesn’t know ?”
“ No clue .”
“Okay, but you can’t tell him exactly what I said .”
“Fine .”
“She saw him with a couple of club girls the night before she left .”
I frowned. That didn’t sound like Whiskey. He was hard to get, not like some of the manwhores we had who made the rounds with all of the sweetbutts .
In fact, I’d never seen him with one club girl, let alone two .
“ She’s sure ?”
“She said they were on his lap and, well, getting frisky.” She looked sad about it. I knew how she felt. We all loved Whiskey like a brother. I hated seeing him crumble like this. “They were all over him .”
I nodded .
“Well, maybe they just sat on him without asking. They’ve done it to me before. He’s not the sort to manhandle a lady, even to get them off him .”
“I was thinking the same thing.” She gave me a calculating look. “You’re sure he has real feelings for her ?”
“Told us he loved her. He was drunk but he meant it.” Now I gave her a look. “I don’t want him getting hurt. He’s more than messed up already .”
“She’s still hung up on him too. I think they could use a little help getting past whatever it is that’s holding them back .”
“We have to be careful about interfering. It could backfire. We don’t want to make things worse .”
“Trust me Jack, there’s more at stake than you know. We have to try .”
She held out her hand .
“Deal ?”
I cracked a smile and took her tiny little hand. We shook .
“Deal .”
Chapter Twelve
Kaylie
“S o, we need to get them somewhere alone ?”
Sally’s pretty face was scrunched up in worry. I knew how she felt. I was worried too, mostly about the baby situation. Janet was far more practical .
“Someplace without any sharp objects !”
“Dev said there was no way Whiskey was messing around with those girls. They probably just plopped on his lap and -”
“And Becks walked in at the perfect time .”
“The worst possible time. Dev said it happens all the time. The girls see him as a challenge. If Becky had stayed for thirty seconds, she would have seen him politely set them on their feet. It’s gotten so bad Whiskey never sits down anymore .”
“He sounds like a saint .”
“He’s not. But he is in love with her .”
Janet piped up, ever the voice of reality .
“Still? We’re sure ?”
I nodded .
“He told the guys. Just ask them. And they said he’s been mooning after her for years. I know she loves him too. Or at least, she did .”
“We have to help them !”
I took Sally’s hand and squeezed .
“My thoughts exactly .”
“So how do we get them together then ?”
Janet was mindlessly eating dried papaya strips. She was already showing. I couldn’t wait to tell my friends that I was carrying too but I had to tell Dev first. Soon, I decided .
It was kind of fun to have a secret all to myself though .
Sally tilted her head thoughtfully .
“They have to be stuck somewhere for a while. Just having them over for dinner isn’t enough. They could hide anywhere, or just leave. Giving them endless escape routes is not going to help .”
“Right. They’ll just avoid each other if we’re all there .”
“Maybe if they got stranded! Or locked in the supply closet at Mae’s ?”
I stood up, eyes shining. I felt like a superhero with a cape flowing out behind me in the wind .
“Sally, you are a genius !”
“We’re really going to lock them in the supply closet ?”
“No. We’re having a barbecue !”
Sally looked perplexed .
“But -”
“A barbecue at the cabin !”
Janet stood up too, nodding her head vigorously .
“And then we’ll have an emergency! Everyone will have to leave !”
“But we’ll forget to tell them !”
Sally was clapping her hands together .
“Until the next morning !”
“Oh, this is good. This is really good !”
“We are geniuses !”
I texted Dev and told him to invite the guys up to the cabin on Saturday. I told him to get Whiskey to drive the ladies up. Dev could bring our SUV and the rest of the guys could ride .
I felt relief that we’d come up with something to help our friends .
This was going to work. It really was .
It had to .
Chapter Thirteen
Donahue
“Y ou three are out of your minds .”
“We are not !”
Sally crossed her arms over her chest, distracting me from our argument. Her insane curves still made me stop and stare, even after two years of marriage .
“Trust me, doll. This is a bad idea .”
“Donnie! Focus !”
I tried to look innocent but I was practically salivating from looking at her. The way her luscious curves peeked out from the deep V of her shirt was so sexy it made my brain shut off. She drove me absolutely crazy, and she knew it .
Besides, with her so focused on recording her new album, I was feeling neglected .
Especially in the bedroom .
“Come here, sweet thing .”
She giggled as I pulled her softness against the hard planes of my body. I slid my hands up and down her back to cup her delectable ass. My wife really was almost too sexy for her own good .
She kissed me, but then she frowned, running her finger down the middle of my chest .
“This is serious, Donnie. We need your help .”
Dance With The Devil (The Devil's Riders Book 4) Page 5