“What are you doing?” She did her best to keep that question at a respectable level and not scream it across the small kitchen like she really wanted to.
He leaned back against the counter and crossed his thick arms over his even broader chest. “Makin’ your girl breakfast.”
Suuuure... That was normal, right? Some big bad-ass biker she just boned woke up, went downstairs and made her five-year-old breakfast.
Yep, happened all the time.
Completely normal.
“Judge made me French toast, Momma. No cereal today.”
Her eyes slid to her daughter, who wore a very smug expression, and back to the man who did something he had no right to do. The man whose expression was blank as he studied her carefully.
He was judging her reaction.
Which he should be.
Because he was supposed to be gone. He clearly was not.
With a set jaw, she rushed over to where he stood, grabbed his beard in her fist and yanked him along behind her through the kitchen. She told her daughter in passing, “You stay in that seat and finish your breakfast. Judge and I need to talk.”
“’Kay, Momma,” her daughter answered, like she was used to seeing a leather-clad biker being dragged out of the kitchen by his whiskers.
Cassie continued to steer him out of the kitchen and into the living room.
He hadn’t fought her or said a word. Until they were out of Daisy’s view.
He wrapped his fingers around her fistful of beard and growled, “Don’t fuckin’ mind you tuggin’ on it when we’re fuckin’ but this shit ain’t—”
“You were supposed to leave,” she hissed, cutting him off. “You weren’t supposed to be here when my daughter woke up. You were definitely not supposed to make her fucking breakfast!” She bit back a frustrated scream.
“Wanna let go of my fuckin’ beard?” he growled again.
Oh, was he not happy? Good. Welcome to the club.
She released it, took a deep breath to cool her anger, but when she stepped back, he didn’t let go of her hand.
They both stared at each other for a few seconds. He was probably waiting for her temper to settle before opening his mouth again. That was smart on his part.
Until his gaze raked her from the top of her messy bedhead over the gaping too-small robe, catching on her cleavage and getting stuck there. She yanked at one edge of the fabric with her free hand, but that didn’t help much.
His nostrils flared and he caught his bottom lip between his teeth for a second. “Didn’t mean to cause a problem. Was tryin’ to help.”
Her anger was quickly dissipating at the heated look in his eyes. She needed to stay on point, damn it. “How is it helping when my daughter now knows you slept over?”
He pulled her into his chest and tipped his head down to her. “She don’t know.”
Cassie frowned and narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean she doesn’t know? How does she not know?”
“Got up, got dressed, waited on the steps for her to come out, soon as she did, scooped her ass up and took her downstairs to get her fed. Wanted to let you sleep a little longer. Your fuckin’ ass was exhausted. Me stayin’ last night didn’t help that, so wanted to find a way to help make up for the sleep you lost.”
She stared at him, her mouth hanging open. A moment later she snapped her jaw shut. Well, that was sort of nice, but... “You promised, Judge.”
“Promised to be out of your bed before she woke up. Did what I promised.”
Cassie smacked her free hand onto her forehead. “Wow, talk about semantics.” She glared up at him. “You knew exactly what I meant.”
“Yeah, baby, I did. But never promised to leave. Don’t like you here alone and told you that.”
“But that’s not up to you.”
“The fuck it isn’t.”
She pinned her eyebrows together and opened her mouth to argue. But as soon as he began talking, her argument was somehow forgotten.
“Whatcha gonna do about Daisy when you go back to work Thursday since your sister and her man ain’t gonna be back?”
Huh? “A college girl down the street will watch her while I work.”
He frowned. “More money spent.”
“Yes, but I’m between a rock and a hard place. I need to work to make money and I need money to pay a sitter so I can work. It’ll just put me behind for a while longer. Heather and Tyler offered to take Daisy with them. But I...” She sighed. “I can’t.”
Judge squeezed her hand gently. “Can’t be away from your girl that long.”
“Yes. And she’s my responsibility, not theirs. I feel bad enough squatting under their roof. I don’t like relying on anyone like that. Even if it’s my sister.”
“Told you, that’s what family’s for. Help you out of a jam.”
“Yes, and I appreciate everything they’ve done, but I need to get back out on my own.”
“Ain’t gonna do that by payin’ a babysitter.”
She tilted her head. “What, are you going to watch her?”
“Nope. But gonna help you best way I know how. Gonna find that son of a bitch, get him to sign those fuckin’ papers, then hand him over to New York. Will make my money that way and you don’t gotta pay a dime. And hopefully you’ll get out from underneath that fuckin’ mess.”
“Judge, while I—”
“Also gonna bring Jury over. Have her stay here while your sister’s gone. Your girl will love her. Jury will love the attention. She’ll help keep you protected.”
He wasn’t asking. He was telling.
“You don’t have to do that. Just like I love Daisy and don’t want to be away from her, you love your girl, too. It’ll be hard being away from her like that and Jury will miss her Daddy.”
“Who said I ain’t gonna be with her?”
She blinked. “Um...”
He grinned.
She frowned.
His grinned widened.
Her frown deepened. “No.”
“Ain’t askin’.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “Did you really just say that?”
“Pretty sure those words came outta my mouth.”
“I’m not sure why you think we can’t stay here alone, but—”
He took her mouth, stopping her flow of words. Well, that was a good way to stifle any objections. Her body, the traitor that it was, melted against him as she remembered all the things he had done with that mouth last night.
Good lord, a little sex and she was losing her damn spine.
She snapped it straight and broke free of his kiss. “No.”
He grinned again. “No what?”
Shit, now she couldn’t remember. “No. Just no.”
“No what, baby? No to more of my dick? No to Jury bein’ here? No to me bein’ here to take care of Jury?”
“Having Jury here is just an excuse for you to sleep in my bed every night.”
“Ain’t gonna lie. That’s true. And with every jury comes a judge.” His grin turned into a smile. “That’s me. The judge in this case.”
The man must think he was a freaking comedian. “Then I’ll skip that trial, thank you very much.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t need a man to stay in this house. There’s no threat, the town is safe, why do we need protection?”
“You got a five-year-old little girl whose father’s a fugitive.”
“Dennis is a lot of things, but he would never hurt Daisy. Or me for that matter. He did something very stupid but he’s not a violent man.”
“Not gonna be here every night, but Jury will. Need to find Lange, so I’ll be out lookin’ for him. Deke, too. If Deke’s out, Justice will be here, too. Those two will not let any fucker in this house.”
“You bring two dogs in this house and Daisy will never stop riding my ass for a dog.”
“Then when you get settled in your own place, you get her one.”
Was he crazy? He was damn crazy. “
You sure like to make decisions that aren’t yours to make.”
“A dog will teach your girl responsibility.”
She sighed. “No, it’ll create more work for me. I’m a vet tech, remember? I know how much work a pet can be. And Daisy is already a handful on her own. I’ll get her a turtle. Or a fish.”
“Nothin’ like a loyal dog. Or a loyal man.”
“Not looking for either. But thank you for the suggestion.”
“Just dick.”
“Dick is enough for now. Unless it’s attached to someone who is trying to run my life for me.”
“Ain’t tryin’ to run your life.”
“No?”
He lifted his gaze from her exposed cleavage to her face. Then he smiled.
Cassie did not like that smile.
Well, she did. But not at that moment.
“Ain’t gonna lie. Got a thing for you, Cass. That shit don’t normally happen to me. You’re makin’ it happen. Ain’t gonna ignore it.”
“Do I have a say in this at all? Or because you want to sleep with me you suddenly feel the need to control my life so you can do that?”
He cupped her face and tipped his down. “You act like this is a one-sided fuckin’ thing. You did not kick me outta your bed last night after I fucked you. You know what you fuckin’ did?”
Did she need to answer that? Because yes, she was there and knew what she did. She really didn’t need a reminder.
He answered it for her, anyway, like she hadn’t been in that bed. “You fuckin’ curled around me, put your head on my chest and fell the fuck asleep. More than dick. You don’t do that shit with only a fuck.”
“And you know that how?”
“’Cause as soon as I’m done bustin’ a nut in... in... whoever the fuck’s in my bed, their ass is out the door. Said that already. Thought you saw the difference.”
“So, let me get this straight... You think this could possibly be more than just sex?”
“Ain’t it?”
Her heart was thumping as she jerked her face from his hands and stepped back, covering herself better with the robe and tightening the tie more securely. “I don’t...” Breathe. “I can’t...” Swallow. “I’m not sure...” Think. “I have a daughter.”
“Yeah, Cass, I fed her fuckin’ breakfast. Pretty sure I’m aware of that.”
“I need to protect her.”
“From what?”
“From a man we hardly know burrowing into her life. With everything that happened with Dennis, with us splitting, and then us moving and her father disappearing...” She shook her head. “I’m worried how this will all affect her.”
“Just gotta give her a steady home. You settle in Manning Grove, you got family here to help with that. Get a place. Get her into school. Let her meet some friends. Kids will bounce the fuck back, Cass. I’ve seen it.”
“How?” What experience did he have with kids? Was it about the son he mentioned briefly and never mentioned again?
What kind of father didn’t talk about their child? Not just a father, but what kind of man?
“My sister was your girl’s age when a whole bunch of shit went down. Lost our parents, lost our home, lost everythin’ we knew. She did okay.”
Holy shit. That had to be difficult. “And you?”
“Not talkin’ about me.”
The way he said that made it sound like he wasn’t going to talk about it, either, which made her even more curious. But she wouldn’t pry. If he wanted to tell her about his past, that was on him. The same way it was if he wanted to tell her about his son. She wasn’t going to demand things from him like he was doing with her.
She needed to go check on Daisy. It was not like her to sit still for this long. And she could only imagine what mess she’d find when she went back into the kitchen. Maple syrup art on the walls, most likely.
“My concern is letting a man into our life, her getting attached and then him disappearing like her father did. She misses him.”
His jaw shifted enough she could see it even through that bushy beard. “You miss him?”
“No. But I miss him for her. No matter what, he’s her father. He loved her and wasn’t a bad father, he just made bad choices.”
“Ain’t askin’ to be her pop, Cass. Just askin’ to bang her mother.”
Cass threw up her hands and rolled her eyes. “Ah, okay, then. Well, that settles it. Go pack a bag, I’ll make some room in the closet for you.” She shook her head. “I need to check on Daisy.” As she turned, he grabbed her wrist and spun her back toward him.
“Didn’t let me finish.”
“Oh? There was more? Sure sounded like you were done.”
His lips flattened out. “Yeah, there’s more.”
“I’m all ears.”
“Did you use ‘em to hear the fuckin’ part where I said I got a thing for you?”
“I figured you just meant a hard-on.”
“Cass,” he growled.
“Look, I like you. I do. But I have so much shit going on right now.”
“Yeah, and gonna help you with some of that.”
“And while I appreciate that, I’m not sure getting involved with you is smart right now.”
“Mommmmaaaaaa!”
She grimaced. “I’m surprised that didn’t happen sooner. Which makes me wonder what the kitchen looks like right now.”
“I’ll check on her. You go shower in peace. You’re done, I leave. I gotta go to work and talk to Deke. Make a plan to find Lange. Will drop Jury off later. Maybe even Justice. Either way, gonna let you know, so I need your number.”
“Juuuuuuuuuudge!”
“You okay, kid?” Judge yelled out. “All limbs still attached? Not bleedin’ out or anything?”
“I’m fiiiiiine. But you’re takin’ too long an’ I’m tired of sittin’ in this seat. My butt hurts!”
“Be there in a sec,” the man told her daughter, but still held Cassie’s eyes.
Holy crap. He was just stepping in like he belonged there. Who the hell was this man? “I can get her.”
“No. You do your thing while I’m here to watch her.”
“Judge...”
“Cass, just accept the help and don’t bitch about it.”
“It’s not that simple.”
He leaned in, brushed his mouth over hers, his beard tickling her chin, and when he lifted his head, he said, “Yeah, baby, it’s just that simple.” He released her, ordered her to “go,” smacked her hard on the ass and strode out of the living room to go check on her daughter.
Cassie stood there, rubbing the sting on her ass, staring in the direction he disappeared.
What the hell just happened?
Did she just agree to have Judge and his dog move temporarily into her sister’s house without actually agreeing?
That might have just happened.
Chapter Fourteen
Judge studied the Blood Fury insignia carved into the center of the table. He sat in the same seat his father used to. To the left of the club prez. Sig, as VP, sat to Trip’s right. They were the two top spots in the executive committee after the president. Positions that held almost as much responsibility.
Both the VP and the Sergeant at Arms were supposed to help the prez run the club. Make sure shit was being done and it was done right. Judge was to keep order within the club, make sure no one was being disloyal, and no one was being stupid, which could cause blowback on the MC.
He hoped there never came a day where he had to plug a .45 into the forehead of one of his brothers like Ox had.
Judge’s gaze circled the table. Besides Trip and Sig, Ozzy as Secretary, Deacon as Treasurer, and Cage as Road Captain sat at the table where important decisions were made.
And sometimes not so important ones.
But right now, Trip was talking about Shady, one of their prospects. Judge needed to pay attention.
He hadn’t liked the man when he first showed up. He was quiet. He didn’t jump on any pus
sy. He was sort of a loner. And that wasn’t normal within an MC.
That bugged the fuck out of Judge.
Without telling anyone, Judge had run a background check on him and besides the same kind of shit everyone else had been busted for in the past, nothing weird jumped out at him.
Judge’s respect for the prospect had bumped up a few notches after dealing with the Shirley Clan. He’d gone up there with the rest of them and quietly “dispatched” several Shirleys without blinking.
Maybe that should worry Judge. That emotionless, calm slicing of a throat. But for some reason it didn’t. To him, it was a man showing loyalty and dedication to his future brothers. And their women.
Because it never was only about the members. Ol’ ladies needed to be protected, too.
Which is one of the reasons why guilt laid heavily on him. Letting the Shirleys grab Autumn right from the farm, right from under their noses, was a big fuck-up. She could’ve been hurt badly or even killed.
Thank fuck she wasn’t.
Thank fuck she didn’t blame him because that would’ve made it even harder.
But Autumn—or Red, as Sig called her—showed Judge nothing but love. She was awfully goddamn forgiving for a woman who dealt with as much trauma as she had.
But then, she just wanted to put all of that behind her.
They all did.
Judge just needed to keep his finger on the pulse of those armed inbred hillbillies on that mountain. Because if they fucked with the club or the Fury family again, what happened up there the last time, when they went to rescue Autumn, would be like child’s play.
The next time, as Sig had told those fuckers, no one would survive.
They’d been warned.
His name being called pulled him from his thoughts and he glanced up to see everyone staring at him. Jury’s head was in his lap and he had been rubbing her ears mindlessly. He did that a lot when he was lost in thought. Or ready to snap.
The Fury prez was frowning at him. “You with us?”
“Yeah,” he grunted.
“You wanted Shady’s time as a prospect to be longer than six months. But instead of extendin’ it, thinkin’ we should patch him in a couple weeks early for his part in the shit that went down on the mountain. He proved himself.”
“Yeah, he did,” Sig agreed. “Guy’s got some big balls on him. Though, he could be scary as fuck. Those silent killers usually are.”
Blood & Bones: Judge (Blood Fury MC Book 3) Page 19