Mom tended to have that effect on unsuspecting people.
"Mom..."
"She's the one Colton, Char was right, I can't wait to tell her, when can I meet her..." She went on and on not letting me get a word in edgewise.
"Mom no, not going to happen now why were you calling?"
"The annual Memorial Day barbecue picnic you have to remind the guys, I sent out the invites but not everyone got back as yet and I need the numbers, I also need to know if there're any special dishes I need to prepare, you know Linda became a vegetarian last year, just need to stay on top of things so everyone's taken care of.
Now tell me about Katarina, is she as sweet as she sounds?"
"We're not having this conversation mom."
"Oh, I get it, she's right there, never mind we'll talk later, I want all the details.
Whee a new daughter, I can't wait..."
"Gotta go mom, working here."
"Okay son, talk to you later." I hung up before she could start in again.
"If that lady calls here do not divulge any information, she'll know your whole history in ten seconds flat trust me."
I hated the fleeting look of sorrow that flashed across her face.
"I have to get back."
"'Kay."
I walked away wondering about the hint of pain in her eyes, there was something there and I wanted to know what the fuck it was.
If I didn't get some answers real fucking soon I'd just beat that shit out of Jared.
* * *
She'll know your a whole history in ten seconds flat.
What a depressing thought.
I'd been feeling a little giddy then, I'd gone from facing imminent termination to landing the boss a lucrative contract, something I still didn't quite understand but knew it was all good.
Though I did think grumpy old man was bat shit crazy.
Colton came into the room sucking up all the oxygen and I'd sent up a silent prayer of thanks that I'd get to bask in his glow for yet another day.
Then came the phone call.
Obviously it was his mother, she sounded nice enough if a little nosy, I could so see the truth in his words.
She talks a mile a minute and trips from one topic to the next before you can catch your breath.
I settled back into work for the last couple hours until it was knockoff time.
Jared was all excited when he came to take me home.
I barely heard or understood a word he said since I was too busy being bummed that Colton was nowhere in sight.
"So you're going to go right?"
"Huh, go where?"
"The Lyon's barbecue, didn't you hear a word I said?"
"No, not really."
"Colton's parents, every year they have a Memorial Day barbecue slash picnic, you have to come, everyone's going to be there, even your dad drops by sometimes if he's not working."
"I don't know, I mean no one invited me... plus that's only like five days away I didn't bring anything suitable to wear to something like that."
I looked down at the butt ugly suit and nurse Ratchet shoes I was now wearing.
"Come on Kat,it'll be fun and I'll be there, nothing will go wrong."
"I don't know Jared..."
"At least think about it okay."
"Sure, I'll think about it but no promises."
"No problem, let's get on the road I have a hot date lined up for tonight."
"You're such a dog Jared, who is she this time?"
"New chick, you know the chicks dig me, sexy beast."
"Yeah okay, whatever floats your boat, at least you got the beast part right."
"Whatever smart ass."
He put me in a playful headlock just as Colton turned the corner.
"See ya later boss."
Jared called out as we walked pass.
Didn't he notice that look on Colton's face, talk about shooting daggers with your eyes, it's a wonder I wasn't an ember, and why the hell was he looking at me like I betrayed him, I hope bat shit guy hadn't changed his mind about the deal. Shit.
That night I called my mom for our nightly chat, my mom is my sounding board whenever my mind becomes overcrowded.
"So how's the new job sweetie, you like it?"
"It's fine mom, pretty easy, but guess what, so this guy calls today and he's as rude as you want to be, he just rubbed me the wrong way you know, so I kinda let him have it..."
"Wait a minute, you did what?"
"I put him in his place, next thing I know he's showing up there."
"He didn't hurt you did he baby?" I hated the panic in her voice.
"No mom let me tell you, so anyway, turns out he's this uber rich old coot with the manners of a wildebeest, but guess what, he gave the boss a contract to supply him with bikes for all his ventures and apparently there are a ton of them.
Like he works with Hollywood and racing circuits here and in Europe among other things.
He said he liked my style and that's why he finally decided to give Colton the contract."
"Colton, ooh....... first name basis already, is this Colton handsome?"
"Mom... that's what he wants to be called."
I won't be telling you about the sir conversation.
"Are you having fun baby?"
"I'm fine mom, promise."
"You'd tell me if something was bothering you right?"
"Yes mom, besides dad's here, everything's fine, I like my new job, Jared's there which makes it easier.
My truck's almost ready so I should have a little more freedom soon, right now I'm pretty much stuck in the house but that's cool, not much to do around here anyway... wait a minute mom, someone's on the other line."
I put her on hold and clicked over.
The number didn't look familiar but it was local.
"Hello?"
"Hello, is this Katarina?"
"Uh, yes?"
Why did this voice sound familiar and not at the same time?
"This is Elena Lyon, we spoke earlier today."
"Oh hi."
Why the heck was Colton's mother calling me, please lady don't ask me any leading questions, please please please.
"I bet you're wondering why I'm calling when we've never even met.
I got your number from Jared, he's such a good boy, anyway I'm calling to invite you personally to our annual barbecue picnic on Monday, I know it's short notice but I didn't know about you until today so you can't refuse.
I won't take no for an answer, besides there's nothing else to do in this town on that day, everyone comes to my little get-togethers, you'll have a great time, great food, nice company what more can you ask, besides it'll be a great opportunity to meet the wives of the guys you work with, it'll be wonderful.
So I'll see you at about one, we like to start early, make a whole day and evening of it. If you need a ride that's okay too, I can certainly arrange that for you,so we're set then yes?"
"Uh, sure, okay."
Geez the lady's a steamroller.
I hurried her off before she had me agreeing to God knows what, and for some unknown reason, my heart was beating unusually fast.
"Mom can I talk to you later?"
"Sure baby, everything okay?"
"Yeah everything's fine, just have to do something."
I hung up with my mother and fell back against the bed, a barbecue picnic with people, from the sounds of it lots of people.
No wonder my heart was beating out of sync.
What a way to throw yourself into deep end Kat.
Oh well, you can't change your mind now and offend the boss's mother, so it's sink or swim time.
* * *
Ha, my son thinks he can outsmart me, good luck with that, the boy has always been a bit too brainy for his own good, but nothing beats a mother on the hunt for a daughter-in-law and grand babies.
Shoot, Stacy had already declared herself out of the running since her and Em had been trying for years without success
and she refused to try artificial insemination, and Carol was nowhere near ready.
Anyway, my girl Char might be a crackpot but she knows her stuff.
My son had the nerve to lie to me repeatedly over dinner last night, he'll pay for that.
'No mom, I didn't meet any girls today.'
Ha, he's been telling that same lie for ten years now, I wonder how on earth he got his reputation as a cad if he wasn't meeting girls.
Of course he doesn't know that I know about such things, but women talk and some of the things I've heard about my one and only baby boy are not fit for mixed company.
He's his father's son after all.
Well according to Jared this Katarina is young in years but very smart,we'll just wait and see.
She sounded sweet as pie on the phone and I hope I'm not disappointed when we finally meet.
* * *
Chapter 5: Chapter 5
I went in the next day wondering if his mom had said anything to him about the invite, all night I tossed and turned like a crazy person, thinking about things I hadn't let cross my mind in quite some time, like what should I wear.
I got cold bumps just thinking about it, it had been a while since I'd worn anything other than a gunny sack, my protective shield.
I'm coming to realize that it's silly, in my head I know that, it's getting the rest of me to go along with it that's the problem.
Oh well, if push comes to shove I can always wear one of dad's old flannel shirts and some sweats.
Classy Kat.
Well if my biggest problem was what to wear then I'd say I was making progress, a few months ago just the thought of being out in public surrounded by all those people would've sent me into shock.
I heard voices coming from the game room, that's the room the guys hung out in and ate or played pool and video games when they were having down time.
There was even a kids' corner and when I'd asked Colton about it he'd told me in his gruff way 'bitches got shit to do sometimes so their old man brings the kid in and we take turns watching over the little tykes.'
I went down to the room to see what was going on since I'd done my morning's work and was bored out of my mind, I get into trouble when I'm bored.
The men were having some sort of pow wow it looked like because everyone was here. Colton stood in front of them giving out orders for some up coming riding event.
The way he stood with his arms folded across his muscular chest, legs braced apart as he looked down at his men like a king with his subjects did something to me.
It might sound weird but I wanted to worship at his feet, I'd never seen a more beautiful human being in my life. Too bad he would eat me for breakfast and keep going.
Men like him didn't fall for girls like me, if only.
He turned that piercing green gaze on me as if sensing my scrutiny, my inner turmoil.
His eyes travelled up and down my body before settling once more on my eyes.
"Something on your mind Sloan?"
Eeek, I just soiled my panties.
I should start charging him for those,a girl could only go through so many panties before she ran out.
"Well!"
He hardly speaks but he sure does get his point across, I think one of his hard glares is worse than a shout.
"Going back to work sir."
Oh shit, I remembered the sir thing too late as I made a bee line for the office.
I could hear the soft drone of his voice as he continued speaking to the men before there was a line of footsteps tromping back to the shop.
It wasn't long before the door was opened and you know who came in.
Working here, take your sexy eyes and bitable ass on down the hall thank you very much.
"What are you thinking about now?"
"Uh...excuse me?"
I hate this stupid bun, if I wore my hair down I could hide behind it, with my hair pulled back like this he could see my blush.
"You're blushing again, do I make you nervous or something?"
I was shaking my head before he was through, and why was that? I'd just realized that he didn't make me nervous at all, in fact this whole place made me feel safe, I had no doubt it was because he was here. Weird.
Funny, I hadn't even thought of it until now, but my dad and Jared were the only two males I'd been able to spend anytime around without going into panic mode.
The thought made me smile, maybe, just maybe, I was healing.
* * *
What the fuck is she smiling about now, I think Jake sold me a lemon, I just can't figure out what the hell is the issue.
When she isn't blushing like a medieval virgin, she's tearing into someone or smiling for no damn reason.
"Are you trying to make me crazy?"
"No sir...uh...uhm...nope."
She shook her head again.
"I'm going to start tallying up those sirs and hold them for future payment, now was there something you needed before?"
"No...ahem...no, nothing."
She was one strange duck, now her voice sounded like she was strangling.
Where the fuck is Jared, I'm gonna kick his ass, his 'little sister' was driving me nuts, kept me up all night wondering about her, the fuck, that's not my style.
Besides, I don't have time for some little wilting flower with split personality disorder or whatever the fuck.
"What's going on with you and Jared?"
Real smooth Lyon, why don't you just drag her by her hair into your lair.
"Jared, like what?"
Good, she didn't seem to pick up on the undertone of pissed off in my voice.
One of the reasons I'd been up all night was because of that little byplay I'd witnessed between those two yesterday.
"Forget it, I'm in the shop."
I turned and left before I made an even bigger ass of myself.
I don't know who she was getting to me, she wasn't even my type, except for those eyes of hers she didn't really have anything going for her, she wore her hair like an old school marm, her clothes were less than anything approaching attractive and she was nuts.
Not a very enticing combination, so why the fuck was she the only thing I could think of for the last twenty four hours?
Fucking Jared.
Instead of going to the shop I decided to go for a ride and clear my head, there was no point in staying around here with her so near, I wouldn't get anything done anyway.
I was gone for about an hour before I felt it was safe to return, I'd done some thinking while I was gone and realized that part of my problem was Char's stupid prediction which made no sense because I didn't believe in that shit anyway.
So there was really nothing like a blooming attraction or anything going on, just the power of suggestion I guess.
I turned the corner and almost had a heart attack, she was standing on the seat of a power bike holding onto the handle bars while my crew stood around watching her.
I didn't run or yell or make any fast movements, didn't want to scare her, make her fall.
She flipped herself over the bars and back into the seat in a seated position.
That's when I moved forward, well when my legs finally worked anyway.
The crew was whistling and applauding while she grinned the biggest fucking grin I had ever seen on her face behind the helmet.
Everyone grew quiet when they saw me coming and some of the men started to scatter.
"Off."
She climbed off the bike and removed her helmet, placing it under her arm, head down biting into her lip no doubt.
I'm sure she expected me to lash out at her, and though that had been my first inclination I wouldn't take her joy away like that, neither would I embarrass her in front of the men.
"Good job."
Fuck the smile on her face rivaled the sun for brightness.
"Don't you clowns have better things to do?"
"Yes boss." They grinned as they walked away, giving Kat more praise as the
y left.
"Come with me." I turned and headed to the office, Kat behind me chattering away like a magpie.
I held my shit together until we got to the office.
I opened the door, waited for her to precede me, closing it I pushed her back against it.
"You ever pull a stunt like that again I'll tan your little ass you hear me?"
"What...I...you, but you said."
"I know what I said, it was a nice stunt but not for you."
"But why, you don't say anything when the guys do it?"
How could I explain it to her when I couldn't explain it to myself, all I know is that the thought of her being hurt made my blood run cold.
"I'm really careful Colton promise you don't have to worry, and I wear all my protective gear see."
She showed me the arm and knee pads she wore over yet another ugly ass suit.
She seemed so fucking happy, unlike her usual withdrawn self, how could I take that away from her?
"Isn't there anything else you like as much, anything safer?"
I was caving but how could I put out that light in her eyes?
"No, not really."
There she goes with that soft little girl voice again.
I studied her for a moment, the kid had very little to make her happy it seemed like, it wouldn't be right to take this away from her too, but damn couldn't she find a safer hobby?
And why do you care Lyon, thought you weren't interested!
I ignored the annoying voice in my head as I looked at her.
"Okay I'll make you a deal, if you want to do these stunts you'll have to wait until I'm there to make sure you're safe, okay?"
"I don't want to take you away from stuff, I'll be careful I promise." She wouldn't look me in the eye as she blushed.
Damn this girl was some kinda shy.
"Take it or leave it katarina, either I'm there or you don't do them."
"Fine, I'll only do them when you're here."
She actually pouted, it was cute as hell.
I guess that ride was a waste of time because she was once again planted firmly in the forefront of my mind.
* * *
Chapter 6
The rest of the afternoon went by without my little daredevil pulling any more stunts, I stayed out of her way as much as possible because she was just confusing the hell out of me
Lyon's Crew Page 3