I knew he was in a mood for a reason, but I’d learned a long time ago that was just part of being a teenager. I’d been moody and hostile when I was his age too. As his dad, I understood, but as his boss, I wasn’t going to stand for it.
“Listen, if you’re not happy about being here, feel free to go and find a job somewhere else. But make no mistake, you will be working this summer. I don’t need you lying around the house doing nothing, or worse, sneaking around behind our backs like you did the other night when your mom was out.”
“You haven’t told her about that, have you?” he asked, looking alarmed.
“I said I wouldn’t and I haven’t.” I still felt guilty about not coming clean with Mac, but she was a worrier and I suspected the Brit thing had already blown over, now that he knew she had another guy she hadn’t told him about. “But that was your one free pass. If I hear about you lying to us again, I will tell your mom and you will be punished.”
He nodded, looking sullen.
“Look, kid,” I said, clamping a hand down on his shoulder, “I remember what it was like when I was your age. Truth be told, I made a hell of a lot of mistakes. And I just don’t want to see you go down the same road I did.”
“Yeah, but how am I supposed to learn if you guys won’t cut me some slack?”
I knew he had a point. Words didn’t teach, and some lessons had to be learned the hard way.
Scraping my hands over my face, I exhaled, trying to put myself in his position. He was still trying to figure things out, like which girls where worthy of his time and trust, and I knew from experience how difficult that could be, even for an adult, never mind a teenager.
“I’m really trying to cut you some slack, Zane. But you need to meet me halfway here. I invited you to work here because I’m proud of you. I think you and your brother will be good reps for my business.” When he didn’t respond, I said, “I don’t have to tell you how much it means to me to have you here, do I?”
“No.”
He kicked at a stone on the ground instead of looking at me, and I realized how sheltered he’d been. He had no idea how hard my life had been at his age or much I’d had to sacrifice to pull myself out of the hole and make a new life for myself and my family.
“Come over here with me for a minute,” I said, gesturing to a group of picnic tables in an open, grassy area where employees enjoyed their lunches and breaks. “I know you have to get back to work, but consider this your break. We need to talk about something.”
He didn’t look thrilled at the prospect, probably assuming I was going to give him a lecture about responsibility, but that wasn’t my intent.
When we were both sitting on a table, shoulder to shoulder, I said, “So, I know I don’t talk about my childhood much. You know it wasn’t easy, but you probably don’t realize how hard it was.”
He shot a sidelong glance in my direction to let me know he was invested in what I was saying. “Hard, how?”
“My old man was tough on us when he was around, which wasn’t often. We could never really count on him. He was a mean drunk, hated his life, and took it out on all of us.”
“When you say he took it out on you…?”
“Yeah,” I said, lacing my hands between my bent knees. “He beat the hell out of us. I took the worst of it ’cause I was the oldest. But I would have taken it every damn day to prevent him for whalin’ on my mama the way he did.”
“Jesus,” Zane whispered. “I knew it was bad, but not that bad.”
I stared straight ahead, watching people coming and going from the building I’d created. Thinking back to the kid I told my son about, it was hard to imagine I’d found the confidence to believe I was capable of achieving anything. According to my old man, I was worthless, would never amount to anything. And for years I believed him. Until I met Mac and she made me believe I was worth something. I owed her and her family everything.
“It took me a long time to stop hating him.” I slipped my dark glasses over my eyes, not trusting myself to contain the tears. I didn’t talk about it often, but when I did, it always brought everything right back to the surface as though it had happened yesterday instead of twenty-five years ago. “But eventually I did, ’cause all that hostility was tearing me up inside.”
“Is that why you got mixed up with gangs?”
I thought about correcting him, reminding him that it was a motorcycle club, but his perceptions were accurate, and I knew it didn’t matter what I called it. It was a part of my past, and I wasn’t ashamed of it.
“I guess so. I wanted to feel safe, to belong. I thought if my old man came back, intent on doing me in the way he’d threatened to, I’d have all the backup I needed. I had brothers who’d always have my back.” This time I wasn’t talking about my biological brothers, and I sensed my son knew that.
“Your own father threatened to kill you?” Zane asked quietly. “Man, that’s harsh.”
“Yeah, it was.” I braced my elbows on my knees, covering my mouth with my linked hands. “But you know what? I’m glad I got him for an old man.”
“You are?” Zane asked, looking stunned. “Why?”
“He taught me a lot. Like what kind of father I didn’t want to be.” I swallowed the tears, thinking how hard I’d tried to be the kind of parent my kids could look up to and admire. I knew I hadn’t always succeeded, but it wasn’t because of lack of effort. It was just a matter of being human.
“I worked my ass off for this,” I said, gesturing to the acreage surrounding my gated complex. “Not because I was on some ego trip and needed to prove something. I did it for you and your brother and your mom. Because I wanted to give you the kind of life I’d never had.”
“I get that, Dad,” Zane said, bumping shoulders with me. “Sorry for being an ass earlier. I know how hard you work for us, and we’re grateful, seriously.”
I wrapped my arm around his neck, tightening my grip just enough to make him chuckle. “Then start acting like it and quit giving me and everyone else a hard time.”
“Yes, boss,” he said, saluting me.
I jerked a thumb toward my truck. “Maybe you’d best lock that phone in the truck until quitting time. I’m not sure I can trust you with it.”
He groaned. “Ah, man, seriously?”
I glanced at my watch. “I think you’ll survive without it for four hours, big shot. And from now on, leave the damn thing at home.”
He jumped off the picnic table. “You suck, Dad.”
He said it with a grin, so when I lifted my boot to kick his ass, I let him dodge it.
Chapter Seventeen
Mackenzie
It had been a hectic week for Ryker. He’d had to work late a couple of nights, so I picked the boys up from the store, and he’d had a few business dinners that kept him out late. I was almost embarrassed to admit how much I’d missed him. Every night I fell asleep thinking about asking him to move back home.
But we were finally together, sitting in the karate studio, watching our son impress people with his carefully rehearsed routine. I knew how hard he’d worked to get his brown belt and how proud he was that, after years of training, his black belt was finally in sight.
Ryker linked hands with me, smiling, when Cole finished his routine and their sensei gathered the students for the belt presentation. We’d been to many of these before, but I felt the same sense of pride every time, knowing that my boys had committed to something and worked hard to see it through.
Zane, who’d been awarded his brown belt several months ago, was seated beside me, discreetly checking his phone when he thought no one was looking. Ryker leaned over me, glaring at our son, who promptly pocketed his phone and sat up straighter, giving his sensei his undivided attention.
After the belt presentations, we gathered with the other parents to take photographs and congratulate Cole before making our way out of the studio.
Once outside, Ryker said, “I made reservations at Bern’s for seven,” he said, referring to a nearb
y steakhouse. “That should give us time to swing by the house so you can change, Cole.”
“Cool,” Cole said as he and his brother piled into the backseat while Ryker held the passenger’s door of his Escalade for me.
“What do you guys have planned for tonight?” Zane asked. “After dinner, I mean.”
Ryker and I exchanged a look before he looked at Zane in his rearview mirror. “We don’t have any plans, aside from having dinner with you two. Why?”
I looked over my shoulder in time to see Zane shrug. “I don’t know. I was just thinking I might meet up with some friends if we’re not gonna be too late. Maybe catch a movie or something.”
“Don’t count on it,” Ryker muttered, starting the engine.
I sensed a bit of tension between them, but I didn’t want to ruin our evening by calling them out on it. I knew they would work it out on their own. They always did.
“Did you tell the boys about your plans?” Ryker asked, holding my hand.
“You mean about the business?” I hadn’t told them yet. I’d just done a little preliminary research with my mom and wanted to wait until we were further along before I mentioned it to them. “No, I haven’t.”
“What business?” Cole asked.
“Um, your dad had an idea about me possibly starting my own business.”
The idea still sounded a little daunting. It was one thing when I was thinking of getting my real estate license. Then I would have had a very clear course of action and the support of a brokerage. In this case, I’d be on my own, with the exception of my mother, who was enthralled with the idea. Unfortunately, she didn’t have any more experience running a business than I did.
“What kind of business?” Zane asked.
At least he sounded interested. These days the only thing that seemed to hold his interest was that damn cell phone. “Selling baked goods. We’d start as a home-based business, I think, if we could find a strategy for shipping. Eventually, we might get a small retail space, maybe even start doing wedding cakes.”
“Who’s we?” Cole asked.
“Me and your nana.”
“That’s awesome,” Cole said, sounding genuinely enthused. “You should totally do that. No one can bake better than you two.”
I smiled as I shifted in my seat so I could see his face. “Thanks, honey.” It was so nice to have his support. “What do you think, Zane? Good idea or what?”
He shrugged. Again. “Whatever.”
Ryker shot him another look in the rearview mirror before squeezing my hand. “I’m glad you’re thinking about bringing your mom on board. It would be good for her, for both of you.”
My mother and I had always been close, but even more so since we lost my dad. I couldn’t think of anyone I’d rather go into business with. “We owe it to you,” I said, stroking the back of his hand with my thumb. “I wouldn’t even have had this idea without you, and adding my mother to the mix was pure genius.”
“It just makes sense,” he said, smiling as he turned down our street. “You guys work well together, get along great, and having her help would certainly be easier than going it alone, especially in the beginning.” He pulled into our drive and cut the engine. “I think you’re right about the logistical concerns though—”
“Be right back,” Zane muttered, jumping out of the truck and running across the street when he spotted Brittany in her driveway.
Ryker watched them in his sideview mirror, frowning, as Cole got out, promising he would hurry.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, grabbing his thigh. “You don’t like Brittany?”
“Uh, yeah sure. She’s fine.” Tearing his gaze from the mirror, he directed his attention to me. “As I was saying, maybe you should consider that retail location. The logistics of trying to ship your product might be a headache you don’t need right now. This is a large market. It would allow you to test things out, see what works and what doesn’t before you broaden your reach.”
I knew his suggestion made sense, but making that kind of commitment was scary. I would have to lease space, likely renovate, buy supplies, including expensive appliances, set up a website… the list went on and on.
“I can already see the wheels turning,” Ryker said, laughing. “Remember that little place we bought on Dale Mabry about three years ago?”
“Yeah.”
Ryker had a friend who was a commercial agent, and whenever a good property came up, he would call and ask whether we were interested in adding it to our portfolio. If memory served, the building he was talking about was small and housed a store with a couple of apartments above it.
“The tenant told me last month that he’ll be leaving when his lease his up. He’s retiring.”
“Huh.” The current use was a deli, which meant it was already set up with a small kitchen and a few tables for patrons. “Interesting.”
“Why don’t you and your mom use that space? It might need a bit of work to meet your needs, but I don’t think it would take too long to get it up and running.” He held his hand up before I could object. “I know what you’re going to say, that if you’re doing this, you want to do it on your own, but we own this building together, Mac. Just like everything else, it’s half yours.”
He had a point. It would be silly to lease something when we already had a space that would be suitable. “Do you think I could take my mom by there tomorrow to have a look at the space?” I hadn’t been there since Ryker told me he was interested in making an offer on the place three years ago.
“Of course. I’ll call ahead and let the owner know to expect you.”
I leaned across the seat and gave him a kiss. “Thanks.”
“For what?” he asked, smiling.
“For believing in me.”
“Always, baby.”
***
“How was dinner with Ryker and the boys last night?” my mom asked when she got in the car and fastened her seat belt.
“It was great.” I smiled as I backed out of the driveway.
“Does that mean he spent the night again?” she asked, grinning.
Sometimes I was guilty of over-sharing with my mother. This was one of those instances. But after Ryker spent the night the first time, I was excited about how well things were going and when I spoke to her the next day, I just couldn’t contain it.
“He did.”
She clapped her hands. “Oh, that’s wonderful, honey. I’m so happy for you two.”
“Thanks, Mom. I’m pretty happy too.” Happier than I’d been in a long time. Not only were Ryker and I back on track, but I was really excited about the prospect of opening this bakery with my mom, and I knew I wasn’t the only one.
Since she retired from her job as a receptionist at the local high school, she’d been doing clothing alterations, but she still struggled to fill her days. The plan had been for my parents to travel during their retirement, but since Dad passed away, Mom didn’t know what to do with herself. I knew this business would be the healthy distraction we both needed to get our lives back on the right track.
“The boys must be thrilled too,” she said, reaching forward to turn down the volume on the radio dial. “I know how much they wanted their parents back together.”
“Like all kids, right? It’s hard for them to imagine either one of us with someone else.”
“Mind if I ask you a question?”
“Sure, go ahead.” My mother didn’t often ask permission before voicing her concerns or opinions, so I was curious.
“What made you decide to consider a reconciliation now after you and Ryker had been apart for months?”
“Well…” Every time I thought about the date from hell, I shuddered. He’d actually called to ask if I’d be interested in doing it again, but I politely told him I was trying to work things out with my husband. “I told you about that awful date I went on. Turns out Ryker went out with someone else too. That’s when I realized we either had to move on with our lives or try to make our mar
riage work. I wasn’t ready to let him go.”
“That’s because you two belong together.” She laughed. “It wasn’t easy for me and Dad to come to terms with that. When we found out about Ryker’s background, we were so scared for you. We were so sure he’d end up in jail and ruin your life.”
I smiled at the memory of the dangerous, reckless kid I’d fallen in love with. At twenty, Ryker had been fearless and too cocky to recognize warning signs when he saw them. “He’s come a long way since then.”
“He sure has,” my mom said, laughing. “Before your dad died, he said that he was okay about leaving us because we had Ryker to look out for us.” She reached for my hand. “I don’t have to tell you that was high praise coming from him.”
It would have killed my father to know that Ryker and I had lost our way. Dad used to tell me we had the kind of love that would last forever, so long as we didn’t get complacent and forget that our relationship anchored everything else in our lives.
As I found a parking spot in front of the deli, I cut the engine of my Mercedes SUV and turned toward my mother. “I think we’ll be even better than before. I’ve always trusted him, but this time it’s different somehow. He’s my partner again. I want to share everything with him, and I just know he feels the same way.”
“No question, that’s the recipe for a healthy relationship, sweetie.” Setting her purse in her lap, she asked, “So, when are you going to ask him to move back home?”
“Soon.” I grinned, unable to contain my excitement. “We’re going up to the cottage with his brothers next weekend. I thought that might be the perfect time to ask him.”
“Good luck,” my mother said, reaching over to give me a hug. “Though I know you’re not going to need it. There’s nothing that man wouldn’t do to be back with his family, where he belongs.”
Chapter Eighteen
Ryker
As much as I loved my brothers, a little quiet time with Mac would have been nice before we welcomed the troops, especially since we’d barely seen each other all week. I’d been busy with work, and now that she and her mom had committed to moving ahead with their plans for the bakery, she was swamped too.
Ryker (Steele Brothers #1) Page 18