by Bijou Hunter
"This place makes you sexier," I say, teasing the perspiration drops on my glass. "Smart move bringing chicks here."
"I'm a smart guy."
"I see that."
I order a half rack of ribs while he wants an entire rack. After he shows me the various spicy sauces on the table, Court just watches me. I watch him back, and we fall into a staring contest. Wanting to win so badly, I finally lick my lips slowly and force him to lower his gaze.
"Men," I say, smiling triumphantly.
"I considered cheating too, but I’ve got honor."
"Save your self-pity," I tease, reaching across the table to take his hand. On his wrist, I find five small X tattoos. "Does that mean you've killed five people?"
Court says nothing, and I think maybe I was too right. Giving him an out, I run my finger over the tattoos.
"Or is five the number of women you've slept with?"
A smile slides slow and sexy across his handsome face. "Five? Sure, baby, if that's what makes you happy."
"The funny thing is, stud, five is the number of chicks I've banged too."
Court's smile grows, and I suspect another part of him does too. "Really?"
"Sure, baby, if that's what makes you happy."
"You're a funny chick. Your dad is funny too."
"His mustache is better."
"Yeah, but you're young. Give yourself a few years to let it grow in."
Stroking my non-existent mustache, I share his grin.
"What's with all your rings?" I ask, running my fingers over his. "Are you high-maintenance?"
"Little bit, yeah."
"What about the chick you made a baby with? Did you ever make an honest woman out of her?"
Court gives me a smile, but his eyes radiate irritation. "A million guys could marry Becca, and there'd still never be anything honest about her."
"Meow," I say, tracing the gem on one of his rings. "If she's so bad, why did you plow her and make a kid?"
"I was seventeen."
"So you'd pretty much plow anyone, huh?"
Court grins. "Yeah, basically."
"Are your standards higher now?"
Court takes my fingers in his hand. "I'm here with you, aren't I?"
Staring into his dark eyes, I smile. "I think I need new panties."
"Yeah, that happens around me a lot. You'll want to carry a few extras around with you when we go out."
I pop my hand free from his and lean back. "What's your son's name?"
"Felix."
I stare into his eyes, nodding at the stupid name.
"I didn't name him," Court adds.
"Hey, no harm if you did. I mean, your name is Courtland."
Narrowing his eyes, he shakes his head. "Big talk coming from a chick named Justice."
"Well, it could be worse. I could be named Journey."
Court laughs in a sexy rough voice, sending a shiver of heat through me. This time, I really do need new panties.
"Don't you have a sister named Poopy?"
Now I'm laughing. "Her name is Poppy, and it's just a nickname. My step-dad named her Pauline after him and my mom Christine. Mom hated the name and started calling her Poppy when she was a baby. By the way, Poppy is a kind of flower."
"Still a stupid name."
"Sure but I dare you to say that to her face. She's a moody fifteen-year-old, and she'll likely cut you for insulting her."
"I never talk shit to people's faces. I'm a backstabber, meaning you got to turn around when I fuck you over."
"Good to know."
Court's smile fades when the waitress drops off our food. I don't think he wants her to stick around and make small talk. Once she leaves, he focuses his intense gaze on me.
"You're a real good looking woman, Justice."
"I know. You're really pretty too, Court."
A smile warms his face, and the intensity leaves his expression. He digs into his food, ignoring me verbally, but I catch his gaze on me a lot while I get sloppy with my ribs.
"Tell me about Felix," I say when we finally stop going carnivore on our dinner.
Court wipes sauce from his fingers. "He's a good boy. A little scrawny but I was too at that age."
"Is he into sports or video games?"
"A little of both."
"Is he a nerd?" I ask, grinning. "Do you have a little nerd at home?"
Court shakes his head and grins. "You're just a pain in the ass, aren't you?"
"Little bit."
"He does okay at school. I wouldn't say he's going to be a hot shit scholar, but he'll probably want to go to college and not the community sort either."
"Fancy. Does he have your eyes?"
Court focuses his red-hot gaze on me again, and I feel under his control. Hypnotism is divine.
"Felix looks like me a lot actually. Has his mom's chin, though."
"Is that code?"
"For what?"
"A witch’s chin or something. Why else would anyone care about his chin?"
"I don't know. People always say that about Felix. He looks like me but has Becca's chin."
"Oh, well, women don't care about a guy's chin."
"I know a guy with a cleft in his chin and girls go gaga over that shit. He has a damn dimple too."
"Court, baby, no one cares about a damn chin if the rest of the package ain't banging. I'm betting your friend is hot, and the chin is just a bow on top of the present."
"I guess I don't have that bow."
"You don't need it. Besides, dimples and cleft chins are weird. I always figured God dented those people during the cooking process."
Court laughs. "I like that."
"Dimples isn't your friend, is he?"
"He's alright, but I've punched people for less than he irritates me."
"Am I irritating you?" I ask, batting my eyes.
"Fucking hell yeah you are and on purpose too," he announces, giving me a sly grin. "I like it, though. I don't like quiet girls. They make me nervous."
"Cut you when you're not looking, huh?"
"Probably."
"You like them bitchy like Becca."
"No, I like bitchy like you. Not the nasty bitchy like Becca."
"Did you love her?"
"No."
"Did you date for long?"
"A few years."
"But you never loved her.”
"She's my kid's mom, so I cared about her."
"I can't imagine staying in a relationship so long when you're not in love. I'm too easily distracted for that shit."
"Good to know," he says, gently tapping my foot. "When you're young like I was and a kid's involved, spending a few years with someone you don't love ain't so bad. I wouldn't do it now."
"An old man's got to have some standards."
"Sure do."
"How often do you see your kid?"
"Are you really interested?"
"Of course. I like the idea of there being another version of you out there in the world. Makes me hopeful about the future of mankind."
Grinning, Court shakes his head. "Never in my life have I met a girl with a mouth like yours."
"My mom raised me confident, so I don't really filter much."
"I heard your step-dad was a nasty fuck."
"Did my dad tell you that?"
"No, I heard it from Julia at Mimi's Diner. People talk around here. You ought to get used to that."
"I like being famous enough to have gossip about me," I say, waving over the waitress for a refill. Once I get my new drink, I think of my step-dad. "Paul is a coward wrapped in the facade of an asshole. His worst quality is his nagging. He was always harping on how we dressed or walked or ate. He'd never say my mom was getting fat, but he'd talk around saying that. He was never satisfied. Mom is way hotter than he deserved, but he wasn't happy. He's that kind of person who is always looking at what he doesn't have. Mom put up with him because she didn't love him like she loved my dad. Paul was manageable while my dad ran rou
ghshod over her heart."
"How did he do that?"
"Mom can't tell him no. She wanted things like becoming a vet. She needed out of Tumbling Rock. Dad wanted to stay here and have her raise his rugrats. She couldn't say no, so she ran off when he was in prison."
Court gives me a look, and I frown at him. "Don't judge her. You just live your life and don't worry about how others live theirs."
"Your dad's a good man. Always treated me well and watched out for my boy when I was in prison."
"Why were you locked up?"
"It was mistaken identity," he says, giving me the same answer Jared did when I asked about his prison time. Club business stays in the club.
"Poor, Court. How long were you falsely imprisoned for?"
"Two years. Should have been five, but I was very well behaved."
"Oh, I bet you were."
Court grins. "You ever worry step-dad will show up here and cause trouble?"
"No. I told you he's a coward. Coming here would take balls. Hell, the man is scared of Journey. Do you think he'd mess with my dad?"
"Scared of her why?"
Grinning, I think of my sister. "Journey is like Dad without the sweet demeanor and forgiving nature."
"Ah," he says, laughing. "I guess I got lucky with the sweet sister."
I give him a wink. "You have no idea."
"Let me ask you this," he says, tapping his long fingers on the table. "Did you have someone back in Indy who rode roughshod over your heart like Jared did to your mom?"
"Oh, I've loved plenty of men like my dad and Martin Riggs from Lethal Weapon one and three. I loved the man who found my backpack I left at the donut shop. He saved me restarting my senior research paper. Of course, my greatest love was Elton Miney, who let me carry his books throughout my junior year of high school."
"You carried his books?" Court asks, trying not to laugh. "How did that turn out?"
"Not bad. I still have some shoulder pain, but I'll never regret loving that boy."
"Did he love you back?"
"Elton loved everyone. He was a hippie who played guitar on the quad during lunch."
"Sounds like a real man of the people."
"Most definitely. I'm sad to report I didn't get any up close loving. I had my shot, but he'd smoked too many clove cigarettes, and my gag reflex acted up."
"No regrets?"
"I don't believe in regretting things. Why look back at wonderful mistakes when I can look forward to making new worse ones?"
Court studies me with those smoky brown gems he calls eyes. My skin warms ever so slightly under his gaze. He's not flirting but figuring me out. I'm flirting, though. It's why I keep winking.
Finally laughing, Court shakes his head. "I feel like you're a dangerous woman, and a smart man would run in the opposite direction."
"All true but when was the last time anyone accused you of being smart?"
Wagging a finger at me, he nods. "Fair enough."
"Don't worry. Smart is overrated. Journey is smart, but that only means she thinks too much and never has any fun."
Court looks at his watch and frowns in a grumpy way that makes me want to climb across the table and suck on his bottom lip.
"I fucked up."
"Sounds about right," I say, stretching.
He grins. "I didn't know how this would turn out. You're Jared's daughter, and I like keeping my balls safe."
"I am, and you should.”
"Yeah, well, I made plans to pick up Felix tonight for a movie. I figured you and I would be done quickly, and I’d have an excuse to ditch you."
"I like your honesty. Wait, this is you being honest, isn't it? I'd hate to think this is you trying to be smooth."
Court grunts. "I'm not ready to ditch you for the night."
"Yeah, but you have responsibilities. I mean, the poor kid's name is Felix. He certainly doesn't need more hassles in life."
"Funny," he says, waving the waitress over for the check. "If it were someone else, I'd ditch them, but like you said, it's my kid."
"I live here now, Court. No reason to rush anything."
Holding my gaze, he nearly whispers, "I like when you say my name."
Grinning, I say nothing because he's getting all regretful about over scheduling. I decide not to be more irresistible so he won’t have another reason to miss me. He pays the check only after I pretend to reach for it. When he rolls his eyes at my lame attempt to pay, I laugh like a loon.
We ride back home with my arms snugly around him. Court feels exquisite, and I'm nursing the kind of crush that'll get a girl in big trouble. Good thing I don't do regrets.
Court doesn't turn off the roaring Harley when we arrive. He's worried about reaching his kid late and missing the beginning of the movie. I like how much he cares for his boy. Paul never worried over blowing off Poppy. She never worried much over it either, but most kids aren't Poppy.
"How soon can I pick you up again?" he asks, holding my hand while I stand next to the Harley.
"Can you bear waiting until Thursday?"
Court smiles softly, and I feel like a tiny tornado is swirling in my gut. This man is too damn handsome to be real.
Leaning down, he only gives me a quick kiss, yet the gesture holds a hell of a lot of promise. His lips are gone too fast, and I'm already thinking about the next time when he rides down my driveway.
7 Black Sheep
Justice
Rick smells like Old Spice and hair gel. My mom’s date no doubt slicked back his hair before arriving, but the thin, blond strands won't rest on his forehead, and he keeps swiping them aside.
No doubt he isn’t accustomed to dating women with Christine’s hotness score. That or he hasn’t dated in a few decades. Either way, Rick is nervous as he stands on the front porch and waits for our mom to finish getting decked out for her first date in fifteen years.
“Christine has children. I’m sure she explained this fact,” Journey says, crossing her arms, so her muscles flex in that butch way of hers.
“Yes.”
“She has responsibilities, so I hope you’ll keep that in mind when you’re gallivanting around town.”
“We’re going to the movies and dinner.”
“Did you have a point?”
“I think it’s nice you’re worried about your mom.”
“Nobody cares what you think, Rick,” I say.
“I’m curious what he thinks,” Journey says just to be a pain.
“Because you’re a kiss ass cheap trick.”
Poppy steps up and glares at Rick. “My mother is a delicate flower. If you forget that, I will harm you with my gifts.”
Rick looks us over and then nods. “Is Christine almost ready?”
“You like to rush women, do you?” I ask.
“I’m here!” Christine calls out as she hurries from her room. “Sorry to make you wait.”
“You have nothing to apologize for,” I tell her.
“I hope they weren’t busting your chops, Rick,” she says, giving him an anxious smile.
“They care about their mother. That’s a good thing.”
“What’s that noise?” Poppy asks.
We all stop and listen, but the only sounds are the TV quietly playing Property Brothers and Hal snoring on the couch.
“He’s a horrible guard dog,” I mumble.
“Honey, I don’t hear anything,” Christine says to Poppy.
“Wait for it.”
“Wait for what?”
Poppy shrugs, and Christine gives her an angry mom look.
Rick looks ready to bolt. “If tonight isn't good for you, we can reschedule.”
“No, everything is fine. The girls are bored, and this is their entertainment. We should…”
Christine’s voice trails off as the sound of an approaching Harley grows louder. Her eyes widen, and the angry mom look shifts into rage mode.
“Wasn’t me,” I immediately say. “Could be Journey. She’s a troub
lemaker.”
“Thanks, turd muncher, but it wasn’t me either.”
Christine focuses on Poppy, who shrugs. “I must have butt-dialed him.”
“Rick, I’m going to take you up on your offer to reschedule,” Christine says, hurrying him off the porch and to his car. “My ex is on his way. He isn’t dangerous or anything, but it’ll be awkward.”
“Not dangerous,” Journey mutters, wearing a grin as we follow Christine off of the porch.
“Is everything okay?” Rick asks.
“Yes, he’s fine. Everything’s fine. I’ll call you. I promise.”
Rick opens his mouth to say something, but Christine hears the approaching Harley and nearly shoves her loser date into his car. Hurrying back to where we stand, she’s pissed.
“Why did you call him?” Christine demands from Poppy. “What were you thinking?”
“You left my father, and I’m acting out.”
Christine narrows her eyes. “Bullshit.”
“Prove it.”
“I’m…” Christine stops short when Rick’s car passes Jared’s arriving Harley. “Crap.”
Hurrying into the house, she holds the doorknob and waits for us to trail inside so she can shut the door on her ex. Poppy decides to stare at the moon while Journey rests in the doorjamb.
“Ladies!” Christine cries, begging us to get our asses in the house.
“Look, Mom, it’s Dad,” I announce to be obnoxious. Hugging her, I smile. “You didn’t like that dud, did you?”
“No, but I need to get back out into the dating scene.”
“Dad’s single.”
“No, he’s not. He’s dating a woman named Tina.”
Frowning, I look at Jared climb off his Harley. “I did not know that.”
“Well, now you do. Get your sisters into the house so…”
Christine trails off again as Jared strolls up the steps and smiles at her. “Hello, Christine.”
The five us of share a wonderfully emotional moment where Journey smiles like Jared, Poppy glares at everyone because she’s a psycho bitch, I wonder about this Tina hussy, and Christine loses the ability to blink.
“You texted about an emergency,” Jared says to Poppy.
“My butt texted that. I remained willfully ignorant.”
Jared once again realizes talking to Poppy is a dead-end. He directs his attention on his ex-wife, who is doing an extraordinary impression of a mannequin.