“What the fuck is wrong, man?” Parker demands, getting my attention. I look over to see Missy try to push the guy off and I lose it.
I reach over the table and grab my helmet that Parker had worn up here. Finally I’ll put this baby to good use. And then storm over to the bar with Parker hot on my trail.
I reach out and grab Missy’s wrist and pull her toward me. The fucker looks up and releases her as soon as he sees me.
Parker ends up catching her as I push her away and I lift my arm wide, swinging my helmet out before it makes contact with his head. It slams him into the bar and I hear Missy yell out from behind me.
I throw the helmet to the ground and hit him with my fist this time as he turns to come at me. “Motherfucker,” I curse as my fist hits his jaw hard. My hand instantly goes numb. I pull it back and shake it out.
“Tate?” I hear Parker yell before he places his hands on my shoulder. I spin around lifting my arm to punch him as well when I see Missy standing behind him with her hand over her mouth and tears running down her cheeks.
I pause for a second and look down at the man lying on the floor. He huddles in the fetal position as he moans in agony; blood covers his face and also my hand.
I lean down to speak to him. “I told you to leave her alone. That was your second warning. Next time, I’ll kill you.” I stand and then take a step toward Missy but she takes a step back. I guess that’s expected.
“Go,” Parker says, looking around the dead bar as he runs his hand over his head. One good thing about this is that it’s a weeknight and there is hardly anyone here. “I’ll take care of it.” He bends down and picks up the helmet and hands it off to Missy.
I take a deep breath and walk right past her and out the exit.
MISSY
I follow after Tate on shaky legs. What the heck just happened? We went from having a great time to him beating the shit out of a guy with a helmet and his fist in a matter of seconds.
I climb up into this truck and close the door. I push my body into it wanting as much space as possible from him.
He looks over to me quickly and he notices how I have smashed myself up against the door. “Scared?” His deep voice is clipped as he pulls out of the parking spot.
“Shouldn’t I be?” I ask. If that was his intention, then he achieved it.
“That had nothing to do with you,” he snaps, merging onto the highway.
“So you beat him up over your mother?” I ask, getting angry.
“Quit talking about my mother.” His voice rises, and I snap.
“No,” I scream, slamming my hands down on my legs. “What the hell is wrong with you?” I demand. “Why would you hit that guy? You could have killed him,” I state furious.
He turns the steering wheel hard and the tires screech to a halt on the side of the road as my body slams forward. It comes to a hard stop and he turns to face me. “You think I care if he would have died? He had his hands on you.”
“You said it didn’t have anything to do with me,” I state. “And what about you, Tate? You can’t just hit people like that.” These days people carry guns. Hell, I refuse to watch the news because all I see are killings and robberies. You never know what it will take for a person to snap.
He gives a dark laugh. “You think I wouldn’t kill someone?” He shakes his head. “Then you don’t know me at all, sweetheart.”
“I don’t,” I snap and his eyes harden. “You keep everything from me.”
“I keep it from you because you would leave me. If you knew what I was capable of, then you would realize just how fucked-up I am,” he shouts before he leans back in his seat and lets out a long breath.
I look down to my hands knotted in my lap. I take in a deep breath before I speak. “I don’t know what you expect from me. What kind of person do you think I am?” I ask looking over at him. “All I’ve tried to do is help you. I don’t care what you’ve done in your past, Tate.” He continues to look straight ahead through the windshield at the side of the road. “What I care about is what you do now. Are you trying to push me away?” I ask.
His head snaps over to mine. “No.” He shifts, getting closer to me, and this time I don’t move away. Instead I reach out to him, placing my hands in his. “I’m just…” He takes a deep breath. “I’m trying, but that guy grabbed you. I saw you push him away but he had a hold of you.” His dark blue eyes look into mine. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I didn’t mean to scare you. I don’t want you to fear me, Missy. I want to protect you. Even from myself.” He looks down to our hands and shakes his head at himself. Then he lifts his head. “Do you hate me?”
“I could never hate you, Tate.” I swallow nervously. “I love you,” I whisper.
His body stiffens, and his hands tighten on mine. “You can’t love someone like me,” he says and shakes his head as if that is impossible. “Did you know that I almost killed him? My mother’s ex-husband?”
“But you didn’t,” I say softly.
“I wanted to. I couldn’t even fucking succeed in that.” He gives a dark laugh at himself.
“He beat you…”
“Yes. I know,” he snaps, before letting go of my hands and running one
over his face. “I have reminders.” He looks down to the black tribal ink that runs up his arm. I know he has them in certain places to cover the scars that Jonathan left him with. “I don’t need to be fucking reminded,” he growls. “And I’m just like him. I’m a beast,” he whispers. “Inside and out.”
“You think that’s why I can’t love you? Because you have scars?” I shake my head at him. “Everyone has scars, Tate. Some just aren’t worn on the outside where the world can see them.”
I lift my hand and place it over his shirt where I know the scar remains across his chest from when he found Sam drugged and bound in a basement. He had fought the kidnapper, her ex, who pulled a knife on him. “Some of these scars may be a reminder of what tragedy you endured as a child. But this one.” I press my hand harder against his chest. “This one shows how much you love.” I look up to him and he closes his eyes as if that word pains him. “No matter how much you want to call yourself a beast or how much hatred you have. You have love, Tate. You would be willing to sacrifice yourself to save another.”
He opens his eyes and places his hands on either side of my face. “I would sacrifice myself to save you,” he says with more emotion than I have ever seen. Sometimes you don’t have to hear the words ‘I love you’ to know how much one cares for you.
I smile up at him. “That doesn’t make you a beast, Tate. That makes you my savoir.”
He releases a long breath and lowers his forehead to mine. “I hate when you make me feel this way,” he whispers.
“What way?” I reach up and run my hand through his dark hair.
He takes a second to respond. “That I’m a better person than I truly am. That I don’t have to hide in the darkness.”
I pull back and place my hands on either side of his unshaven face, loving the feel of his whiskers. “There’s nothing wrong with the darkness, Tate. That’s the only time the stars get to shine.”
***
It’s been three days since the fight up at the bar. Thank God for Parker. Geez, I never thought I’d say that. But, somehow, he was able to keep the guy from talking, and I didn’t question just how he did that. Knowing Parker, he probably told the guy that he was either gonna lock him away or told him that he can call him anytime he’s in trouble. Parker could be his personal get out of jail free card.
Whatever, I couldn’t care less. It’s over with and we have moved on.
We have both been busy with work. The bakery has been slammed and Slade has got security jobs lined up for the guys. They bought an office just a few doors down but I don’t know why. They still hang out at the bakery all the time.
I’m in the front of the bakery waiting on customers as the guys are in the back with Sam and Courtney. I wipe my hands on my apron as I make my
way behind the cash register.
“Hello.” I smile brightly. “Welcome to Angel’s Dream. What can I get you today?” I ask when an older man walks up to the counter.
His kind blue eyes hold mine as he speaks. “I would like a slice of the strawberry cheesecake,” he says as he reaches into his nice suit jacket to retrieve his wallet.
I get it out and package it for him before I give him his total. “Thank you, Missy,” he says kindly, and I pause.
“Do I know you?” I ask, tilting my head to the side in thought. He doesn’t look familiar and it’s not very often that I work the front. I just came up here to give Courtney a potty break. But, in all honesty, I know she’s just back there sitting down chowing down on a brownie or two.
He smiles warmly. “No. Your nametag gave it away,” he says with a wink, before he turns and walks out.
I take a look through the glass doors to see if anyone else is about to walk in before I head to the back. Sure enough, Courtney is sitting at the table with the guys as she sucks her fingers clean.
“What’s up with you and all the chocolate these last few days?” I ask her as I sit down next to Tate. He reaches out and drapes his arm over my shoulder.
“Aunt Flow is about to visit. I hate that bitch,” she says with a frown.
Sam laughs. “I was waiting for you to announce that you and Josh were pregnant again.” Just hearing the word pregnant makes me think of our baby. I mean, I think of it daily, wondering what it would have been and what he or she would have looked like. A girl can worry until she’s sick, but it won’t change a thing.
“No. Josh wants to wait until the boys are a little older before we have another one. I wouldn’t mind pushing one out right now,” she says with a smile on her face.
Parker shudders. “Do you have any idea how disgusting that sounds?” he asks her in all seriousness, making Slade smile.
“Do you know how disgusting it is having to listen to all the sex stories you tell us?” Before he can answer, she adds, “Giving birth is a miracle.”
“So is getting my dick wet,” Parker says wiggling his eyebrows.
“You’re right.” She looks him up and down with a sour look. “It’s a miracle that you even manage to find a woman to sleep with in the first place, let alone a different one every day.”
He rubs his hands together with a smirk on his face. “What can I say? I’m a miracle worker when it comes to the bedroom.”
“Sure, you say. I have yet to hear a woman say that,” she says with an eye roll.
“So, are you guys gonna be able to make the mini vacation?” Sam asks, looking at Courtney with a smile, changing the subject.
“When are you guys going on a vacation?” I ask, curious.
Sam’s smile drops off of her face and she looks over at Slade. “You didn’t ask them?”
He stops mid bite into his Danish when she speaks to him and he turns to face us. “We’re planning a camping trip sometime this summer. You guys are invited.” He smiles politely. “Sorry, I forgot to ask.”
“Camping?” Parker laughs. “Since when do you go camping, sweetheart?” he asks looking at Sam.
She looks offended by his question. “I used to always go camping. Why?” She places a hand on her hip. “Do I not look like I would now?”
“Was that back before you discovered makeup and high heels?” he asks looking her up and down. Sam is very beautiful. All the girls envy her. Her long, dark hair is pulled up in a high ponytail. She has a pair of dark skinny jeans on and a white long sleeve shirt. Her green apron makes her bright green eyes look like they glow. And of course she has a pair of heels on. She never leaves the house without them.
“What is that supposed to mean?” she snaps.
“You just don’t look like the kind of girl who camps.” He shrugs carelessly.
“You look more sissified than country girl.”
“Well your pussy ass doesn’t look like it camps either,” Courtney says, defending her, and we laugh. “So what’s the verdict?” Courtney asks looking to us. “You guys going or not?”
I look over at Tate. I’m not sure he likes to camp. I do, though.
He leans over and whispers into my ear. “Will you be okay? What if you have pain?”
I actually smile at him being concerned for me. It’s sweet but it’s also months away. I can’t predict the future but I do know I haven’t had any pains in a while. “I’ll bring my meds. No worries,” I respond, whispering back.
He pulls away and nods. “We’re in.”
“Yay,” Sam says clapping her hands.
“Wait? Where’s my invite?” Parker asks pushing his bottom lip out.
I laugh as I stand up and walk over to the counter where Sam stands. I need to start baking a cake order for a wedding this weekend.
“You can come,” Slade says, with a careless shrug.
“Thanks,” Parker responds dryly.
Sam smiles. “Why don’t you bring a date? That way she can keep you warm in your tent.”
“Who in the hell goes camping in a tent when we can rent a travel trailer?” Parker asks, shaking his head.
“We do,” Courtney responds.
They all start to talk about what all we will need when I look down at the counter and frown. There in front of me sits my nametag. I look down at my shirt. That guy said he knew my name from my nametag, yet I wasn’t wearing it. I shrug it off as no big deal. Maybe he’s been in here before, and I just didn’t remember him.
I shrug it off as my phone vibrates in my pocket.
Kat: Don’t forget to stop by and feed Boner today. Please.
Me: I know. I’m going on my lunch break. How’s the trip going?
I guess her boyfriend’s not from around here and they went to go see his parents. That’s all she told me. I have never met the guy, but from the stories I have heard—he’s a real dick.
Kat: As usual I want to rip his head off.
I laugh as I text her back and tell her to try and have fun.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
TATE
“What are we doing here?” I ask as Missy unlocks the door and enters the unfamiliar house.
She had woke up this morning telling me that on her lunch break today she had to go to some friend’s house and feed Boner. I was half asleep and by the time she said boner, I had gotten one myself.
“I have to feed my friend’s dog,” she says making her way into the kitchen.
“And his name is Boner?” I ask, confused.
She nods, as she opens up the bottom cabinet and pulls out a bag of dog food the size of her.
“Here,” I say walking over to her and picking it up. “Where’s the dog?”
“Out back.” She walks toward the sliding glass door that sits in the back of the kitchen.
“Stop,” I demand, lifting my arm across her chest once I see the big-ass dog running to the door.
“What?” she asks, turning to face me.
The dog comes to the screen door and sits on its ass. It’s a pit bull. A huge-ass black and white pit bull. It has a cropped tail and cropped ears. The thing has to weight seventy pounds, which is huge for that type of dog. Most top out around forty-five pounds. It has more muscles than some men I know.
“You are not going near that thing,” I say looking over to her.
She looks between the two of us a few times. “Why not?”
“It may attack you.”
She rolls her eyes. “Not all pit bulls are aggressive.”
“I know. But have you been around it before?” She shakes her head. “Exactly. It might think that you are its dinner.” I place the bag on the ground and open the cupboards until I find a bowl. I dip it into the bag and open the door quickly before I swing the bowl out, tossing the food over onto the back porch.
“Tate.”
“What? He can eat it off of the ground,” I say before I do it a few more times. “Come on,” I say once I put the bag back up.
I
look at the plain walls as we make our way back to the front door and frown. “Did they just move in here?”
“I don’t think so. Why?”
“Because they have no pictures. No nothing.” There’s a couch and a loveseat in the living room. And a glass coffee table. That’s it. Most girls I know hang pictures up or decorate some sort.
She frowns. “Well, from what Kat has told me before, I guess her and her boyfriend fight often. She throws things, like pictures, and breaks them.” She shrugs and I nod my head in understanding. She doesn’t want to put nice things out because she will just destroy them. Got it! I understand anger issues very well.
***
I’m lying in my bed later on that evening with Missy sleeping beside me when I hear a soft knock on my door. I slowly get out of bed without waking her and throw on a pair of sweatpants, before opening it up to see Parker standing there with a file in his hands.
“What’s up?” I ask.
He holds up the file. “I need to speak to you,” he says before turning around to walk down the hall.
I find him in the kitchen sitting down at the table with the file closed, sitting in front of him. “What’s this about” I ask pulling out a seat for me to sit down myself.
He places his hand on the file before he speaks. “Jonathan has been released from prison.”
His statement catches me off guard, and it takes me a few seconds to understand that my mother’s ex-husband is now free. “How do you know that?” It can’t be possible. It just can’t. I had that motherfucker put away.
He raises an eyebrow. “So you knew he was in prison?” he questions, and I realize my mistake. I’ve always told my other friends who ask me about him that I have no idea where he was and that I didn’t care. Truth is, I always knew. In jail.
“Yes.” I reach out to grab the file, but Parker pulls it back to him before I can grab it. “What the fuck do you want, Parker?” I ask, getting pissed off at him.
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