Julie smiled and said, “I don’t mind at all. I hope you two can work this out. I know Pete loves you. I can see it in his eyes when he looks at you, and you wouldn’t be so hurt if you didn’t feel the same way about him.” Before she left, she gave Mikki a quick hug.
Mikki hugged her back and watched her walk to her car. As the woman pulled away from the curb, the phone rang. Mikki checked the screen and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Lisa’s number. “Hey, Lisa.”
“Hi, Mikki. How are things going? How’s Austin?”
“He’s fine. Didn’t he answer his phone?”
“I called you first. I wanted to see how his first day back at school went. He never tells me anything.”
Mikki walked to the deck where she stretched out in a chaise lounge. “He doesn’t tell me much either, but I think it went okay. Pete took him to talk with Gil Keaton again, right after school, and then Julie came over and tutored him for an hour. She just left. I think he is in the living room, probably crashed on the couch.”
“Did Pete say how the meeting with Keaton went?”
“I didn’t talk to him. I was busy when he dropped Austin off.”
“Don’t you mean busy hiding? Mikki, you can’t keep avoiding him. He says you either stay in your room or leave the house whenever he comes to visit Austin, you won’t take his calls, and you don’t reply to his texts. This situation will never get resolved if you don’t talk. You two are crazy about each other . . . anyone can see that. Give him a chance.”
“Julie just said the same thing.”
“Then maybe you should listen.”
Mikki groaned. “He hurt me, Lisa. Trust is the cornerstone of any relationship, and if he can’t trust me, then we don’t have the relationship I thought we had. I love him, but that isn’t enough if there isn’t trust.”
“I understand, but I think you two need to talk. Maybe when I come for the weekend, you guys can spend some time together. I’m leaving Friday as soon as Chloe gets out of school, so I’ll get there around five, just like last weekend. I’ll take the kids out to eat and to a movie so you can get some sleep.”
“Don’t worry about me. I’ve taken Friday and Saturday off. One of the girls at work is getting married, and she rented a cabin on the lake for a bachelorette party. I’ll be back sometime Saturday afternoon.”
“Okay, then we’ll hang around the house Friday night and go to a matinee Saturday. You can talk to Pete when you drop Austin off at his house Sunday night on your way to work. You need to talk to him. He loves you, Mikki. Trust me on this.”
“I’m not the one with trust issues, Lisa. Maybe you need to talk to your brother about that.” Before Lisa could answer, she said, “Hang on a minute, and I’ll get Austin.”
Chapter 37
Pete sat in the vinyl booth with his back against the wall and his long legs stretched out in front of him. Stubble on his chin shaded his lower face, and the dirty ball cap on his head hid the rest. Small pieces of paper cluttered the table where he had picked at the label of his beer. The fluorescent sign in the window behind him cast a blue tinge on the hand wrapped around the bottle.
“Buddy, are you ready for another one?”
Pete looked at the bartender and shook his head. He took a sip of the warm liquid and dropped his chin to his chest. His attention returned to the conversation at the table in front of him and the two men he’d been watching from under the bill of his cap for almost an hour.
A blond in a Yankee’s cap said, “What do you hear about Ellerton?”
“He’s still alive is all I know,” said a larger man with thick hair and a mustache that stretched to his chin.
“Think he’ll talk?”
“I heard some sheriff spoke to him when he was in the hospital, but I don’t think he said anything.” The man took a drink of beer and then crushed the can in his hand. “Hey, Buck, bring us a couple more. And how about some music? This place is dead.” He wiped his mouth with his sleeve and smoothed his mustache with his thumb and index finger.
When the bartender sat two beer cans on the table, he said, “Go feed the jukebox if you want music. The band doesn’t crank up until seven on Saturday nights. You know that.” He turned toward Pete. “How about you? Ready for one more? That one is probably warm or damn near empty by now.”
Even though the bottle was almost full, Pete said, “Yeah, go ahead and bring me another.”
The man returned with a cold beer. “You okay? Woman problems or something? You’ve been awfully quiet.”
Pete glared at the bartender. He took a drink without taking his eyes off the man.
Buck threw his towel over his shoulder and said, “Just asking.” He returned to the bar, and Pete continued to listen.
The men in front of him drank their beers for a few minutes, then Yankee Cap said, “Have you talked to our friend? My boy says he has a couple of customers wanting some OC, dillies, or vikes. He could probably handle some cody, too.”
Mustache Man took a long drink. “I’ll let him know. There’s a car show coming up over in Brinkley, and I hear he just bought himself a pretty sweet ragtop that he’ll be parading around.”
“Is that right? Are you taking the 442?”
“Yeah, she’s polished and ready to go.” Mustache Man smiled. “You know me, I never miss a chance to show the Olds off.” He took another swig of beer and began fingering his mustache again.
Pete heard two motorcycles roar into the parking lot and watched through the dirty window as they slid to a stop in front of the bar. They parked at the end of a row of bikes, and the riders walked in laughing and slapping each other on the back. They ambled up to the bar where each one ordered a beer and a shot.
Yankee Cap and Mustache Man stood, and Pete saw them head toward the back of the building. Yankee Cap stopped and fed several coins into the jukebox while Mustache Man went around the corner. After punching a few buttons, Yankee Cap followed. Pete waited a minute before taking another drink of beer then headed in the same direction. He had just entered a short hallway with a door on each side when he heard loud voices and whistles from the front of the bar. He ignored the noise and looked at the labels on the doors. One said, “BOOBS”; he went into the one that said, “BALLS.”
~ ~ ~
The sign over the door of the old frame building read, “Bucks Place. Bar, Babes and Bikes.” Old pick-ups, a few cars, and one ATV stood in the gravel parking lot. Several motorcycles were lined up in front of the low porch. The two bikes that sped past Mikki moments earlier, spraying her and her car with mud, were parked at the end of the row. She walked in, with the dust stirred by her own tires filling the air behind her.
Mikki’s eyes adjusted to the dim interior. A jukebox stood in the center of the far wall. A country artist sang about fishing and drinking. There was a small stage in the back corner, empty except for a set of drums, three microphones, and two large amplifiers. She could see two pool tables in a room behind the U-shaped bar that stood in front of the door. Formica-topped tables and a few booths lined the walls. Her nose wrinkled at the stench of beer, body odor, and cheap perfume.
“Well, well, well. What do we have here?” said a deep voice from across the room. Someone whistled.
Three men were sitting at the bar. Two held beer bottles and were talking to the bartender; the other straddled a vinyl-covered barstool. A bleached blonde in short shorts and a T-shirt two sizes too small stood between his legs. Both had an array of colorful tattoos on their arms, and the girl also had one peeking above the boot on her right leg. The couple glanced in Mikki’s direction then locked lips again. The tables were full of people, mostly men, each one with a bottle, mug, or glass.
Mikki walked to an empty barstool and sat down. She glanced at the people, who were all watching her.
“What
will it be, pretty lady?”
Mikki turned to the bartender. “Water, please.”
There was a snicker from one of the tables. “Now, why don’t you add a little something special to that water while you’re at it, Buck?”
A man with a thick red beard slid onto the stool next to her. “Ignore them, honey.”
Without looking at the man, she said, “It’s Mikki.”
“What was that?”
“My name is Mikki Gray. It’s not honey or pretty lady.”
“Sure thing, darlin’.” He nodded at the bartender and said, “Buck, give my friend here a beer, or better yet, go ahead and spill a little whiskey in that water.” He smiled at Mikki and said, “What do you say, sugar, you gonna let me buy you a drink?” He leaned closer and ran a dirty knuckle down her bare arm.
“No, thank you.” She turned back to the man behind the bar. “Water will be all.” She scanned the room and raised her voice. “I’m looking for a couple of men who just stopped here a few minutes ago. They were driving those two motorcycles parked on the end out there. Does anyone know who they are?”
No one answered. The bartender shook his head without looking up.
The man beside her slid his arm around her waist. “Ah, what do you want with them when you got me? How about you and me dance a little while Buck is getting that drink for you?” He stood, bumping into two men walking toward a back table. “Come on, let’s go to the dance floor where it ain’t so crowded.” He began to pull her off the stool.
“No! Leave me alone,” she said, trying to push the man away. “I’m not going to dance with you.”
His grip tightened, and he yanked her against his chest.
~ ~ ~
Pete walked out of the restroom and wiped his hands on his jeans. He heard the scream before he stepped around the corner and saw the commotion. A man had a woman pinned against the bar. Her back was arched as she struggled to avoid his mouth. One of his hands groped her breast. The majority of the people in the room ignored her cries. The few who did notice were shouting encouragement to the red-headed man.
The woman’s eyes were squeezed shut. She rolled her head in Pete’s direction in another attempt to avoid the man’s kisses. Pete groaned, and his hands fisted. He widened his stride and stopped in front of the trio. What the hell is Mikki doing in this dump?
“It’s about damn time you showed up.” He looked at the man and said, “Back off. Go find your own. This one’s mine, and I ain’t sharing.” He grasped Mikki by the wrist and pulled her off the barstool then led her toward a table across the room.
“Pete Foster, what are you doing here?” She tried to twist out of his grip. “Get your hands off me. Stop yanking me around.”
A deep voice behind Pete said, “Don’t look like she’s too happy to see you. Matter of fact, don’t look like she wants anything to do with you at all.”
Foster ignored the man. He grabbed a chair from the table and nudged Mikki into it. He used his foot to pull out another one and sat down.
The man with the deep voice walked closer. “Is that right, sweet thing? You want me to get rid of him for you?” He put his hand on Mikki’s shoulder while challenging Pete with a dark stare.
Mikki wiped her mouth and shrugged, trying to shake off the man’s hand. It stayed.
Pete glanced up. “I said she’s my woman.”
Before Pete could say more, Red growled, “Prove it.”
Pete stood and faced the man who was at least an inch or two taller than him, with arms as thick as trees. The sound of chair legs scraping across the floor told him the large man’s friends were ready to join them. “Look, I don’t want any trouble. The lady and I had a few words earlier, and she’s a little pissed at me right now.” He started to sit down, and the man kicked his chair out of reach.
“She don’t look like she wants to be with you. How do I know she’s yours? Don’t see a ring on her finger.” Red crossed his arms over his chest. “The way I see it, the little lady and I were getting to know each other, and you interrupted. I don’t like to be interrupted.” He unfolded his arms and let them hang at his side.
Pete saw the stranger’s hands flexing and relaxing. He began to limber his own hands and widened his stance. “Like I said, she’s a little upset right now, that’s all.”
Mikki started to stand, and Pete put his hand out and shook his head. “Stay out of this, Mikki.”
Mikki pushed his hand away and stood. She looked from one to the other and rolled her eyes. “This is ridiculous.” She started to walk between the two when one of the stranger’s thick arms stretched in front of her.
“Hold on, you and I have some business to finish.”
She opened her mouth but swallowed and stepped closer to Pete when the man moved toward her.
There was loud laughter and encouragement from the people in the bar. “That’s right, Red. Don’t let her get away,” someone said.
Pete stared at the man, his jaw locked and his brows almost touching in the middle. “I said she’s mine,” he said through clenched teeth.
“And I said prove it.”
Pete pulled Mikki to him and kissed her, hard. “That ought to do it.”
Red grabbed her arm and yanked her toward him. At the same time, he said, “Don’t prove nothing.” He took a handful of her hair and turned her face toward his. She threw her arm up and shoved against his chest. Her knee came up, catching the man on his hard thigh.
“No!” She tried to turn away and said, “Leave me alone!”
Red released his grip. Pete pulled her behind him. “Okay, satisfied?”
“That don’t prove nothing.” He looked toward the others in the bar and said, “Did that prove anything to you guys? Do you think she’s really his woman?”
They all began to hoot and yell. Someone shouted, “Hell no, just proves you’re ugly and got bad breath. Let me at her.” There was more laughing and cheering.
“What about it, honey? You his woman?” Red looked around Pete to Mikki.
“No.” When Pete’s hand grabbed hers and squeezed, she said, “Yes, I mean I was, but—” She stopped talking when the pressure on her hand increased.
“Well, what do you know? She ain’t your old lady after all.” Red took a small step closer, coming almost chest to chest with Pete. “That means she’s available, don’t it? What you might call up for grabs.” He reached for Mikki.
“I told you, she’s pissed at me, but she’s mine. Now back off,” Pete said.
“And I said prove it.”
“I did.”
“And I say a kiss don’t mean nothing.”
“What the hell do you want?”
Red folded his arms across his chest and stared at Pete. Neither moved a muscle for several minutes. Without taking his eyes off the man in front of him, Red began to stroke his beard. After a moment, he said, “Hey Buck, you still able to marry people?”
Chapter 38
Pete felt Mikki squeeze his hand and heard her gasp.
The bartender held a glass to the light then wiped it with a towel. “Yep.”
“Good, ‘cause I think we’re about to have us a wedding.”
“You have to be kidding,” Pete said. “You can’t do that. It wouldn’t be legal.”
“Legal enough for us. Ain’t that right fellows?” When the others yelled in agreement and moved closer, Red continued. “Buck here is one of them elected minister type guys. All he’s got to do is say some fancy words.”
“That’s absurd,” Mikki said. Pete held her hand tighter, keeping her behind him. “You can’t make us get married,” she said over his shoulder.
Pete looked at the faces of the men surrounding them. He was outnumbered. These guys are just feeding off each other, and it’s a
bout to get ugly. There’s only one way out of this. “Okay, let’s do it,” he said.
Mikki tried to step forward. “What? You’re crazy if you think I’m going to marry you, especially in some backwoods bar with a bunch of—” She winced in pain when Pete pressed his thumb into her wrist.
Red said, “Come on, Buck. These folks want to get hitched.”
“What do you think you’re doing?” Mikki said in Pete’s ear.
“We’ll go along with them and then get out of here. We know it’s not legal.”
“You’re crazy. Let go of me. I have no desire to be a part of this silly bar game. I’m going home.”
“The only place you’re going, little lady, is on your honeymoon,” a thin, oily haired man beside her said. The crowd shouted, and the closest ones slapped him on the back.
The bartender stepped next to Red, who was still staring at Pete. There was a towel thrown over his shoulder and another tucked into his belt. “Dearly beloved—”
“This is stupid, let me out of here,” Mikki said.
The crowd closed in tighter.
Red pinched Mikki’s chin and turned her face toward his. “If you don’t want to marry this guy, you just say the word. We can have our own honeymoon.”
She jerked away and slipped her hand back into Pete’s.
Red snorted and folded his arms again. His eyes were dark and focused on Mikki. “Come on, Buck. Don’t worry about all that stuff, just get to the marrying part.”
“Okay, well then, do you . . .” Buck looked at Pete with his brow raised.
“Pete Foster,” someone said. “I heard her call him Pete Foster.”
Pete looked at Mikki and shrugged with a sigh of resignation.
“Do you, Pete Foster, take . . .” He looked at Mikki and waited.
Mikki looked at him then huffed and turned her face away, staring out the window.
Arrested Romance (Oak Spring Series Book 2) Page 11