Her interest wasn’t so much on breakfast as it was on the Garrison family. She’d met them a couple of times and spoke briefly with them when they’d come into Naughty Sprinkles, but other than that, not so much. The family dynamics on the island wowed her and she always found curiosity about other relationships besides Liz, Luther, and Jed’s. She pulled the buds from her ears and entered the grocery store. She almost couldn’t believe it was her first time there. Staying busy had kept her mind from feeling sorry for herself and also from doing more exploration of the island. At that point, she hadn’t even seen the resort.
“Good morning, Reece.” Rebecca Garrison smiled at her as she walked by. Her eyes brightened with enthusiasm and she leaned over to speak with one of husbands, no doubt about her. Lane guessed the news of her date with Dane traveled fast in small circles. Why they cared was anyone’s guess.
Lane pulled a bottle of water from the open vat of ice stuffed with various drinks. Her thirst so strong she immediately opened it and began chugging it down. She knew it wasn’t very ladylike, but who said she was a lady? When half the bottle was gone, Lane finally released her lips from the top and swallowed hard. Her heart rate had calmed and now that her thirst was quenched, she was ready to go again.
As she walked to the register with her half-drank bottle of water she realized she didn’t have a dime on her. Great. That figures. She walked over to register and set the bottle down. “Mrs. Garrison, I don’t have any money on me. If you’ll give me a few minutes, I’ll run to the shop and get some to pay you.”
“No need. I’ll take care of it.” Lane heard a deep, sultry voice behind her. His tone made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up and a quiver roll down her spine.
Lane turned, not surprised to see Bannock standing there. Up close, the man was more of a sight to behold than she remembered. From a distance, she hadn’t been able to see or realize his enormous size. The man was easily over six feet tall, trim and muscular, but not overly muscular, just perfect. “Thank you, Bannock.”
He didn’t return the smile. Instead, he studied her with interest marking his face. “My pleasure.” He nodded and left her standing there. Just as she suspected, the man hated her and she had no idea why.
“Well, it seems you need not worry this morning, sweetie.” Rebecca smiled at her before looking over her shoulder to Bannock. “You have a nice day, hun.”
Lane grabbed her bottle of water and exited. She wondered about the scene in the store between Bannock and his mother. In the few seconds Lane was eye to eye, well eye to chest with him, she could sense unrest in him. She shrugged it off. Most small town folks didn’t readily accept newcomers. She supposed he was one of them.
* * * *
“What was that all about?” Bannock’s mother followed him to the back of the store.
“What are you talking about?” Bannock stopped and turned to face her.
“You and Reece. I appreciate the sentiment of taking care of the water, but you didn’t smile at her. At all.”
“So, what am I am supposed to be, the town greeter?”
“No, but I find it odd that Dane took her out last night. I assumed you two were cooking up a plan.”
“I hate to disappoint you, but we aren’t cooking up anything.” Bannock turned and continued on. His head rocked with an excruciating headache. He supposed it served him right, drinking all that alcohol. Normally he stayed pretty well in check and knew when to quit. Last night, the stress of knowing Dane was with Reece kept him pulling drink after drink to his lips. He deserved the headache, he figured, and so much more. Dane was an adult and more than capable of making his own decision, right or wrong.
“Whoa, hold it.” His mother caught up.
Bannock stopped at the bank of coffee pots, pulled a cup out, and poured himself what he hoped would be the savior to what ailed him. His mother was chattering behind him, but he wasn’t listening as he walked past her and to the aisle with pain relievers and medicines. He snatched two packages of pain relievers from the hook.
“Are you listening to me?”
“Nope.” He replied and headed toward the back of the store toward the office.
Inside, his fathers Don and William were sitting across from each other at the desk, each with a pencil and calculator. He grew up seeing this very scene every week when they balanced the books. They were hardcore businessmen and accounted for every blasted cent.
“Ah, Bannock, have seat.” His father Don patted the chair and Bannock sat down.
Visiting on Sundays was the norm, but after a poker night, he usually didn’t feel this crummy. He was beginning to wish he’d have stayed home and in bed.
“We are considering expanding the deli. What do you think?”
Bannock sat in a stupor. The bright light made his eyeballs ache and the pounding in his head so severe, it made his stomach churn.
“Leave him alone. It looks like he tied one on last night.”
“That’s right, last night was poker night. The boxes of pain relievers and tall cup of coffee should have tipped me off. By the way, that shit doesn’t work. I don’t know how many times I need to tell you that, son.”
Bannock rolled his eyes as he sipped his coffee. Sometimes it was almost like being a kid again when around them. Out the corner of his eye, he could see his mother step in with her hands on her hips. Wowzers, I’ve really pissed in her tulips this morning.
“Talk some sense into him, would you?”
“About what? He’s old enough to know when to cut off the drinking when playing poker. Serves him right if you ask me.” Don leaned back in his chair with his hands behind his head.
“I’m not talking about that.” She proceeded to tell his fathers about the scene with Reece. Now he really wished he’d stayed in bed.
“Why are you so concerned about him smiling at the Wyatts’ niece anyway?” Don looked confused.
“You don’t get it, Don. Reece is her best friend’s niece. Our son is single and half the residents think he’s gay. It doesn’t take a genius to figure that out.”
“Well, news travels fast around here! I’m not gay!”
“Funny, I haven’t seen you with a woman since you broke up with Jenny.” William noted and studied him.
Oh, here we go. “I didn’t break up with Jenny. She dumped me while I sat in the fucking desert, remember?”
Don pointed an accusing finger at him. “Boy, you need to move on.”
“I didn’t come here for a lecture. I’m quite capable of deciding what I need to do.”
“Oh, yeah?” His mother crossed her arms. “You’ve been in self-destruct mode since Jenny. Now, a beautiful, single woman moves onto the island and you don’t give her the time of day. You don’t even smile.
“Seriously, mother? You’re harping on me because I didn’t smile at her?”
William interrupted. “No, son, it’s so much more than that. She just wants you to be happy.”
“I’m happy. Hell, I’m fucking deliriously happy being single and left the hell alone. I’m also thirty-five years old and don’t need this bullshit.”
“Yet he comes in here feeling like hell and it is apparent something is bothering him. We’re just his parents and shouldn’t care about his happiness.” His father William became sarcastic. A trait he was very good at using.
“I get it. Okay? You need to understand that I don’t need a woman in my life to be happy. I also don’t care if every resident on this island thinks I’m gay. I know I’m not and even if I were…is it anyone’s business?”
“Hell, honey, he’s happy. You’re really happy, aren’t you?” His father Don turned to look at Bannock.
“I’m happier than an arsonist with a new book of matches.” He groaned before popping the tablets into his mouth and chasing them down with the coffee that burned all the way down.
William pointed at him while looking at his mother. “See, the boy’s happy.”
His mother gave an irritated
growl and walked away when the front door chimed.
“I’ll be sure to thank that customer later.” Bannock joked and his fathers offered a chuckle.
“So, what’s the story with this woman? I’ve seen her, son, and let me tell you—” Don started before Bannock quickly interrupted.
“Yeah, yeah. I know. If you were young and single again, you’d be chasing her all over the island.”
“Damn straight.” Don smirked.
“Why do I come down here?” Bannock sipped his coffee.
William twirled his pencil between his fingers. “Because you love and respect us.”
Bannock nodded, leaned back in the chair and rested his head against the wall.
“Well, tell us what’s going on?”
“I can’t discuss it right now.”
Don looked at him with a hint of sympathy. “Your mother just wants you to be happy.”
“Well, and she’d like grandchildren one day.” William added.
“Yeah, exactly. She doesn’t understand the bigger picture.” Bannock replied.
“Listen, son, I know you were hurt deeply by Jenny. Hell, if I would have been in your position, I’d have a hard time trusting a woman again as well. But the truth is, you really need to move on.”
“Goddamn it, I have moved on.” Bannock became edgy and irritated.
“Wow, touchy.”
“You’re damn right I’m touchy. Just drop it.”
“I’m sorry, son, I can’t do that. We love you and worry about you,” Don said.
“Ever since your fiancée ran off with that business tycoon, you’ve hated women. You haven’t so much as dated one.”
Bannock raised his hands in defeat. “So, they’re trouble.”
“Says you.”
“I didn’t come here to discuss my personal life. I just stopped by to have my usual cup of coffee and visit like I do every Sunday.”
“Wait, wait.” Don interrupted. “I think I know what’s going on.”
“Oh, yeah?” Bannock raised a brow.
“Didn’t Dane take her out last night?”
“What are you getting at?”
“You’re jealous.” Don grinned.
“Oh, my, god. What is it with all of you today?”
“You’re right, Will, the boy is jealous.”
Bannock stood up and felt the room spin. The pain in his head seemed to radiate to every nerve ending in his body. Why his parents wouldn’t leave well enough alone bothered him. They only wanted him to be happy, but they had a funny way of showing it.
“Son, I can feel your pain and you are not at all yourself, but let me give you a little advice, father to son.”
“What’s that?”
“Don’t fear the unknown. Sometimes you find yourself happier in the long run.”
“I don’t fear anything.”
“Well, Dane obviously doesn’t. That woman he dated a few months back really did a number on his heart and now he’s back in the game.”
“I swear, Dane must have a golden fucking penis. Everyone seems to think what he is doing is fanfuckingtabulous except me. Well, I have news for you. Reece comes with a lot of baggage, and I suspect he’ll end up hurt when the dust settles.”
“And how would you know?” Don asked.
“I just know. I’ve got to go.”
Before he could exit the store, his mother stopped him. Instead of speaking, she pulled him into a hug. Her head rested on his chest. “I love you.”
“I love you, too, mom.”
Chapter 7
The last week had passed so quickly for Lane, she had almost forgotten the day when she awoke that morning. It was Saturday and the Charity Auction. “I have something for you.” Liz popped her head through Lane’s bedroom door with a bright smile.
Lane had a towel on her head as she sifted through her meager wardrobe. Back at her apartment in LA, she had plenty to choose from. “I hope it’s a dress. I doubt this sundress would be appropriate for the event tonight.”
“Ah, you guessed.” Liz held up a silver halter top dress. The light reflected off the material and dazzled her eyes. It was gorgeous, rivaling most anything she had ever modeled.
“Liz, I was kidding, but wow, where did you get this?” Lane snatched it up in her hands, the fabric soft and silky as it slid effortlessly through her fingertips.
“I have connections.” Liz teased and held out a bag.
“Really? What else?”
“Well, you can’t very well wear a dress like this without shoes to match.”
Lane became sentimental and a little teary eyed. “I don’t know what to say, Liz.”
“Say, thank you and then rock the hell out of this dress at the charity auction.” Liz hugged her. “I missed so much by not having a daughter.”
Lane sniffled. “You really do too much for me.”
“Nonsense. Now get ready and meet me downstairs.”
Lane nodded as she clutched her new dress to her chest. She began to think of her mother and how tight times always seemed to be when she was younger. When prom came around her senior year, they had little or no money for a dress. Instead of getting a new dress, Lane had shopped at second-hand stores for two weeks trying to find something that wasn’t out of style and could be altered if need be. Those were the times that pushed Lane and helped develop her fierce desire to achieve. It was almost at times a Scarlett O’Hara scene where she gripped a handful of dirt, dressed in her ratty dress, and vowed to never go hungry again. Lane hadn’t starved by any means, but did without so much growing up.
As Lane readied, she continued to reflect back. She missed her mother dearly, noting this had been the longest stretch of time since she’d spoken with her. The urge to call hit her again as a new round of tears threatened to fall. In her quest the last two years, she had ignored what was most important. It wasn’t the money, the posh apartment or the closet full of clothes she left behind, it was family.
Before she could rationalize any longer, Lane picked up the cordless phone from the base. She dialed the familiar numbers and waited.
“Hello?” The sound of her mother’s sweet voice answered.
“Mom?” Lane suppressed a sob. “Mom, it’s me, Lane.”
“Lane? Oh, my god, Lane. Is it really you, honey?”
Lane wiped a tear that rolled down her cheek. “Yes, mom. It’s me.”
“I’ve been so worried.” Her mother began to cry at the other end. “I didn’t know what happened to you. A man came by and claimed to be with the FBI. He said you were in danger and had been moved out of the area. He wouldn’t tell me where—”
“Mom”—Lane listened as her mother cried—“Mom, calm down. Deep breath. I’m okay.”
“Where are you? When can you come home?”
“I can’t tell you where I am and I don’t know when I can come home. I just wanted to let you know I’m fine.” Lane reached for a tissue and sat on the side of the bed. “I miss you so much and I’m so sorry.”
“Lane, are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yes, mom, but I can’t talk very much longer. I promise when this clears up, I will tell you everything.”
“Honey, please, please, be careful.”
“I will. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
Lane hung up the phone and began to sob. Her mother had been worrying just like she suspected. She shouldn’t have called, but she needed to, at least for her mother’s peace of mind. She felt rather numb as she stared at the phone. So many times she had the opportunity to pick one up and call her mother and she didn’t. Now she may have jeopardized her own safety, but she almost didn’t care. Her mother was everything to her and she deserved to know that she was okay.
With a little prayer, Lane stood up, hoping for the best. The empty place in her heart that yearned to hear her mother’s voice wasn’t as void as it had been, but far from full.
Noting the time, Lane picked up her pace and continued to ready hers
elf for the charity event. Actually, she had no desire to go, but with Liz being the mayor and all, it would be expected she attend. The Wyatts had done so much for her since she arrived. The least she could do was put on a happy face and continue her charade.
An hour later, Lane stood in front of a full-length mirror that stood opposite her bed. The dress seemed to have been tailored just for her. It accentuated her waistline and hugged her hips. The only problem with the dress was the plunging neckline, if it could be called that. The top barely covered her breasts and left most of her chest bare. The dress was short as well, only about mid-thigh in length. She felt sexy, uninhibited even. Images of Dane raced through her mind and she wondered if he’d be attending as well.
As she looked in the mirror at her appearance, she traced the edge of the fabric that left little to the imagination. Her fingertip grazed over the swell of her breast and a surge of energy pulsed through her. She thought of Dane and closed her eyes, imagining his fingers exploring her alert skin that buzzed. Crazy, god she was crazy, she thought. Not only did she want Dane, she needed him as well. She had tired of fantasizing, tired of masturbating to dreams of him. Tonight, a new, naughty girl screamed to be let out of the cage that imprisoned her. Maybe, she’d let her out to play.
A knock at her door startled her and her eyes snapped open as her hand jerked away from her breast. Underneath the sheer fabric, her nipples had become hard, the material brushing over them making them beg for more stimulation.
“Come, come in.” Lane stuttered and cursed herself for her new annoying habit. It started when she first arrived on the island.
“Oh. My. God.” Liz emphasized each word as she entered. “Women will be jealous and men will drool tonight!”
Lane blushed and looked back at herself in the mirror. Her long, brilliant red hair cascaded over her shoulders and framed her face. Thanks to her crying jag, her eyes were glossy and bright. “Are you sure this isn’t a little over the top for the event?” She turned to Liz, feeling a little more than self-conscious. Sure she had modeled nude, but this was different. This dress screamed available and fuck me.
Tattoos and Cupcakes [Sunset Point] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 11