by Cathryn Cade
"Let me get the groceries." He bent his head as if to kiss her in greeting, the way he always did.
But this time, Lindi recoiled, her heart squeezing painfully in her chest."Sorry," she said. "But that gloss you're wearing? Just isn't my color."
She skirted past him, carrying her remaining shopping bag, and leaving the other where it lay.
"We have some nice hotels in town," she said to Coral, who was busy fixing her own lip gloss with a fingertip. "Let me Google one for you, so you can be on your way."
The redhead pouted, and spoke for the first time since Lindi's arrival. "But Jack was just gonna fix us some drinks."
Lindi froze, the hair on the back of her neck standing up. She knew that voice. The last time she'd heard it had been over the phone, when Jack was on a road trip to California. And that time, the woman had also been throwing herself in Jack's arms. A habit she really needed to break, forever. Lindi would be glad to help with that.
"You're that Coral," she said. "Where's your man, uh, Crank? Did you forget to bring him?" Or maybe she kept him in that huge-ass suitcase.
Coral pouted, but her eyes shot fire at Lindi under thick, black, false lashes.
"Name's Crack." Jack's big, warm hand landed in the middle of Lindi's back, and he gave her a subtle push toward the kitchen at the back of the house. "Baby, didn't get a chance to tell you. Coral's alone this trip, so I invited her to stay with us."
"You what?" Lindi was dreaming. That must be it.
This was a bad dream, and soon she'd wake up and things would all be back to normal. No baby, no ex-girlfriend.
Clutching her remaining shopping bag, she turned toward the wide, open stairs that led up to the second floor. "Jack, may I speak to you upstairs?"
He turned her toward him, dipping his head to peer into her face. He'd wiped his face clean, at least. And he looked wary--smart man.
"First, I'm gonna get some drinks goin'," he told her. "You come down, we'll have drinks and some supper, yeah?"
The caress of his hands on her arms encouraged her to sink against him, to smile up at his beloved face and agree with what he wanted.
However, her hurt and disappointment crushed that urge like an avalanche. "Don't make me a drink," she said. "I'm not in the mood."
"Lindi," he said, his voice rough with exasperation and some deeper meaning that she was too upset to even try and divine.
Lindi pulled away from him and hurried upstairs. It felt like walking away from love, but for crying out loud. With this latest move, Jack had stretched the bonds between them so far they might just snap.
On one of the most momentous days of their lives, she'd found him with another woman in his arms. An ex-lover, no less. And not just anywhere, but in the home they'd built together, and where they planned to be married soon.
What the heck was he thinking? Were all her worst fears coming true? Was he already tired of her, and thus ready to get back to the kind of woman he'd been used to in his wild, bachelor days? Lindi's eyes filled with tears again, and she nearly stumbled on the top step.
Pride kept her moving, across the open landing to the big master suite. It was furnished with light woods, plush carpet and a king-sized bed with a pretty duvet cover and pillows the color of the lake below on a sunny day. Pretty cushions in shades of azure, red and cream were piled against the headboard, inviting one to lie back and relax.
Lindi veered left, into her walk-in closet. There she tossed her shopping bag on the ottoman in the center of the space, pulled off her jacket and tossed it too. It missed, sliding to the carpet and carrying her shopping bag with it, but she was already moving away and didn't notice.
Their big bathroom was in the corner of the suite, windows on both sides letting in lots of natural light, with privacy shades drawn part-way up from the bottom of the windows. Lindi looked at herself in the mirror over the double sink vanity, and nearly started to cry again. But she set her jaw and put her hands on her hips.
She looked her best, damn it. Her long, honey-blonde hair curled around her face, and down over her shoulders. Her makeup enhanced her eyes and set off her full lips. And her long, vee-necked sweater was just the honey shade that made her eyes greener, and set off her skin tone. The fitted jeans flattered her long legs and curving hips. Jack's diamond flashed on her left hand, along with her dangling earrings, and the pendant he'd given her that fall.
She was every bit as pretty as that redheaded floozy downstairs. And Jack was hers, damnit. He'd said he loved her, and he'd proposed right in front of his biker brothers in her cafe. So if he thought he was going to get cozy with another woman, let him do that in front of their friends, see how much fun that was for him.
She hustled back into her closet and pulled her phone from her purse. Then she hit a familiar number.
"You got Keys," a deep, lazy voice said. "What's up, lady?"
Lindi told him.
Jack's best friend sighed. "Fuck me, that ain't right. So, here's what we'll do."
* * *
Jack Moran was many things, but he was not stupid. He knew by the way his pretty, sweet woman looked when she walked in on him and Coral that he'd stepped into deep shit. He'd shovel his way out just as soon as he got Lindi alone for a few minutes.
But right now, he had drinks to make, and he'd be making one of them strong, because the sooner Coral was sloshed, the sooner he could pour her into the bed in their spare room, and get her out of his hair for the night. Hell, he'd lock her in if he didn't think she'd trash the room out of spite.
At the bar set up in the corner of their big, comfortable living room, Jack filled two highball glasses with ginger ale. He added a shot of whiskey to one, a triple shot to the other.
He handed over the strong drink to Coral, and headed to his easy chair, where she could not follow and cozy up to him. She slithered onto the leather sofa, batting her lashes at him over her drink.
"Bottoms up," he told her. "Lot's more where that came from."
To say he'd been displeased to see her walk into Stingers earlier that afternoon was the understatement of the year.
He'd spent a wild weekend or two with her back several years ago, yeah. But a man learned real fast that a woman like her might be good-looking and willing to do any sexual act anywhere, but she still was not worth the shit she stirred. He'd never been sure if she was downright malicious, or just too stupid to realize the chaos she left behind.
In any case, once she'd taken up with Crack, a brother who'd as soon kill any man who looked cross-ways at what was his, Jack had breathed a sigh of relief, and he hadn't been alone in this. Few of the old ladies of the Redding, California chapter had liked her, and none of them had trusted her.
Now, Crack's old lady was not only on the loose here in Jack's town, she had a gleam in her eyes that spelled trouble. She'd strutted into his new supper club, completely ignored the guys working on the new freezer, thrown herself in his arms and turned on the tears.
Crack was mistreating her, she'd told Jack. No, he wasn't slapping her around, he was taking her for granted, and in her mind, that was even worse. She was the kind of woman that would rather have drama, screaming, hitting and slamming doors, than peace. She'd taken off, and if Crack wanted her, he could just ride up here and get her.
Jack was very much afraid the man would do just that. So he'd keep an eye on her until Crack got here, do his best to calm the man down, and send them on their merry way, leaving him to get on with his own business in peace--opening his supper club, and enjoying his first Christmas with his woman.
But as usual where Coral was concerned, nothing was that simple. The minute they'd heard Lindi's new SUV drive into the garage, Coral had thrown herself into his arms and planted a big, sloppy kiss on him, just in time for Lindi to walk in on them.
The bitch was nothing if not consistent. Now she twirled a lock of red hair around one of her claw-like nails. "Your girl-friend isn't very happy to see me," she said coyly. "I guess she knows you
and me were once a hot item, hmm?"
Jack leaned back in his chair. "Lindi? No, my woman knows she can trust me. Just like Crack knows he can trust you."
Coral pouted, then slugged back more of her drink. "Not if he doesn't wake up and smell the whiskey."
Light footsteps sounded on the stairs, and Jack turned with relief as Lindi appeared. Then she smiled at Coral, and the hair on the back of his neck stood up.
"I think you mean wake up and smell the coffee," Lindi said sweetly. "Unless you're in the habit of drinking first thing in the morning?" She tipped her head in sweet sympathy.
Jack nearly snorted into his drink, but Coral did not look amused.
He rattled the ice in his glass. "Coffee in the mornin', whiskey in the evenin', that's how we like it," he said heartily. "Fix you a drink, baby?"
"Just a ginger ale," Lindi said with another of those sugary smiles, seating herself in the other armchair near his. "Thank you, honey."
Jack gave her a quizzical look, but nodded. As he rose, Coral held out her empty glass to him. "I'll have another drink with you, big guy."
"You got it." He beat a retreat to the bar, one ear on the women behind him.
His worst fears materialized when Coral spoke again. "I'm sure you know Jack and me were...together," she told Lindi.
Jack winced, waiting for it.
"I do," Lindi assured Coral. "But don't you worry, my man can keep his mouth shut."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Coral snapped.
"Oh, nothing," Lindi assured her. "I'm sure all those ugly stories about you will never get back to Crank."
The doorbell pealed, the sound loud in the quiet house.
Jack started violently, then cursed under his breath as whiskey over-flowed Coral's glass, over his hand and the bar. He set the whiskey bottle down, handed Lindi her ginger ale, shoved Coral's full drink into her hand, and headed for the front door, leaving Coral sputtering behind him about bitches who didn't know anything about her.
Jesus, the phrase 'saved by the bell' just took on a whole new meaning.
Jack did not fucking care who was at his front door, he was inviting them in for drinks, and hell, dinner too. When he pulled the heavy front door open and saw a familiar trio on the porch, their arms laden with beer and shopping bags, relief swelled like a balloon in his chest.
"Hey, neighbors, come on in," he invited heartily, stepping back and holding the door wide. "This is one helluva nice surprise."
Keys gave him a wry look as he ushered Kit inside. "Little bird said you might be glad to see us," the silver-haired biker muttered.
Kit gave Jack a deep frown, like he'd showed up in public with his dick hanging out. "I know Lindi will be happy to have reinforcements, today of all days," she said cryptically.
Remi, a slim Native American with long ebony hair falling around his shoulders, followed them in, hefting the cases of craft beer in his hands. "Brought beer and salad fixings. Pizza's on the way."
Jack gave his new supper club manager a grateful clap on the shoulder. "Don't know who's idea that was, but I ain't gonna look a gift horse in the mouth."
Because he doubted his woman was in the mood to cook anything for Coral, and he was afraid to leave the two women alone long enough to do any cooking himself.
Remi nodded gravely. "Wise choice."
Jack followed their guests into the living room. At least the two women were still seated, no blood or hair-pulling in evidence although Coral looked mad enough to spit.
"Baby, look who's here," he said to Lindi. "And they brought supper."
Lindi beamed. "That's so sweet. However did you guys know we'd love to see you?"
Ha. Like he didn't know who'd called them. His woman was not only pretty and hot as fuck, she was feisty when she was riled. And right now, she was riled at him, and she was hating having Coral in their home.
Too bad she was gonna have to put up with her for a while.
"Jack," Keys said. "Show me where to stow this beer."
And even though Jack knew that Keys knew exactly where Jack's new beer fridge was and how to get there from here, Jack nodded. "Let's go."
He led the way into the big, country kitchen with its big work island and spacious counters. Lindi had chosen the honey-hued granite countertops, the big gas range, the double convection ovens and the huge frost-free fridge. Together, they had chosen the wood flooring and the cabinetry. Lindi's touch was everywhere, in the colorful towels, row of pottery canisters and the poinsettias on the island, a splash of pink and scarlet.
In the back area between the kitchen and deck that doubled as mudroom, Keys plunked the case of beer in the big stainless fridge, selected a bottle and opened the top. Then he raised a quizzical brow at Jack. "Assume you got a good reason for putting your balls in a vise by inviting that bitch from hell into your house with Lindi?"
Jack took his own beer from the fridge and shut the door. He shook his head wryly. "Thought I did, but I'm beginning to wonder if I'm just fuckin' nuts. Putting those two in the same room is like dumping two wildcats in with a piece of raw meat."
Keys chuckled. "And you're the meat. So talk to me--why's Coral in town and why'd you invite her to stay in your house?"
"Because," Jack said, all humor aside, "With the shit going on over in Snoqualmie, the brothers going one-percenter and getting all the state cops on the hunt, the last thing the club needs is a brother in a Devil's Flyer cut brawling here in Coeur d'Alene. And you know well as I do, if we shunt Coral off to a hotel, she'll hit the bars. When she does, she'll start flirtin' and more, 'cause that's how she rolls. And we do not need Crack rolling into town and losing his mind all over some civilian who just thought he was gonna get him some, and didn't know the bitch was connected to a club."
Keys took a drink of his beer and swallowed. "I see that. I heard from Knife that there's some brothers gone completely crazy over there in the woods up past Snoqualmie--kidnapping women and shit."
"Yeah, and if those assholes have to be taken down by the club, that shit needs to stay quiet. The police don't need to get the idea the Flyers are a problem over here too. Crack shows up, he finds Coral here with me and my woman, he knows nothin' went down between me and her. He visits a day or two, then they head back to warmer weather."
"When you figure Crack will show? 'Cause you're right, he will. For some unknown reason, that sumbitch is gone over Coral."
Jack shrugged. "Yeah, and I'm sure she let him know exactly where she is. Roads are good, he could be here by tomorrow."
Keys eyed him. "What's goin' on with Lindi? I mean, besides one of your exes showin' up out of the blue."
Unease slid down Jack's spine like icy fingers. "Nothin', far as I know. Why? Kit say somethin'?"
"Red's not talkin'. Secrets of the sisterhood. But if I was you I'd find out, 'cause ten to one there's something you need to know."
Jack's unease deepened, because Keys knew women, and if he said something was up, it was there. "Yeah, just as soon as I can get her to look me in the eye, and get a minute away from Coral."
Keys sighed. "I got your back. Much as it pains my ass--an' it does, worse than a case of hemorrhoids--we'll take her off your hands."
"You do, and you'll eat free at Stingers for the next six months."
"Huh. Might take a month of free dinners. Not sure your accountant would go for more than that." Since Jack's book-keeper was Keys' own woman Kit, who was a nut but also a genius with numbers, his eyes twinkled as he said this.
"All right. We better get back in there. Remi's a good man, but not sure he can hold Lindi and Kit if they both go for Coral."
The two of them shared a wry grin as they imagined the cat-fight that would be. Then they both hustled back to keep the peace until Coral was drunk enough to get her to go quietly.
* * *
Much later, Jack stood in the master suite he shared with Lindi, outside the closed door of their bathroom.
Their company was gone. Keys, Kit a
nd Remi had poured Coral and her luggage into their rig and taken her with them, along with her Camaro. They lived up the mountain a few hundred yards in a new home adjacent to Keys' custom car shop.
Jack bent his head and sighed, a hand to the back of his neck. "Babe. If you don't talk to me, how the hell am I supposed to fix this?"
He was exhausted from a long day at Stingers, a longer evening keeping the peace between Coral, and Lindi and Kit, neither of whom had spared the sugar-coated barbs headed Coral's way throughout their pizza supper, or the time afterward.
Now it was nearly midnight, he was exhausted, his head hurt and he wanted to lie down in his bed with Lindi in his arms, the way they always fell asleep. What he did not want to be doing was trying to get his woman to talk to him.
The door opened, loosing warm, fragrant air that smelled of Lindi's favorite citrus-herb shower gel and lotion. Lindi stood in the doorway, flushed and pretty in one of the lacy nighties he'd bought for her. This one was red, and her skin was pearly against the peek-a-boo lace.
However, the expression on her face was not sweet and sexy to match. She looked tired and pissed, and something more that clawed at his heart even through his irritation. Hurt shone from her pretty eyes. But he couldn't fix it if she didn't let him.
"You ready to listen now?" he asked. And yeah, his tone was pissed, because he was that. "'Cause I've done nothin' wrong, just trying to do right." For his club, and for the whole fuckin' town.
She finished rubbing lotion into her hands, and then walked away to their bed. "Jack, honestly, if you don't know what's wrong with what you did, I'm not explaining it to you."
"Thought we weren't gonna do this again," he growled. "This thing where you don't listen to me, don't even give me a chance to explain." Because yeah, he got why she was pissed, but now he was pissed too. And this was no way to make things work.
