by Karen Renee
She looked confused. “It’s like four in the afternoon, Har.”
He gave her a sheepish smile. “Mom eats early. Said we’ll eat between five-thirty and six, but she’s putting out appetizers at five. I got enough issues with her that I don’t need to be late for something like this.”
She stood up. “Should I change into something—”
“I also let it slip that you were stabbed. Thought that would discourage her from insisting on having us over, but I was wrong. She’s adamant and doesn’t care if you show up wearing a potato sack.”
“As if,” she muttered, then added, “Those things itch.”
He laughed. “I’ll take your word for it. I need to carry you?”
She looked outraged. “I can walk, Michael.”
He shrugged a shoulder. “Figured I could cross off one of those ridiculous marriage traditions, that’s all.”
WHEN HAR PULLED HIS truck into the drive, he bit back a curse at seeing his sister’s car behind his mother’s Acadia. He hadn’t expected his mother to pull a sneak attack, and there was no doubt this was just that. It was part of why Ben had left the Gulf Coast for any place as far away as he could get. His mother believed three was a crowd, and that was never more evident than when she tried to force him and Corinna to reconcile.
Stephanie reached out and grabbed his hand. “What’s wrong, honey?”
He looked at her. “I hate to tell you this, but Mom’s ambushed us.”
Her head tilted a bit. “Ambushed us? How?”
He squeezed her hand. “Corinna’s here, and if I had to guess, she’s got no idea I’m showing up. Let alone that I’m showing up with you in tow.”
She looked lost in thought before she spoke. “Well, nothing says it has to go badly.”
“Honey, this is a bullshit move on Mom’s part. Pisses me off because it tells me she doesn’t give a rat’s ass you could’ve bled out on a fuckin’ floor last night. She’s using this to bring me back together with my stick-up-her-ass sister.”
Her other hand wrapped around the top of his. “Maybe. Just maybe, she thinks the gravity of my situation will change your sister’s outlook? Possibly soften it?”
He opened his mouth to speak, but both her hands squeezed his as she continued.
“Actually, Corinna’s just a couple years older than me. Maybe she thinks I can talk her around.”
His eyes widened. “’Cause that’s the shit you should do after being stabbed? I knew this was a bad idea when she mentioned it. Should’ve gone with my fuckin’ gut.”
She shook her head. “Nope. You need to let that go. We’re here, she’s here, and if your mother did manipulate this like you think she did, then I think your sister will be smart enough to see that.”
He exhaled sharply while bringing her hand to his lips. “Stopped thinking she’s smart enough to see the truth a long time ago, Combes. But I’ll let you have your optimism.”
As he guided her to the front door, he realized how much her injury had slowed her down. At least he had his escape plan ready, because there was no question Stephanie needed to get more rest.
His mom opened the door with a huge smile. “Michael, I’m so glad you could make it. I have the best surprise. Corinna dropped by, can you believe it?”
He said nothing, knowing the look on his face said it all.
His mom ignored it and grabbed Stephanie’s hands. “I couldn’t stand hearing what happened to you, Stephanie. Come in, let’s get you situated.”
He followed them into the living room where Corinna stood with a blank look on her face.
When his mother straightened from fussing over Stephanie, Corinna said, “Mother. I didn’t know you would have company. I’ll get out—”
She rushed to Corinna. “No, honey! I meant to tell you, but... well, never mind why I didn’t, you should stay. You used to know Stephanie. She was Sammy’s youngest stepsister for a time, until their parents divorced.” She looked to Stephanie. “You remember my daughter Corinna, don’t you?”
Stephanie’s face showed only trepidation, and Har swallowed a chuckle at her quick ability to hide it.
“I do, Mrs. Walcott, though I’m not sure she remembers me. I only lived here for two years, tops.”
Corinna could take over the role of Miss Manners if it were available. “Oh, I remember you, Stephanie. How are you? Mother acts as if you’ve been injured or something.”
Stephanie gave a deep nod. “I’m recovering, so no need to worry. How about you? What are you up to these days?”
Har followed his mother into the kitchen and out of the earshot of Stephanie or Corinna.
His mother bustled about the kitchen as though oblivious to his presence. When she went back to the fridge for a dish, he positioned himself so she couldn’t get around him. When her eyes met his, her face fell.
His gut twisted at the thought of what he had to say, but she had to be set straight. “You’re my mother and I’ll always love you. But hear this, Mom. You pull a stunt like this again, you won’t see me. Ever.”
Anger seeped into her eyes, so he added, “I don’t care what you thought could happen or might happen. I won’t be blindsided again.”
“Honey,” she started, but he quelled her with an irate look.
“Know this, I love Stephanie and I’m not only gonna marry her, but I’m gonna have kids – plural – with her. You want a shot at your grandchildren, you need to stop being so damned manipulative and underhanded.”
She put the pitcher of iced tea on the counter, turned back to him and crossed her arms on her chest. “I didn’t mean to—”
He leaned toward her. “I don’t care, Mom. This is it. Last time.”
She stared at him for a long moment. When she spoke, it was like the words were wrenched from her. “You are so much like your father. And it kills me every weekend, every holiday. Any time when we should be together as a family, I’m reminded that we aren’t the family we should be! And the worst part is that I have no damned idea why.”
He sighed and looked away.
“I want to fix it, Michael.”
He tilted his head back and took in a deep breath. Exhaling, he looked into his mom’s eyes. “I know, Mom. I’ll try, but no more forcing it between me and Corinna.”
Tears brimming in her eyes, she nodded. “I understand, honey-bunch.”
Chapter 29
I'll Allow It
Stephanie
WHILE HAR AND HIS MOTHER did God-knew-what in the kitchen, Corinna sat on the opposite end of the couch from me.
I smiled at her, but it felt strained so I let it drop. It wasn’t lost on me she’d evaded my question about what she was up to these days. Something about her struck me as being rather proper, so I didn’t press the small talk.
Problem was, I could never withstand lengthy silences, so I said, “I feel I owe it to Sammy and to you to speak up.”
The surprise on her face was so strong her head moved as if I’d smacked her. “Sammy? Me? What do you mean?”
I shook my head lightly. “He’s as headstrong as they come.”
Her lips twisted. “He still did everything Michael did. Everything. Including joining that motorcycle club.”
I couldn’t hold back my smile. Sandy had talked my ear off that first night at the clubhouse when she was supposed to protect me from Layla. She’d shared plenty of history about the men of the Biloxi Riot MC chapter. “You’re wrong. Sammy joined before Michael did.”
She thought it over. “You’re right, but it wasn’t long before my brother joined, too.”
“My point is that he doesn’t do anything because your brother does it, or vice versa. They both have strong opinions about what should be done and how to do it.”
“Right,” she mumbled.
I sighed. Deep down I knew I only had one shot to plant a seed of acceptance in her mind. I had to make it count. “You blame your brother for something that was Sammy’s idea.”
I was lying. I
t was the biggest bluff I ever attempted, but at the same time, having lived with Sammy during his teenage years, I knew he could be persuasive. Especially with someone he cared about.
Corinna glared at me. “What do you even know about it?”
“Michael told me about it. All about it. He never knew you had such a crush on his best friend. So he never understood why you were so angry, or why you would blame him for it.”
She sat straighter. “And I suppose you explained it to him?”
I shook my head. “No. I mentioned your crush, and it was like a light bulb went off. He understood where you were coming from, even though Sammy never followed Michael like a mindless sheep.”
Corinna didn’t have Har’s green eyes. Her eyes were a light brown and she leveled them on me. “I think you’ve put my brother on a pedestal.”
I shook my head. “I really haven’t. If he were still doing that sort of thing, believe me, I wouldn’t be sitting here right now. But, I don’t hold it against him that he did it at one time – assuming the woman was willing.”
“She was willing, all right,” Corinna muttered, and she threw me a look like she couldn’t believe the words came out of her mouth.
I didn’t know if it was the tension, the outlandish expression on Corinna’s face, or some random side effect of my antibiotic, but laughter overtook me and I threw my head back giving into the release.
As my laugher quieted, I heard Corinna laughing, too. Only her laughter wasn’t a release, it sounded like the mounting laughter of realization.
When she pulled herself together she touched my arm. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have let myself go like that.”
And that was the very reason Sammy had never given her a second glance.
Lucky for me, my poker face and ability to keep quiet stopped me from oversharing. Instead I smiled.
“Don’t be sorry, Corinna. Everyone needs to let themselves go, especially if we’re talking about laughter.”
She smiled. “You’re right. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” I said in a low voice.
After a moment, I pushed, “Do you still blame him for it? I mean, seeing as she was willing, do you really blame him?”
Her face went stony with her discomfort. She shook her head and sighed. “I guess not. Though after so many years I should get over it. I mean, my life has pulled me in a drastically different direction from either of my brothers, let alone Sammy.”
My brows furrowed. “How do you mean?”
She huffed out a breath. “I’m too strait-laced to ever fit in with him, now that he’s Brute. Some part of me will always love him, but that love is for a man I don’t really know, or who I’ve imagined.”
“Can you forgive your brother?”
Her smile was wan. “I hope so. I want to, but like you said, he’s headstrong, to say the least.”
I nodded. “It sounds like you’re willing to try, and that’s as good a start as any.”
She gave me an assessing look. “You were injured recently. What happened?”
My grin was half-hearted. “I should probably sugar-coat this, but I’m gonna be blunt. I was stabbed last night.”
Her eyes widened. “What? Stabbed? You’re kidding.”
“I have a decent sense of humor, but stabbing isn’t something I’d joke about, Corinna.”
“God, when did it happen?”
I grimaced. “Last night.”
Her face lit with surprise for a moment before it dimmed to seriousness. “And Mother invited you two to dinner, but Michael had no idea I’d be here.”
I nodded.
She glared in the direction of the kitchen.
I reached out and touched her arm. “Don’t be mad.”
Her expression said I was crazy. “That’s easy for you to say. But I won’t cause a scene. Besides, that’s absolutely why Michael went to the kitchen with her.”
My man sauntered out of the kitchen. As he moved, I could see the tension leaving his body. I moved to stand up, but he shook his head at me.
He sat between Corinna and me, but extended an arm along my shoulders. “You good?”
I nodded.
He looked at his sister. “Corinna. It’s nice to see you.”
She snorted. “Is it? I’m sorry, don’t answer that. Stephanie said you were just as surprised as me.”
With an arched eyebrow, he speared me with a look before he turned back to his sister. “Yeah. Though in a way I should’ve seen it coming. She’s adamant we —”
“I’ll try if you do,” Corinna said.
“Really?”
“Yes. Stephanie pointed somethings out.”
Mrs. Walcott came into the room. “It’s time to eat.”
Har
ALL THROUGH DINNER, Har wanted to get Stephanie away from his family and not just because of her injury. He was dying to know what she pointed out to his sister to make her so amenable to patching up their differences. Stephanie only had the bare bones of the story from him. How could she bring Corinna around in a mere ten minutes? Then again, he and Corinna were like oil and water growing up, which hadn’t changed as they became adults.
His mother had dragged things out as she served slices of pecan pie, and he recognized she was lonely. Respecting other people’s privacy was ingrained in members of the Riot MC. He realized he treated his mother the same way, but he shouldn’t.
“Mom. You hear from Ben lately?”
She glanced from her pie to him. “No. He should be in his last semester, I think. Once he took out those loans, he stopped calling.”
He made a mental note to call his brother. And if that didn’t work, maybe he’d drag Stephanie out to Spokane to work her magic. Better yet, they could ride up there. He glanced at Corinna, who looked remorseful.
“This might not be my business, Mom, but have you thought about dating?”
All the women’s eyes whipped to him. Then the women spoke at the same time.
“Honey,” Stephanie drawled.
“Are you serious?” Corinna asked.
“What are you talking about?” his mom asked.
He closed his eyes and shook his head before he focused on his mother. “Mom, you’re only fifty-six. You never dated after dad—”
Her fork clattered on her plate. “I never dated after your father because he was it for me. Period.” She turned her head away and huffed out a breath. “Jesus, if I had a dollar for every time one of his buddies came by and offered to set me up with a man. Hell, I’d have been able to put Ben through college.”
His chest burned hearing the pain in her voice. He knew Dad’s friends had come around occasionally to be decent influences on Ben, but he’d never known they’d discussed her dating again.
In a quiet voice, Corinna said, “I think Mike’s right, Mother. You’re lonely. I feel selfish for not seeing that.”
His mother sighed. “This is not what I had envisioned for this evening.”
“Now you know how we feel,” Corinna muttered.
Stephanie choked on a chuckle. “I’m sorry. I think my antibiotics have me feeling a little loopy. Really, I didn’t mean to laugh.”
His mother pointed her fork at her. “You can’t blame that on drugs. You did it, you should own it. And, frankly, I’m glad you laughed. Something needed to cut the tension in this room.”
Har put the last bite of his pie in his mouth and chewed.
When he swallowed, his Mom spoke. “I’ll think about getting back out there. But I won’t do any online dating. I’d rather meet someone the old-fashioned way.”
IN THE MORNING, HAR woke up next to a dead-to-the-world Stephanie. He wanted to wake her up because he’d never gotten the chance to ask her what she said to Corinna. By the time they were in his truck, she was prattling on about how his mother might enjoy online dating. When they had walked into the clubhouse, Suzy was still there with Turk and he didn’t want to stand in the way of their sister time. Block pulled him aside, and
by the time Har got to his room, Stephanie was sleeping.
He still didn’t have the heart to wake her up, so he trudged into the bathroom to shower. While he stood at the sink with a towel wrapped around his waist, after his shower, a bleary-eyed Stephanie wandered into the bathroom. He had shaving cream on his cheeks and the razor at his face when she gasped.
“You better not shave your goatee, mister.”
He dragged the blade down his cheek before he looked at her. “And if I am?”
Her eyes turned fiery. “It’ll piss me right the hell off.”
He grinned. “Good to know. But I’m not shaving the goatee, just my cheeks, babe.”
She gave a curt nod. “I’ll allow it.”
He laughed. “You’ll allow it. You’re crazy if you think that’s how shit’s gonna work.”
Her head tilted and he knew she was going to lay on the drama. “Maybe I’ll go blonde. Is that going to fly with you?”
The thought of her as a blonde did not sit well with him, but he wouldn’t let her know that. “Your hair, Steph. Do what you want with it.”
She chuckled. “You’re so full of shit. I saw you grimace.”
He turned back to the mirror and finished the left side of his face. Her rapt gaze on every stroke of his razor was cute.
“You gonna take a long time?” she asked.
He tapped the razor against the basin. “Shouldn’t be much longer, why?”
“I need to use the bathroom. Needed to go when you got out of bed, but figured I’d wait until you were done in the shower. I had no idea you shaved every morning.”
He grunted with humor. “Not everyday, but if I don’t, I’ll have a beard. Not a goatee.”
A look of speculation took over her face. Then she shrugged. “Whatever floats your boat.”
He focused on the right side and she fidgeted. “I’m not stopping you, babe.”
Her eyes slid to the side. “I’ll come back.”
He chuckled, but hurried with his task. Once he dried his face, he dragged on his underwear, hung his towel, and left the bathroom. “It’s all yours, Miss Priss.”
