I couldn’t handle knowing about Point and other women.
He chuckled. “Relax. It wasn’t like I was about to give you the blow by blow of the past three years. I just wanted you to know like you wanted me to know. I hoped one day I would be with you again, but we’re both human.” His thumb stroked my cheek, and I leaned into his touch. “I could read it all over your face what you were thinking. Your poker face was never very good.”
“My poker face is just fine. You just connected the dots that I could be thinking.” That was all that was.
“Sure,” he whispered.
I sighed and dropped my chin to my chest. “We haven’t really fixed any of our problems, Point.”
As much as I was enjoying being this close to him, I still had the same odd feelings I did three years ago. I didn’t know how to be me with him.
“We both need more time to figure out that shit, but for right now, I just need to kiss you, Dee, and pretend that you’re mine and never left me.”
What was so wrong with that? We were married after all, I reasoned. “I see nothing wrong with a husband kissing his wife,” I whispered.
“I’m glad we can agree on that.” Point’s lips connected with mine, and I was hit with a freight train of emotions.
His kisses were always addictive. I could never have just one and think it was enough. His fingers delved into my hair, and his other hand splayed over the cinch of my waist. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and leaned completely into him. My chest pressed against his, my fingernails digging into the fabric of his cut. One kiss and I lost myself in Point. It was exhilarating but also terrifying. How could this man own me with just one kiss?
His tongue glided over mine, and a moan escaped my mouth.
“Best I’ve ever had,” he whispered when we both came up for air.
I pressed my forehead against his and kept my eyes closed. “I don’t know how you do that.”
“That was all you, sugar.”
I hummed and leaned back. “I like when you call me that.”
He pressed a kiss to my forehead. “Better than Dee?”
I slapped my hand against his chest. “You can’t kiss me like that and then call me Dee,” I protested.
“I like to keep you on your toes.”
I rolled my eyes.
“I should get going.”
My heart fell. “Oh.”
“I’ve got plans for early in the morning.”
I wanted to ask what plans he could possibly have that made him have to leave, but I knew it wasn’t my place to ask that. “Uh, well, thanks for tonight.”
Lame. I didn’t know what else to say. I had been on a roller coaster of emotions all night, and when Point and I finally got to a good moment, he said he had to leave.
Maybe that was for the best. I needed some time to just sit back and figure out what I was feeling. My mind was pretty foggy from his touch, so some time away might be good.
“Thanks?” he chuckled. “I’ll call you tomorrow. Maybe we could try the whole dinner thing again without one of us storming out?”
I nodded. “I think we could give it a try again.”
His lips brushed against mine, and it took all of my willpower to not grab him by the vest and drag him to my bedroom. “Later, sugar.”
Point left, and I was alone with a pan of lasagna and whole lot of feelings.
Feelings I wasn’t too sure what to do with.
Point was back, and he was making me wonder why I had even left in the first place.
*
Chapter Eleven
Decisions…
Point
“Maybe you should have planned the first showing for earlier,” Zephyr grumbled.
Dyno chuckled and shook his head. “If you wouldn’t raise like the dead, you wouldn’t be such a cranky asshole.”
“Can we please not talk about the dead?” Core groaned. “We’re at a fucking funeral home.” He shifted restlessly from foot to foot while looking around cautiously.
Quinn leaned against his bike. “Are you really acting like a fucking pussy about this?”
Core motioned to the large building. “Are you really thinking opening a strip club here is a good idea?” he countered. Core still was acting like a baby about the funeral home.
Quinn tipped his head back and looked up at the building. “I mean, we’re gonna have to take down the signs and shit, but honestly, it’s just a large house they turned into a funeral home. We’re just gonna turn it into a strip club,” he reasoned.
Dyno slid his sunglasses on top of his head. “As far as I’m concerned, you need to realize this is going to be the home of Skinz because we’re all going to vote for this just to fuck with you, Core.”
Core groaned and paced away from the building.
Quinn glanced at Dyno. “Is this a good idea, or are you fucking with Core?” he questioned.
Dyno chuckled. “It’s got good bones, and it’s the best of the two buildings. We’re going to look at the other one, but this place has my vote. Ninety-nine percent for the fact it’s more doable. It’s twice as big and the potential has no bounds.”
“And what about that other one percent?” I asked. I had a feeling what that percent was.
Dyno smiled wide. “Because I want to fuck with Core.”
A car pulled up, and the portly man who was our realtor stepped from the town car.
“Dyno,” he called. “I was happy to hear from you. I didn’t know if you would call after I saw the news story about the kidnapped boy.”
Dyno shook his hand. “Thankfully, everything is going good for Gunner and Queenie.” Dyno nodded to Quinn. “This is Quinn, the prez of the Kings of Vengeance.”
Quinn shook his hand.
“Good to meet you, Mr. Prez.”
Quinn smirked. “You can just call me Quinn.”
“And you can call me Engle. It’s an honor to meet you.”
I couldn’t help but think this guy was acting like he was meeting the president of the whole world. This was going to go straight to Quinn’s head.
Dyno did a blanket introduction to Engle, and then, he led us into the funeral home.
“Dyno mentioned what your new business venture is going to be. I know it might seem strange to be here, looking at this specific building, but if you’ve got any sort of vision, you can see why your club will flourish here.” Engle pushed open the double doors and stepped to the side. “Mind you, the building comes as is. So, everything you see will also be yours if you buy.”
Core stepped into the building and pointed to the right. “That’s a fucking coffin,” he whispered.
“Not like it’s being used,” Rhino laughed. “Calm the hell down, Core.”
“This is some bullshit.” Core shook his head and walked back out the front door. “I’ll be by my bike,” he yelled.
“Here’s my plan.” Dyno stood in the middle of what I assumed was the reception area. “All of the walls down here get knocked down. Bar over on that wall. DJ booth on the other side of the room.” He turned and motioned to the back wall. “Stage comes out from that wall and ends in the middle of the room. Plenty of room for a shit-ton of tables and standing room.”
Rhino leaned against the large staircase by the front door. “What about this?”
“Private rooms and the dressing rooms for the girls.” Dyno moved across the room and slid open a large door.
“Holy fuck,” I laughed. “I can tell you right now you will never get Core in that elevator.”
Quinn laughed. “Room for plenty of people or a coffin.”
“Not sure if this will actually be for everyday use, but it’ll be nice to have for when we’re moving shit in.” Dyno slid the door shut. “We have a couple of guys posted at the door, the bottom of the stairs, and by the stage. This setup is more than ideal.”
“I’m all for fucking with Core and just getting this place because it freaks him out, but you think maybe it’ll freak out other people?�
�� Sledge asked.
Dyno shrugged. “It’s not like we’re going to advertise it as an old funeral home or anything. By the time we’re done renovating this place, you won’t even be able to tell what it was before.”
Quinn nodded and stepped toward the stairs. “All right. Everyone wander around. Get a feel for it. We finish up here, check out the next place, and then we take a vote. We need to get the ball rolling on whatever we decide to do.”
Core never came back in, but the rest of us checked out every inch of the funeral home. Besides the coffin, by the front door, there wasn’t much else left besides some furniture. The upstairs was actually a living area that wouldn’t be hard at all to turn into a dressing area and private rooms for dances.
Then Engle took us over to the restaurant, and right away, I knew it wasn’t going to work.
“I think you should have shown us this place first,” I chuckled. “Compared to the funeral home, this place is fucking tiny.”
Dyno nodded. “It’s actually not that small in the way restaurants go, but seeing as the funeral home is twice the size, it’s small.”
We quickly toured the restaurant and met back out front.
“So, what are you fellas thinking?” Engle asked.
Quinn slid his sunglasses over his eyes. “They firm on the price?”
Engle laughed. “Everything is negotiable. They’ve both been on the market for over one hundred days. They’re both motivated sellers.”
“They both need the same kind of work. Knockdown walls. Take the good walls to the studs.” Dyno ran his fingers through his hair. “This place we could make the kitchen the dressing rooms, but I don’t think we would have enough room for private rooms.”
Sledge shook his head. “The funeral home, we have more than enough room for what we want plus space for an office.”
“This is a no-brainer for me. More room means more people in the seats, which means more money in our pockets.” I shrugged. “I’m in for the funeral home.”
Quinn nodded to Engle. “Give us five minutes.” Engle moseyed away toward the restaurant. “Let’s vote.” He nodded to Sledge.
“Funeral home,” Sledge replied.
“Funeral home,” Rhino echoed.
Zephyr laughed. “I was only going to vote for the funeral home to piss off Core, but I’d be stupid to vote for the restaurant. Funeral home for me.”
Quinn pointed at me.
“Funeral home,” I repeated.
Dyno held up two fingers. “My ass is all in on the funeral home.”
Quinn looked at Core. “Think with your fucking head and not your chicken heart.”
Core frowned. “As if it matters what I vote, seeing as the majority is for the funeral home.”
Quinn nodded to the restaurant. “Give me a good reason why we should open the club here, and I’ll consider it.”
Core opened his mouth and then snapped it shut. He did it three more times before he hung his head and sighed. “Funeral home,” he mumbled.
Zephyr pumped his fist in the air. “I cannot wait to fuck around with you on that elevator.”
Core’s head snapped up. “Elevator?”
“I guess your punk-ass should have looked around a little bit more,” Dyno laughed.
“All right. You guys head back to the clubhouse. Dyno and I will start pounding out all of the details with Engle.” Quinn called for Engle to come back over. He pointed to Zephyr and Core. “I want you guys to start setting up Brick’s room. Clean it out of all of the shit in there and start making a list of shit we need to get. Three weeks will be here before we know it.”
Zephyr pointed at me. “What the fuck is he going to be doing?”
“Whatever the hell he wants to,” Quinn snapped. “You need him holding your damn hand or something?”
Zephyr snarled. “Whatever.” He stormed over to his bike and took off.
“What in the hell is up to his ass?” Dyno laughed. “Acting like you asked him to clean the whole fucking clubhouse or something.”
I ran my fingers through my hair. “Well, seeing as all the shit we didn’t know what to do with is in Brick’s room and Quinn just told him to clean it up, it is kind of like he’s cleaning the whole clubhouse.”
“Jesus,” Quinn groaned. “I didn’t think it was that bad.”
Rhino shrugged. “Most of it can just be thrown away or donated. I can help him.”
“Me, too,” I volunteered. Core was supposed to help him, but having Rhino and me there too would make it quick work.
“This is how the fucking club should work.” Quinn shook his head. “Fucking bitching when you have to do something is going to fucking end. Go help, and I don’t wanna hear any bitching.” He nodded to Sledge. “You help too if Queenie doesn’t need any help with Gunner.”
Sledge nodded. “We planned on grocery shopping while Kimber and Fancy watched Gunner.”
Dyno pointed at Sledge. “Get some of that fruity cereal.”
“Oh, yeah,” Rhino agreed. “And that cinnamon shit, too.”
Quinn shook his head. “Bunch of bikers asked for fruity cereal.”
Quinn and Dyno headed over to Engle, who was talking on the phone by his car.
“How long you think this is going to take?” Rhino asked.
I shrugged. “I think the better question is how many trips to the dump it is going to take.”
I had personally put some of the shit in that room and knew it was garbage.
Sledge slapped me on the back. “Have fun, fuckers,” he laughed.
I grunted but didn’t argue. This may suck, but it shouldn’t take too long. I had plans with Deedra tonight, and nothing was going to keep me from them.
*
Chapter Twelve
Mama needs a drink…
Deedra
“Pumpkin patch tomorrow?”
I groaned and powered off my computer. “Do we have to do that?” I was dreading going to the pumpkin patch to be surrounded by happy little families.
Pat laughed and leaned against my desk. “I would say skip it, but Marty just came and asked me about it.”
“Son of a bitch.” Trudging through a field just to look at a huge pumpkin was not my idea of a good time. “Then I guess we need to do it tomorrow.”
“I think I’m gonna tell Barb and the kids to meet me there, if that’s okay with you. Halloween is a little less than three weeks away, and we haven’t gotten our pumpkins yet.” Now Pat was going to bring his darling family along to join all the other perfect families looking for the perfect pumpkin.
I grabbed my purse from under my desk and stood. “Oh, Pat. You and Barb are the picture of domestic bliss.” Pat and Barb had been married for sixteen years and had three kids.
He shrugged. “We seem to make it work.”
I smiled sadly. “Invite them along, and I can work on editing the story after. You can take the rest of the day off since I took off early yesterday.”
Pat smiled. “Sounds like a plan, Deedra. I’ll meet you at the pumpkin patch at one if that works for you.”
I nodded. “See you then.”
We walked out to our cars together, and I gave him a wave as I slipped into mine.
My phone dinged, and I pulled it out to see a number I didn’t know.
Busy at the clubhouse. Want to meet me here?
Point.
A goofy smile spread across my lips. We were anything but back to normal, but last night’s kiss held tons of promise even I couldn’t ignore.
Sure. What are we doing? I needed to know if I had to go home to change or if I could just go over there in my work clothes.
Not sure. Just want to see you.
And my heart melted into a puddle. Be there in twenty minutes.
Okay. The girls are here. They can entertain you till I’m done.
Hmm. What was Point doing that he couldn’t come over, but he wanted me at the clubhouse?
I’ll stop and grab a bottle of wine as a peace off
ering. Part of me still thought they didn’t like me.
Just bring yourself.
Yeah, no. I was totally going to stop at the liquor store on the way.
Twenty minutes later, I pulled up to the clubhouse with three bottles in my passenger seat and a bag full of snacks.
I might have gone slightly overboard, hoping to impress the girls.
I tucked two bottles under one arm and grabbed the other bottle and overflowing bag of snacks with my hand. I managed to open the door to the clubhouse without dropping anything and was greeted with an unusual sight.
Kimber and Fancy were passed out on the floor, with Gunner sleeping peacefully between them. Queenie and Sledge were in the kitchen area, putting away a pile of food while Petra sat on the sofa with a book in her lap.
Petra’s head raised, and her eyes connected with mine. “Oh, hey!” she called. “I didn’t know you were coming over.”
“Oh, shit,” Sledge called. “Point texted me to let you girls know Deedra was coming over.”
Queenie reached over and smacked his arm. “I asked you who texted you, and you said no one.”
He shrugged. “Forgot.”
Kimber groaned on the floor and rolled over on her side. “Can you guys shut up?”
“No. It’s almost six o’clock. It’s nap time for Gunner, not you two,” Queenie laughed.
“Oh, please,” Kimber yawned. “Like you and Sledge don’t nap when Gunner does.”
Sledge chuckled. “You wanna tell them, or should I?”
Queenie pointed at Sledge. “No.”
I had a feeling I knew what Sledge was talking about. I didn’t think there was any napping going on when Gunner was napping. It was more like mommy and daddy time.
I held up the bag and bottle in my hand. “I brought wine and snacks.” The bottles in my other arm clanked together. “And more wine.” Food and wine seemed like a good shoe in with the girls.
Fancy’s head popped up. “Who said wine and snacks?”
Kimber laughed and laid her hand on her stomach. “I need a drink after taking care of your kid, Queenie.”
Thrill Seeker (Kings of Vengeance MC Book 5) Page 7
