He lavished her with a series of tantalizing, shivery kisses, making her feel light-headed and swoony.
“Hello, sweet girl,” he said in a gravelly voice that electrified her as much as their kisses did. His warm eyes moved over her face. “Was that okay?”
“Um. I’m not sure. I think we should try again.”
GEMMA WAS BUSY rolling out the red-carpet runway for the first party when Crystal arrived at the boutique. She set Harley’s cat carrier down inside the door. Another gift from Bear, which had been hiding in his truck.
“Did you see my text?” Crystal had texted to ask if it was okay if she brought a kitten into work, but Gemma hadn’t responded.
“No. Sorry. My phone must be in my bag. I was running a little late. Tru and I were deciding on paint colors for the playroom. I still can’t believe we’re getting married in less than three months. And I’m so glad we’re doing the wedding in the backyard. It feels right with the kids.” Gemma smiled as she rose on tall, knee-high black boots. A black and red bodice hugged her curves, flaring out into a short black skirt. She wore long purple gloves and a black and red cape trimmed with gold.
“Whoa, mama. The Queen of Hearts princess has never looked so hot. Want me to handle the party so you can go surprise Tru for a little playtime?”
“No, but maybe I’ll wear it home tonight.” Gemma waggled her brows. “What did you text me about?”
Crystal picked up the kitty carrier.
“You got a kitten?” She came around the benches that separated the runway from the entrance of the store and took the kitten out of the carrier. “This looks just like Harley.”
“It is Harley. Bear gave her to me.”
“Bear gave her to you? He loves that kitty as much as he loves Lincoln and Kennedy.” She gasped, her eyes wide. “Ohmygod. You’ve been holding out on me!”
“No. Maybe a little? But not on purpose.” He loved the kitty as much as he loved the babies? And he gave her to me? Her heart filled up a little more.
“Crystal Moon, I tell you everything and you’ve been hooking up with Bear and keeping me in the dark?”
“No, no, no.” Crystal waved her hand. “That’s not what I meant. We haven’t hooked up. I promise. We’ve only kissed. We’re…testing the waters.”
“Testing the waters? That sounds like something I would say. I seem to remember you teasing me about Princess Swallows and Prince Cunnilingus.”
“You have to admit, that was funny.” They’d always joked like that. Crystal had even made up jokes about the guys she’d pretended to go out with.
“It was hilarious, but come on. Bear might have a huge heart, but I cannot see him testing any waters. He’s more of a dive-in-headfirst-and-come-up-for-air-later kind of guy. There’s no way that man is going without.”
Emotions Crystal didn’t recognize pulled at her. Gemma was right. Bear was a dive-in-headfirst kind of guy. He could have any woman he wanted, and he definitely came across as too sexual to go without. The man emitted testosterone like cologne. Of course Gemma would think they were mattress bumping. Guilt wound through Crystal. Gemma deserved to know the truth about why they weren’t playing bone the biker, but she wasn’t ready to share her secret yet. Not on the heels of telling Bear. She could only handle one monumental confession at a time.
“Can we please not talk about Bear’s sexual proclivities?” She took Harley from Gemma. “Do you mind if I keep her in the office? I have a cat box and everything she needs in the car.”
“Of course. Hey.” Gemma touched her arm. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. I thought you were pulling the wool over my eyes. Honestly, I thought you and Bear had been hooking up for a long time. I never imagined that you hadn’t been.”
“You didn’t upset me. I was just surprised that you thought we’d been hooking up. I would have told you if I’d boned the biker.” Her typical snarkiness felt wrong when tied to sleeping with Bear. The truth was, if she didn’t have the past she had, she probably would have jumped in the sack with Bear a long time ago, and she probably would have told Gemma.
She quickly added, “He’s different than we thought, Gem. But then again, aren’t we all? I’m going to put Harley in the office and get her stuff so I have time to change. I thought I’d be Pocahontas princess today.”
“The sexiest Pocahontas ever,” Gemma called after her.
As she headed toward the office, her mind slid down a dark path that led directly to a pool of awful thoughts about Bear and other women. She closed the office door behind her and sat on a chair with Harley in her lap. Anyone who knew Bear wouldn’t believe he’d go without sex.
Would he?
The kitty purred loudly. It figured Bear’s kitten had a monstrous engine. She looked down at the sweet, cuddly girl. He’d never give her away if he didn’t know he could still be part of her life. She pressed a kiss to Harley’s head, pushing away the fleeting worry.
For months Bear had been right there with her, even when she’d pushed him away. She thought about the night at Woody’s, and the worried look in his eyes when she’d pulled away from their kiss. She could still feel his arms around her when he’d held her last night, could still hear his voice when he’d told her the truth and asked for flashing lights instead of lying about what he was capable of doing—or not doing.
Bear told her he hadn’t been with another woman since the first week they’d met, and as astonishing as it might seem, she believed him.
Chapter Seven
BEAR HELD BIG Mama and peered over Dixie’s shoulder, reviewing the accounting spreadsheets from last month for Whiskey Automotive and trying like hell to keep thoughts of Crystal’s attack from consuming him. But they were as present as the fucking numbers on the computer screen.
“Earth to Bear.” Dixie waved her hand in front of his face.
“Yeah. Sorry.” He shoved those dark thoughts away and tried to focus on Dixie.
“Where were you all morning?”
“The bar. Bullet couldn’t make it in time to get today’s delivery.” Bullet had called him shortly after he’d left Crystal. He’d had business in the next town over and had forgotten about the delivery. Bear had taken the delivery and then his father had shown up and wanted to discuss the expansion. He’d had to rush through the repairs he was slated to work on, skip lunch, and he still had to tell a customer their car would be done Monday morning instead of today. He hated letting customers down.
“I’ve been working on some of our suppliers. I think I can bring them down by a percent or two.” She navigated to next year’s budget. “Which will help for next year. When we had the building inspected, the guy said we’d need a new roof in the next five or six years. Next year it’ll be five years, so I’ve budgeted for that.”
When he’d taken over running the shop, it was barely turning a profit. But Bear was a master at networking and negotiations, and Dixie had an incredible knack for finances and business. Together they’d expanded their clientele beyond the biker community, which was where his uncle had found his niche. They were turning nice profits every month, but he was stretched to his limit time-wise. He had no idea where his father had gotten it in his head that he’d have time to manage the bar expansion.
Then again, his father had never worried about Bear’s time. He took for granted that Bear would make it happen, the way Bear always had. He could hardly blame his father for his own inability to put up boundaries.
“I was thinking,” Dixie added. “Maybe it’s time to redo the kitchen in the apartment.”
“Is Quincy complaining?”
“No, but we always said we’d make it nicer when we could. And now we can.”
He’d completely forgotten about both the inspector’s suggestion and the kitchen, but as always, Dixie kept them on target. “Dix, do you like what you do here at the shop?”
“Hell, yes. I love it.” She crossed her arms, narrowing her catlike green eyes. “Why? You can’t fire me. I’m part owner
.”
He laughed. “Like I’d ever fire you? Do you want to do more?”
“Duh. Always.” She shuffled papers on her desk and put them in a drawer.
“Dad’s talking about expanding the bar.”
“I know. Mom told me, and she said he wants you to handle it.”
“Yeah.” He leaned his hip on the desk. “But if I’m going to put more time into anything, it’ll be designing bikes, not revitalizing a floundering bar.”
“The bar is not floundering. We turn a profit every month. Besides, you’re amazing at turning businesses around and expanding the clientele, and I’ll help you. I’d love to get my hands on Whiskey Bro’s and bring in a cook and waitstaff and do the kinds of things they do at Mr. B’s microbrewery, like the charity auctions for the community. It’s totally in line with the Dark Knights and Dad’s view of helping others. We could arrange a charity ride and have it end at the bar, raffle off free meals to bring in money for the community and bring in new customers.”
She went on and on with one fantastic idea after another, driving home what Bear already knew. Dixie needed to run the bar.
“I’ll talk to Dad about you handling the expansion. You’re there half of the time anyway, and the planning and business oversight is where you shine. It makes sense.”
“Save your energy,” she said in a deflated voice. “I love him, but the man is ass backward when it comes to women. But I’ll get financial projections together, because you know he’ll want those next. You should get started on the expansion plan.”
He should put something together, but he was in no hurry to perpetuate the inequities, and he couldn’t commit to the project when he was still considering Silver-Stone’s offer. “Thanks, Dix. But I can’t help thinking that maybe it’s time you went out and found another business to run. Something where you can get the credit for the work you’re doing. You deserve more than playing second fiddle to me. I can find someone else to do the books and run the shop.”
“Are you crazy? I love working with you and Tru and working at the bar with everyone. As ass backward as Dad is, I’d still rather work with family than work for some idiot who thinks he knows more than I do.”
Bear wasn’t surprised by her vehemence. “Then you need to handle the expansion.” He thought about telling her about the offer from Silver-Stone, but he didn’t want to put her in the middle of it. Dixie would get on his back about accepting it, and he needed to figure out things for himself first.
“I’m strapped for time, and with Crystal in the picture, I’m not exactly looking to fill my nights with managing a new project of that magnitude.”
She gathered her hair over one shoulder and tapped a red fingernail on the counter, looking up at Bear. “She’s it for you, isn’t she?”
He petted the cat. “Big Mama and I are pretty close, but I’m not sure we’re compatible in the sack.” He smirked and lowered his voice. “Sorry, Big Mama.”
“You’re an idiot.” Dixie laughed. “I mean Crystal. I still can’t get over that you gave her Harley.”
“She needed her more than I did.”
The truth was, he wanted to be Harley, and be there for Crystal night and day. Holding back was killing him. Almost as much as it was eating away at him that she’d gone through so much between losing her father, dealing with her alcoholic mother, and having some asshole force himself on her.
“Why? Are you two a couple now?”
“Come on, Dix. You know as well as I do that we’ve been a couple for months, just not a conventional one.”
Her eyes narrowed in speculation. “Then why does she suddenly need Harley?”
The door to the shop opened and Quincy walked in, saving Bear from having to come up with an answer. Quincy had come a long way from the strung-out junkie he’d become while Truman was in prison. His blue eyes were clear, and with his longish brown hair and few days’ scruff, he was a dead ringer for Brad Pitt in World War Z. He was thickening out, and acting proud and confident.
“How’s it going?” He strode across the floor and leaned over the desk.
“Hey, Quincy,” Bear said. “What’s up?” There had been a time when their relationship had been strained. When Truman had first gone to prison, leaving thirteen-year-old Quincy in the hands of their drug-addicted mother, Bear had tried to keep Quincy on a straight-and-narrow path. He’d taken Quincy to visit Truman every week until Quincy began disappearing, hanging with the wrong crowds, getting drunk and stoned. Bear had tried to get him help up until the day Quincy had gone missing for good, only to resurface years later, standing over his mother in the crack house where she’d overdosed.
But that was behind them now. Quincy had gone through intense rehab, passed his GED, and was now taking college courses and had a stable job at a local bookstore. He’d even cleared his brother’s name for the crime he’d committed.
“Do y’all have any issue with me getting a roommate?” Quincy asked. “The community college doesn’t offer some of the classes I want to take, and the bigger universities’ online classes are more expensive.”
Dixie exchanged a proud smile with Bear. “Why would we mind? But won’t that hinder you with the ladies?”
“Why? There are two bedrooms. It’s not like we’ll both be staying in mine.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Although, it could be interesting if I get a chick as a roomie.”
Bear laughed. “No problem. You know the rules. No drugs, no troublemakers. We’ve got babies here all day, and their welfare has to come first.”
“Dude, I know that better than anyone. Think I’d fuck up everything y’all and Tru have done for me?” He leaned further over the counter, and his expression turned serious. “Not a chance. Family first. I will never screw that up again.”
He and Bear tapped fists.
“That’s it, bro,” Bear said.
“Before I forget, Tru told me to tell you you’re helping him with kid duty and painting the playroom at the house next Tuesday while the girls are out shopping.”
“We’re getting Gemma’s wedding dress fitted and picking out dresses for me and Crystal.” Dixie poked Bear in the side. “That means you’re free, because your girl will be busy.”
Bear loved that Dixie referred to Crystal as his girl. “Sounds good. Where are you headed?”
“Tru’s,” Quincy said. “Dinner with my baby brother and sister, then out to Luscious Licks. One day Penny’s going to realize I’m the best lick she’ll ever get.” Penny owned Luscious Licks, and Quincy had been crushing on her since they’d first met.
“God.” Dixie rolled her eyes. “You really need to come up with something better than that to get that woman to notice you. Don’t you guys know anything about romance?”
“Romance?” Bear scoffed. “This from the woman who nails guys’ balls to the wall for every little thing.”
She rose to her feet and flipped her hair over her shoulder. “Romance. Flowers and chocolates and all that stuff. I may be tough, but at least I know what I like.”
Quincy headed for the door. “I’ll be sure to let Crow know romance might get him in the door.”
Bear glared at him. “Get the hell out of here before I shove that thought down your throat.” Crow was a biker they’d grown up with, and he’d had a thing for Dixie since they were kids. He had the reputation of a snake, and he wasn’t going anywhere near Bear’s sister’s grass.
Quincy’s laughter followed him out the door.
Bear dropped his eyes to Dixie, who was smiling as she scrolled through her texts. “Wipe that grin off your face. Crow’s not going near you.”
“I ought to sleep with him just to show you that you’re not the boss of me.” She sauntered around the desk with a dramatic sway of her hips, underscoring her independence.
“That’s one way to get a man killed.” Bear took his vibrating phone from his pocket, happy to see a text from Crystal.
He opened it, and a picture popped up of Crystal dressed in the se
xiest costume he’d ever set his eyes on. A leather choker with an aqua charm in the center circled her neck, and a fringed suede minidress with a sinfully short hemline rode high on her thighs. Harley was in her arms, sporting a silver-studded black collar with a pink bow. She’d taken the picture in the mirror, and she had a smirky, sexy smile. The text read, Hey, biker boy. Want to come over and see your girls tonight?
Hell yes.
After a quick shower, Bear stopped by Petal Me Hard. He’d be damned if any woman would be romanced better than his girl. The pungent floral scent cleared his senses after he’d spent the day in the auto shop.
“Hey, Bear,” Isla, Bud’s daughter, called from behind the counter, where she was arranging a bouquet. “I’ll be right with you.”
“Great. Thanks.” He meandered through the shop, looking at all the flowers. He’d never bought a woman flowers before, and he had no idea there were so many to choose from.
“What brings you in?” She leaned over the vase of flowers, her thick blond hair curtaining her face.
“I’m looking for something special.”
“For Crystal?” She popped up and arched a dark brow. Her flannel shirt was tied at the waist, revealing a sliver of skin above a tight pair of jeans.
“What do you know about me and Crystal?”
She wiped her hands on her jeans and folded her arms across her chest with a sassy smirk. “What does everyone in this town know about you and Crystal? Just that every time the Whiskey brothers are out and about, you’ve got your arm around her. Word around town is that you’re taken. I assume that means something.”
Truly, Madly, Whiskey Page 10
