Wild & Sweet (The Haven Brotherhood)

by Rhenna Morgan

  Gabe dipped her chin and aimed a you’ve-got-to-be-kidding-me glare back at her. “I fix cars for a living and wear jeans three hundred and sixty-two days out of the year. The only thing a train is going to do for me is make sure I face-plant in front of everyone.”

  “I don’t get it,” Trev said to Zeke. “If you’re not doing a big shindig, why go through all the cake and dress nonsense? Just let me fly you to Vegas like we did for Viv and Jace.”

  Viv scowled good-naturedly across the table. “Cake and dresses are not nonsense. No matter where they get hitched, every woman gets to feel pretty on her wedding day.” Seemingly satisfied she’d gotten her point across, she licked her finger, flipped to the next page, and hunched closer to Gabe.

  Zeke lowered his voice, obviously intent on skirting any more dirty looks from the women. “Gabe doesn’t know what she wants yet. Whatever we do will be just family, but if she opts for someplace quick and fun, we’ll take you up on the ride.”

  Trevor shrugged. He still didn’t get why everyone made such a big deal out of one day when what really mattered came after. “Whatever works.”

  “Spoken like a man who’s not yet surrendered. One of these days though...” Jace grinned and sipped his Scotch.

  Trevor held up both hands. “Don’t turn your matchmaking sights on me. I’m not a qualified candidate for marriage.”

  “Don’t know why you’re so against it,” Zeke said. “Out of all of us, you’re the one who had the best relationship role models.”

  “I’d hardly call my dad a role model.”

  Zeke’s expression blanked hard and fast. “I meant Frank. You’re nothing like your biological father, flesh and blood or not.”

  Right. Because Trevor had done so well reining in his fists growing up. Didn’t mean he didn’t wish Zeke was right.

  Deftly dodging a chatty group of girls who weren’t looking where they were going, Natalie hustled to a twelve-top full of rowdy college guys and started doling out pints. If she had any clue half of them were eyeing her sweet ass, she didn’t show it. Hard to blame them for looking though. Now that Zeke had pointed out her swagger, it was all Trevor could focus on.

  One of Natalie’s customers reached out as she rounded the table and tried to wrap his arm around her waist.

  She shifted just in time, patted the guy good-naturedly on the arm, and hurried back to the bar. She slid her phone free and checked the screen without breaking stride.

  “I gotta go deal with this.” He stood, snatched his empty beer bottle, and motioned to everyone’s drinks. “Anyone need a refill?”

  “Nah,” Zeke said. “We’re good.”

  “Zeke and Gabe are heading out to Haven with me and Viv,” Jace added. “The moms keep begging for a chance to weigh in on the dress.”

  Trevor shook his head. “Women.” He chin lifted toward Zeke. “You wanna tie the knot someplace outside of Texas, the offer stands. You takin’ Gabe out in my Cessna might have made her giggle, but my G6 will make her purr.”

  “Got a rock on her finger, brother. Stop trying to sweet-talk my woman.”

  Winking at Gabe as he rounded the table, he squeezed Viv’s shoulder. “Thought you knew. The ones you can’t have are the best ones to chase.”

  Not that he’d ever chased a woman. Between his genes and no desire for a long-term relationship, there’d never been a need. He ambled through the room, eyeballing the handsy bastard who’d tried to corral Natalie. Which was stupid, really. She’d handled it fine, and his manager, Ivan, wouldn’t have tolerated it for more than a nanosecond, but for some reason it pissed him off.

  Inside the main room, the gleaming honey-stained bar he’d flown in from Dublin was packed with everything from Goths to post-workday businessmen. The rock and movie memorabilia he’d paid a small fortune for hung from every wall, but gave the rest of the old-world pub décor a trendy edge. Two of the other waitresses were stationed at tables near the front but Natalie was nowhere in sight.

  He sidled up to Vicky behind the bar. “Where’s Natalie?”

  Frowning, his top-notch bartender scanned the room and tucked her bottle opener in her back pocket.

  A dark-headed guy with full sleeves and gauge earrings big enough to shoot a .44 through swiveled from his wingman. “You lookin’ for the perky little waitress with the powerhouse stride?”

  Great. Another one to keep an eye on. “Yep, that’s the one.”

  The guy nodded toward the employee entrance at the back of the bar. “She ducked out there a few minutes ago.”

  So much for Zeke’s time-checking theory. As rules went, Trevor didn’t spout a long list, and he damned sure couldn’t go bending the ones he had no matter how efficient an employee was. “Appreciate it.”

  The crowd’s rumble and the bass from some new alternative rock song on the sound system faded as he strolled down the back hall. A woman leaned against the far wall with arms crossed waiting on whoever was hogging the bathroom, but otherwise the space was deserted. Maybe Jace was right and he was jumping to conclusions. Although, how the hell he could misread her palming that damned device all night he couldn’t fathom.

  Slowly, he eased the door latch open. The employee parking lot’s lights buzzed overhead and the thick humidity walloped hard before he’d so much as put one boot heel on the asphalt.

  Natalie’s voice cut from the shadows on the far side of the lot. “I know you’re scared, but you can’t call the cops.”

  Stepping free of the door, Trevor found her perched on one of the more private picnic table benches his employees used for smoke breaks. Her back was to the entrance and she fisted a good chunk of her mink-colored hair on top of her head like she might pull it out in another half a second.

  “Mom, if you call the cops, he’s just going to haul us back to court. I can’t afford any more attorney fees.” She paused and sat up straighter, letting her dark hair fall free around her shoulders. “I know he’s the one not following the rules, but it won’t matter with the kind of friends he’s got. Just keep the lights off, keep Levi quiet, and don’t answer. I’ll be home after the bar closes.”

  She glanced over her shoulder, and her eyes popped wide. Her voice dropped, but not enough to cover her words. “I gotta go, Mom. You’ll be fine. Wyatt’s an idiot, but not enough to break down the door.” She clicked off the phone and stood, slipping the device in her back pocket with the same practiced ease she’d shown all night.

  Trevor let the door swing shut. “There a problem?”

  “Nope. All good.” Striding his direction, she pasted a fake smile on her face and motioned toward the picnic tables. “Just needed a quick break to settle something at home.”

  Not budging from in front of the door, he crossed his arms and cocked his head. There were two ways his could play this—call her on what he’d overheard, or see if she’d pony up the info on her own. Considering he hated anyone poling into his own business, he opted for door number two. “Pretty sure we talked about my policy on phones during work.”

  She stopped just out of reach and squared her shoulders. Despite her proud stance, her gaze didn’t quite reach his, focusing on his collarbone instead. “Yes, sir.”

  “So are you going to tell me why you’d risk your new job breaking that policy?”

  “I’d rather not.” The same gumption she’d shown the day she’d interviewed fired bright behind her eyes, but there was something else there tonight. A desperation she couldn’t quite hide beneath her sass.

  “Not gonna lie to you, Nat. You’re good with the customers. Reliable. Fast. Friendly. I have a hard time finding one of those qualities in a waitress, let alone all three. I’d rather not have to cast my net for a replacement, but you’re not giving me much help.”

  She swallowed big and pinched her lips together like it was all she could do not to rip him
a new one. “My son’s seven, and my mom’s scared to death of my ex. I keep my phone with me so they can reach me if they need to. I promise you, I’m not letting it interfere with my service, but if that’s a deal breaker for you, then I understand. I can either finish out the night, or cut bait now.”

  Oh, yeah. Total attitude and sass wrapped up with the kind of lingo he could appreciate. But then from the minute she’d first walked into his office, he’d sensed she’d be the down-home type. “Your mom got a reason to be afraid of this guy?”

  She held her tongue, but her face blanched a shade or two.

  “Not asking for you to tell me the sordid details,” Trevor said. “I’m asking so I can gauge if I’m gonna have a rowdy asshole show up at my bar. I also need to know if this is going to be something you juggle on a daily basis.”

  She huffed out a tired exhale and her shoulders slumped. “I’d say her fears aren’t unfounded, but it’s not something you’d have to deal with here. Wyatt saves his tantrums for smaller audiences.”

  Every muscle in Trevor’s body locked up tight, reflexes born at a young age flaring hard and fast. He knew exactly the type of tantrum she meant. Had lived under his father’s tyrannical fists for seven years before fate and his mother’s death had turned his whole world upside down. “Get your stuff and get home.”

  “You’re firing me?”

  “No, I’m telling you to quit jacking around here and get home to your son.” He forced himself to take a solid breath and unclench his fists. “From here on, if you need to keep the phone with you, that’s fine, but use it in private. I don’t need other employees claiming I play favorites. And next time, don’t try to handle two issues at once. Tell me or whoever’s managing the club you’ve got an issue then get your butt home and deal with it right.”

  For the first time since he’d met her, her smile reached her eyes and the careful mask she kept in place slipped. “Thank you.” It was barely more than a whisper, but thick with enough emotion it almost knocked him over. She reached out as though to touch his arm, but tucked her arm back against her side just as fast. “I promise. You won’t regret this.”

  Before he could respond, she slipped around him, yanked opened the door, and hurried down the dark hall.

  He caught the door in one hand before it could close and stared after her, dangerous ideas taking root in his head. Nope, making a concession for Natalie where phones were concerned wasn’t a decision he’d regret, the same way he wouldn’t lament beating the shit out of her ex if the bastard ever laid a hand on Natalie or her kid.

  Chapter Two

  No human being should be allowed to drive on a cocktail of frayed nerves, fear, and adrenaline. Especially not a mother trying to get home to her kid before her narcissistic ex scared him to death banging on the door.

  Barely slowing to check oncoming traffic, Natalie whipped a right-on-red and gunned her Lexus SUV the last block to her apartment complex. Thank God her new boss was a decent human being. She’d been panicked reading her mother’s texts all night, but had been equally terrified of losing her job. Once upon a time, her salary as even a starting RN would have made being the sole provider for her mom and Levi a doable proposition, but that was years and a bad decision ago, and processing health insurance claims didn’t rake in the big bucks. Her tips working one of Dallas’s trendiest bars definitely helped take the edge off.

  Bypassing the main parking lot, she paralleled farther down the street and killed the engine. Trying to hide the gleaming white and chrome vehicle from Wyatt was probably a wasted effort. It stood out almost as strong as a neon sign on a clear night, but it was less than a year old, reliable, and paid for. Aside from the clothes she and Levi had managed to pack, it was the only asset she’d asked for in the divorce. Plus, it made for one heck of a reminder. A reflection of how much of herself she’d given up before Wyatt had literally knocked her back to her senses.

  The car’s locks engaged with a subtle click, but the automatic headlights stayed illuminated, painting a bold path between her and the staircase across the parking lot. Not exactly the stealthiest approach, but definitely safer in this part of town. Besides, if Wyatt was waiting for her, there’d be no getting around a confrontation.

  Halfway up the staircase, she scanned the cars below. No lights glowed other than the old street lamp and no movement registered, but her heart hammered as though the hounds of hell were queued to pop out of the shadows at any moment. Fucking Wyatt. Just once she’d like to feel safe again. To actually believe she could call the cops and expect some kind of help.

  She worked the old but solid deadbolt until it clunked open and forced the door open with her shoulder. Soft, white light glowed from the galley kitchen’s stove, just enough to let her mom and Levi get around the two-bedroom apartment if they needed to, but not enough to clue Wyatt in to anyone being home. Her mom lay stretched out on the couch with Levi tucked up in the crook of her arm. His dirty-blond hair was tousled and had grown so long it nearly reached his eyes, but cutting it wasn’t a battle she was ready to fight yet. For Levi, a haircut meant looking more like his dad than he already did, which meant he’d fight tooth and nail to avoid it.

  She placed her purse onto the end table, eased to her knees beside him, and whispered, “Hey, sweetheart.”

  Her mom jolted awake, simultaneously squeezing Levi closer and shifting to protect him. Only when she realized it was Natalie crouched beside them, did she let out a shaky breath and relax into the cushions. Once upon a time her hair had been a lustrous dark brown, but now it was nearly all gray. While she never went out of the house without minimal makeup and her simple bob styled just so, tonight it was frazzled. She pressed the heel of her hand against her heart. “Warn an old woman next time, would you?”

  “Sorry. I was in a hurry.” Natalie picked up Levi’s hand and squeezed it, loving the warmth and comfort the simple contact provided. One touch and her heart settled. At the first hint of his little boy scent, her lungs drew their first decent breath in hours.

  Careful not to jar Levi, her mom pushed upright and squinted toward the cable box perched on top of the old box television set. 9:08 beamed back at them in neon blue. “I thought you wouldn’t be home until after close?”

  “Yeah, well it turns out my new boss isn’t just hot enough to seduce half of Texas’s female population, but has a heart of gold, too.” When she’d first walked into Trevor’s office for her interview, his looks had literally knocked her for a loop, leaving her as coordinated as a drunken sailor wearing clown shoes. Thick blond hair tied back in a ponytail, sigh-worthy blue eyes, and a square jaw that made her think of Vikings—he was one hundred percent, Grade-A visual goodness.

  Apparently, she wasn’t the only one who thought so. Every woman who walked in the bar rubbernecked the laid-back cowboy in blatant appreciation. For that reason alone, she’d vowed never to ogle him or his jean-clad ass again, even if it meant keeping her gaze locked on his chin through all their conversations.

  She smoothed Levi’s bangs off his forehead. “How long’s he been out?”

  “Since Wyatt quit banging on the door about forty-five minutes ago.” Her mom frowned and double-checked to make sure Levi wasn’t feigning sleep. “He’s terrified of him, Nat. It took a full hour after Wyatt started knocking for him to believe me when I said I wouldn’t let Wyatt have him.”

  And her mom wouldn’t either. Maureen Dubois might be petite and almost seventy, but she’d protect Levi with her last breath. The same way she’d tried to protect Natalie by begging her not to marry a highfalutin plastic surgeon. “You know Wyatt. He only wants what he can’t have. Sooner or later, he’s bound to get tired and find something shiny and new.”

  At least that was what she hoped happened. It was a heck of a better plan than following through with her fantasies of running the bastard over with the high-priced SUV he’d bought her.
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br />   She squeezed Levi’s shoulder and kissed his cheek. “Come on, kiddo. Let’s get you in bed.”

  Levi stirred, wrinkled his little nose, and rubbed the back of his hand across his eyes. God, he deserved so much more than the father who’d sired him. Hell, he’d deserved a justice system that wouldn’t turn a blind eye to an abusive man too, but in the end, Wyatt’s good-old-boy network had proven stronger leverage than human decency.

  Finally waking up enough to realize his mom was home, Levi’s eyes sharpened and his whole body went tense. He lurched forward and wrapped his arms around her neck. “He tried to take me. It’s not his turn. He can’t make me go when it’s not his turn.”

  “I know, baby.” Taking him with her as she stood, she hugged him close and paced toward the room he shared with her mom, smoothing her hand down his back. “He’s not going to take you yet. I promise.”

  A heavy knock rapped against the door.

  Natalie whipped around and froze, eyes locked on her mother.

  Inside her arms, Levi’s once-languid body went rigid, and he whimpered.

  She palmed the back of his head and whispered in his ear. “Shhh. Don’t say anything. He’ll go away and it’ll be okay.”

  At least if they were lucky, he would. But then the one thing she’d learned in the most painful way possible the last eight years was that Wyatt didn’t let something go once he’d set his mind on it. Ever. Once the court granted her divorce decree, what he’d decided he wanted was his wife and son back—even if he hated them both.

  The knocks came harder and faster, followed by Wyatt’s bellowing voice. “Open the goddamned door, Nat. I know you’re home. You really think that Lexus blends with this piece of shit neighborhood?”

  She kissed Levi’s cheek and peeled one arm from around her neck. If she didn’t defuse Wyatt quick, he’d shout the whole damned complex down. “Baby, I’ve gotta deal with him, but I promise you, he’s not getting in, okay? Not so much as one step in the house. I’ll just tell him it’s not time for his visit and he’ll go away.” It wasn’t a complete lie. More like a fervent wish that had a snowball’s chance in hell of coming true, but she’d give it her best. At this point, she’d call the cops to make it happen if she had to.