Hammer's Fall (The Breakers' Bad Boys)

by Roma, Laurie

  “Don’t remind me,” Becca had groaned. “If I don’t think about it, it didn’t happen.”

  Nikita had stood there with her arms folded over her chest until they had drunk the entire glass down. Kalista had shuddered at the foul taste of the drink, but amazingly enough she began to feel better almost immediately.

  Nikita had turned to Kalista, her violet eyes bright with humor. “And aren’t you glad I talked you out of getting a tattoo last night?”

  Kalista had blinked at her in surprise. “What?”

  “You wanted to go to my shop last night and get a tattoo.”

  “Oh my God…”

  “Don’t worry. I’d never ink someone who was as drunk as you were. Hell, I drank too much to pick up my needle. I liked your idea though. If you change your mind and still want to do it, just let me know.”

  “I have no clue what you’re talking about.”

  “You wanted to get a little hammer tattooed on your breast,” Nikita had told her with a laugh.

  Kalista shuddered as she thought about how glad she was she hadn’t woken up with a tattoo she couldn’t remember getting. And didn’t it say something that she had wanted to get a hammer tattooed on herself, like a stamp of ownership or something?

  Trying not to dwell on it, Kalista focused on parking the van the bakery used for large deliveries and specialty items such as wedding cakes, which was now loaded with goodies they’d made for the event. They ended up making three types of cookies and cupcakes to go with the three types of dog treats they had for the canine participants of today’s festivities, and they had made sure to make extra so they wouldn’t run out.

  They were an hour early for the event to give them plenty of time to set up, but Kalista could see that Evie and her crew had almost everything done already. There were four large, red and white striped tents arranged near the main rescue center, with dozens of cages lined up in rows under the shaded canopies. Volunteers and staff members took the dogs out of the cages in turn to take them for short walks, while others were let into the play area or allowed to try the obstacle course in the fenced in area. In the tent closest to the building was a separate fenced-in area where all the pit bull puppies were playing together.

  Kalista looked over to her passenger seat where Becca was napping and nudged her none too gently on the shoulder. “Wake up, Becca. We’re here.”

  Becca’s eyes popped open and she yawned. “Ready to work, boss.”

  Kalista rolled her eyes as she got out of the van and went around to open the back doors. There were two part-time workers who pulled up in another car and hurried over to help them as they began unloading the containers of baked goods. Anna had chosen to remain at the bakery with the rest of their staff since Valentine’s Day was one of their busiest days. She promised to make it out to the rescue center later when Nate got out of school so she could drive him over.

  Evie and Francesca walked over just as Kalista set down a large box of cookies. Both women were wearing sweatshirts with the Beaumont Rescue Center logo on them. Earlier that week, Evie had dropped off similar items for Kalista and her employees to wear, and she made sure to pass them out to each of her staff members that would be attending today. Kalista let out a laugh as Evie hugged her.

  “This is amazing! Thank you so much for doing this,” Evie exclaimed, delighted as she looked at all the boxes of goodies.

  “It’s our pleasure,” Kalista said. “Where do you want us to set up?”

  Evie picked up one side of a large cooler and helped Kalista carry it over to a huge white canopied tent. There were small tables and chairs set up for the guests and three long tables towards the back that had been decorated with heart-covered tablecloths for the baked goods to be displayed. On each table was a spectacular cartoon drawing, two of people playing with dogs, while the third was just a cute picture of dogs staring hopefully at a jar filled with treats. Kalista was touched to see that not only were the cards and pamphlets she had dropped off spread over the table, but a large pink and black sign had been put up promoting Sinfully Sweet.

  “Wow, that’s awesome. Thanks for putting up the sign for us,” Kalista said.

  “It’s the least we could do after all the goodies you brought us,” Evie told her. “We’re also promoting the pet store and the animal clinic in the dog tents. I’m hoping for a big turnout today.”

  “We’ve gotten a lot of questions about the event from people who have stopped by the bakery. If that is any indication, we should have a lot of people coming today.”

  Evie braced her hands on her hips and smiled. “Looks like you might be right. People are already starting to show up.”

  Kalista looked over as several cars pulled into the parking lot. Smiling she turned back to Evie. “Go do your thing. We’ll get everything ready here.”

  After Evie left, Kalista, Becca and her two employees finished unloading all of the boxes and coolers from the van.

  “It’s not even ten yet and there are so many people here already,” Zoe said as she and Nikita joined them.

  Kalista turned to them and grinned. “Thanks for coming.”

  “I thought you were working today,” Becca said.

  Nikita shook her head. “I’ll open the shop late today. Most of the crazy assholes who want to come in and get inked on Valentine’s Day end up doing it later anyways.”

  That made them all laugh. “What can we do to help?” Zoe asked.

  She put her friends to work helping set up tiered trays of cookies and cupcakes. They had also filled little bags with a selection of the treats for people to be able to take with them when they visited with the dogs. She decided to stash the rest of the items in the coolers they shoved under the tables so they would be able to easily replace the trays throughout the day.

  Kalista couldn’t help but feel annoyed that Jared hadn’t come with her to help out that morning. He had gotten back from his trip late Wednesday night and had called her to tell her he had gotten home safely. It had worried her that he hadn’t come over, but she had been too busy to think of it too much. The following day she had worked at the bakery all day, and around dinner time Jared had shown up with two huge bags full of Chinese takeout for all the people helping with the baking.

  Over dinner he’d told her about the press conference he had attended, but she hadn’t been able to ask any deep, probing questions because they weren’t alone. After they ate, he had helped out in the kitchen, washing the trays after they had transferred the cookies and cupcakes to the cooling racks or doing whatever else was needed. He and Nate had taken over the task of filling the bags with the finished dog treats while the women continued making whatever they needed for the adoption event.

  There was something about Jared’s behavior that had put Kalista on guard. When asked, her friends said they didn’t think anything was different, but Kalista knew there was something off. She had come to know him too well, and she was sure that he was hiding something from her. Not wanting to hear that he was ending their relationship, she hadn’t asked about it. Instead, she used the time to figure out what she wanted to say to him when they finally got a minute alone. Unfortunately, she had been so tired by the time they had finished with their baking that all she could do was take a shower, then crawl into bed.

  At dawn she had woken up to feel Jared’s mouth pressed against hers. She had welcomed his heavy weight as he covered her body with his and held on to him tightly as he made love to her with a passion that stole her breath. After they climaxed together, Kalista had closed her eyes and fallen back to sleep with a soft smile on her face. When she woke the next time, her smile was gone, and so was Jared.

  He had left her a note saying he had some things to take care of before he met her at the rescue center. It had left her with an aching heart since she could feel him pulling away from her, but she was determined to get through the day before she allowed herself to fall apart.

  With the extra help from Zoe and Nikita, it didn’t take th
em long to get everything ready. As the women had been setting out the baked goods more people had arrived, and the area was already packed with people.

  “Here,” Francesca said as she walked up to them carrying two clear, plastic containers with a hole cut into the top. “Can we put these donation jars on the tables somewhere?”

  “Sure,” Kalista said, finding the perfect spot for each. She started to introduce Francesca to her other friends only to find out that Hunter actually worked part-time at Ink This with Nikita when he wasn’t at the rescue center. Zoe seemed to know everyone in town because the bar she worked at was such a hot spot. Becca was the only one who didn’t know everyone else, so Francesca offered to give her a tour so she could introduce her to everyone.

  “It looks wonderful. Oh, Kali. You did such a wonderful job, and we are so grateful to have you be a part in today’s festivities,” Madeline said as she and Evie joined them. She pulled Kalista into her arms and pressed a kiss to her cheek. Kalista still felt awkward with the affection gestures that seemed to come so naturally from Jared’s mother when she couldn’t even remember when the last time her own mother had given her a hug. Kalista opened her mouth to respond when they heard a loud rumbling sound coming from the road.

  “It figures. Naturally, they get here when all the damn work is done,” Zoe muttered under her breath. Still, she couldn’t help but eye the men with appreciation.

  “They do like to make an entrance,” Evie said with a chuckle.

  Kalista’s eyes widened as a dozen men rode up to the rescue center on their motorcycles, the loud sounds temporarily drowning out the sound of the dogs barking and people talking.

  Madeline laughed. “Ah, trouble just rolled in. Now the party can really begin.”

  Chapter Twelve

  The men turned off their bikes in unison and dismounted.

  Even without their grand entrance the group would have been the center of attention. Out of the corner of her eye Kalista could see more than a few women had stopped in their tracks to admire the group of bikers. Among the riders she could see Jared, Dante and Sheriff Storm Wyatt, but there were several other good looking men that were sure to set a few hearts aflutter. Individually, each man was eye candy to look at, but together as one big group, they were absolutely devastating.

  As if he could feel her looking, Jared’s head turned, and Kalista was sure his eyes locked with hers even though she couldn’t see beneath his sunglasses.

  “Well, well. My son certainly looks at you as if he wants to gobble you up,” Madeline said cheerfully, trying to hold back the dance of glee she wanted to do.

  “Hell, I’m out of here,” Nikita said before she disappeared into the crowd.

  Jared, Dante and Storm walked over to join them at the edge of the food tent. Jared leaned down to kiss his mother on the cheek before pulling Kalista into his arms. “Mmm, you smell like sugar.”

  Dante frowned at Zoe. “I told you I’d pick you up,” he snapped as soon as he got within hearing distance.

  Zoe crossed her arms over her chest, irritated by his tone. “And I told you that I’d drive myself. Niki and I came early to help set up, unlike some people.”

  “You and Nikita rode those crotch rockets over here, didn’t you?”

  She rolled her eyes and looked over at Kalista, Evie and Madeline to explain. “He just says that because I won’t let him ride my BMW bike. And if anyone touched Niki’s Ducati, she’d kill them.”

  “That woman is scary,” Storm muttered.

  “Leave the girls alone,” Madeline ordered. “You’d think the lot of you were in kindergarten the way you poke at each other.”

  “Yes, ma’am. We’re reporting for duty,” Storm said, changing the subject. “I’m on call, but I’m here to help out however I can.”

  Evie smiled. “And we can certainly use you.”

  “Come with me, you handsome young devil,” Maddy said linking her arm through his.

  “Maddy, my love. When are you going to leave Tony and run away with me?”

  “Dude, that’s my mom,” Jared grumbled, making them all laugh.

  Maddy, Storm and Evie walked away with Zoe and Dante a few steps behind as they continued to bicker. Jared wrapped his arms around Kalista, pulling her out of the way as people started heading over to the table of sweets.

  “I thought you were going to help me set up this morning,” Kalista said as she stared at his chest. He lifted her chin using a finger so she was looking at him. Her heart wrenched when she saw the love shining in his dark eyes, and her nerves settled a little.

  “I’m sorry, baby. I had some stuff to do early this morning that took longer than I thought it would. I hated leaving you in bed. Trust me when I say I’d rather have woken up with you and driven you over myself. I know this wasn’t the best way to start off Valentine’s Day, but I promise that I will make it up to you later.”

  “I’ll look forward to that.” He brushed his lips against hers and she blushed as she noticed all the people watching them. “We have an audience.”

  “We do. Looks like half the town is here already,” he agreed after he looked around. He winked at her. “They’re just trying to figure out how I got so lucky.”

  “Yeah, right.”

  “It’s true.” He kissed her again, hard and fast. “Now, put me to work, woman.”

  She was smiling as she led him over to the tables of sweets where there was already a line of people. Kalista laughed when Jared grinned at her as he put on one of the pink Sinfully Sweet aprons over his clothing, completely at ease wearing the girlie color. She answered questions people had about what they were offering, and she had to admire the easy way Jared talked with the guests. There was a moment or two that had her stiffening up when a group of pretty young women stopped by the table to flirt with Jared, but he easily brushed aside their efforts.

  Observing him covertly gave Kalista time to reflect on what she wanted to say to him once they were alone. He was standing at one of the other tables, and she watched as he casually stepped away from a woman who reached out to touch his arm.

  In that moment she had an epiphany.

  The move had been as automatic as it was when he leaned down and kissed the top of her head whenever he passed by her. He didn’t do it because he knew she was watching. He did it because that was who he was. For the last few days Kalista had been worried about the possibilities of what would happen with their relationship based on what other people had done to her in the past.

  Jared was a man of his word. Smart, caring, and wickedly passionate, he was all hers. He loved her, but instead of focusing on that she’d been worried about all the reasons that he shouldn’t. For some reason she had never understood why he had chosen to be with her, and that had been clouding how she viewed their relationship. He had never given her any reason to doubt him, and yet she was treating him like he had.

  Feeling a new sense of awareness, Kalista turned to face him and felt her lips curve into a smile. She loved Jared, and she wouldn’t let her own insecurities get in the way of that any longer. When the talked later she would tell him that she would love to move in with him, and that she didn’t want him to go. She knew it was a great opportunity for him, and if he really wanted to do it she would be supportive, but she would tell him how she felt before he made his decision.

  Jared cast a glance her way and smiled, then looked back at the person he was talking to. He froze in place then looked back at her, his eyes darkening with an inner fire that thrilled her because she knew without a doubt it was all for her. When he walked away from the woman he had been talking to without another word, she was sure he could see all the love she felt for him shining in her eyes.

  He pulled her to him and captured her mouth in a scorching kiss. Kalista’s arms wrapped around his neck, holding on as he dipped her backwards over his arm in what felt like a brilliant replica of the quintessential Hollywood kiss. Lost in each other, Kalista and Jared became aware of the crowd clappi
ng and cheering around them at the same time. She held onto his arms as he lifted her back onto her feet, holding her steady when her knees threatened to buckle.

  “You can’t look at me like that in public and not expect me to kiss you silly,” he growled softly.

  “Maybe that was my master plan,” Kalista teased, loving the smile he gifted her in return.

  “Go on you two, get out of here for a bit and take a break. All your hot and sexy vibes are melting the frosting,” Becca quipped as she shooed them from the tent.

  Kalista was amazed when she got her first real look at the success of the event as she walked hand-in-hand with Jared around the grounds. She smiled as she saw several empty cages with signs on them stating that the former inhabitants had found a new home. There were several more dogs that wore bright red collars with the word “adopted” printed on them.

  “Those dogs have someone who wants to adopt them,” Hunter explained when Kalista asked. He had strolled over to join her and Jared as they walked around. It made her sad when Kalista noticed that he always kept the side with his burns facing away from her. “They’ve filled out the paperwork and stuff, but we need to do a home visit before we hand over the dog so we schedule a time to do that next week.”

  “What about the dogs that are already gone?”

  Hunter smiled. “Some of those went home with people who have adopted from us before, and some are people that we know well. If they have another pet, we either encourage them to bring them with so one of our staff can see how they interact or they have to wait until we can do a home visit.”

  “We send a staff member out to check out the house of the local adopters if they wanted to take the dog with them today,” Evie said as she walked up to join them. “I just got back from a run over to the Hollister house. Everything is set, and the paperwork is in the office. Those kids loved that puppy so much I couldn’t make them wait.”

  “You’re a soft touch, cuz,” Hunter said, then he grunted as she slapped his flat stomach.