Cook's Choice: A Bad Boy Protector Romance (Lost Boys Book 4)

by Janice M. Whiteaker

  “Hot damn, Carly. I knew that man wasn’t stupid.” She’s grinning from ear to ear.

  “Stupid?”

  “He’d have to be stupid to let a nice girl like you pass him by.”

  I turn to her. “I am a nice girl, aren’t I?”

  Violet’s smile slips just a little. “One of the nicest I’ve ever known, Sugarbear.” She reaches out to pat my back. “Come get breakfast with me. I want to hear all about this evening you had.”

  I sit with Violet while she picks through the plate of eggs and sausage in front of her. “Not good?”

  Her nose wrinkles. “The food here is shit.” Her eyes snap to mine. “Maybe you should take that over too.”

  I roll my eyes at her. “I’m not sure that’s in my wheelhouse.” The thought percolates around in my head for a minute. “Actually, I might be able to work something out. Not an everyday thing, but I might have an in with someone who makes the best food I’ve ever had.”

  “You’re easy to impress though.” Violet stabs at a sausage link. “You eat the food here without complaining.”

  She’s not wrong. My mom worked two jobs when I was a kid which meant I ate whatever we could afford that I could cook myself. “So. Let’s talk about that deal we made.”

  Violet’s lined lips twist into a knowing smile. “You really kissed him?”

  “Yup.” I lean in. “More than once.” I’ve never had anyone to discuss things like this with. Never felt comfortable enough with another person to talk about intimacies.

  “I’m proud of you, Carly. It’s about time you start taking what you want without feeling bad about it.” Violet bites off a chunk of biscuit, her brows lifting as she chews. “This isn’t bad.”

  I’ve never fully told anyone about how my mother was. Somehow I always knew my relationship with her wasn’t completely normal.

  That my mother wasn’t like other moms.

  “My mother was always worried I would get myself into the same sort of trouble she thought she’d gotten herself into.”

  Violet stops chewing and stares at me. “Pregnant?”

  I nod. “She had me when she was fifteen.”

  Violet sets the biscuit onto her plate. “That’s pretty young.”

  “I think she always thought her life would have been different if it hadn’t happened.” I have to fight the next word out. “Easier.”

  Violet’s already thin lips press into nothing. “Your mother made you feel like it was your fault her life sucked?”

  “She had a difficult life.” I immediately dive into the excuses I used to make it through a childhood with a mother who didn’t show love. Who didn’t offer praise. “She was a foster kid and then got pregnant and had to take care of me.” I continue on, needing Violet to understand the mother I still didn’t. “And she took full responsibility for getting pregnant with me.”

  “Well she only deserved half that.” Violet’s lips were in a scowl now. “You find anything out about that twat you think is your father?”

  “Some.” I sip at the coffee I poured while Violet got her breakfast. “Not much, though.”

  I don’t want to tell her what I do know. That the man who probably impregnated my mother was most likely a terrible person.

  “Maybe you should just leave it alone, Carly.” Violet’s about-face surprises me.

  “What? You were the one telling me to hunt him down.”

  “I thought you needed it. Get closure you didn’t get from your mother, but maybe it’s better to just let it be.” Violet’s not looking at me now. All her attention is focused on the food in front of her.

  “Why?”

  “You know, this food isn’t as bad as I first thought. These eggs are actually fine.” Violet shoves a giant forkful into her mouth.

  “Violet. Why do you think I should stop trying to find out about Herbert?”

  “Hey, Carly.” Josie slides into the chair next to mine and gives Violet a smile. “Morning, Miss Violet. How are you today?”

  “The food here sucks.”

  I stare at her with wide eyes. “You just said it was fine.”

  Violet shrugs. “I changed my mind.”

  Josie’s smile stays soft and easy. “I will see what I can do.” She turns to me, holding out an envelope. “This came in the mail yesterday and accidentally ended up in my mailbox.”

  I take it, reading the hand-lettered address on the front. I do everything I can through email, so getting actual paper mail is unusual for me. “Thanks.” I tear it open just in case it’s a bill from one of the businesses I bring in for activities.

  But it’s not a payment request that’s inside the business-sized envelope.

  It’s a picture. Worn at the edges and yellowed from age.

  “What in the hell is that?” Violet cranes her neck my way, trying to see what’s in my hand.

  I can’t look away from the Polaroid.

  Even as my stomach rolls and my skin turns clammy.

  Because it’s my mother staring back at me, looking like a person I don’t know.

  Her hair is long and stringy. Her limbs are thin and gangly from youth. Her eyes are drooped and hazy. The tip of her head against the couch she’s sitting on looks unnatural and uncontrolled.

  A man sits beside her.

  Not a boy.

  A man.

  Leering.

  One hand tucked between her legs as he grins at the camera.

  And I’m afraid I know who that man is.

  11

  “WHAT’S the matter?”

  Carly’s not even all the way in the truck and I can tell by the look on her face something’s wrong.

  Really wrong.

  “Who is Herbert?” She turns to face me. “Who is he really?”

  “What happened, Carly?” I glance up at the glassed-in front to the place where she works. The security guard stationed at the front is armed so I thought she was safe there.

  She shoves her hand my way. An old Polaroid is pinched tight between her fingers.

  I recognize one of the faces in it, and I’m afraid I can guess the other.

  “Shit, Carly. Don’t tell me that’s your mom.” I turn away from the too-young face of the girl in the photo.

  I can’t fuckin’ look at it.

  “Is that what he is, Levi? Is that what I come from?” The fear in her voice is unmissable and it cuts me deep.

  “No.” I turn to her, pulling Carly close. “You are nothing like him, Pinky. Not even a little.” Carly couldn’t be less like King if she tried,

  “What is wrong with him?” She tucks her head into my neck.

  “So many fucking things.” I smooth down her hair, trying to make her feel better. I wish I was better at it. Wish I could remember what my great-grandma did when I was little and upset.

  But it’s been too long. I was too young when she died and my whole life changed, turning on a dime, leaving me at the state’s mercy.

  “I thought he just left my mom to fend for herself. I didn’t know he—” Her head snaps up, eyes pink but not teary as they meet mine. “I want him to die.”

  “You and a bunch of other people, Sweetheart.” I push the hair away from her face, running my hands down the silky strands. I have to find a way to fix this. Fix the pain in her eyes. “Can I take you somewhere? To meet someone?”

  I think I know how to make her feel better. A way for her to see that just because that man’s blood is in her veins doesn’t mean his evil is.

  Carly nods. “Okay.”

  I don’t miss the fact that she doesn’t ask me any questions, just agrees.

  I reach over to catch her hand as I pull out of the lot at Elm Grove, turning in the opposite direction of the firehouse. I lace my fingers with hers and stroke my thumb over her soft skin. I hold her hand the whole drive. I don’t know if it helps her, but it sure as hell helps me. Makes me feel a little less helpless. A little less lacking.

  I know I’m not good enough for her. I know I’m
not able to give a woman like Carly all she needs. I’m not sweet. I’m not gentle. I’m not careful.

  And that’s what she wants. It’s what all women ultimately want.

  We pull up in front of Jill’s house and I glance over at her. Her skin is a little paler than it was a few minutes ago.

  “This is his house.” Her eyes don’t leave the large structure in front of us.

  “No, Pinky. It’s not.” I brush a kiss over her knuckles before resting Carly’s hand on her lap and climbing out of the truck to go to her side. I open the door and reach for her. “Come on. Everything will be okay. I promise.”

  Carly nods. “Okay.” She lets me help her out and keeps her hand in mine all the way to the front door.

  I ring the bell and a second later Jill opens it. “I thought I saw your truck pull in, Levi.” She smiles wide and pulls me in for a tight hug. As soon as Jill lets me go her attention moves in Carly’s direction. “And who is th—” Her smile freezes on her face.

  “Who is it?” I hear Kerri as she comes down the hall toward where her mom holds the door open. Tracker’s girlfriend comes into view and stops, her eyes moving over the woman at my side.

  They don’t look identical, but there are enough similarities that the connection is clear.

  “This is Carly.” I squeeze her hand in mine. “Carly, this is Jill Wallace and her daughter Kerri.”

  “Daughter.” Carly whispers the word as she stares at Kerri. “Wallace.” Her eyes come to mine.

  Jill blinks a few times. “Where are my manners?” She immediately grabs Carly from me, pulling her into the house. “How are you, honey? Are you thirsty?”

  I hang back, watching as Jill gives Carly all the things I can’t. The warmth. The care.

  Kerri’s eyes follow them for a few seconds before her head turns my way. “What the fuck is going on?” Her voice is low as she comes closer.

  I close the door and flip the deadbolt. “She’s looking for King. She thinks he’s her father.”

  “Ya think?” Kerri’s attention snaps back to where Jill already has Carly sitting in one of the barstools around the giant island in the kitchen. “Who in the hell is her mom?”

  I shake my head, wishing I could unsee the picture Carly showed me. “It’s bad, Kerri.” I don’t want to betray Carly, but this is going to be as difficult for Kerri and Jill as it is for her.

  It’s why I brought her here. She needs someone who understands how she feels.

  Because I sure as fuck can’t.

  “She’s the same age as me. How much freaking worse can it get?” Kerri’s nostrils are flared and she looks about a half second from losing her shit.

  Kerri and Carly might be sisters, but they couldn’t be more different. “She doesn’t know about him. Carly’s only just starting to figure out what he is.”

  Kerri’s narrowed eyes zero in on me. “You haven’t told her?”

  “I tried to get her to drop it. Get out of this before she was stuck.”

  Tracker’s girlfriend studies me for a minute with eyes that feel like they’re seeing too much. “You like her.” Kerri’s mouth curls into a knowing smile. “Cook’s got the hots for sweater set.”

  “Her name’s Carly.” I don’t like Kerri judging her like that. Thinking she knows what Pinky is just by looking at her. “And she’s not what you think.”

  What I thought. I’m as guilty as Kerri is.

  I did to Carly exactly what everyone does to me. What I bank on them doing.

  “I guessed that when I saw you holding hands with her.” Kerri pokes me in the chest. “Cook’s got a girlfriend.”

  I smack at her hand as she keeps prodding me. “Shut up.” I tip my head to where Jill is piling food up in front of Carly. “Go in there.”

  Carly turns in her seat to look my way. She gives me a tight smile.

  Kerri leans into my side. “I don’t think it’s me that should be going in there.”

  Jill pulls out the seat beside Carly. “Come here, Levi. I tried that chocolate chip cookie recipe and I want to see what you think.”

  As I pass the stairs Tracker comes trotting down. He and Kerri stay with Jill now, making sure she’s as safe as she can be.

  Maybe this is where Carly should be too.

  I’m almost sure the shots The Horsemen took at the firehouse were to prove a point, not to inflict actual harm. Since the incident at the warehouse the cops have been breathing down their neck, sending them scattering.

  And King deep into hiding.

  Any outbursts have been short and shallow, but I know they’re just biding their time. Regrouping while they wait.

  “Hey, man. How’s it going?” Tracker gives me a quick handshake and back slap before we both head into the kitchen.

  I slide into the seat Jill pulled out for me. Carly’s body slowly leans toward me until her shoulder barely brushes mine.

  Tracker reaches his hand her way. “You must be the Carly Moon’s been telling me about.” Tracker’s eyes barely flick my way before going back to rest on Carly. I see the second it registers.

  The line of her nose. The slope of her jaw. The arch of her brow.

  Carly shakes his hand. “I accidentally hit him in the back of the head with a baking sheet. I feel awful about it.”

  Tracker’s brows shoot up. “Accidentally?”

  “I thought he was breaking into the firehouse.” Carly looks at Jill. “I’ve never done anything like that before.”

  “Honey, we all do things we’ve never done before when we have to.” Jill holds Carly’s eyes for a second longer before she straightens, grabbing the plate of cookies and shoving it my way. “The baking time was tricky. I undercooked the first batch.” She picks one up and holds it out to me. “This is one of the good ones.”

  I shove half in my mouth while I inspect the other half. “These are the sourdough ones?”

  “They don’t really taste any different, do they?”

  I pop the other half in. “The taste isn’t much different, but the texture is. I think I like it.”

  She beams. “Good.” Jill pushes the plate closer to Carly. “Have some cookies, honey.” Jill grabs a glass and fills it with milk before setting it down in front of Carly. “Where are you from, Carly?”

  “I grew up in Indiana.” She holds the glass with the tips of her fingers, tapping them against the sides.

  She’s nervous and there’s no reason to be. I drape my arm across the back of her chair, wanting to make her feel like she’s not alone. I’m here and I’m on her team. We all are. She just doesn’t know that yet.

  Hopefully she at least realizes she has me.

  “What made you move here?” Jill eases into one of the chairs on my other side.

  “After my mom died I needed a change.” Her eyes hang on mine for a second. “I was tired of the life I had and wanted a fresh start.”

  “Um-hm. I can understand wanting a fresh start.” Jill rubs her lips together. “What about your father? Has he passed too?”

  Carly’s eyes come to mine and stay. She looks lost. Scared.

  I move my arm closer and rest my hand against her back. “It’s okay, Pinky.” I lean into her ear. “Sweetheart, you look just like your sister. They have already guessed.”

  She barely nods, clearing her throat. “I, um. I found a paper after my mother died.” Carly scratches at one temple. “She would never tell me what happened to my father. Just that he didn’t want to deal with the problem she had.”

  Jill’s eyes go wide but her lips stay shut. I’m sure she’s struggling with a mother calling her child a problem, but I’m grateful as hell she keeps it to herself.

  Carly’s explanation stalls out.

  “What did the paper say?” Tracker helps her along.

  “It had a man’s name on it.” Carly looks first to Jill, then to Kerri. “Herbert Wallace.”

  Everyone is quiet for a minute.

  “He’s a piece of shit.” Kerri reaches for Carly pulling
her in for a tight hug. “You’re lucky you didn’t know him.”

  Carly sits stiffly for a second, blinking. Her arms slowly go around Kerri, hugging her sister back.

  “Oh.” Jill jumps up from her seat and wraps herself around Carly and Kerri. “I’m so sorry about your mother, Carly honey.” She smooths down Carly’s hair with one hand. “Why don’t you and Levi stay for dinner?” Her warm eyes settle on Carly’s face. “I can tell you everything you never wanted to know about Herbert Wallace.”

  Carly nods, sniffing a little. “Okay. That sounds nice.”

  Jill pats Carly’s cheek. “Aren’t you just a sweetheart.” She points to the fridge. “Why don’t you go get the ground beef out so we can start the taco meat?”

  And just like that Jill pulls Carly into her pack. No questions asked.

  In a few minutes Jill has her at the stove, following directions like the rest of us.

  Tracker steps in beside me. “Come out back with me for a minute.”

  I glance Carly’s way. I don’t want to leave her if she’s still uncomfortable. A lot was just dumped on her, and she might not be ready to face down the truth of what she is alone.

  “She’s fine, buddy. Your girl’s in good hands.”

  I follow him out the back door, my eyes barely catching Carly’s as I go. She gives me a little smile and a nod.

  “Where in the hell did she come from?” Tracker settles into one of the chairs on the large pad just outside the door. “Moon said she just showed up one day in the middle of a drive-by.” He points my way. “Which we also need to discuss.”

  “She found the address to this place and staked it out. Saw the logo on my truck and found me at a rally a little over a week ago.” I lean to peek through the glass sliding door. “Asked me who King was, and I wouldn’t tell her.”

  “How in the hell did she end up in the middle of the drive-by then?”

  I chuckle. “She followed me home.”

  “Doesn’t take no for an answer, does she?”

  “She just wanted to know the truth of who her dad was.” I shrug. “If I’d just lost my mom I’d probably want to know too.”

  “Didn’t fucking turn out well for her, did it?” Tracker looks out over the large yard, but I can tell he’s not really seeing it.