Two Hearts Born to Love

by Debra Kayn

  "What the fuck were you thinking?" His gaze bored into her. "I had every member from Tarkio out looking for you."

  "What?" She reeled back, and he brought her forward, holding her upper arms. "Why?"

  "Because I had no idea where you were." He let go of her. "Jesus Christ, Joey. You could've called and left a message with one of the kids if you had the idea to go out and play pool. Do you even know where you are or what kind of people come to this bar? Anything could've happened to you, and nobody would've known when you disappeared. I wouldn't have known."

  He hooked her neck, bringing her forward, and kissed her hard. Shocked at the anger radiating off him, she almost missed the way his hands vibrated against her skin, and his breathing came roughly. She'd scared him.

  She cupped his cheeks and pulled out of the kiss, holding him close. "I'm sorry."

  "Damnit, Tiger," he muttered. "I thought..."

  She swallowed hard. "You thought what?"

  "Dean called the house when I got home wanting to swing by and see the kids," said Wyatt.

  "Oh, no." She caressed his face, understanding why he'd be in a bad mood.

  "We exchanged some words, and he threatened to take everything I cared about away from me." His voice shook. "The kids were with me at home, but you were gone. I looked for you at Riverside Bar and at the Tavern on Sixteenth Street. I made the rounds to the stores in case you went for groceries, and when I couldn't find you—"

  "You thought Dean hurt me," she whispered, kissing his face, assuring him that she was right here in front of him. "I'm sorry. I should've called."

  "You're mine, Joey. The thought of losing you had me seeing blood."

  "I'm here now, and I'm okay." She pressed herself against him. "If I would've known what you were going through, I never would've gone out without you knowing."

  A car honked, roaring into the parking lot. Wyatt straightened. "I need to get home. Paco is hanging around the apartment complex, making sure the kids stay in the apartment, and Dean doesn't try to see them. He probably wants to go home."

  "Paco?"

  "A member of Tarkio." He opened her car door. "You need to make sure you lock your vehicle when you're out."

  "I thought I had." She slid behind the steering wheel and set her case in the passenger seat. Starting the engine, she looked at him. "Can we get together tomorrow after you get home from work?"

  "Yeah." He squatted down beside her.

  She ran her fingers through his wind-blown hair. The desire to hold him, reassure him, would have to wait. He needed to go home to his kids.

  "I am so sorry, Wyatt," she whispered.

  "Drive straight home." He kissed her and then closed the door.

  She started the engine and backed out of the parking spot. Once on the road, she recognized the single headlight following her.

  Wiped out from the wide range of emotions she'd experienced tonight, she forced herself to focus on the road and get back in the familiar area where she felt safer.

  Chapter 18

  Wyatt

  PACO SAT IN FRONT OF the apartment, his back against the door. Wyatt held out his hand and pulled the Tarkio member to his feet.

  "Thanks for sticking around." Physically tired, he unlocked the door. "Anyone come around?"

  "Nope. It's been quiet." Paco lit a cigarette. "I'll make a loop around the block, and if everything looks good, head on out of here."

  "Appreciate it, man." Anxious to check on his kids, he walked inside.

  Travis slept on his stomach, still dressed, the earphones for his Walkman half off his head. Wyatt closed the bedroom door and stepped across the hall to Jess's room.

  The covers clear up to the top of Jess's head, he pulled the blanket down and stroked his daughter's cheek.

  "Dad?" murmured Jess.

  "Go back to sleep." He bent down and kissed her forehead. "Love you."

  He walked out, closing the door, and went to the couch. Sitting down, he let his head fall back. No matter how many times he told himself that Joey was an adult and had lived an independent life before getting together with him, he wasn't able to sit at home and wait for her to show back up.

  The conversation with Priest and Roddy at the Tarkio clubhouse yesterday sat heavy on his mind. It only added to the worry when he couldn't find Joey earlier.

  Like he'd assumed, there was more to the story about Dean dealing tainted crack and possibly being responsible for Claudia's death. That same product had killed a Tarkio member in prison, and the motorcycle club wanted revenge.

  Priest wanted help, expecting Wyatt to feel the same desire for justice over his ex being killed, and he couldn't find it in himself to give a shit. Claudia had made her choices from day one. She'd neglected the children up to the day he'd received the news that she'd ran her car off the road.

  Her death gave him what two lawyers, three judges, and money couldn't get him. His kids were finally in a safe environment with a parent around to support them.

  He rubbed his face. Dean calling and threatening to take the kids kicked him into siding with Tarkio. He wanted Dean away from his kids. At their age, he couldn't be with them every second of the day, and he wanted to guarantee they'd be safe.

  Tomorrow, he'd let Priest know that he was in. He'd do whatever was needed to get Dean Miller out of Missoula, out of his life. What Tarkio wanted to do to Dean would sit on their shoulders, not his. Priest gave him no information on what they had planned. The club only wanted his help in capturing him and according to them, Dean Miller had disappeared three days ago.

  He wasn't coming around the house, and there were addicts showing up out of the woodwork, looking for him.

  The only one who had heard from him was Wyatt when Dean had called tonight and threatened him if he couldn't see the kids. With the lifestyle Dean lived, there was no reason why he should want to hang around children, especially when people were out there ready to put a bullet in his brain. Thinking about him using his kids for protection, believing nobody would gun him down if Jess and Travis were around scared the shit out of him.

  Unable to sit, he walked into the kitchen. Picking up the phone, he dialed Joey's number, then stretched the cord to the back of the room so as not to wake the kids.

  "Hello?"

  He lowered himself to the floor and leaned against the cupboard. "It's me."

  "Are you okay?"

  No, he wasn't okay. He needed everyone he cared about under the same roof. Joey was too far away. He needed to have his arms around her. Only then would he be okay.

  "I need you over here." He cleared his throat. "Please, tiger."

  She breathed over the phone. "Let me get dressed, and I'll come."

  "I'll be outside waiting." He hung up.

  A walk from her apartment to his after dark no longer felt safe. He slipped out the door and stepped out onto the small strip of grass until he had a view of her apartment door. The minutes ticked by, anxious to have her with him.

  The last couple of days were hit or miss with Joey. He'd fucked up, first pushing her away when he went off the rails about Jess seeing a boy. Then, tonight, he'd lost his head thinking she went missing. He'd taken that out on her when he found her in a bar with a rough crowd, not having anyone there to watch out for her.

  The outside light at Joey's apartment door came on. He spotted her hurrying toward him. He started walking. The moment she came in reach of him, he tucked her against his side and took her into the apartment.

  Joey muffled her rapid breathing. She'd put on a pair of sweatpants and an old T-shirt with paint splotches. Her hair was pulled off her face and braided down her back. All the makeup she had on earlier was washed from her face.

  She never looked more beautiful.

  And, all he had to offer her at the moment was the couch. He slid his hand into hers and went to the sofa. Stretching out, he patted his chest. She never questioned him, and climbed over the top of him, squeezing one leg between him and the back cushion, half lyi
ng on top of him.

  He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. It took several minutes for the pressure in his chest to ease and allow him to breathe.

  "Don't let me fall asleep," whispered Joey. "The kids could get up and find me on your couch."

  "I don't care," he whispered back.

  "I do." She lifted her head. "Not that what we're doing is wrong, but I don't want them to get the impression that I'm with you purely for sex."

  "Tiger, we've both got clothes on, and we're in the fucking living room. Trust me, my kids will see what they see."

  "What about Jess? You don't want her to sit in a truck and talk to a boy, but then turn around and show her it's okay for you to have a woman spend the night in your apartment." She paused. "That's not cool, Wyatt."

  He stroked her hip. "You're good to my kids."

  "I like them."

  "They like you."

  "I'm glad." She rubbed his stomach. "Because I like their dad, too. Even when he's being a butthead."

  Right in the feels. He kissed her softly. "Go to sleep. I'll wake you up before the kids need to get up for school, and you can sneak out."

  "Promise?"

  He wasn't going to be able to sleep. Too many things were running through his head. He needed answers and a plan, and he wasn't calm enough yet to make sense of everything.

  "Promise," he whispered.

  Concentrating on the quietness in the apartment, he could feel Joey's heart beating against his. He stroked her hip as he replayed the night. Little details came to mind that he'd brushed off in his panic to find her.

  "Joey?" he whispered.

  "Mm?"

  "Did you win the pool game?"

  She sighed contently. "Fifteen hundred dollars added to my goal."

  Proud of her, he kissed the top of her head and stared up at the ceiling. He needed to take care of Dean, so his family would be safe.

  His kids needed the freedom to be kids. To make mistakes, to discover new joys, and learn that he was never going to leave them.

  Joey deserved better from him. She shouldn't be crammed on a couch, trying to catch a few minutes of rest or waiting until he was free to have sex.

  Chapter 19

  Joey

  THREE BIKERS PARKED behind Wyatt's Harley and remained on their motorcycles. Joey headed toward Apartment B5, carrying an empty laundry basket, and wondered if the members of Tarkio were waiting for Wyatt.

  Knocking on his door, her arm was still in the air when Wyatt answered the door. "Hey...I think you have visitors."

  He peered over her head. "They can wait for me."

  "Are you leaving?"

  "In a few minutes." He pushed the door open wider. "Come in."

  She stepped inside and brushed a kiss against his lips. "Yesterday, Jess mentioned she was going to do laundry today, and I wanted to let her know that the other two machines are empty if she wants to hurry to the rec center."

  "Jess!" He took a cigarette out of the pack and slid it on top of his ear. "Hurry up. I need to get going."

  His daughter walked into the living room. "Is this really necessary?"

  "Yeah, and Joey needs to hear what I expect from you guys since she's nice enough to keep an eye on you this summer." He pointed to the couch. "Sit by Travis."

  His son put down the controller for a video game he played and looked up at his dad. Joey moved behind Wyatt and waited. Because she knew he worried about his kids, she'd offered to be the designated safe spot during the summer and watch out for the kids during the day while he worked. Mainly, she expected at their age, if they got bored, they'd come over and keep her company at her apartment.

  "First rule." He crossed his arms. "Nobody leaves the apartment complex while I'm gone. If you have friends come over or meet kids around here, you can hang out together in the rec center."

  "Seriously? Gag, Dad." Jess sulked on the couch. "There's always a bunch of old people in there. Can't we bring friends in the apartment?"

  "Not until I get home." He paused. "Second rule. Every hour, you check in with Joey. Don't call her, but physically go over and see her. If she doesn't see you, and the time for you to check-in has passed, I'm going to hear about it."

  "You don't have a phone on the job site," said Travis.

  "Yeah, I do, smartass." Wyatt raised his brows. "Roddy's got a satellite phone, and I'm going to give Joey his number."

  Travis groaned. "I might as well be back in school...or in prison."

  "That can be arranged, son." Wyatt stepped back and put his arm around Joey. "Rule three. No one is to have contact with Dean. If he calls or shows up, you run and get Joey. Joey—you lock everyone inside your apartment and call me."

  She kept her mouth from falling open. She had no idea what the kids' former stepdad looked like, only knew his name.

  "Gross." Jess curled her lip. "Like we want to see him."

  Travis picked at the sticker on the controller. Joey looked to Wyatt, but he seemed to be done with the rules because he grabbed a business card out of his wallet and a pen from off the coffee table and proceeded to write.

  "Here's Roddy's number." He gave it to her. "Don't be shy about asking these guys to help around the apartments if something comes up. Work will do them good."

  "Thanks a lot, dad." Jess's arms and legs went in different directions, and she let her head fall over the arm of the couch. "You've officially ruined summer."

  "You're welcome." He stepped to the couch and kissed his daughter's head. "I'll bring pizza home for dinner. There's also stuff in the cupboards for you guys to eat while I'm gone."

  "Did you get pudding cups?" asked Jess, sitting back up.

  "Yeah." He ruffled Travis's hair. "I also got the Jolly Rancher's Fire Stix you guys like."

  "Yes." Travis pumped his arm.

  He turned to Joey. "I need to go. I'll try and be home by seven o'clock."

  "I'll make dinner," she said.

  "You're sure?"

  The kids echoed their choice for her to cook, and she smiled. "We'll figure out what everyone likes and what I have, and do it together."

  He kissed her, patting her butt. "Deal. See you later."

  Wyatt picked up his tool belt and went outside. She looked at the kids and rolled her eyes at the sigh of relief spreading in the room. Sure that Wyatt had his reasons for the rules, it was also summer, and for kids, that meant life should be fun and without responsibilities.

  "If you want to do laundry, there are two washers empty. I can change them out when I put my clothes in the dryer if you want to go start them now." She walked to the door. "Besides that, have a good day, and I guess I'll see you in an hour."

  She shut the door, imagining them cheering and jumping on the couch now that they were alone without any grownups.

  The rumble of Wyatt's motorcycle started, and quickly, the other bikes joined. She waved on her way to her apartment, but Wyatt's attention was already focused on going to work. The last two weeks had flown by. She'd won and lost at Riverside Bar, which still put her ahead toward her goal thanks to winning at Kingston Bar.

  Slow and steady was her constant mantra lately. Not only with raising funds to enter the Blackfoot Tournament but in her relationship with Wyatt. Because of the kids, she found herself going over to his apartment every night when she wasn't playing pool.

  She loved spending time with all of them, and she looked forward to tomorrow night when Lucy picked up the kids and kept them for the whole weekend. She wouldn't have to sneak out of the apartment in the early morning hour, and they could have sex whenever they wanted.

  Setting an example for teenagers was hard because they noticed everything. Every. Single. Thing.

  Like the scent of her perfume in the morning after she'd left Wyatt's apartment but before the kids woke up—which Jess happened to mention during one of their shared dinners when they all ate together.

  She walked into her apartment, leaving the door unlocked for the kids. Before she forgot,
she took the business card with Roddy's phone number out of her pocket and stuck it under a magnet on the fridge. She'd need to talk about what they all wanted for dinner when the kids checked in with her. That way, she could take the meat out of the freezer and it would have time to thaw while Wyatt was at work.

  The doorbell rang. She smiled as she walked to the front of the apartment. Opening the door, she said, "Are you bored already?"

  A middle-aged man stood on the other side. The hair on the back of her neck prickled. She'd expected Jess or Travis.

  "Can I help you?" she asked.

  "Ms. Farran?" The man fidgeted from one foot to the other.

  "Yes."

  "I'm Chuck from Leibel's Appliance. We've got a delivery on the truck for..." He pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket. "Apartment A1."

  "Oh, yes." She stepped out and closed the door behind her. "The fridge actually goes to A5. I'll show you."

  "Ground floor?" he asked, following her.

  "No. There are stairs." She glanced at him. "I told them when I made the order. They were supposed to have two men deliver it."

  "No worries, ma'am. My co-worker is unloading the fridge, and we'll both be installing it."

  She climbed the steps, knocked on Mrs. Peterson's door. After informing the tenant about the arrival of the fridge, she let them go ahead and do their job. Since she'd already paid for the replacement, she returned to her apartment.

  Checking the time, she grabbed a hairband and put her hair in a high ponytail and went to the rec center. She arrived as Jess set down a basket of dirty clothes in front of the machine.

  "You made it." She opened the closet, reached up on the top shelf, and took the key out of an empty Nestle Quik container. "Put the clothes and soap in, and I'll show you a trick."

  Waiting to the side, she put the key in the front of the machine, turned the knob, and then pulled out the key. The machine started filling.

  "What?" Jess laughed. "Does that mean I don't have to spend the fifty cents?"

  "Sh." She winked. "Top secret."

  "Coolio." Jess slipped the money into her pocket. "Thanks."