by Debra Kayn
Cal had taken his inability to corner her out on Angela, Jenna, and Stephanie. While Cal had done everything possible to get close to her, he'd gone in the other direction with her friends by harassing them and treating them like shit. It made her feel awful and scared. If anything happened to her or the others, it would've been her fault.
"Good girl. You did the right thing. Now, you need to stay away from him." He gazed through the glass. "Are you looking for a job or going to try to get the nursery big enough to support you?"
"I already found a new job." She scooted to the edge of the chair and lowered her voice. "Before I tell you, promise you won't interrupt, okay?"
His tired gaze narrowed, and he refrained from agreeing. Knowing that's all he'd give her, she swallowed, gathering her strength.
Dealing with everyone who believed they had some say in her life took bravery that was hard to muster when she felt all alone.
"So, my friends knew what was happening at the lounge, of course, and I leaned on them for support. They're awesome. I think you'd really like them. We've always been friends, even though we're so different, but this thing with Cal brought us closer. They made sure Cal kept his distance, even when doing so made him be rude and mean to them." She blew out her breath. "Uncle Walker...my friends are all struggling, money-wise. We started talking when I wanted to quit, and well, they offered to walk off the job, too, as a sign of support, mostly. We all thought it would be easier to find a serving job, even if we had to go into Missoula. So much about waitressing is getting along with other waitresses. That's the problem with waitressing. If waitresses don't get along or don't like each other, it causes a lot of problems with the customers and tips. Anyway, I found a place where we could all work together."
He tilted his head in attention. "Where?"
"Well, it's a part-time job that pays just as well as working full time. The first night went off great. My new boss was happy with how we worked together. The customers gave great tips on top of what we earned. I'm excited about the extra income. It will go a long way to purchasing a plot of land where I can move the nursery and eventually expand and be able to afford to work in the greenhouse year-round. You know that was what Grandma June always envisioned and was never able to do. I finally feel like it's possible to have everything I ever wanted since I first stuck my hands in potting soil." Her heart raced, trying to talk her way through the conversation. "The thing is I've hit a road bump."
"Where are you working?" He ignored her overexplaining.
Afraid of what he'd say, she blurted, "Curley thinks he can tell me where I can and can't work. You need to tell him that I can make the decisions about what I do with my life. I'm old enough to know what is best for me, and working right now gets me closer to my goal. In one year, I should have enough money saved to start looking for the right piece of property to purchase for the nursery."
Tension hardened Uncle Walker's body. Over the phone, the links chaining his arms and legs together clinked against the counter in front of him.
"The amount of money I'll be earning will give me more options." She pressed the phone to her ear. "Not only helping me with my dreams, but Stephanie is a single mom, trying to raise her child and take care of her mom with no support. It feels good to be doing something with the others and seeing how this benefits everyone."
The knuckles of his fingers holding the receiver had gone white. "Where are you working?"
"Kingston Bar." She held her breath.
"No."
"But—"
"No." Uncle Walker dipped his chin breaking eye contact. "It's not a safe place."
"How do you know?" Losing patience, she gritted her teeth.
It wasn't fair to argue with him, but he'd been in prison for sixteen years. Missoula had changed since he'd lived on the outside. Lance probably hadn't even owned Kingston Bar back when Uncle Walker was living there and riding with Tarkio.
"Don't question how I know things." Uncle Walker's lips thinned. "If...he... told you to quit, you quit."
"And if I don't?" She almost stood from the chair, signaling the end of the visit, before she slumped back down and leaned closer to the Plexiglas. "You can't even say Curley's name, and this relationship between him and me is a joke. He doesn't care about me."
"God damnit, little girl," mumbled Uncle Walker.
"That's the thing, Uncle. I'm not a little girl. I want you to tell Curley to let me go. I want to be free to work where I want. Love who I want to love. Have a life, a family." Anger replaced the nerves coiling in her stomach. "You know, I'll never find my happiness as long as he's claiming me, and giving me nothing in return."
"He went in front of Tarkio and swore on his life to take care of you. You do belong to him."
Her vision blurred, knowing how going to the table at Tarkio meant more than common laws for citizens.
She'd never told Curley or her uncle what she wanted more out of her life. Always afraid they'd see her dreams as something they'd failed at providing her. They both had to face the fact that she was an adult. She was the only one responsible for her own happiness.
Uncle Walker stared through the Plexiglass. She met his gaze. Her friends depended on her to keep working with them. She needed the independence, and if she couldn't achieve her goal of expanding the nursery, she never would. Time was against her, she needed to act now.
Always having Curley in the back of her mind, dealing with his random visits, his dominating personality toward their non-relationship, killed her.
"Quit your job, and I'll talk to...him," said Uncle Walker.
Her breath hitched. Not once in all these years had her uncle made an effort to stand up for her against Curley. Like now, he wouldn't even speak Curley's name.
But to force her to walk away from a good job in exchange for gaining her personal life back would hurt the others.
She couldn't be that selfish. Besides, with no job, she wouldn't have enough money to purchase land for the nursery.
"If you talk to Curley this week about giving me my freedom back, and then call me afterward to let me know how it went, I'll quit working at Kingston Bar the moment I'm free of him. I promise." Positive she would find another job for all of them easier than she could get out of her relationship with Curley, she tried to figure out a way where they'd all benefit.
"Damnit, Faye." Uncle Walker let his chin fall to his chest, shaking his head.
Not backing down, she said, "Don't I deserve more than what I'm getting? If nothing changes, I'm going to die of old age loving him and the thought of never having someone love me back..."
Her eyes burned, and she swiped her cheek with her hand. She rarely talked to him about her love life or lack of one. But he had to understand that going through every day knowing she wasn't wanted was making her miserable.
Uncle Walker set the receiver down on the counter and rubbed his face with both hands, finally looking at her. The pain he carried, he kept to himself. She had no idea what had happened between him and Curley. She could only assume he'd found out about her having sex with his MC brother and pushed his power within the club onto Curley to get him to claim her.
It was obvious from the way Curley acted, claiming her was the last thing he had wanted to do. To make matters worse, she wanted nothing more than to have that perfect fantasy of being with him.
Or, she had.
It was too late now.
Even if a miracle happened and Curley could see her for the woman she was instead of an obligation, she would always remember the years when he regretted her.
Uncle Walker picked up the receiver. "They're not going to let me use the phone again if I call him."
"That's okay. We can talk next week," she said eagerly.
His mouth hardened. "You sure?"
Her body pitched forward. She was expecting him to disagree with her.
"You'll call him?"
He nodded. "I worry about you. I need you to allow Tarkio to help you."
&
nbsp; "I don't need help."
His gaze softened. "You need them."
She was strong enough to argue back and forth with him, but she wanted to give him something from their visit to hold him while he continued to serve his sentence.
"What you're doing will make things perfect for me." She blew out her breath. "Thank you."
"I'd do anything for you. Maybe, I..." The muscle near his eye twitched. "Fuck, sweetheart. Maybe I did everything wrong with you. Everyone let you down your whole life, and we all should've been there for you. My sister." He swallowed. "Your mom. Your dad, whoever the hell he was. Me. Grandma June. Cur..."
Uncle Walker's lips thinned, and he shook his head. He couldn't even speak Curley's name.
She pressed her hand to the Plexiglass, wanting to assure him that he'd done the best he could. She was born under the wrong star or fated for a life where nobody wanted her, and if they had, it was predestined that they'd leave her in one way or another.
After all the losses she'd lived through, she never expected to have those she loved in her life for long.
Though rooted deep in her heart, she continued to hope for more.
For something different.
For a love that stayed forever.
She only wished Curley was that man.
Chapter 13
Curley
"Curley," shouted Paco, holding up the phone receiver on the other side of the clubhouse. "Prison call."
He jogged across the room, knowing the operator wouldn't hold the line more than a minute before disconnecting. As he approached Paco, he asked, "Nelson?"
"She never said who's calling." Paco handed him the receiver.
"Yeah, Curley, here." He dropped his chin to his chest, trying to hear over the music playing in the clubhouse. "Hello?"
"This is Montana State Penitentiary calling. Will you accept a call from Kevin Walker?"
He lowered the phone, and Paco grabbed his wrist before he could hang up. There was nothing Walker needed to say to him.
"He's asking for you, brother. Take the call," said Paco.
Curley gritted his teeth. Walker hadn't called him since he'd claimed Faye. There was nothing more to say between the two of them.
They each knew why Walker was in prison and why he was living on the outside, taking care of Faye.
Paco pointed his finger, urging him to accept the call. Curley's chest tightened. "Yes."
There was no defining click, letting him know the operator left the connection. All calls received from the prison, from Tarkio members, were under the assumption that they were being recorded. Club business couldn't be shared over the phone. That meant Walker called for a personal reason.
"You there?" said Walker.
His upper lip curled, knowing the voice as well as his own. "Yeah."
"What's going on with my niece?"
Just like that, Walker had put personal feelings aside and got to the point of the call. Faye was more important than anything else.
"She's working at a titty bar." That's all the explanation Walker would need.
"Control her, damnit."
He grabbed the back of the chair in front of him. "I am."
"Fucking Christ, man." Walker's voice got deeper. "If you don't get her to stop, I will."
His skin prickled. "What have you done?"
"I've agreed to let her walk away from you in exchange for putting her shirt back on and quitting her job, and I'll keep my word."
As if sucker punched, he rocked back on the heels of his boots. "She belongs to me."
"Bullshit. You claimed her but haven't done Jack shit about making her your ol' lady."
He fisted his hand and punched out at the chair, sending it toppling. Walker had nothing to do with his personal business. When he claimed Faye, that meant she belonged to him.
"You're stepping on dangerous ground, brother," he said through clenched teeth.
"Let her go or—"
"Don't come between Faye and me." He growled. "I'll handle her."
"She can't work at the tittie bar," said Walker, his voice vibrating over the phone.
"I said, I'll deal with her." He hung up the phone.
His mind reeled. Faye had gone to prison and visited her uncle. She picked a fine-fucking-time to involve Walker in their problems.
"Everything okay?" asked Paco.
He glared at his MC brother. All Paco had to do was ignore the damn phone call, and he never would've had to talk to Walker.
After all these years of Walker having nothing to do with him, he picked the worst time to make contact. Curley was up against the wall. He owed Walker. To ignore his demand, he could be putting his own life on the line.
"No." He walked out of the clubhouse and to his Harley.
Everything was not fucking okay.
He pulled out onto the street and headed in the opposite direction of home and continued to the on-ramp for the interstate. He and Walker went way back. There was a time when either one of them would've taken a bullet for the other. Their loyalty was proven more than once.
Curley owed Walker a payment that could never be paid.
But all that fell to the side when he claimed Faye.
After Walker had told him he was no brother of his when Curley had confessed to sleeping with Faye, there was only one thing that would make him call.
And that reason had a lot to answer for.
An hour later, he knocked on Faye's door. During the few minutes he waited, he came up with several ways to make sure she understood he was the only man she should come to with her problems. He would be the only one helping her. He was the only man who had the right to have her.
She'd forced his hand when she'd stripped naked and crawled in his bed. Now, she had to live with the consequences.
The door opened. Faye filled his vision.
Her eyes captured his before he could make sure she was unharmed and okay. His body hardened. He was sick of protecting her.
He'd like nothing more than to show her exactly how he felt and shock some sense into her. She was no longer a teenager on the cusp of adulthood and needed to know she couldn't walk around, tempting him, unless she was prepared for what he could do to her.
She frowned, pulling her robe tighter around her body. "What are you doing here?"
"We need to talk."
"I just got out of the shower and planned to put a movie in the DVD player before I go to bed. Can it wait?"
He knew what was under the material she held together so desperately. She could be covered in ten blankets, and he'd know what he'd find underneath. He fisted his hands. Every curve memorized; he could practically feel her smooth skin against his fingers.
Reaching above her shoulder, he pushed the door open more and stepped around her. The aroma of her shampoo lingered in the small room. He couldn't pinpoint if it was a fruit or a flower or a mysterious concoction hanging in the air meant to grab a man by his balls and take him to his knees, but he stood in her living room, trying to remember what he came here to do.
"Curley." Faye yawned. "What are you doing here?"
He remembered why he came. "Did you go to the prison yesterday?"
Her eyelids lowered to the necklaces at the base of his throat. "Yes. I told you I was going."
His throat seized in disappointment. Why would she go to Walker when she was his old lady? Why would she force him to face Walker when he'd already ruined the man's life?
Now he faced having to let her go or fight her every step to get her to quit her job. He was too tired to hash out her idea of working at Kingston Bar with her, and he would never let her go. She meant more to him than anyone would be able to understand.
"Curley?"
He snapped his head up, catching the concern in her voice. She belonged to him.
He hooked her neck, pulling her hard against his body. She blinked fully awake, staring up into his eyes. She'd gone from a scrappy young girl to a beautiful woman in the blink of an eye. He c
ouldn't keep up, and he hated himself for seeing her as sexy and willing when he was there the whole time, helping her grow up without a family.
She'd depended on him. He was supposed to be the one solid presence in her life, cushioning her through her great-grandma dying, her uncle ripped from her life.
And the first time he let his guard down, he slid his cock into her and broke down everything he'd tried hard to build up.
Hating himself every second because she was the best thing he had in his life.
"Damn you." As if it was her fault for tempting him, he claimed her open mouth and kissed her deeply.
The anger inside of him came out in a violent need for more. He flattened his lips against her, thrusting his tongue and drawing hers out. Deepening the kiss, he pulled her up to her toes, unbalancing her. The weight of her body pressed against him, and his balls constricted.
Faye's moan rumbled into his mouth. He held her tighter, fisting her hair in his hands, keeping her in front of him.
The wall met her back. He used the fact she couldn't get away to use his leg to part her knees and grind his thigh against her pussy.
The warmth of her body through his jeans had him breathing hard, taking and stroking her mouth.
Faye's hands pressed against each side of his head, holding him close. He wasn't going anywhere.
Her hips shifted toward him. Without letting go of her neck, he slid his other hand down her body until he found the dip at her waist. His fingers dug into her skin, bringing her forward.
He groaned, dipping his body, getting closer. Her robe had come undone, and he eagerly went for her skin.
The body that haunted his thoughts pressed against him squirming, seeking.
Faye.
His head pounded, and he tried to shake off the pleasure coursing through his veins. It was Faye making him feel that way. She had his cock throbbing, seeking the warmth and tightness he knew he would find. All he had to do was undo his belt and rip his jeans down a few inches.
