Tequila Blues: A Second Chance Romance (Serrated Brotherhood MC Book 3)

by Bijou Hunter

  “I know. Thanks, but can he sleep on his face like that?” I say, tugging her to the bedroom and pointing at Keanu. “You didn’t leave any rules about sleeping, so if he dies, that’s on you.”

  Harmony smirks and pulls me out of the room. “He’s fine. Thank you for keeping him alive.”

  “I fed him and washed his hands. I’m pretty much a fucking natural at this.”

  Her smile widens as she tugs at my shirt. “You did fantastic for a newbie.”

  “Yeah, I did, and I managed all that while dealing with my dad visiting to give me grief. If the kid mentions a scary man, he means Mojo.”

  “What did he want?” Harmony asks, giving me a sexy frown.

  “He’s an old man worried he’s lost control of his empire. The minute Camden got stupid over Daisy, my father’s been in a spiral of pussiness.”

  “Did you tell him that?” she asks, wrapping her arms around my waist.

  “No. I was really polite. He is my club president after all.”

  Harmony lifts onto her tippy-toes and puckers up. I don’t kiss her, though.

  “If you’re thinking about fucking, I can't right now. I’m babysitting your kid.”

  “I’m here,” she says and then smirks. “You’re messing with me.”

  “Not even a little. Something happened today between me and the boy, and I take my job very seriously.”

  “What happened?”

  I shrug, feeling on the spot. I reach down and give her ass a double cheek squeeze. Harmony wraps me tighter in her arms.

  “We didn’t pick out anything to wear today,” she says. “I think Ruby wants to wear something simple. She’s also cheap about clothes for herself.”

  “I love Keanu,” I blurt out. “That happened today. I realized it anyway. I thought I just cared about him because he’s yours, but I love the little bastard, and that makes me edgy. Maybe we should have a quickie.”

  “They’ll wake up the very second you drop your pants. It’s the universe’s way of messing with us.”

  “Are you gonna say anything about what I said?”

  Harmony smiles sweetly at me. “Well, of course, you love Keanu. He’s a wonderful kid, and you have a good heart.”

  “You make me sound like a wuss. After seeing my father act like a pussy, I don’t want to become one too.”

  “There’s nothing weak about loving those who deserve loving.”

  “No, there isn’t,” I say, relaxing just a little.

  “You don’t seem convinced.”

  “My father used to seem indestructible. Now he’s edgy and fears he’s losing control of the club. He isn’t, though. Just thinking he’s weak made him weak. I worry I’ll worry about losing you and Keanu and that’ll make me weak. Weakness begins with a single idea and then builds until it takes down men who should know better.”

  “Midlife crisis can make a strong man weak, but you are not having a midlife crisis.”

  “I know I’m not an old man grasping at his former glory, but thanks for pointing that out,” I say, letting her go and walking to the bedroom.

  Harmony follows, wearing a concerned expression. I wait until she’s in the room before I shut the door and lock it.

  “Drop your pants and let’s have a quickie. I changed my mind.”

  Harmony’s pale green eyes widen. “But the kids,” she says, even while reaching for the band on her sweatpants.

  “I have this radio thing.” I turn up the sound on the baby monitor and show it to her. “If they so much as fart, we’ll hear it.”

  Harmony looks at the monitor and then reaches into her shirt. Less than a minute later, she pops her bra free and shows it to me.

  “Just a quickie. Now drop your pants.”

  Grinning, I hand her the monitor and then lean her over the bed. Her pants come down with an easy motion. Mine soon follow. I press my cock against her pink flesh and find her hot but not wet.

  “What’s a guy gotta do to make you dripping wet?”

  “Give me a shower?” she teases, glancing back at me. “Or I have two nipples that wouldn’t mind some attention if you think that would be easier.”

  Leaning forward, I slide my hands under her thin pink shirt until I find those waiting nipples. The moment I graze the hard flesh, Harmony shivers and wiggles her butt. My dick twitches at the feel of her.

  “Are you ready now?” I whisper in her ear while kneading her nipples into hard tips.

  “No, I need more.”

  “I need to fuck you before the kids ruin my hard-on.”

  “Then fuck me, but don’t stop. That feels so good.”

  My dick responds to her words by seeking out the heat of her pussy. She’s not super wet when I thrust into her the first time. Or the second. By the third, Harmony’s face down on the bed, moaning into the mattress.

  “That didn’t take much,” I murmur, smiling at her reaction. “Were you walking around all day waiting for this moment?”

  Harmony nods slightly, but she only looks up long enough to check the monitor. Finding it quiet, she returns to moaning and saying my name.

  “Your pussy is on fire,” I groan, thrusting harder. “I keep forgetting how good it feels. Maybe I am having a midlife crisis, and my memory is the first thing to go.”

  Harmony muffles her laughter before it returns to loud moans against the mattress. I pinch her nipples harder, wanting her to come so I can come and we can get our pants on before the kids decide to ruin the party. If not for their impressionable little minds, I’d fuck this woman for another hour. Not wanting to pay their future therapy bills, I use my thumbs to taunt the shit out of her nipples until Harmony shoves her ass back and comes hard around my cock.

  Jizzing deep inside a still groaning Harmony is the best reward for a babysitting job well done.

  Forty - Harmony

  La Famiglia’s grand opening is a big deal in Hickory Creek Township. The local paper covers the event, interviewing Mom and Ruby along with the restaurant’s investors, the Hallstead sisters. With all the hoopla, Dayton refuses to go anywhere near La Famiglia.

  Until Keanu asks him to come along with us.

  My boy suddenly has the power to bend a powerful man to his will. I’m admittedly a little jealous of Keanu’s gift.

  “I don’t want to mingle,” Dayton says during the drive. “I don’t want to bond with my mom or aunts. I don’t want to eat anything weird. I might stay in the SUV.”

  “Keanu, should Dayton stay in the SUV?” I ask, glancing back at him sitting in his car seat.

  “No. It’s hot in here.”

  “It’s hot in the trailer, and you still like it there.”

  “Yes.”

  Dayton frowns and glances at me. “Did I win that argument or not?”

  “No, he did.”

  “How?”

  “He’s three, and that sort of trumps logic.”

  “Fine, but I will not mingle. Or smile. This thing is lame, and I won’t actively participate.”

  Laughing, I poke his muscled arm. “Why are you so tense?”

  “I don’t know. I got a bad feeling about this.”

  My smile disappears immediately. “Bad feeling like something dangerous could happen or like you might be annoyed by someone?”

  “Both?” Dayton says and then sighs. “I don’t know. La Famiglia is a sensitive subject with the club especially with Howler and Mojo.”

  “And JJ,” I quietly add.

  “Yeah, him.”

  “Should I worry?”

  “No. You smile and talk chick stuff with your sisters. Keanu can play with Elle. I’ll do all the worrying.”

  “Meatballs!” Keanu yells and waves his arms around.

  I smile back at him, only to find he’s talking to Carl about food now.

  “The kid digs his meatballs,” Dayton says, smirking. “I wonder if that means he’s gay.”

  “Maybe. Ask me again in ten years.”

  “Will do.”

  W
e arrive at the restaurant to find the parking lot full and a line of people outside waiting to get in. Dayton drops off Keanu and me and leaves us to find a spot down the street.

  Inside the kid-friendly Italian restaurant, Ruby hurries from one table to another, making sure everyone is happy. She smiles and nods and smiles more, but I know she’s overwhelmed.

  Nearby, Bonn and Elle draw on the chalkboard walls. Keanu sees his cousin and tugs at my hand so we can join them. Once he’s safely under Bonn’s care, I push through the crowd of people to reach Ruby.

  “Congrats,” I say, hugging her and maneuvering us away from a table full of shamelessly loud kids.

  “It’s so busy,” she says over the noise. “I didn’t think it would be quite this packed right off the bat.”

  “People are excited for something new, and you gave them a cool place to try.”

  “I’m glad you came.”

  “But we should leave soon and free up a table?”

  Ruby grins. “You read my mind. Take Bonn and Elle with you.”

  “Well, Keanu won’t leave until he gets meatballs, so see if you can make that happen and we’ll get out of your hair.”

  Hugging me again, Ruby doesn’t want to let go even if she knows people are waiting for her attention. I spot two waitresses looking overly confused plus a table full of cranky children ready to set the world on fire with their screams.

  I walk back outside to find Dayton. Glancing around, I notice the Hallstead sisters speaking to people waiting in line. Fear ripples up my spine because I don’t want to talk to Dayton’s mom tonight. She’s a nice woman, and I know she loves her sons, but she’s also powerful and scary.

  Spotting another scary person, I notice how JJ notices me noticing him. He stops talking to Dayton who is focused on the ground. I consider walking inside, but something draws me toward the men.

  “Once Keanu gets his food, we should probably head out,” I say before Dayton even seems to notice me.

  My guy nods and reaches his arm out for me to get closer. I smile at JJ who does not smile back.

  “Am I interrupting?” I ask Dayton.

  Wrapping a lock of blond hair behind his ear, he shrugs in a way that reminds me of Keanu.

  “JJ was wondering if he wanted to deal with the mayhem of so many kids. I told him no, so we’re standing out here where it’s safe.”

  “Smart but Ruby is kicking us out soon. She needs the free tables for everyone waiting in line.”

  “Where’s the kid?”

  “With Elle and Bonn,” I say and then add, “They need to leave soon too. Maybe they can come back to the condo, so the kids can keep playing.”

  I notice JJ’s jaw twitch when I mention Bonn’s name. Dayton probably notices too, but his expression is unreadable. If I didn’t know him, I’d guess he was thinking about food or bowel movements.

  “I could go for a beer,” Dayton says since booze is his safe topic whenever on the spot. “I’m surprised more parents don’t drink more heavily.”

  Rolling my eyes, I step away from the men and take Dayton’s hand. “We need to get going. You're more than welcome to come along, JJ.”

  Dayton doesn’t react, but I know he does not want this man around Keanu and me. I also know JJ has no interest in spending time with kids or Bonn.

  Still, I play along as if JJ is part of our circle. That’s the lie Dayton’s been selling for months. Since we’re a team now, I need to lie too.

  “Naw, that’s cool. I have plans,” JJ says, never looking at me as his gaze focuses hard on Dayton.

  “I'll see you tomorrow at the site.”

  JJ frowns harder at Dayton who stares at the street lights as if he’s already downed a kegger. I don’t know why I find that fake stoned look on his face so sexy, but his lies tempt me to ask Bonn to watch Keanu for a few hours so I can ride this lying sex machine.

  After JJ walks across the street to his Harley, Dayton tugs me toward the restaurant.

  “What was that?” I whisper.

  “He’s pissed about the restaurant. Might even be thinking about burning it down again. If anyone asks, though, you didn’t hear that from me.”

  “Please, don’t let him burn down La Famiglia after Ruby and Mom worked so hard on it.”

  Dayton shakes his head. “Don’t forget my mom and aunts worked hard too.”

  “Sure, if you consider writing checks and calling in favors hard, then, yeah, they worked their butts off.”

  “Don’t make this a class war thing,” he says, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “They worked in their own way.”

  “Does that mean you’ll make sure nothing happens?”

  “Why does everyone think I have my hand shoved up JJ’s ass and control his every fucking move?”

  I stop walking as we reach the front door. “Dayton, I love your dirty mouth, but you need to shut the fuck up once we’re surrounded by children.”

  “No.”

  Grinning, I shove him back against the wall. “Stay here. I’ll be right back with Keanu and his meatballs.”

  “Shit, if we’re leaving already, I’ll get the car.”

  I glance around his wide shoulder to check if JJ is gone. Seeing his Harley’s backlight flashing in the distance instantly calms me. The Brotherhood never scared me, though I always remained wary. JJ, though, is too close to Dayton, and his enemies include Bonn.

  The sooner the asshole goes away permanently, the better.

  Forty One - Dayton

  Likely hearing through the rumor mill that Harmony’s nearly moved into my place, Mom decides she must meet my woman and Keanu before Bonn and Ruby’s wedding. Her initial plan is for us to visit her big house where she’ll cook a lavish meal and show off her wealth. Nothing intimidates people more than the size of Mom’s bank account, and she’s able to scare them while wearing a smile.

  When Camden and Daisy eloped, Mom threw a party at my aunt Alice’s house. The only reason she couldn’t have it at hers was that she has a rule about my father never entering her home. I don’t blame her. Dad seems to step in dog shit on a regular basis, and the man refuses to wipe his feet.

  This time around, I invite her to my condo to dinner. No fancy shit. If Mom insists on intimidating Harmony, she’ll need to do it the more obvious way.

  I open the door to welcome Mom, Erik, and Hudson into my renovated condo.

  “I brought pie,” she says, smiling so big that I bet her face hurts.

  Taking the pie, I kiss the top of her head and gesture hello to my step-dad and brother.

  “I ordered dinner.”

  Mom opens her mouth to ask what we’re having, but she stops herself. I smile at her expression, and she gives me a smirk knowing I’m onto her.

  “Place looks good,” Erik says, walking into the condo and searching for weakness in my security.

  I frown at how he’s unable to turn off the soldier part of his brain. Hudson follows the sound of Keanu’s voice and peers into the second room.

  “No wonder you talk so much,” I tell Mom while setting the pie on the stove. “You live in a house with two silent men.”

  “They talk plenty,” Mom lies as her gaze takes in the condo’s changes. “You installed carpet,” she says, walking into the living room. “I didn’t realize anyone wanted carpet anymore.”

  “Keanu runs around and falls down and does other three-year-old stuff. I figured he’d get less injured on carpet. It’s also what he’s used to at the trailer.”

  Mom stops looking around and stares at me. “Did Harmony suggest the carpet?”

  “Asking her for ideas would have ruined my surprise.”

  “My boy,” Mom says, cupping my face. “You’re growing into quite the man.”

  “I’m thirty-three.”

  Mom pulls me down for a hug. “You thinking about that child is real sweet, honey.”

  “He’s my woman’s kid. That makes him my responsibility.”

  Mom laughs. “You and Cam are so much
alike. Never occurred to either of you to have a serious girlfriend before jumping right into the ‘my woman’ territory.”

  “We might be alike, but I’m still better.”

  Mom pats my cheek before focusing on an approaching Harmony. The women smile and say hello. They’re both nervous, and each one has a preconceived view about the other.

  Studying them, I wonder if Harmony’s appeal really is that she reminds me of my blonde mother. If so, is that a good or bad thing? Of course, I want Harmony and nothing, not even mother issues, will stop me from keeping her.

  “I ordered Korean for dinner,” I announce. “It was that or pizza, and I had pizza for breakfast.”

  Mom gives me an amused smirk while Harmony narrows her eyes at me. In her mind, I should make this visit as calm as possible. In my mind, I need to set down my foot with my mother’s meddling now, so it doesn’t continue for the rest of my life.

  I already see Mom bugging me about grandkids and whose place we’ll visit during the holidays. A naturally competitive woman, she’ll insist on beating Sally Slater at everything in the future.

  “Does Keanu speak Korean?” Mom asks Harmony.

  And so it begins…

  “Yes, some. I’m teaching him so he can speak to his grandparents in South Korea. They’re learning English too. Pretty soon our conversations will last more than a few minutes with Keanu mostly saying hello and waving.”

  “Where is he now?”

  “In his room,” I say, giving a head nod toward where Hudson stands watch.

  Mom walks to the second bedroom, and Harmony starts to follow until I grab her shirt.

  “Watch her. She’s in a mood.”

  Harmony nods. “I can tell. All the smiling and friendliness was a dead giveaway.”

  Kissing her forehead, my lips then slip down her temple to her cheek before sliding to her ear.

  “My mother is a wonderful woman, and I love her dearly, but she’s also a bitch who will challenge you forever if you don’t pass her tests right away.”

  “Did she test Daisy?”

  “I assume. You know I don’t care about other people’s problems.”

  “Since when?”