Better (Stark Ink Book 2)

by Dahlia West

  Zoey followed and Dalton wrapped one arm around her, drawing her close.

  Grant stood up and straightened his shirt. He glared at them. “Look, I don’t care if you want to fuck some dumb plumber, Zoey. I really don’t, but you will sign those papers. Because if I don’t get what I want, you’ll never get what you want.”

  Grant had to back up and drive around the truck, which was blocking half the street.

  Dalton watched until the taillights of the Mercedes disappeared from view. Beside him, Zoey shuddered, still crying. Dalton dragged his gaze away from the now empty street to look down at her. As he turned toward her, his heavy boot crunched one of sheets of paper that were now scattered on the lawn. He frowned down at it.

  “Everything’s fine,” he said with confidence he didn’t really feel. He’d been a fool to think that it would be so easy to be rid of the bastard. Dalton had underestimated the depths of the man’s selfishness, but now more than ever it was clear that Zoey and the baby had get away from him.

  Dalton gave Zoey one last reassuring squeeze and then set about to pick up the trash blowing around on his lawn.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  It had been days with no word from Grant, but that didn’t stop Dalton from checking his surroundings, looking twice at any dark gray Mercedes just in case it had a few new dents in it. He was only half listening to Adam as they drove. There was just too much on Dalton’s mind. Grant wanted a payoff, but he wasn’t getting one. Over Dalton’s dead body. Or Grant’s.

  “He wants a big one,” said Adam.

  Dalton grunted. “I know.” He paused. “Wait, what?”

  “I said Pop wants a big tree this year.”

  Dalton shook himself back into the moment. “We’ve had a big tree every year. I thought it was Mom’s idea.”

  Adam nodded. “It was, but you know…”

  Dalton understood. He wasn’t looking forward to their first Christmas without her. The gifts would be wrapped wrong and, even if Dalton and Adam got the biggest tree available in the lot, it wouldn’t look as nice once they’d decorated it. There would be a thousand little ways to be reminded she was gone. But Zoey was here and the baby would with them soon enough. That alone made it seem bearable.

  Tired of wallowing, Dalton looked at Adam. “You sure you can handle a big tree? You’ll get sap all over your artsy hands, maybe in your hair, too, Rapunzel.”

  Adam’s eyes narrowed. “Keep talking, Baldy, and you’ll be the angel on top.”

  Dalton snorted.

  “Because it’ll be up your—”

  “Yeah, I got it.”

  It was nice to cut loose with his older brother. In fact, Dalton couldn’t remember the last time. He hated to end it so soon, but he’d finally gotten Adam alone. Dalton cleared his throat. “Hey, we need to talk.”

  Adam blew out a harsh breath. The smile from moments ago had already vanished. “Look, I know I was hard on Zoey. I’m sorry for that, but I can’t let her think it’s just sunshine and roses with you, D.” Adam looked at him from across the cab. “I can’t lose you, too.”

  Dalton drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. “Well, I appreciate the apology, but I’m not going anywhere. Anyways, that’s not what I wanted to say.”

  Adam’s brows knitted together. “What then?”

  Dalton shifted in his seat. “I need money. I mean, I don’t need any from you,” he added quickly. “I just need to keep what I’m bringing in, instead of paying you back. Just for a while. Zoey’s going to need a lawyer. The baby will be here soon. I’ll help out where I can with Pop’s program, but after that I’ll be stretched pretty thin.”

  Dalton held his breath. It was embarrassing to say the least, but he’d almost grown used to humility ranking up there with serenity. As much as it sucked, Dalton wasn’t sure you could have one without the other. Adam came through though, as he always did.

  “Don’t sweat it, D.”

  Dalton sighed in relief. “You sure?”

  Adam nodded. “Yeah. Money was tight before, so I can’t imagine what it’s like now. Or what it’ll be like after the baby comes. Things are changing. I know it, even if it makes me nervous.”

  Dalton shook his head. “Doesn’t matter. They’re mine.”

  “I get it. And I’ll ease off Zoey.”

  “Thanks.”

  They pulled into the tree lot and Dalton killed the truck’s engine. He grabbed the rope they’d brought along and reached for the door handle, freezing before he could pull it. Across the lot, he spied a face he hadn’t thought he’d see again anytime soon. If ever. Dalton sat perfectly still, a stark contrast between the roil of emotions churning in his gut.

  “D?”

  Dalton tried to remember how to breathe.

  “Dalton?”

  Dalton tore his gaze away and glanced at Adam. His brother’s forehead was creased with worry lines. Adam looked across the lot. “Who is that?”

  Dalton didn’t answer right away, still mulling it over.

  “Is… is that Grant?”

  Slowly, Dalton shook his head. “No. It’s not Grant,” he said quietly. “Just give me a minute, okay?” Dalton didn’t wait for a response; he pulled the door release and stepped out. “I’ll come find you.”

  Adam nodded as Dalton shut the door. He started off across the lot, moving through the trees. He felt a bit like a hunter stalking his prey, or that’s what he would’ve felt like a year ago when anger weighed so heavily on him. Dalton still wasn’t entirely sure what he was doing now. It felt like every synapse in his head was going haywire. He’d imagined this scenario one hundred times. There was never a crowd. There were never kids around. It was always just the two of them.

  Dalton was different now. He wasn’t the same angry asshole he’d been a year ago. His hands still balled into fists, but that was more nerves than anything else. As he neared, he considered turning around and leaving, heading back to the truck. He surprised himself though, by calling out, “Hey.”

  Spencer turned and looked shocked himself.

  An awkward moment hung between them. Now that they were face-to-face, Dalton found himself at a loss for words. Getting piss drunk night after night alone in his apartment, it had been easy to put the blame all on this man standing in front of him. This immature, happy-go-lucky village idiot who’d maybe had one beer too many during his lunch break and then ruined Dalton’s entire life as a result. Looking at him now, red-nosed and sheepish, Dalton could scarcely believe he’d spent so much time hating the man.

  It had been an accident, beer or not, and though Dalton himself had not popped the top on a cold one on that particular day, he’d done so before, even on his own lunch breaks, even with Spence. It could have easily happened the other way. Spence could’ve been the one watching his own livelihood gush out of a gaping wound. Before this moment, Dalton had never considered forgiving him. For all Dalton’s making amends and seeking forgiveness for himself from the people he’d hurt, Dalton had never once thought to extend the same to this man.

  It wasn’t okay. It would never be okay. But it was in the past and there was no changing it. Plus, Spence may have torn up Dalton’s hand, but he hadn’t put beer after beer in it afterward. That was all Dalton’s doing, his inability to cope with his new reality. Spence wasn’t evil or even unfeeling. He was just a guy who’d made a terrible mistake. Dalton was just the guy who’d suffered the consequences. Although standing here now it appeared that Spence might be hurting a bit, too. He stared at Dalton, like he was the ghost of Christmas Past.

  Dalton cleared his throat. “Merry Christmas,” he said, for lack of anything better.

  Spence hesitated, then smiled a little. “Uh, yeah. Yeah, man. Merry Christmas!”

  “Dalton?”

  Dalton turned to see Adam approaching from the side. He looked at Spence, then back again. “I found a tree,” he said.

  Dalton nodded. He and Adam watched the younger man shuffle away. Adam looked at Dalton point
edly. “Is that someone from your list? Someone you had to apologize to? Did he forgive you?”

  Dalton shook his head. “No. He didn’t forgive me. I guess I forgave him.”

  Adam was quiet a moment, assessing Dalton. “You okay?” he asked finally.

  “Yeah. Yeah, I’m okay.” Dalton clapped Adam on the shoulder. “Let’s go put those artsy hands to some real work.”

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Dalton, Adam, and Jonah managed to get the tree into the house with no problem, despite its massive size. Dalton crawled underneath to tighten the screws on the stand as Pop and the girls watched. Once he’d managed to crawl out from underneath it, he joined them.

  Pop didn’t say a word, but he didn’t need to. He clapped Dalton on the shoulder, his eyes glistening. The old man nodded and that was enough for Dalton.

  “She would’ve loved it,” declared Ava, always able to say what everyone else only thought. “Should we do the whole thing?” she asked. “Or just the lights?”

  “The whole thing,” Pop said firmly. “In case she can see it.”

  They carried in all the boxes from the garage, lights, tinsel, ornaments. Zoey started to reach into one, but Dalton held her back with a hand on her shoulder. As she turned to look at him questioningly, he shook his head. “We can’t stay,” he told her.

  Zoey frowned. “But the tree…”

  He shook his head again, adamant. “They can handle it.”

  She stuck out her lower lip. “But Dalton—”

  He squeezed her shoulder gently. “We’ve got stuff to do,” he said, turning to gather her coat.

  Zoey glared at him as she shrugged it on. “I want to stay.”

  “We’ve got stuff to do,” he repeated.

  “Like what?” she demanded as he held the front door for her.

  Dalton gave a quick wave to Pop and the others as he herded her outside.

  “It’s Christmas,” she argued. I want to help decorate and—”

  “I don’t want you to get worn out,” he replied.

  Zoey planted her feet at the end of the driveway and looked at him sharply. “Dalton, decorating one tree is not going to wear me out!”

  “No,” he countered. “One tree won’t. But two…” He gestured to the truck.

  Zoey’s eyes followed the motion and she froze.

  The second tree was tightly wrapped in the netting and secured to the bed. In case it wasn’t obvious, he said, “It’s not as big as Pop’s, not for our tiny place. But it’s full, no gaps, and I thought you’d like it.”

  Her eyes lit up, which was the sole reason Dalton had bought the thing. She squealed and threw herself into his arms. He sighed as he realized how much he missed making her happy. His mouth found her ear and he nuzzled it against the cold. “I’ll never forget how much you love Christmas.”

  Dalton got the tree into the apartment by himself and let Zoey choose which corner of the living room to put it in. By the third re-location he turned to her, “Are you doing this on purpose?”

  He hadn’t meant it seriously, but to his surprise she grinned.

  “I’m sorry,” she giggled. “I’m picturing you as a lumberjack.” She sighed. “Dressed in flannel, smelling like the great outdoors.”

  Dalton abandoned the tree and lunged for her. She squealed, trying to move out of his reach. He caught her around the waist, though. “Come here, woman! Let me show you my log.”

  “Ugh!” she cried as she tried to squirm out of his grip. “You’re terrible at this.”

  Dalton pulled her back and managed to land a kiss on her protesting lips. Zoey gave up the fight and leaned against him, his hands threading through her hair. Her mouth was warm, inviting.

  She moaned and he gently moved her back to the couch. As he laid her down, she whispered, “At least you’re good at this part.”

  He knelt on the floor next to her and tugged at her waistband.

  She gave a slightly frustrated groan.

  His lips brushed her as he said, “It’s alright, baby. Just let me take care of you.” He knew she was too far along now for anything crazy. He dipped his hand into her panties. His fingers combed through her soft curls until he found the tiny button of her clit. As he rubbed it gently, it swelled against the pads of his fingertips.

  Zoey grabbed his wrist and tried to push his hand against her more firmly. He peeled her off with a low chuckle. “Greedy,” he said quietly. “Don’t be so impatient.” He kept up the pressure with his thumb as his fingers caressed her damp folds. “You know you’re lucky I’m so damn good with my hands.”

  She gasped as he pushed a finger inside her. First one, then another. His cock jerked, impatient too, but he had his whole life for that. Dalton would have her always and in all ways. Every minute with her, no matter what there were doing, was a gift. Zoey would never feel anything but pleasure at his touch.

  He fucked her— slow and steady— with his fingers. Not as deep as his cock would have gone, but enough to fill her. Her eyes were closed, but her mouth was open like an invitation written in red. He sealed his lips over hers and pushed his tongue inside. She sucked it, still greedy.

  Zoey always did love a good double stuff.

  Her legs scissored, desperate for that much-needed friction that would bring her over the edge.

  Dalton slicked her clit good with her juices before pinching it firmly.

  She tore her mouth away from his, screaming out her orgasm.

  In the few bewildering moments that followed, he wrapped both his arms around her, cradling her into his chest. She panted and clutched at him until she regained her composure and fell back against the couch, gazing up at him through half-lidded eyes. She smiled dreamily as her fingers pressed against his broad chest.

  “Greedy girl,” he admonished with a grin.

  “You told your dad I was a nice girl,” she protested.

  Dalton leaned down and pressed his lips against her ear. “You’re my girl, which means you’re both. Whenever I want.”

  Her fingers trailed down to his stomach and continued on to the raging erection in his jeans. “Seems like you want it now,” she teased as she tugged.

  He groaned. “Don’t start if you can’t finish.”

  “Okay,” she breathed.

  With one hand she unzipped his fly and with the other she pulled him close. He kissed her again, knowing that was what she wanted. She found her way into his jockey shorts, but could only take half his length in her hand. She knew what he liked, though, and gave his shaft a gentle squeeze before she reached down to cup his sac.

  He moaned, gazing at the smile that played across her lips. One day, when she was up for it, he was going to get in there and stay for a good long while. He might cum, too, and watch her swallow everything he gave her. But they’d work back up to that. There was time.

  Her fingernails lightly grazed his skin and once more he marveled that she was here, with him. He felt the familiar tingle in his belly that echoed lower, as well. Zoey must have sensed he was close.

  “Dalton?” she whispered.

  Suddenly and unexpectedly, there was a knock at the door. Startled by it, Zoey let go.

  Dalton growled as it sounded again. He stood up, yanking his shirt out of his jeans so it would hang down and cover his hard-on. He stalked to the door, mood darkening. If it was Grant, Dalton would kill the man with his bare hands. If it was Adam, well, Dalton was reasonably confident he could stop short of delivering a death blow to his own sibling.

  He checked the peephole and frowned. Grasping the knob, he flung the front door open. The younger man standing on the porch jumped. When he got a look at Dalton’s face, he eased back a little. “Z-Zoey Grant?”

  Dalton’s eyes narrowed. “Do I look like a Zoey Grant to you?”

  The kid shook his head wildly. “No, no. I mean… is she here?”

  At the sound of her own name, Zoey called out, “Dalton?”

  The kid looked past Dalton and into the living r
oom. Dalton didn’t like it, so he moved to block the view. The kid was undeterred, though. “Zoey Grant?” he said, louder this time.

  “I’m Zoey.”

  Dalton glanced over his shoulder to see her getting up off the couch. He turned back to the kid. “What do you want?”

  The kid held up a manila envelope. Dalton frowned at it. It was thinner than Grant’s divorce decree. Dalton didn’t know if that was better or worse. As much as Dalton wanted Grant to give up and go away, somehow it didn’t seem as though it would be so easy.

  Nothing in Dalton’s life was easy.

  As Zoey neared the door, Dalton didn’t make room for her. She had to reach around him to get the envelope. He didn’t care. He didn’t like Grant and he didn’t like this kid, for a hell of a lot more reasons than a ruined orgasm.

  The kid cleared his throat nervously, eyes flicking to Dalton and then back to Zoey. “You’ve been served.” He spun and darted off the porch rather than wait for a response.

  Dalton watched the kid take off in his car. There seemed to be no one else on the street, though. After making sure it was all clear, he closed the front door and locked it. When he turned, Zoey had the envelope in her hands. She was shaking as she read the contents,. Whether she was afraid or angry, he didn’t know.

  He took it from her and scanned it. He didn’t have to read the whole thing to get the gist.

  Petition for the Establishment of Paternity was clear enough.

  Dalton sighed. “It’s bullshit. He knows it.”

  Zoey shook her head and looked up at him. Tears welled in her eyes. “He’ll never leave us alone, will he? After this, it’ll be something else, then something else after that.” She swiped at her cheeks. “I’ll go to my parents. I’ll sit them down, make them understand. I’ll pay them back.”

  “No,” he said, gripping the order so tightly it wrinkled.

  If Grant wouldn’t walk away, if he wanted to toy with Zoey, play games with her instead, then fine. Dalton could play games. He’d been damn good at them once upon a time.