“I think so too, but I can’t be sure.”
“Oh, I’m positive they did,” I assure her seriously. “You’re gorgeous, Mia. Men see you and can’t help but want to protect you, regardless of their age. Truthfully, and don’t tell him I told you this, but I think Talon feels the same way.”
Burying her face in her hands, Mia’s embarrassment over my admission is almost palpable.
“Don’t worry, Mia. Talon won’t act on his crush on you, and if Jump knew Talon thought about you like that, he would probably teach my son a lesson he wouldn’t soon forget.”
Mia’s heads pops up at the mention of Jump’s name which is an interesting development. It’s not a secret that their first meeting hadn’t gone well, so Mia’s sudden interest in him is somewhat confusing.
“I hope not,” she murmurs softly in response. “Talon is only a kid; it’s hormones that’s all.”
If she weren't so sweet and clueless, I would actually feel sorry for her, Mia has no idea how appealing she is to the opposite sex which is equally concerning as it is amusing.
“We don’t have enough time to get into that right now, so let’s leave it for another day when I can explain all the ways you’re wrong over a bottle of vodka. Anyway, about Jump.”
“What about him?” Mia asks curiously.
Trying to be as tactful as I can, I tell her,
“He’s not in a good place at the moment, Mia. You’ve been staying in the same house as him, so I’m sure you’ve figured out by now that he’s got a serious problem he’s working to overcome. As much as it pains me to say this, Jump isn’t good for you. Not now. Probably not ever. He’s not dangerous, but he is rough around the edges and has more demons than he knows what to do with. You need a man who is uncomplicated and doesn’t come with the baggage Jump does.”
I think that maybe I’ve stepped over a line when Mia’s face transforms into a frown, but seconds later, her eyes shutter closed, and she schools her expression into a blank mask.
“I didn’t come here looking to get involved with anybody, least of all, Jump. I’m in Furnace to help Aislinn. Nothing more, nothing less. When Ella is ready to go back to work, I’ll go home and start my job search all over again.”
She pauses for a beat, and I think she’s done, but when I go to speak, she cuts me off by saying,
“You don’t have to worry, Kennedy. I won’t make waves while I’m here, and if it makes things easier, I’m happy to stay elsewhere.”
“No,” I say sharply. “That’s not what I meant at all. I love having you staying with me at Cash’s. Talon and Cash enjoy your company too.” Deciding to change the subject because this one is fraught with minefields, I ask, “Where is home anyway?” signaling for her to follow me out of the car.
I have strict instructions to pick up what we need at the store and be home within an hour, so if I’m going to make Cash’s deadline we have to haul ass.
When Cash called me at Beth’s a couple of hours ago to tell me it was all systems go on his plans to take me away for a few days, I was excited beyond belief. Not just because I was finally going to spend some uninterrupted time with him, but because I think he needs this break just as much as I do.
Cash has been on edge since Jump started his detox but his tension has escalated dramatically over the last two days. I didn’t feel comfortable doing it, but after watching him struggle with whatever was going on inside his head, and his refusal to talk to me about it, I called Boss and asked for his help. Hence, our trip to visit his wife today. It was a ruse, and I knew it, but nonetheless, I’m grateful if it gave Boss the opportunity he needed to hash things out with his brother.
Matching her steps to mine, Mia apologizes.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to snap at you. And to answer your question, Vegas is home.” At what I’m sure is my comical expression, Mia snorts. “Yeah, I get that look a lot. I know it’s not the kind of place most people think is suitable for someone like me, but I love it there. When I left Phoenix, I had no idea where I was going, so I asked myself, “where is the last place anyone would expect me to live.” Vegas was the first city to pop into my head, and for once, I didn’t think about it, I just bought a one-way ticket, boarded the plane, and the rest is, as they say, history.”
“You’re braver than I gave you credit for. Good for you,” I say, nudging her shoulder with mine. “Now, help me load up with enough food to keep Jump’s insatiable appetite satisfied. That man eats more than three ordinary men, which means we’ll need two carts. Oh, no doubt men from the club will be around 24/7, so don’t skimp on the junk food. How those men keep in shape when they eat more snack food than I do in a year blows my mind.”
“Mine too,” Mia mutters in agreement.
*****
Our shopping trip is uneventful with the exception of a wobbly wheel on Mia’s cart which caused her to knock over a display of canned tomatoes. Until it isn’t.
We’re nearing the end of the last aisle when a high pitch nasally voice whines,
“Excuse me.” Turning to face the sound, I come face to face with what would be a beautiful woman if she wasn’t in possession of a fierce scowl and an extra fifteen pounds her small frame can’t afford.
Now, before you go thinking that I’m judgmental bitch as it pertains to the horizontally challenged, that couldn’t be further from the truth. After giving birth to Talon, it took me almost a year to rid myself of the weight I gained during pregnancy, so I’m no stranger to carrying around a spare tire or two. However, in this woman’s case, I can tell her weight distribution issues have nothing to do with baby production, and everything to do with the copious snack cakes, candy, and bags of chips testing the limits of her cart.
“Yes,” I reply after a lengthy pause.
Jabbing a pointy finger, encased from her last to middle knuckle with rings in my directions, she states,
“You’re Kennedy, the woman with the kid who’s playing house with, Cash, aren’t you?”
Her waspish, self-righteous tone isn’t lost on me which leads me to one conclusion; this is one of Cash’s many jilted conquests.
“Yep, that would be me. And you are?” I ask condescendingly.
“He’s good, isn’t he?” She smirks, flicking her bleach blonde hair over her shoulder.
God save me from divas, I sigh, hating that I have to deal with this wicked bitch at all.
“I’m sorry, I don’t have the first clue what you’re talking about, and I get the distinct feeling I don’t want to. My friend and I have somewhere to be, so it was lovely to meet you, but we have to get a move on.”
Propping her hand on her hip, her eyes narrow dangerously at me.
“Look, you’re new in town and so is your friend, so you probably haven’t had the chance to get out much, but Cash isn’t who you think he is. He’s bad news, and you’d be wise to keep your distance. Especially if you’ve got a young, impressionable son to worry about. Take it from me, Cash is ideal for a fuck and duck, but he isn’t the kind of guy who hangs around whispering sweet nothing’s in your ear after he’s fucked you,” she snarls venomously.
I’m about to say something when peels of feminine laughter rings out through the store. All eyes swing toward the newcomer, my mouth literally dropping open at the sight of her. Flicking my gaze to Mia, I see that she too is gaping at the woman.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
~ Kennedy ~
“When I text you with my life story, and you reply the following day with ‘K’… Are you asking to get punched in the throat?”
– Kennedy to Jump
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t Callie Stewart doing what she does best,” the woman’s husky voice says full of amusement and condemnation. “Still harassing innocent women I see.”
Ah, so this is Callie. Cash warned me that she was bitter about him ending things with her, even though they were both fully aware all they shared was an occasional hook up. He told me if she approached me to call him immediat
ely, but the thought never crosses my mind as I watch with avid interest the byplay between these two.
“Fuck you, Zara. Mind your own business,” Callie sneers.
“No thanks, you’re not my type. But it seems these days you are no one’s type, sugar,” Zara chuckles at her own joke while making a point of scrutinizing every item in Callie’s overflowing cart.
“That’s not what Locke said last week when he was in my bed all weekend,” Callie shrugs with a malicious grin.
Mia and I both note that at the mention of the name Locke, Zara’s body goes rock solid. She’s so still, for a second there I think she’s in shock but Zara recovers quickly, throwing another barb of her own at Cash’s ex.
“I’m not my brother’s keeper, but I have to admit at this point, I’m hugely disappointed in him. I spent years warning him of the legalities surrounding bestiality, but clearly after all that, he still didn’t listen to him. I sincerely hope you’re not a biter though because Locke hates needles, and I really don’t want to be the one to take him for a rabies shot.”
Not that it’s remotely possible, considering Zara has to be, at least, five years younger than me, but I so want to be her when I grow up.
At least half a foot taller than me and Mia, Zara’s black hair is pulled back into a complicated fishtail braid that stops just under her bra strap. But even with her hair contained, you can still see the brightly colored streaks of pink and purple woven through her dark locks.
I have to admit, I’m more than a little jealous of her figure too. Zara’s body is the stuff of male fantasies, probably a few female one’s as well. Now, I’ve never considered taking lesbianism for a spin, but with Zara, even I might consider converting.
Dressed in tiny spandex booty shorts that barely cover her ass, Zara looks like she’s just left the gym. Truthfully, with a body like hers, I wouldn’t be surprised if she spent the vast majority of her life there. I can see a hint of her pink sports bra because the wife beater she’s wearing is two sizes too big for her. She’s tied it in a knot just above her belly button, showcasing her toned, defined stomach, comfortable with having her body on display.
Zara’s left arm is decorated shoulder to wrist in intricate black and gray tattoos, that I can’t make out in detail from where I’m standing, but absolutely can appreciate the artistry that goes into creating such a stunning masterpiece. That doesn’t appear to be the only ink she has, either. A flash of color at the base of her neck tells me that she has a lot more hiding under her shirt than the phenomenal assets she’s carrying up front.
Yes, I said it. Zara has awesome boobs. I might be a woman, but that doesn’t mean I’m immune to ogling another woman’s fun bag, especially when they’re as amazing as Zara’s. But that’s enough about that. People may start thinking I have a breast fetish, which I do, but only when it involves mine and any part of Cash’s anatomy.
“Why are you such a bitch?” Callie screeches. Ah, pot meet kettle much.
Mia nudges my arm, her eyes alight with humor as we watch Zara wink at Callie and shrug.
“It’s a gift. You’re not the first person to call me that today, and you won’t be the last.”
“Ah, yeah, she fucking will,” an intensely masculine voice rumbles, joining our impromptu party.
Holy crap, I nearly hiss when the huge, visibly angry man steps up beside Zara and throws an arm around her shoulders. My earlier statement stands; they put something in the water around here because this guy is just as hot, if not hotter than all of the men I’ve met who belong to the MC.
Wavy, black hair, with a five o’clock shadow dusting his jaw, this guy is not only built, but he's also massive. He has to be six-four or six-five, at least. Covered in tattoos and sporting an eyebrow piercing, this man looks as if he belongs as the front man for a rock band, not here in a small town grocery store.
Tipping his head down so that he can look Zara in the eyes, he growls,
“She giving you trouble, Kit?”
Um, say what? I thought her name is Zara, not Kit.
Rolling her eyes, Zara addresses us saying,
“It’s a long story, I’ll tell you over drinks one night. By the way, this colossus is, Slade, my second eldest brother.”
Slade tips his non-existent hat at us, causing Mia to blush bright red.
“Hey, ladies. Nice to meet you.” Scowling at his sister, Slade grunts, “You didn’t answer my question, Kit. Is she bothering you?”
“Nothing I can’t handle,” she says decisively, patting his cheek.
“Slade,” an infuriated male bellows less than a second later. “Where are you, motherfucker? You told me you were just going to…” the man comes up short when he catches sight of us all huddled at the end of the aisle. “What the fuck is going on here?” He grates out through his clenched jaw.
In what seems to be her trademark move, Zara rolls her eyes again.
“Sweet baby Jesus save me from overbearing brothers,” she mutters, turning a blinding smile on a carbon copy of Slade.
I wasn’t sure before, but now I know I just had a spontaneous mini orgasm. Twins. Identical twins. Identical, downright sexy twins. I think I’ve died and gone to heaven, and by the looks of it, Mia has too. But even though I can absolutely appreciate the fine male specimens standing before me, I can still say without a doubt, Cash is far superior in every way. Or at least, I think so, and that’s all that matters at the end of the day.
Sticking out his hand in a gentlemanly gesture, twin two introduces himself.
“Hello beautiful women, I’m Rhodes.” Oh, he’s a charmer too I see.
Placing my hand in his, I reply,
“Hi, I’m Kennedy, and this is Mia,” hooking my thumb in Mia’s direction. If it’s at all possible, she’s even redder than she was when it was just Slade in her orbit.
Rhodes intuitively senses Mia’s discomfort, immediately lowering his voice so that it takes on a more seductive, coaxing tone that I know has charmed many a woman out of their panties.
“Hey, there pretty lady. Is it okay if I shake your hand?” He asks politely, giving Mia time to refuse. “I won’t be offended if you say, no. It’s just that I make it my mission in life to get to know the names of all the stunning women I meet, and you happen to be one of them.”
I’ll give him this, he’s smooth. But before Mia is forced to answer for fear of being rude, Zara slaps Rhodes upside the back of his head and glares at him.
“Nope, not going to happen, buddy. You and Tweedledumb can take your tag-teaming asses and hightail it out of here. If you don’t, I’m telling dad what you did on Christmas Eve.”
Twin gasps of outrage escape their mouths as they simultaneously hiss,
“You fucking wouldn’t.”
With an evil glint in her eye, Zara goads,
“Try me.”
“We were eleven, Zara. How long are you going to hold it over our heads?” Slade huffs.
“As long as it works to my advantage,” she returns without a hint of shame.
“Fine,” Rhodes snaps shortly. “Just tell me what you’re doing playing with your latest victim and we’ll leave.”
“She was helping us,” Mia uncharacteristically chimes in. “That woman was saying horrible things to Kennedy. Zara only stepped in to stop her.”
The twins share a knowing look between each other and then glance at their sister before nodding soundly.
“Sounds like something she’d do,” Slade muses. “But why aren’t you at work, Kit? Did the slave driver give you the afternoon off or did he fire your ass again?”
“Hang on a second,” Zara demands, spinning around to face off with Callie again, who mind you is staring at the twins practically drooling. “Get your filthy eyes off my brothers, and pay attention petri dish because I’m only going to say this once.”
Both men snort at her apt description while Mia and I fight to contain laughs of our own.
“If you want to find the cure for your unfortunat
e case of Sad Vag, then I suggest you get a personality transplant. Barring that, learn how to dress in a way that doesn’t scream ‘slut,’ ease up on the 80’s eyeshadow you’ve got going on, and stop bathing in my grandma’s perfume before you leave the house. As for your other little problem; wash out your mouth prior to kissing the next guy you con into taking you home. No one likes to taste what’s come before them.”
See, like I said, one day I so want to be as cool as she is.
*****
“I really liked her,” Mia says out of the blue as we pull to a stop in Cash’s driveway.
She’s been quiet for most of the ride home, but for the most part, I think both of us were replaying the events in the grocery store.
After Callie had stomped off in the opposite direction, Slade and Rhodes stayed long enough to make sure their sister was okay and say goodbye. Zara, however, hung out with us until we had finished loading up the trunk, making small talk and engaging Mia in conversation.
I could have kissed her for that. Zara has a way about her that speaks to Mia. Albeit they couldn’t be more different, Mia responds to Zara’s boisterous, fun-loving personality. Maybe it’s because Zara represents everything Mia wished she could be, or maybe it’s more along the lines of Zara not giving Mia the chance to ignore her. Regardless, I’m grateful to have met her, and I find out later that the timing couldn’t have been more perfect either.
Vengeance MC Box Set - Volume 2: Gage ~ Cash ~ Knight (Vengeance MC series Book 8) Page 44
