“Are you, Abigail?” His husky voice brought me out of my trance and I knew he knew that I wasn’t. That even if he knew I washed them earlier, the upward point of his chin and his arrogant smile told me that he knew I wasn’t wearing them now.
“I think you know I’m not.”
We held each other’s gaze. Mine, no doubt, flushed as all get out that I hoped he couldn’t see in the darkness. But his gaze, oh his had that same teasing grin and I could only imagine what must be going through his dirty mind. I knew what was going through mine that was for sure. And it was far from clean. His gaze dropped from mine as he slowly perused my body, inch by inch.
“My eyes are up here.”
“I know, but my eyes are busy looking at something else. Envisioning something else.”
“Fine. I can see coming back out here was a waste of my-”
“It wasn’t a waste of your time. Look…I…I realize I fucked up, okay? It wasn’t my intention to hurt you. I wasn’t ready, Abby. Not for all the things I knew would happen if we stayed together.”
“That’s it? I’ve waited five years to hear that? Which literally amounted to nothing? Five years, Thatcher. I’ve been wondering what in the hell has been your problem and you tell me something I already know?”
He dropped his bottle into the grass next to the others and stood up, walking toward me with grim determination in his face. For some inexplicable reason, my heartbeat sped up much too quickly. He stopped an inch away from me and I held my breath.
“Relax, Abby. I was afraid to be a father, okay? I didn’t want to turn out like my dad. I still don’t.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means…it means that my dad was an asshole. You don’t have any idea what it was like growing up with him. He was emotionally abusive. Physical every now and then. My biggest fear is turning out like him.”
Thatcher’s eyes were hard now. Wide open and painfully blank. Empty of the attraction from only moments ago and I realized I didn’t know much about Thatcher Patterson. Not like this anyway.
“You remember during senior year and I was late meeting you and Adrian for the Homecoming parade?”
“I remember,” I said quietly because I had a feeling where this was going.
“When I finally showed up after the parade and I had my arm in a cast.”
“You were lying, weren’t you? About falling from your dad’s tractor?”
“No, I actually did fall from it. I fell when my father yanked me out of it. That’s the part I left out.”
“I could tell you were lying then. Why didn’t you go to the police or tell the doctor who fixed you up?”
“Are you kidding? Lone Star’s best businessman Mr. Walter Patterson. No chance in hell anyone would believe me.”
“What about your mom?”
“What about my mom? You know she’s always been too drunk to care much about anything. At least that’s what she pretends. She loves her life the way it is – ever sticking up for me was never a question for her.”
“He did it to Grace as well?”
“Nope. Just me. Cause, you know, I was the boy. Had to teach me how to be a man and all.”
Thatcher stopped talking and my heart ached for him. Ached for the young Thatcher as well as the man he’d become. Because Mr. Walter Patterson had well and done messed him up emotionally enough that he’d been afraid to be a dad of his own.
“After you told me about the baby, I went home that night, God Abigail, I was scared. Nervous. Excited. I couldn’t believe someone so amazing was carrying my baby. I really believed we were going to be a family.”
“What changed?” my voice was achy with hurt and I dreaded what he was going to tell me.
“My grandmother died two days later and my father was so hateful toward me, blaming me for everything right and wrong in my grandparent’s world. Blaming me for running their hardware store into the ground. I couldn’t do it, Abby. There was no way in hell, I could even chance being like him toward a child.”
I reached for him. Placing my hand on his arm. “You’re not him. I had no idea you ever went through anything like that.”
He shrugged, “I hid it well. Besides, it wasn’t all the time. Only sometimes. Maybe that’s why my mother never thought it was a problem. Maybe at the time, I never thought it was a problem either. Always talking myself into why he reacted the way he did. Anyway, I’m sorry, Abigail.” He ran his hand along his stubble and up, over his eyes. Blinking excessively, he said it again. “I’m sorry for hurting you. For so many things I would have to write them all down. I’m no good with words.”
“Sounds like you’re doing just fine to me.”
“Is that an acceptance of my apology?”
Was it? “Well, let’s just say, it’s a start.” We had a long road to go.
Unexpectedly, he chuckled and pulled me into a hug. “It’s a definite start.” He squeezed me tight and I hugged him back fiercely, trying to give my support to that young man who was treated so horribly by his father.
“I’ll take what I can get with you,” he spoke into my ear. Our hug went from all out friendship to downright sexual in nature and I could feel him. Really feel him. The hard planes of his shoulders beneath my hands, the firm hold of his arms around my middle and the hard press of his chest and abs along my body. Not to mention the way his body warmed up mine from head to toe.
Reluctantly, I slid out of his grasp, “A truce of sorts.”
His finger brought my chin up, planting my gaze squarely on his. “A truce of sorts,” he agreed.
Chapter Nine
Thatcher
“Don’t you have a landline?” Abby asked early the next morning.
“I have a cell phone. Why would I have a landline?”
“To have a secure connection?” she glared at me.
“Here.” I slid my phone across the table to her.
“What’s a landline?” Thayer asked.
“Don’t worry about it Thayer. When you’re old enough to have one, they’ll probably be extinct.” I grinned as Abigail rolled her eyes at me. Hey, it was the truth.
“I forgot to ask Mama to watch Thayer today. Isabelle who usually babysits him is gone for a few days and what with the fire and all, I forgot to see if I could bring him over.”
“He could stay with me.”
She quirked an eyebrow at me, “All day?”
“Sure. Feed store opens at nine today. You could come hang with me, couldn’t you Thayer?”
Her eyes went from Thayer to me before she focused on the task of calling her mother.
“Mornin’ Mama. I don’t have much time before I’m late for work; can you watch Thayer today?”
I watched Abigail absentmindedly stroke Thayer’s head as she listened to her mother on the other end of the line. He could come to work with me. I could easily find stuff for him to do. He could help me.
“Well, she can pick him up from the feed store around eleven-thirty. You sure taking him with you is a good idea?” she asked once she ended the call.
“Sure as ever.”
“Fine. While I’m at work, I’ll figure out a place for us to stay tonight. Once I get off, I’m going to have to get some clothes and necessities for Thayer and I-”
“How about you and Thayer stay here? I’m serious, Abigail. I gave Adrian my word. I’m not taking no for an answer.”
She raised her eyebrows at me, “What are you going to do? Put me over your shoulder and make me?”
I envisioned that tight, round ass of hers nestled into my shoulder and how if I tilted my head just enough, I could sink my teeth into the soft globes. “If I need to. Mighty fine place for you to be, if you ask me.”
She flushed and glanced away.
“I’m serious, Abigail.”
“For how long? We can’t stay… for forever.”
“Long enough to get things sorted out. Until we hear from the fire department about what happened. Long enough that you can
speak to insurance, get him settled into school, things like that. You’ve got a lot on your plate right now. Only trying to help.”
“I know, Thatcher.” She bit her lip, “Fine. We’ll stay here for a few more days. Or day,” she gave me a pointed look. “I don’t know how long exactly. But I have to get to work and I have to go out tonight and find us some clothes, right Thayer?”
“Yes and a blanket.”
“Yes Baby, and a blanket. Now hear me. You going to be okay going to work with Thatcher for a little while before Gigi comes to get you?”
“I’m only staying with Thatcher for a little while?”
“Yes. Can you be a good boy? He has to work while you’re there so you’ll have to be on your best behavior. You hear me?”
“Yes, Mama. I can do that. But what about Spider-Man?”
“Spider-Man will be okay by himself, I promise. Give me some sugar. I have to get to work.”
She kissed Thayer on the forehead and I turned my head, pointing to my cheek. Worth a shot, right?
She laughed and shook her head.
“You boys be good now. Thatcher?” She looked at me as if to ask that I was good, that everything would be okay. It would be. Soon as she figured out she had no ride to get her to work.
“We’ll be fine. Right, Thayer?”
“Right.”
She walked out the front door and I counted. One. Two. Three. The door opened.
“Dang it. I don’t have a car.”
I burst out laughing. “Come on, Son. We gotta get your mama to work.”
After dropping off Abigail at Lone Star’s newspaper, Thayer and I made it to the feed store.
“What are we going to do?”
“I figured you’d be great at cracking peanuts.”
“Peanuts?”
“Sure thing, buddy. I have a few friends that usually come in here each morning and they love eating peanuts. I figured you could sit right here and join the conversation. Eat some peanuts. Course, only if you want to that is.”
“I want to!” he yelled.
I helped him onto one of the stools where Cap, Ryan and Dean sat almost every morning. I unloaded a large pile of peanuts onto the counter directly in front of Thayer.
“Have at it.”
Having him occupied, I did my normal morning routine and then sent a text to Grace. I needed a favor and I knew she would be much too happy to help. A few minutes later my phone dinged with her message saying she’d come into the feed store soon enough and with that out of the way, I started working on a few invoices.
Every so often Thayer would jump down from his stool and ask me a variety of questions ranging from who worked here besides me to what people bought when they came in. He pronounced he was parched and we walked to the gas station across the street to get some apple juice.
When we came back, Gracie sat along the short brick wall outside the feed store, so immersed in a book that when Thayer and I walked up and I tapped the top of her book, she jumped.
“What’s got you so oblivious to the outside world?”
“Nothing,” she snapped the book shut, flipping it away from me so I couldn’t see the cover.
“Give it here.” I tugged the book out of her hands ignoring her squeal of protest. “Ride me.” I cocked my head at her, chuckling at the dirty title.
“Shut up. Hi, Thayer.” She looked back at me, “I can read romance novels anytime I want.”
“Hello.”
“Miss Priss reading romance novels? Where’s the real Grace?”
She snatched her book away from me and slid it into her overly large purse.
“I’m still me. A friend at school suggested I join their book club. I didn’t know they called themselves the Raunchy Reader Club,” she wrinkled her nose. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t have gone. But I went, now I’m hooked. This is the second in the Delta MC series. I’m hoping to get through all five of them before school starts.”
“What’s MC?” I asked as Thayer crawled up onto the wall alongside her.
“Motorcycle Club. Don’t judge me.”
I belted out a laugh, “You’re kidding, right? You know people ‘round here call you Ivanka Trump behind your back because you always act so damn perfect, right? Myself included. What would the citizens of Lone Star say if they knew their precious second-grade teacher was reading romance novels about bad-ass biker dudes?”
“I don’t intend to find out. Because you aren’t telling anyone. Thayer, what brings you around this man?” she changed the subject.
“My mama’s at work.”
“Abby’s at work and her mom is coming to pick him up shortly. She just needed a temporary babysitter.”
“I’m surprised she went to work and all with what happened yesterday.”
“Me too. But that woman, she’s something else.” I shook my head in amazement.
“So tell me how you got involved.”
“Cap called and told me. I went over while the fire was still burning – almost out. Adrian has been out of town. He asked me if they could stay with me.” I didn’t elaborate too much on all that because I wasn’t willing to divulge Abby’s secret about their divorce, sister or not. Not yet, anyway. “So here we are, right Buddy?”
“Yep. I’m working today with Thatcher.”
“I see that. I bet you’re a big help, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Are you starting preschool next week?”
“I sure am.”
“Did you know that I’m a second-grade teacher at Star Falls?” when he shook his head, Gracie went on, “Do you remember who your teacher is?”
“I don’t remember.”
“Are you excited?”
“Yes. But I don’t have any clothes now.”
“Which is why I asked you to come over actually. Let’s go inside,” I said.
Once inside, I explained my idea to her. Just like I thought, Gracie jumped at the chance to help.
“She gets off work at five. This all needs to be done by three or so, just to be on the safe side.”
“I’m going to head out right now. I’ll have everything done by lunch.”
Just then, Cap’s loud-ass motorcycle violated our conversation, drowning out any sounds except for the mufflers on his bike as he pulled up to his usual parking spot.
“Is that necessary?” Grace shuddered.
“It is if you own a bike. Which, haven’t those romance novels taught you anything yet? I bet Cap knows a few things about MCs, we could ask him if he’s ever fu-”
My sister’s hand shot over my mouth, effectively sealing off further conversation, just as Cap strode into the shop. He took a second glance at Grace and me and I shrugged out of her reach.
“What’s up, Cap? Gracie here was just explaining to me what MC stands for, right sister?”
Cap surveyed my sister, his gaze slowly assessing her body from top to bottom and back to the top. I knew that look. And I knew he and I were going to have a chat the second Gracie left. ‘Cause Cap, despite what he might be thinking, wasn’t going anywhere near Grace. Even though his eyes were screaming fresh piece of meat.
“Grace,” he nodded, adjusting the do-rag on his head.
“Maverick,” she replied in her matter-of-fact voice.
“Please, call me Cap.”
“No thank you. I prefer Maverick.”
“I prefer Cap. What were you telling your brother about motorcycle clubs? I might be able to help him out in that department. Thatch, you lookin’ to join?”
“Never. Gracie is reading a book about them. Ain’t that right, Grace?”
Her cheeks flushed and she picked up her purse from the counter before throwing daggers in my direction.
“I am but it’s not important. I’ll just leave the three of you-”
The strap on her purse snagged along the metal post I’d just put up that held up a row of shelves alongside her path on the way out, catching her purse. It fell to the floor at Cap’s
feet and he bent down with her to help her pick it up.
“Ride me?” he asked her in a curious tone. He held up the book she’d been reading only moments ago and she tried grabbing it out of his hold.
“That’s my book!” she pleaded.
He let out a low whistle, “What’s a perfect little thing like you reading a dirty book like this?”
“It’s for book club.”
She was biting her lip so hard I thought blood might bust through.
Cap held the book out for her where she immediately threw it back into her bag.
“Book club, I see. Well, if you ever want to expand your knowledge in regards to MC’s, I can promise you that I will teach you more than this book ever can. I’m your guy.”
“I-”
Before she could respond, I interrupted, “She won’t. Gracie, lunch time. Don’t forget.”
“I won’t,” she huffed as she managed to tactfully make it to the door. “Good bye, Thayer.”
“See you later.”
“Maverick. Thank you for helping pick up my purse.” The three of us watched her leave. Well, Thayer and Cap did anyway. I watched Cap watch her and there was something in his eyes I couldn’t place. Something far beyond attraction.
I turned to Cap, “Get your fucking mind out of the gutter.”
“Mine? She’s the one reading that smut.”
“Stay the fuck away from her. You’re too damn old for her. And bad.”
He laughed, “Rest assured, man. That youngen wouldn’t touch me with a ten-foot pole. I don’t fit into her cookie cutter life.”
His eyes flickered and I couldn’t tell if he was relieved about that or not. Whatever. Like he said, Gracie was so busy being perfect there was no way a man like him could ever fit into her life.
Except in books.
Good.
That’s exactly where I wanted him to stay with my sister.
“I take it you met up with Abby?” he nodded toward Thayer.
“Sure did. She spent the night last night. In my guest room.”
“That so?”
“Yep. Didn’t sleep a wink.”
Wild: A Small Town Romance (Love in Lone Star Book 2) Page 8
