The Gritty Truth

by Melissa Foster

  “I love kids. They get so excited over everything.” He picked up another picture as if he didn’t want to miss a single one. “Why didn’t you stick around? I would have loved to see you.”

  “We had to pick up lunch and get back to the studio for our classes.”

  He showed her the picture he was holding, a wolfish grin lifting his cheeks. “You look hot in this leotard. You’re probably going to have to model that for me one day.”

  Heat darted through her core, and she felt it spread up her neck and cheeks.

  “You’re damn cute, Roni.” He chuckled softly. “Your grandmother looks proud in every one of these pictures. How long ago was this one taken?”

  “That was my first performance after I went away to school, about six years ago. It was the only time she came out to visit, and we had the best weekend together, even though she hated the city. She said it was too busy and too loud. But the truth is, it wasn’t home. She loved being home.”

  “I get that. Most people want to travel, but I’m with Gram. I prefer my life to be chaos free. I’m perfectly happy here in the Harbor, around family and friends.” He set the frame on the shelf and said, “We should probably get going so we’re not late.”

  She grabbed her short suede jacket from the hook on the wall. Angela had given it to her last Christmas and said it made her look hot. Quincy took it from her, holding it up for her to put on.

  “Aren’t you a gentleman?” she said as she slipped her arms into it.

  “Apparently with you I am.” He raised his brows, his eyes taking a slow stroll down her body. “That’s a killer jacket. You look incredible.”

  “Thank you.” She put her keys in her pocket, and as they headed down to his truck, she thought about how much she liked that dating was new to him, too. It was nice knowing they were both exploring it for the first time.

  He helped her into his truck, and when he settled into his seat, he said, “Are you ready to enter my world?”

  “I thought we were going to the scavenger hunt.”

  He started the truck, but he put his arm across the back of the seat, giving her his full attention. “We are. It’s hosted by the Whiskeys and Silver-Stone Cycles.”

  “I read that online.”

  “Well, the Whiskeys are like family to me, and I’d like to introduce you to them, and to my buddy Jed, and the rest of my friends, if that’s okay with you. Jed and I used to be roommates, and I’m going to be the best man in his wedding over the holidays.”

  “Sure,” she said, though the idea made her even more nervous. “I’d like to meet your friends.”

  “Great. Since the Whiskeys are hosting, and Biggs Whiskey is the president of the Dark Knights, there will be a lot of bikers there. Do you know who the Dark Knights are?”

  “I’m sure everyone in Peaceful Harbor knows about them. They do a lot for the community. But even if I hadn’t heard of them, they made a lasting impression at the auction.”

  “I forgot about that,” he said. “I was going to warn you that some of them look intimidating, but they’re good guys.”

  “Are the two guys who nearly got in a fight over the redhead at the auction going to be there? They scared me.” The redhead hadn’t been on the manifest when she’d taken the stage and gone up for auction, and the calmer of the two men, who were both well over six feet tall, had bid tens of thousands of dollars on her. The rougher-looking guy with the thick beard and tattoos covering every inch of his skin had reminded Roni of a rabid dog ready to attack when he’d started the argument. Though the bidder had appeared calmer, she had no doubt he’d have done anything to win that redhead.

  Quincy touched her shoulder and said, “They’ll be there, but you don’t have to worry about a fight breaking out. That was an isolated incident between Bullet Whiskey, the angrier of the two guys, with the thick beard, and Jace Stone, one of the owners of Silver-Stone Cycles. Bullet thought Jace wanted to just mess around with his younger sister, Dixie, the redhead.”

  “She looked like she could handle herself, and I don’t think any guy would bid that much money if he wasn’t serious about a woman.”

  “I know, but Bullet’s protective of the people he loves. We all are. But they’re friends again, and Jace and Dixie got married over the summer.”

  “Really? That was fast.”

  “Oh, I don’t know. I think when it’s right, you know it from day one.” He gave her shoulder a squeeze and they headed for Whiskey Bro’s.

  Chapter Four

  THE PARKING LOT of Whiskey Bro’s was packed with motorcycles, trucks, and other vehicles. It was no wonder Roni had been uncomfortable when she’d gone to the auction. Even with the bright banner announcing the scavenger hunt hanging across the front of the old wooden building, it still looked as rough as many of the bikers it catered to. Crowds of people ranging from young families and professionals to tough-looking bikers wearing leather jackets with Dark Knights patches milled around tables set up on the grass. Quincy parked around the side of the building and helped Roni out of the truck.

  “What’s that building?” she asked, pointing to another weathered building behind the bar.

  “The Dark Knights’ clubhouse. They meet there Monday nights.”

  “If you’re so close to the Whiskeys, why aren’t you a member of the motorcycle club?”

  “It would be an honor to become one eventually, but membership requires a big commitment. Between school, work, Kennedy and Lincoln, and a few other commitments, including a certain new woman in my life, I have enough on my plate. Tru isn’t a member, either; neither is Jace or my buddy Scott, who you’ll meet tonight.” He put his arm around her as they made their way to the front.

  “Will Tru and Gemma be here with the kids?”

  “Definitely.” He scanned the crowd, looking for his brother. Dixie was standing by a registration table with Crystal and Finlay, Bullet’s very pregnant wife. He spotted Truman talking with Jed and Bear and said, “There’s Tru,” as they headed over. “Nervous?”

  “A little.”

  He pulled her closer and kissed her cheek. “I’ve got you, babe. We’re going to have a great time.”

  “There’s the big man,” Bear said as they approached, giving Quincy an approving nod.

  “I think you mean the best man,” Jed said. He looked more like Quincy’s biological brother than Truman did, with dirty-blond hair, a short beard, and blue eyes. “How’s it going, bro?”

  “Do you really have to ask?” Truman winked at Roni and said, “Hey there, Roni. Good to see you.”

  Roni said, “Hi.”

  “Roni, these are my buddies Bear Whiskey and Jed Moon. They work at Whiskey Automotive with Tru, and Bear is married to Jed’s younger sister, Crystal.”

  Jed said, “It’s nice to finally meet you.”

  “You too,” she said sweetly.

  “We’ve been watching this dude draw hearts around your name for months,” Bear teased.

  “Jackass,” Quincy said with a laugh.

  “Actually, Bear, I’m glad to hear that,” Roni said, her eyes finding Quincy’s. “Because I’ve been doodling his name, too.”

  Jed and Truman chuckled.

  Damn, that felt good. “That’s it, babe. Claim your man.” Quincy kissed her cheek, earning an adorable blush.

  “First she’s got to find a man,” Bear joked.

  Quincy lunged toward him, and Bear stumbled back, nearly running right into his mother as she came through the crowd cradling baby Axel in her arms. Wren “Red” Whiskey looked like a younger Sharon Osbourne, with short red hair and wise eyes. As usual, she was dressed in black, from her leather jacket right down to her jeans and boots. Red was tough, as any biker’s wife had to be, but she was also warm and loving and more of a mother to Quincy than his own mother had ever been.

  “Careful there, big boy,” Red said as she joined them. “I’ve got precious cargo.”

  “Sorry, Mom.” Bear reached for Axel.

&nbs
p; “Aw. Is that your baby?” Roni asked, leaning closer to get a better look.

  “Sure is. This is my little man, Axel,” Bear said.

  “He’s adorable. I love babies.” Roni wiggled the baby’s bootie-covered foot and said, “Hello there, Axel. You are precious, aren’t you?”

  “And so are you,” Red said, sidling up to Quincy and placing a hand on his back. “Are you going to introduce me to this beautiful young lady, honey?”

  “Sorry, Red. This is my girl, Roni.” My girl hit him hard, and he loved the way it felt to say it. “Roni, this is Red Whiskey—Bullet, Bones, Bear, and Dixie’s mother.”

  Red gave him a don’t be silly look. “If you’re going to list my children, you’d better add yourself, Tru, Jed, and half the other guys around here.” She turned a welcoming smile to Roni and said, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, sweetheart. You’re the lucky lady whose friend won a date for you with this wonderful young man at the auction, aren’t you? The one I hear has kept him on the line for all these months.”

  “Guilty as charged,” Roni said. “I don’t go out often.”

  “Well, sweetheart, you’ve got yourself a winner here,” Red said. “Our Quincy has a heart of gold. He told me about your grandmother’s passing, and I’m very sorry for your loss. If you ever need to bend an ear, people say I’m a good listener.”

  “Thank you,” Roni said, eyeing Quincy curiously.

  “I also heard that you’re teaching our Kennedy some adorable moves down at Elisa’s studio,” Red said.

  “Yes, that’s right. Kennedy is a doll, and she sure does love to dance,” Roni said. “How do you know Elisa?”

  “I know of her. Knowing who the business owners are within Dark Knights territory is important so we can protect them. See that gnarly but insanely sexy old man with the cane and scraggly beard?” Red pointed to Biggs, talking with Jace and Bullet. Biggs was six five, his skin like leather from years of riding his motorcycle in the hot sun. He wore a long-sleeve black shirt under his black leather vest, which had the Dark Knights patches on the back. Biggs had suffered a stroke several years ago and was left with a slight drooping of the left side of his face, mostly hidden by his scruffy white beard and mustache, and a limp that required a cane. “That’s my husband, Biggs. His grandfather founded the Dark Knights. We’ve been protecting Peaceful Harbor for decades.”

  “Okay, listen up, everyone!” Dixie announced through a megaphone, then waited for the crowd to quiet down. “Welcome, and thank you for supporting the Parkvale Women’s Shelter by joining this scavenger hunt. We’ll be starting in ten minutes. If you haven’t preregistered or picked up your scavenger hunt list, you can do so here at this table. You will have two hours to complete as many of the items on the list as you can. Every item is worth a certain number of points, as noted on the list, and you must take a picture with each one. The team who earns the most points will win a two-hundred-and-fifty-dollar gift certificate from Silver-Stone Cycles’ online shop.”

  Applause and cheers rang out, and Roni said, “She’s even more gorgeous than I remembered.”

  “Dixie is the face of Jace’s company for his new Leather and Lace clothing line, and she’s the model in next year’s calendar,” Quincy explained. “She has to do appearances several times over the next year, and I’ll fill in for her while she’s gone, handling the accounting and admin for their family businesses.”

  “Wow, you weren’t kidding about being close to them,” Roni said.

  “The second-place winner will take home one-hundred-dollar gift certificates from Whiskey Bro’s and Whiskey Automotive,” Dixie announced, inciting more cheers. “Remember to be safe out there. We’ll meet back here at eight o’clock to announce the winners and enjoy a buffet feast prepared by my very talented—and very pregnant—sister-in-law, Finlay!”

  Bullet hollered, “That’s my lollipop!” causing an uproar of laughter.

  “Did he say lollipop?” Roni asked.

  “Yes, he did. That’s what Bullet calls his wife, Finlay, the pregnant blonde standing next to Dixie. Finlay owns a catering company and cooks part time for the bar.” Quincy took her hand and said, “I wouldn’t delve too deeply into the reasons behind that endearment.” He leaned in for a kiss and noticed her blushing again, but kissing her in public already felt natural to him. “We’d better get our list. We’ll see you guys back here when we collect our trophy.”

  “Dream on,” Truman said. “I’m winning this thing. Kennedy has her heart set on a leather jacket from Jace’s store.”

  Quincy chuckled as they headed for the registration table. If he and Roni won, hopefully she’d be okay getting Kennedy that jacket.

  “You’re really lucky to have so many friends,” Roni said.

  “I am lucky. I know it’s probably overwhelming for you to keep everyone straight, but I’m glad you’re here.”

  “Me too. I like your friends, and I really like Red. I can see how much she adores you,” she said as they stepped into the registration line. “I didn’t realize you told anyone about Gram.”

  He drew her into his arms, and she blushed again. “You should probably get used to me kissing you and holding you in public, because I can’t seem to help myself.” He pressed his lips to hers and said, “I’m sorry for telling Red, but I was at dinner at their house when you texted and said your grandmother had passed away and told me not to come see you when I offered. I was going to drive over anyway, but Red talked me out of it. She said strong women know what they need and that I’d blow any chance I had with you if I didn’t give you space.”

  “She really is like a mom to you.”

  “Yeah, and these guys and their wives, and Dixie, are like brothers and sisters. We watch out for each other, and as you’ve seen, we also give each other shit.”

  “That’s nice. I really only have Angela and Elisa,” she said as the line moved forward.

  “And me, babe. And by extension, you’ll have all of these friends, too, regardless of whether you ditch my ass or not. We’re a loyal crew.”

  “Apparently you’re also a big sap,” Dixie said, sidling up to them.

  “Hey, Dix.” Quincy had been so taken with Roni, he hadn’t seen Dixie approaching them. “This is Roni. Roni, this is the one and only Dixie Whiskey.”

  “That’s Dixie Whiskey-Stone now, thank you very much. Hi, Roni.” Dixie leaned in and hugged her, her long red hair falling forward. “I’m glad you guys made it, and that’s a great jacket.”

  “Thank you. It was a gift from my friend,” Roni said.

  “Well, your friend has good taste.” Dixie handed her a piece of paper and said, “This is your scavenger hunt list. Remember to take pictures, or your entries won’t count.”

  “Okay, thanks,” Roni said.

  “Dix! Got a sec?” Jace hollered from across the lawn, waving her over. “Hey, Quincy!”

  “Jace.” Quincy lifted his chin.

  “I’d better go. Everyone needs something today. Good luck!” Dixie said, and headed over to Jace.

  “She seems nice,” Roni said, watching Dixie walk away. “She moves in those sky-high boots like she was born in them.”

  “Yeah, she’s a trip,” Quincy said.

  “Five minutes, people!” Crystal announced through the megaphone. She always stood out in a crowd, with jet-black hair, several piercings in one ear, and an affinity for dressing like a punk rocker.

  “That’s Crystal, Bear’s wife.”

  “Wow, she does not look like she just had a baby,” Roni said.

  “You’ll have to tell her that. She thinks she’s gotten heavy but we all think she looks great, and Bear can’t keep his paws off her.” He nodded to Bear walking up behind Crystal, cradling Axel in one arm as he put his other around her and kissed her. “See?”

  “They’re cute together,” she said as people began heading for the parking lot.

  “Come on, let’s go.” Quincy spotted Penny and Scott standing next to Scott’s car across t
he parking lot and pointed to her. “That’s my friend Penny, Finlay’s sister, and the guy with her is our buddy Scott.”

  Penny looked over, waved, said something to Scott, then ran toward them. “Hey, Pen,” Quincy said.

  Penny planted a hand on her jeans-clad hip, beaming at them. “Hi.” Her eyes shifted to Roni, and she said, “I’m Penny.”

  “I’m Roni. You work at the ice cream shop, right?”

  “Yeah, I own it.” She pointed to Quincy and said, “Sometimes this big lug helps me out there.”

  “Really? That’s so fun. I love your sundaes,” Roni said as cars began heading out of the lot. “I think the Go Away Gloomy Day sundae is my favorite.”

  “I’m working on a new one called Book Boy Gets His Girl,” Penny said cheekily, eyeing Quincy. “It’ll be my sweetest sundae yet.”

  “I think that’ll be my new favorite,” Roni said.

  “Mine, too,” Quincy said, pulling her closer.

  “I’d better go before Scott gets antsy. Are you guys coming back here?” Penny looked at Roni and said, “I’d love to chat and get to know each other better.”

  “I think so. Are we, Quincy?”

  “Yeah, we’ll be here. But anything Penny tells you about me is a lie.”

  “Ha! We’ll see about that. Catch you guys later.” Penny jogged back to Scott.

  As they headed for Quincy’s truck, Roni said, “She seems fun.”

  “She’s a blast.” He opened the passenger door and helped her in, then went around to the driver’s side, and as he started the engine, he said, “You should know that everyone thought Penny and I were going to hook up, but we never have. We’re just really good friends. There have been times when I’ve crashed on her couch or she’s crashed on mine. But we’ve never even kissed.”

  “Okay,” she said, and looked at the list for the scavenger hunt.

  He couldn’t see her expression to gauge it. “Is that an okay, you believe me, or an okay, like when girls say they’re fine, but they’re really pissed?” He pulled the truck in line behind the other vehicles.