by Karen Renee
He couldn’t hear the other side of the conversation. After a long moment, she ended the call and handed Har his phone. When she turned back to the ex-husband, a bad feeling settled in Brute’s gut.
“Since you’re here and it’s a holiday, would you like to come inside and wish your daughter a happy Thanksgiving?”
That had to be the worst idea he’d heard all day, but he bit his tongue.
Caleb’s eyes darted to Har and Brute, then back to her. “These two sticking around?”
“They’re my guests, so yes.”
“Aubrey’s coming home with me.”
“She isn’t going with you until Saturday. If you try to take her today, I’ll call the police. And you will be in violation of our custody agreement.”
Brute closed his eyes when he heard his father’s voice. “I would have never let my stepdaughters see me being questioned by the police, but maybe you’re cool with your daughter witnessing that. It’ll say a heckuva lot about you if you push that in front of your little girl.”
“Who are you?” Caleb repeated and sneered a third time.
Stephie sidled up to Har. “He’s my stepdad.”
“Last chance, Caleb. Everyone’s food is getting cold. Are you going to pop in to say hello to Aubrey, or not?”
“I’ll call later and see her Saturday.”
The man stalked down the drive so fast, it was a wonder he wasn’t jogging.
Kenzie turned around with a stiff smile on her face. “Thank you everyone. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate—”
“Forget about it,” Har said.
She shook her head. “I can’t just ‘forget about it.’ If you hadn’t—”
Har pointed his thumb at Brute. “You’re with him, it means you’re with us. We take care of each other. And if the color in your cheeks is from embarrassment, forget about that, too. There’s nothing for you to be embarrassed about.”
Her blue eyes widened. “That was the height of embarrassment!”
“Baby, it wasn’t. Now, you’re barefoot and the temperature’s dropping. Get inside before I carry you inside and really embarrass you.”
“You wouldn’t! Aubrey’s in there.”
He raised his brows. “And she’s as smart as her mom, which means she’s gonna figure out what’s what soon enough.”
Chapter Nineteen
Krispy Kreme Goodness
Kenzie
I glared at Brute, even though I knew he was right. Aubrey would put two and two together soon enough.
Stephanie’s laughter drew my attention. “He’s right, Kenzie. That was far from the height of embarrassment, and she’s gonna wonder why you’re outside when she comes back in with Gina and Faith.”
The screech of tires startled me. I whipped my head around to see Caleb peeling out of the driveway.
Sam patted my shoulder. “Glad that didn’t get too ugly.” He turned and went inside, Har and Stephanie right behind him.
I started to follow, but Brute put his hands on my upper arms. “Hey, you good?”
His eyes searched mine. Between his touch and the tone of his voice, I was reminded of the bizarre way he made me calm down before opening the door to Caleb. On the one hand it scared me that he had that power, but on the other hand, I found it comforting that he was so in tune with me.
“Yeah. I’m fine. Though, my feet are getting a little chilly.”
His lips tipped up. “Sure? You seemed pretty rattled couple of minutes ago.”
I arched a brow. “Well, I have a new appreciation for the term ‘smooth operator.’ That lie about mom giving Har my lawyer’s number flowed pretty smoothly from your lips.”
He glanced at the closed front door, then leaned toward me. “How about you kiss me, since we’re alone?”
“Okay,” I whispered.
I lifted up on my toes as he dipped his head. It might have been our shortest kiss, but for some strange reason it was our sweetest.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
“What for?”
I gave a small smile. “Calming me down earlier. I wouldn’t expect it to happen again, but I’m glad you did that for me. Or who knows what I would’ve done, running off half-cocked.”
He guided me toward the house. “Yeah, who knows? I’d have found it entertaining. Wouldn’t have helped your situation, though.”
I sat down at the table just as Gina, Mom and Aubrey came back inside.
Aubrey scampered back to her seat. “What did Daddy want?”
I smiled. “Just to iron out some details for Saturday, pumpkin.”
As my focus shifted away from Aubrey, Sam winked at me.
“I’M LOOKING UP THAT recipe if it’s the last thing I do,” Stephanie said, as she slid on her jacket.
Har glowered at her. “Don’t you dare. I can’t handle an entire dish of that stuff in the house.”
She gaped at him. “You lie! Who can’t handle more Krispy Kreme goodness in their house? And turning them into bread pudding... genius!”
Sam, Gina, and Brute were putting on jackets so they could leave with Har and Stephanie.
“You make it, you’ll have to join my gym for damn sure, Stephie,” Sam muttered.
“As good as that was, it would be worth it, Dad.”
The air went heavy and charged. “Steph,” Sam croaked.
“What?” she asked.
“Girl, you haven’t called me that in over thirteen years. Get over here.”
I felt my eyes well as they hugged. Brute’s fingers guided my face toward his. “Zee, I didn’t know you were such a softie.”
My head tilted. “I’m a sucker for father-daughter moments.”
His lips pressed together and I couldn’t tell if it was to keep from saying something, prevent his laughter or something else.
“Does Muffin need a babysitter? She could stay with me,” Aubrey said from Gina’s side. In an aside she thought I couldn’t hear she added, “Then I can convince Mommy to get a dog.”
I gave my daughter a look. “Pumpkin, we’re not getting a dog. Not right now.”
“Fine,” she said, with ill-grace.
My eyes widened with my ‘mom-stare,’ and she muttered, “Sorry, Mommy.”
“Did you thank Miss Gina for bringing Muffin?”
While she did that, Har and Stephanie led the way out of the front door.
The moment we were on the front walk, Aubrey forgot all about Muffin. After an excited exclamation and a hop, she skipped past me to catch up with Har and Stephanie. “Can I ride on your motorcycle?”
“Aubrey Faith, you know better,” I chided.
Har turned gentle eyes on my girl, but Brute moved in front of Aubrey and squatted so they were eye-to-eye. “Miss Aubrey, you want to ride on a motorcycle, we’ll make that happen. But you can’t ride without a helmet, and even Miss Stephanie’s helmet is too big for you.”
She pouted, then, as she turned his words over in her mind, she smiled. “But you have one that’ll fit me?”
He turned his head away, chuckling. When he faced her again, he was smiling and his eyes twinkled. “You’re a lot like your mom. Yeah, I’ll have one that fits you.”
Aubrey shrieked with joy, but Brute held up a finger. “If your mom says it’s okay.”
My girl launched herself toward Brute and wrapped her little arms around his neck. I wished I had my phone because the look on his face made my heart skip a beat. An overwhelming blend of surprise, joy, and affection made him look ten times more handsome. Though I had no idea he could possibly get more handsome.
He hugged her back while Mom edged closer to me. “He’s a keeper, Kenzie Maybelle. I’m sure you know that.”
“I do,” I whispered.
“Just a cryin’ shame his daddy’s taken.”
I threw my head back with laughter. Muffin barked and Brute and Aubrey broke their hug.
He stood, and I noticed his dad standing nearby, Muffin held in the crook of his arm. I gave him a doubl
e-take, Brute glanced at his dad, and laughed. My eyes widened at him as I strode to him.
“What?” Sam asked.
Brute looked at his dad. “Lucky you’re taken, old man. Otherwise, I’d get du—”
I put my fingers to his lips since Aubrey was in earshot. Sam chuckled and guided Gina toward Brute’s truck.
“It’s not your dad.”
We both saw Mom lead Aubrey toward Har and Stephanie’s bikes.
In a low voice, Brute said, “Don’t bullshit me.”
My head tilted a touch. “Well, I’d look even more smitten if it were you who was holding the dog.”
He roared with laughter and he pulled me close for a tight hug. Once he had control of himself, his chin tipped down. From the look in his eyes, I knew he craved a goodbye kiss. “Happy Thanksgiving, Kenzie. I’ll call you soon.”
Brute
SATURDAY MORNING AFTER Thanksgiving, the Riot brothers were participating in a poker run to raise money for a local children’s hospital. Even though Brute had invited Kenzie to ride with him, he found himself thinking twice.
His cell rang, and he clipped out his greeting without checking the display. “Yeah.”
“Damn, late night for you, brother?” Har asked.
“No.”
“Mind if I put you on speaker? I’m frying eggs.”
“If it makes this conversation go quicker, have at it.”
Har muttered as he put the call on speaker. “You’re in a foul mood.”
He couldn’t hold back his sigh. “I need to cut her loose. You saw her ex-husband. He’s all but digging his heels in, man. She’s better off without me.”
“This again,” Har said, but Stephanie’s voice cut across his.
“From the guy who listened to Tom Petty’s ‘I Won’t Back Down,’ on a loop for three months straight.”
Now Har sighed, and Brute found himself off speakerphone. “Sorry, man. Had no idea she was out of the bathroom.”
“That’s fine,” he muttered.
“She right, though,” Har said in a low voice.
Brute groaned. “This is different.”
“Bullshit. You better have her at the clubhouse or I’ll encourage Roman to rain down all manner of shit on you.”
“You’re a jackass, Prez.”
Har laughed. “You’re scared. Knock that shit off.”
“Want what’s best for those two.”
“If you’re saying you’re not the best thing for them, that’s not just bullshit, it’s grounds for me knocking sense into you.”
He barked out a laugh. “Like to see you try.”
“Well, if I fail, I’m sure Roman’ll step up in my place.”
His brows drew together. “What the hell’s Roman got to do with this?”
Har chuckled. “He got a helluva kick outta needling you. I overheard him tellin’ Block if you let this woman go, he’d do his damnedest to get in there.”
He clenched his teeth so hard, he forced himself to ease up. Even if Har was just stirring the pot, Brute couldn’t let that statement go. “Roman can keep his ass the fuck outta this.”
“You let her go, you got nothin’ to get upset about, Sam.”
He sighed. “Whatever. Gotta go, or I’ll be late. You gonna fine me, even if it’s your fault I’m runnin’ behind?”
Har laughed. “Hell yes, I would. You stayed at her place you wouldn’t be running late.”
“Aubrey doesn’t know about us yet, and she goes to her dad’s this morning.”
“Ah,” Har said, and Brute knew that drew him up short.
“Later.”
“SHORT STUFF LEAVE ALREADY?” he asked, following Kenzie into her home.
“If you’re talking about me, no. If you’re referring to my princess granddaughter, then yes,” Faith said from the kitchen island.
He chuckled, then lowered his voice so Faith wouldn’t hear. “Seems you come by your goofiness naturally.”
He smiled at her mother. “Faith, if I’d known you’d still be here, I’d have brought another brother and a helmet.”
She shook her head. Then over the rim of her coffee cup, she said, “Save it, Brute. I’m not planting my bony bottom on a Harley today.”
“I can find someone to take you with us, if you change your mind.”
She downed the rest of her coffee. “No, sir. I should have left twenty minutes ago since I have a ten-hour drive ahead of me. The car’s packed, and parked street-side.”
He waited in the house while Kenzie walked her mother to her car. To be helpful, he rinsed Faith’s cup and put it in the dishwasher. As he turned around, he caught sight of two new drawings on the fridge. The first featured Aubrey and Muffin. The second had seven stick figures along with Aubrey and Muffin. His dad, Gina, Har, Stephie, and Faith looked fairly similar to one another, but her rendering of Brute made him think she had caught on to him and Kenzie. She’d depicted them standing holding hands. He knew it wasn’t supposed to be her father because stick-figure Brute stood so much taller than everyone else in the picture.
“You’ve noticed the latest masterpieces,” Kenzie said, finishing her coffee.
He glanced at her from the corner of his eye. “We should’ve spilled the beans with her. Hell, your ex is probably doing that right now.”
She shook her head, putting her coffee cup on the island. “Ms. Wentz’s paralegal called yesterday. I was stunned they worked on Black Friday. Anyway, seems Ms. Wentz had quite the conversation with Caleb’s attorney. He says anything to Aubrey about us before we’ve introduced you as my significant other, he’s harming his own case.”
He hadn’t been called anyone’s significant other in over ten years. It gave him a strange feeling, but he ignored that. “You ready?”
“Yes, on both counts.”
He shook his head. “Come again?”
Her husky chuckle made his cock twitch. She inched closer to him, sliding her hand up his chest. “I’m ready to go, and I’m ready to let her know what’s going on between us.”
Before he could respond, she added, “I owe you a ‘hello’ kiss, don’t I?”
His lips tipped up. “Not going to turn that down.”
The hand on his chest grabbed him behind his neck and tugged. He lowered his lips to hers, and she kissed him harder than she ever had. Her other hand drove into his hair, her nails scraping his scalp just right. Between that and her forcefulness, it tripped something inside him. His hands clutched her ass, lifting her, and she wrapped her legs around his hips.
He turned to find a wall, but decided sitting her on the island would work even better. As he guided her onto the counter, he felt something cool touch the back of his hand. Then the noise of a shattering mug filled the air.
They broke apart. He gazed down at the broken pieces, then glanced to Kenzie who’d turned back to him.
“Sorry,” he whispered.
“It’s okay,” she said in a husky voice, then she pulled him back to her.
This hunger she had surprised him. As their tongues dueled, he pushed his chest into hers. With a moan, she leaned back, but that was all it took to bring him to his senses.
“Good God, Zee. Know I’ve said you light up when I kiss you, but we’ve got to stop or I’m gonna fuck you senseless right here and now.”
She was leaning back on her elbows on the counter. “I’m not stopping you.”
He growled in frustration, then stepped back. “Yeah, well, I’m stopping us. We gotta be on time today.”
As she sat up, a secretive smirk twisted her lips.
Before she moved from the counter, he cupped her chin. “What’re you smiling about?”
She chuckled. “You say I light up when you kiss me, but what just happened goes to show, you light up too, Brute.”
He gently grabbed her waist and helped her down from the counter. “You’re playin’ with fire, woman. Let’s go.”
While she locked her front door, he scanned the street and driveway, wonderi
ng about Strickland. It had been two weeks since he last turned up, and Brute expected him to come back to town soon.
Chapter Twenty
Gives Him an ‘In’
Kenzie
“How old is your girl?” Sandy asked me.
I smiled. “Six, but she’ll be seven in February.”
We had all arrived back at the Riot MC clubhouse after the poker run. While Block, Mensa, and Joules manned three separate grills with burgers, ribs, and chicken, Sandy and another woman were rustling up side dishes. Stephanie and I had offered to help, but Sandy refused outright.
As Sandy stirred the potato salad, she smiled. “First grade was a great time. Like kindergarten, but a full day.”
I chuckled. “Oh, it’s far more intense these days. She’s got a weekly spelling list and everything.”
Sandy raised her eyes to me. “You’re kidding!”
I shook my head. “No, ma’am. Spell ‘survivor.’”
Her mouth dropped open as she pulled a face. “You’re joking? I know grown men who—”
I laughed. “Yeah, well, my girl won’t be like that.”
Sandy laughed. “Well, all right. I can’t wait to meet your smart girl.”
“She already wants a ride on a bike,” Har said, sticking a plastic fork into the potato salad.
Sandy smacked his hand, and I suspected she was the only woman who could get away with such a bold move. I laughed silently, but felt Har’s intense gaze on me.
“You for or against that, mom?”
I shrugged a shoulder. “I’ve been told not to fight her tomboy tendencies.”
He grinned. “I just bet you were. My brother will keep your girl safe on her first ride. He certainly did with Steph.”
I shook my head. “I understand she was almost twice as old as my girl, at the time.”
His head tipped in acquiescence. “You got me there, but still. He’ll be careful.”
“Yeah,” I whispered.
Har leaned forward, lowering his voice. “Gives him an ‘in’.”
My head tilted. “What do you mean, ‘an in’?”
