Hammered with You: Book 2 (Ross Brother's Trilogy)

by Nikki Mays

  “She’s still putting him in that rainbow one. Huh?” Edge asks like a traitor.

  “Worse man. I walked in one day and the little fucker was wearing one with unicorns on it. I felt so damn bad for him, that I immediately took him to the store with me and bought him a bunch of shit in all black and blue.”

  “I haven’t seen anything laying around,” I say confused.

  Ben nods his head. “Yeah I keep most of it at my place because I figured that you would throw it away.” I would, but still I didn’t let him know that

  My eyes narrow. “You said most of it.”

  “Yup.”

  “Where’s the rest of it?”

  “The rest of what?” Ben asks.

  “The rest of the stuff,” I huff.

  “What stuff?” he asks innocently.

  I pretend that I don’t hear everyone laughing. “You know exactly what I’m talking about.”

  Ben shakes his head. “I wish I did but you just don’t seem to be making any sense.” This handsome jackass actually places a hand to my forehead. “Are you feeling okay?”

  “I was feeling a lot better before you inserted yourself into my life,” I drawl.

  His eye does a weird twitchy thing. “I doubt that since before I came along you ate worse than a four-year-old.”

  “Oh yeah, she can’t cook for shit.” Edge chimes in.

  I swing around and walk up to the pain in my ass. “It’s not exactly like my mother taught me to cook.” I poke Edge in the chest, making him smirk down at me. “You grew up the same way.”

  He nods his head. “Yeah, and I taught myself to cook so that you and I could eat something every now and then. Sure it was only ramen, but at least it was hot.”

  “See. I just never had to learn.”

  “Girl, don’t give me that shit. I may have made sure that we ate as kids, but shit, you’re a grown ass woman. Watch a damn cooking show and stop eating nothing but poptarts.”

  “You can’t prove that’s all I eat,” I say saucily.

  “I can.” Ben raises his hand. “Poptarts and cereal.”

  “Will you stay out of this?” I hiss.

  “No.” He answers. “You need to start eating better. Sure I can make you dinner, but what about your other meals? Hell, what happens if I have to go away on a business meeting. You really need to learn to at least make yourself basic healthy meals.”

  “If you go away for business?” I shriek. “We’re not dating.” I may or may not have stomped my foot again.

  “Seems to me like you kinda are babygirl.” Mac states from suddenly right beside Dee.

  “Yes, apparently she’s being very stubborn lately.” Dee sighs, fucking sighs, like I’m the crazy one in this room.

  “Seems like it.” Mac agrees solemnly.

  “She’s always been a stubborn little shit. You kind of just got to put up with it until she realizes it’s for her own good.” Says my soon to be dead pseudo-brother. Just as soon as I figure out how to hide his body.

  “Good for me?” I scoff and throw my arm out in Ben’s direction. “How is a man stalking me, inserting himself into my life and breaking into my place good for me?”

  “Will you calm your tits.” Edge smirks knowing how much I hate when he says that. “The only thing I see is a man who is trying his damndest to get your stubborn ass on board with being together. A man who cooks for you because he wants you to eat well, walks and clothes your dog and who worries about being available to you is anything but bad in my opinion. If anything, your bitchy ass needs to start being nicer before another chick comes along who appreciates all of the shit he does.”

  Not going to lie, my stomach turns sour thinking about Ben dating someone else. Fuck.

  “You’re supposed to be on my side.” I mumble petulantly.

  Edge wraps his arm around my neck and squeezes. “Always Jess. It’s been me and you against the world.” He kisses the top of my head. “That’s why I’m telling you to stop being a shit to this guy. He’s good for you even if you’re too stubborn to admit it to yourself.” He lowers his head and whispers into my ear so that only I can hear him. “You can’t hide behind clothes, tats and makeup forever girl. You have to let someone in at sometime.”

  “You’re so damn irritating.” I murmur.

  He barks out a laugh making my whole body shake. “Only because I’m right.”

  “Says you.”

  He tries to ruffle my hair but I duck out of the way just in time. I point my finger at him. “You know better than to pull that shit! I will cut you if you screw up the do.”

  “Cut me?” He chuckles. “Who the fuck are you kidding. You would probably trip and impale yourself. I would end of having to take you to the E.R. due to your failed murder attempt.”

  “Whatever. I could be like a ninja assassin and you don’t even know.” I lie horribly. He’s right. Coordination has never been my strong suit. He’s cleaned up more scrapes and cuts than I even want to think about.

  He gives me a droll look. “I had to super glue a cut on your head because you walked into a tree when you fourteen.”

  “That tree came out of nowhere.” I can feel my face turning red.

  “The sprained ankle when you tripped just walking on the sidewalk?” He looks too damn pleased with himself.

  I place my hands on my hips and get nose to chest with him. “That sidewalk was completely uneven!”

  “The time you broke your wrist?”

  I hold up a hand. “Will you shut up already?”

  “Darlin’ how the hell are you still breathin’?” Mac asks looking very serious.

  “Me.” Edge replies like an asshole much to everyone but my amusement.

  “You are the world’s worst older brother.”

  “Na ah. I have the world’s worst older brother.” Ben adds and Dee nods her head furiously.

  “I still don’t know where I went wrong with that idiot.” Dee says sadly.

  “Which one is that?” Mac questions.

  “The one who tried to shoot my grandbabies, his own flesh and blood. He would’ve killed one too if it wasn’t for my sweet Marc jumping in front of that bullet for her.” You can see Dee’s eyes getting watery as her voice holds a sharp tone.

  “That’s why you didn’t look too upset when she said that Marc was one of her favorites.” Edge nods.

  Ben shrugs. “Hard not to agree when he was willing to die for someone in your family. Hell, we all love the man.”

  There’s a brief pause before Ben finally brings up the obvious. “So, what are your intentions with my mother?” He asks while looking at Mac. “How long have you two been dating?” He shoves his hands in the front pocket of his jeans and rocks back on his heels.

  “What makes you think that I’m dating anyone?” Dee asks. I too am curious to know what makes him think that. I thought that they just planned a date today.

  Ben just smiles at his mother and shakes his head. I swear he would pat her on top of her head if she wouldn’t smack the hell out of him. “You know what’s great about being a generally quiet person? You learn to watch people and how they act. And trust me Ma, actions speak a lot louder than words.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “You’re comfortable with his touch Ma. He walked up next to you and put his hand on your lower back. You didn’t even blink at the contact.” Dee remains quiet while blinking. “My guess?” Ben purses his full lips in thought. “I would say that you guys have been out at least four times, if not more. Am I close?” He looks at Mac when he asks the last question.

  “You’re the observant one in the family, huh?” Mac says.

  Ben smirks at the older man. Older but still extremely good looking and not at all what you would expect an older biker to look like. He has a total silver fox thing going on with what appears to be a nice body under his shirt. “It helps to be observant when you have brothers that you want to get dirt on. Trust me, to this day they still won’t pis
s me off too badly because of the shit that I have on them.”

  Mac chuckles lowly. “I don’t doubt that son.”

  Ben looks at his mom like a little boy at Christmas. “Who’s going to tell Noah?” He actually rubs his hands together.

  “I don’t see that boy being too judgmental. I met him back in his younger years.” Mac states.

  Dee sighs loudly. “He was so much fun in those days.” She holds up a hand when everyone stares at her in shock. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad that he stopped fooling around and getting around. That’s the only thing that she who shall not be named was good for. But dammit, at least he used to be fun. He now acts like he’s my damn parent instead of the other way around.”

  “Plus, he’s been in a bad mood since our new office manager started.” Ben adds.

  “He can’t stand her, huh?” Edge asks.

  “Well, that’s what he pretends.” Ben drawls.

  “Ah,” All the men say in unison.

  “Yes, he’s been a bit unpleasant since the damn fool won’t admit that he likes her just because she’s a few years younger than him.”

  “It probably doesn’t help that Ben and Mason encourage her to go out with some of the other guys that they work with.” I say in a disapproving tone while looking at Ben.

  He holds his arms out at his side. “You and Kellie were the ones who told us to stop scaring the guys away from her. You really need to make up your mind.”

  “I told you to stay out of her love life.”

  “You did not say to stay out of her love life. You said to stop keeping the guys away. There’s a big difference.”

  “Sugar, one thing you need to learn about my boys. You have to spell shit out for them.”

  Awesome, now she tells me.

  Chapter 8

  Ben

  I give the woman who gave birth to me a nasty look. “That’s not true Ma. Mason is the only one that you have to do that for.” What? I don’t care whether he’s here or not. I’m going to get a jab in no matter what. It’s a brother thing… trust me.

  She gives me an exasperated look that only a mother can give. “Then why is it that you two fools told her to go on that date?” She has her hand on her cocked out hip. My mom is nothing but a ball of mischief and sass.

  I give her my winning smile. “Come on Ma,” I cajole, “you know that there is no way in hell that Mason and I would ever give up a chance to piss Noah off. Watching his eye and cheek twitch is way too entertaining to pass up.”

  She shakes her head. “I swear you boys don’t have the sense that God gave you. You should know better than to poke an already pissed off grizzly bear. You two are gonna end up in a world of hurt and you’ll only have yourselves to blame.”

  I shrug carelessly. “It’s worth it.”

  “It’s amazing that men make it past the age of seven.” Jessie says while shaking her head.

  “What’s that supposed to mean Jess?” Edge gives her a dirty look.

  I’m not going to lie, when I walked in and saw him whispering in her ear, I was a little jealous. But after watching them together and hearing some of the things he did for her growing up, I’m damn glad that she’s had someone like him in her life. I just kind of wish that he could be fat and balding but I guess we don’t always get what we want.

  She twirls around, making her shirt with this weird flowy bottom, float up showing her bare stomach. Jesus, I need to get my shit together if her stomach is turning me on these days.

  “When I moved in with you, you didn’t know that you needed rings to hang a shower curtain. You just stuck the rod through the holes and hung it up.” She drawls.

  He sucks on the side of his cheek. “A lot of people probably don’t know that.”

  “You washed all of your clothes together and couldn’t figure out why they were turning colors.”

  He holds out his arms. “How the fuck was I supposed to know that you couldn’t wash anything white and red together? It’s not like there’s a fucking manual.”

  I scratch the side of my ear and tilt my head. Damn, she’s going to get him with this one.

  The look of victory on Jessie’s face is making me feel bad for the guy. “There is a manual you big dope. It’s right on the freaking tags on every piece of clothing. They tell you exactly how to wash each garment.”

  He blinks at her a few times before shaking his head. “Who the fuck has the time to read the inside of all of their clothes before washing them? That shit is not realistic.”

  “Didn’t either of your parents ever teach you how to cook or do basic life skills?” My mother asks bluntly, mainly because she can.

  Edge and Jessie look at each other before bursting into a fit of laughter. From what she’s told me about her parents, I’m guessing not.

  “The only thing our parents ever taught us was how to be miserable, unemployed alcoholics,” Jessie states matter of factly.

  “Shit if anything, they taught us exactly how not to be in life.” Edge adds.

  Jessie nods her head. “That’s the damn truth. Every time I have a major life decision, I think about what my parents would do and then I do the complete opposite of that.” She shrugs sheepishly. “It’s worked out pretty well so far.”

  I see how my mother is looking at them with her mouth agape. She shuts it quickly before anyone else notices, “I don’t know what I want to do more. Commend you both on doing well in life. Or smack some damn sense into all of your parents.”

  “Who says that you have to choose?” Mac asks with a serious voice.

  Never in a million years would I think that my mother and Mac would be dating.

  “Please stop encouraging her. I really don’t want to get a call in the middle of the night to bail her out of jail.” I tell him seriously.

  “You should let your momma have some fun in life.” Mac replies with a grin.

  “I see you’ve found someone who will help you with your crazy ass ideas.” I drawl while looking at my mother.

  She looks at me and sniffs. “At least someone wants me to have fun in life.”

  All I can do is shake my head and smirk. “I want you to have as much fun as you want. I just don’t want you to be committing any crimes while you have your fun.” I look her up and down with an evil grin making her eyes narrow. “Plus, we all know that you don’t look good in orange. The last thing you need to be doing is walking around looking like a pumpkin.” I’m getting a hard slap across the back of my head in the near future, but it was definitely worth it to see the look on her face.

  Jessie turns her head slowly in my direction with wide eyes. Edge is shaking his head while hiding a smirk, as well as the other guys in here. Mac has a straight face but the creases in his eyes are giving him away.

  “You know Benjamin, I brought you into this life and I can take you out of it just as quickly.” Ma hisses at me.

  I pout sadly and shake my head. “It’s so sad how easily you offer to kill your own sons. You’ve even threatened murder in front of a bunch of cops.”

  “You’ve threatened to kill your son in front of cops?” A large barrel-chested biker with a keg for a stomach, who ironically has the word slim on his vest asks.

  Mom just waves a hand in the air to brush it aside. “That doesn’t count. It was the idiot who we don’t talk about. He’s the one who tried to kill my sweet grandbaby and almost killed Marc.” She turns to glare at me. “And all I said was that I would lie under oath that everyone was with me in case THEY wanted to kill him. Big difference.” She huffs.

  “Yeah Ma, that’s a thousand percent better,” I can’t keep the sarcasm out of my voice.

  “Damn, she’ll fit right in with everyone.” Another one of the bikers says.

  I look at him with a smirk. “I wouldn’t be too excited about that if I was you.”

  He raises an eyebrow. “Why’s that?”

  “Ye Benjamin. Please tell us why that would be a bad idea?” My mother looks at me expectantly. />
  I give her a glance before returning my focus to the group of men clad in leather. “Simple. She’ll take over before you even realize what’s going on.”

  Mac chuckles deeply. “Son, I can guarantee you that wouldn’t happen. Your momma is good, but even she isn’t that good.”

  I just shake my head at the man underestimating the criminal mastermind beside him. Even from the corner of my eye, I can see Jessie giving him a look that’s half amused and half pity.

  I nod my head slowly. “Just like she didn’t make this poor fool,” I tilt my head in Edge’s direction. “An accessory to grand theft auto?”

  That stopped all of the chuckles. Everyone but Jessie and I is staring at my mother in varying degrees of disbelief.

  “You know how most people tell you not to believe everything that is said about a person?” They all nod their heads at my pause. “Yeah, it’s the opposite with Ma. You should believe everything you hear and imagine it to still be even worse.”

  Ma rolls her eyes and purses her lips so much that I’m surprised they don’t turn blue from lack of blood flow. “You’re making me out to be evil or the devil.”

  “Nah Ma, just one of his workers.” That gets a round of snorts until the woman I love dearly gives them all a glare. It would be funny to see so many large men cower.

  She points her index finger at me. “Don’t you dare put me in the same category that Kayla’s momma belongs in.” She spits out like a curse.

  Mom gets an evil gleam in her eyes that makes me wary. And I know damn well why since she brought up Kay’s mom. “Don’t even think about it.”

  My mother blinks at me, full of shit, I mean innocent. “Do what dear?”

  “You know damn well what Ma. You cannot steal a car and frame her for it. That woman is way too uppity to ever do something like that.”

  “Which would make it all the more perfect. Can you imagine how embarrassed she would be in front of all her snobbish friends.” My mother looks so excited that it’s scary.

  “Dee, that’s crazy, even by your standards.” Jessie says slowly.