Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 80391 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80391 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
I hadn’t missed the desire that had flared through Trance’s eyes every time he saw my sister. I also hoped that Viddy pulled her head out of her ass long enough to see what was right in front of her.
“Now,” I said stomping away. “Take me to this stupid place on the lake. I hope they make strong margaritas. ‘Cause I’m gonna need one when I get there. If we don’t die on the boat ride over.”
Masculine chuckles followed in my wake.
***
In fact, I didn’t actually die in the water. Sebastian drove slowly, and I actually enjoyed the boat ride.
I didn’t see any alligators, or any Loch Ness Monsters.
After a fifteen-minute boat ride, they pulled up at the quaint little restaurant called Cypress Hideaway Bar and Grill. I’d never visited here in all my time of living in this area, even though it was the main attraction in the small town.
Kettle and I walked arm and arm down the dock and into the restaurant.
The décor was cute, in a rustic kind of way.
Huge painted catfish and largemouth bass dominated the walls. Trophies. Lake records. Old tackle. One spot had a flat bottom boat hanging from the rafters.
All the tables were wooden and made out of old timber. The chairs out of wicker.
It wasn’t until we were sitting down, after having ordered our drinks that I started to look around at all the patrons. That was when I saw the glaring Detective Hernandez staring at me with barely concealed hatred.
“What’s wrong?” Baylee asked me.
I looked towards Baylee, finally breaking eye contact with the blatant hate Detective Hernandez was emitting before answering.
“Kettle’s ex-girlfriend is trying to kill me with her eyes.”
I didn’t ask how Baylee knew I was in a stare down with someone who was very clearly pissed off that I was sitting next to her ex-boyfriend. Must’ve been the look on my face, but she knew.
I’d seen plenty of jealousy in my time as a high school teacher. Teenagers, high school girls in particular, were notorious for being petty and vindictive about boys that they liked. I’d seen the looks other girls would get when the boy they liked was hugging someone else.
“Yeah,” Baylee sighed. “Kettle went out with her all of three times. But she couldn’t handle the club or the bitches who like to flaunt the fact that they’ve fucked our men.”
I wasn’t stupid. I knew Kettle hadn’t been a virgin when we’d gotten together. I also knew the biker lifestyle, regardless of how much my father had tried to hide it. I knew what club whores were. I also knew they were at every club, regardless.
“I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting those women yet.” I said dryly.
Kettle’s arm tightened around my neck, and he gave me a lazy kiss on the mouth that tasted like the Foster’s beer he’d been sipping on for the last twenty minutes.
“You’ll get to meet those lovely ladies this weekend when you go on the Toys for Tots run with us.” Kettle said, before going back to his conversation with Trance, Loki, and Sebastian about the City of Benton’s benefits for fallen firefighters and police officers.
“You’re going with us?” Baylee asked excitedly.
“Apparently,” I laughed.
That was the first I had heard about any ‘run’ and I had to admit that I was pretty excited about going for a ride longer than a few minutes here and there.
I hadn’t been on a long ride since my father had taken me to the ocean, one weekend, before his accident.
To say I was a little excited now would be an understatement.
I only wished my sister could experience it again with me.
“So, what do you do, Adeline?” Baylee asked as she took a huge dip of salsa onto her chip and shoved it into her mouth.
I took a dip of my own salsa before answering. “I’m a high school chemistry teacher at Benton High.”
“I’ll bet you’re the star of all the high school boys’ fantasies. It’s always the quiet ones that get the most attention.” Baylee teased.
Kettle’s arm tightened around my neck, drawing my attention away from Baylee.
His blue eyes looked eerily bright with the neon blues and greens from the beer signs shining all around us.
“You let me know if you have any admirers. I’ll come for another visit.” Kettle told me before returning back to his conversation.
Baylee stood awkwardly with Blaise in her arms. “Alright, I have to go change this girl. She’s got an ass like her daddy.”
Sebastian snorted but didn’t bother to comment.
“I’ll go with you. I need to visit the lady’s room as well. I’ve been holding my bladder for the last fifteen minutes.” I said and stood.
Surprisingly enough, there wasn’t a line, and I was able to get my potty break in just as Baylee was finishing with Blaise’s diaper and snapping the tiny snaps on her onesie.
“She’s just the cutest thing in the world,” I said as I washed my hands and watched her through the mirror.
Baylee smiled. “Yeah, she looks a lot like her daddy. All that pretty hair and big feet.” She said, scooping the tiny girl up to her chest. “Will you hold her while I use the bathroom?”
I accepted gratefully and settled Blaise on my shoulder. She made the cutest little sounds that started the little clock to ticking away double-time inside of me.
“He’ll never give you kids, you know.” A nasty voice said from the doorway.
I looked up from Blaise’s cute little face to see Detective Hernandez just inside the bathroom door, glaring daggers at me.
The little voice inside my head told me to not say anything, but then she sneered at Blaise with a look of contempt. “He’s fucked every woman in the county, and then some. He’s never going to settle down. Even if he does stay with you, you’ll never be the only woman. He cheated on me openly while we were dating. You’ll always be that stupid woman who sits at home and waits for her man to come back while he’s out fucking every woman at his stupid little club.”