Bitter Sweet Deception (The Kingsmen M.C Book 4) (12 page)

My heart warms from the interaction, and Li
l’
s and I share a look, both moved by the sight.

“
Tha
t’
s it
!
”
 
I tell Li
l’
s.
 “
How about Jack
?
”

My eyes dart down to her protruding belly. Jack. I think tha
t’
s a great name.

She smirks her lips in thought,
 “
I
t’
s cute. Bu
t…
no
.
”

I clench my eyes and push the cart forward.
 “
I give up, Li
l’
s
,”
I call back to my friend.

******

W
e’
ve set up Brenda
n’
s room with new sheets and bedding, washed, dried and folded all of the new clothes. Clink left Cage behind to look over things while he was gone, so I made good use of the prospect and sent him to the market with a short grocery list to get us started. Snacks, juice, and kid-friendly items in case Clin
k’
s son is a picky eater.

When Cage returned with the sacks of groceries, we had him help set up the Nintendo game system we picked up. Clink has his own system, but I do
n’
t think any of his games are age appropriate a kid, so h
e’
ll have to get used to having Mario and Skylanders playing instead of his war games and racing games.

Li
l’
s stayed as long as she could before having to head back to the hospital. I called for an update on her dad and they were hoping to releasee him later tonight. She was going to meet Jay to bring him home. Hopefully the fool will be able to stay sober enough this time to remember to take his meds. Otherwise,
I’
m sure h
e’
ll be right back in the ER for my next shift.

Cage plants himself at the kitchen table reading the paper, munching on the takeout he picked up on his way home from the market, careful to stay out of my way as
I’
m buzzing around checking and double checking things, waitin
g…
.

I’
ve folded and re-folded all of his drawers, not even sure if these clothes will fit him. I bought a few different sizes just in case, but you never kno
w…
if h
e’
s anything like his daddy, h
e’
ll be on the bigger end of the spectrum.

I wiped down all of the new toys with sani-wipes, even though the
y’
ve never been used. Vacuumed his carpet three times, cleaned his bathroom twice. Wait!

“
Fuck
!
”
 
I call out.

I
t’
s less than ten seconds before Cage comes storming in the room, hand on his gun in its hiding place under his belt.

“
What? Charlie, wha
t’
s wrong
?
”
 
h
e’
s anxious to save the day.

I silently reprimand myself for getting his hopes up. I know h
e’
s anxious and eager to please Clink.

My face flushes from embarrassment at making such a big deal over nothing.

“
Sorry
,
”
 
I roll my eyes.
 “
I jus
t…,
”
 
I shake my head, not wanting to admit how stupid this must sound.
 
“
…
I forgot to get a little step stool. H
e’
s not gonna be able to reach the sink
.
”

Cage deflates, hand removing from its place on his gun. He follows my eyes to the empty place in front of the sink. Neither one of us speaks, until he snaps his fingers and perks up.

“
Wait
!
”
 
he disappears. Returning shortly after, his hands are full with a paper phone book, and he drops it with a loud slapping sound onto the tiles.
 “
There
!
”

I nod my head, impressed with his improvisation.

He smiles at my approval,
 “
My ma used one for me when I was a kid. Just do
n’
t let it get wet
.
”

I take note of the warning and thank him by patting him on the shoulder. Perfect. No
w
I just have to wait.

******

Clin
k’
s last text gave me the heads up that the
y’
re just entering Chisolm. I make one last mad dash through the house to check that everything is in place and ready. I take a deep breath and run a brush through my hair.
I’
ve been too busy to fix myself up today, so tinted moisturizer and some lipgloss will have to do.

I hear the engine pull up, the lights flashing through the windows. I
t’
s late,
I’
m sure the
y’
re both dead-tired. Wait! What if the
y’
re hungry? Maybe I should have made something for him? My pulse starts to race as I become panicked.

I can hear the car doors shutting.
I’
m stone-still. I ca
n’
t move.

The front door opens and Clink comes in carrying a little bundled boy in his arms. His eyes are bloodshot, road-weary.  He makes that universal
 “
sh
h
”
 
sign with his finger and lips, before pointing to the boy.

Warmth creeps up inside, excitement even. I fight against myself not to squeal or bounce in place to get a better view of him. His hair is dark, just like Clin
k’
s. His head is lopped on his da
d’
s shoulder, chubby cheeks red, the tiniest amount of drool threatening to roll down his po
p’
s leather cut. H
e’
s out cold.

I move from his path to follow behind as he carries the little sleeping boy to his bed. I have a different view from here, a different angle. His hair is full, shaggy, in need of a cut, I think. His tiny little fingers clutch onto Clink, around his neck and shoulder, holding on. The little nails are perfect, well.. maybe a bit dirty. I can hear the breaths inhale and exhale as he breathes. Wai
t…
wha
t’
s that rattling? Is he congested? Is he sick?

Clink sets him down on his newly made bed, the boy falling over to the side. I step in, to help take off his puffy red jacket and little sneakers. H
e’
s a sound sleeper, not waking or even acknowledging our actions. The tiny rattling I heard before now turns into snoring, as he unconsciously moves his body to get more comfortable. I unfold a nearby blanket and drape it over him, not wanting to risk further movement by putting him between the sheets.

Clink has stepped back, watching as I fuss over the little boy. When ther
e’
s nothing left to fuss with, I fall back, resting against his dad. Clink wraps his arms around me and rests his chin above my head as we stare at the small race car shaped bed.

His little chest rises and falls methodically, while his tiny eyelashes flutter from dreaming.

“
Le
t’
s let him sleep, Sugar
,
”
 
Clink whispers in my ear.

I do
n’
t want to leave him, but I know i
t’
s the right thing to do. Clink grabs my hands and helps give incentive to move. Once out the door, I close it partially and tiptoe out into the main living room where Cage has just set down the last of the bags from the truck.

“
Tha
t’
s everything, I think
,
”
 
he tells us.

Clink reaches out and pats the prospect hard, manly, on his arm,
 “
Thanks, kid. I
t’
s late, you can get goi
n’
.
I’
ll catch you at the clubhouse tomorrow
.
”

He smiles and nods to both of us,
 “
Anytime, guys
.
”

Clink locks the front door behind him, and kicks himself out of his boots, sighing loudly. He turns to look at the small pile of bags in the middle of the room and exhales deeply.

“
I do
n’
t have the energy to deal with this tonight, Sugar. I need to take a shower and then get some sleep
,
”
 
he apologizes for abandoning the mess.

I wave it off,
 “
Do
n’
t even give it a second thought.
I’
ll take care of it. You just go get clean
.
”

I begin to bend down to open the nearest bag. He moves close behind, pushing his denim covered dick into my ass cheeks, grabbing my hips and pulling them in closer.

“
Who says
I’
m gonna shower alone
?
”
 
his voice is low but audible.

I swallow hard, but my throat is nearly closed. Just a handful of words from him manages to make my body go haywire. His hips swirl behind me, lighting the fire. He reaches for my hand, interlacing our fingers and pulls gently.

I hold back, my eyes darting behind him to the partially closed little bo
y’
s bedroom door,

“
Baby, what if he wakes up? What if he needs something
?
”

Clink laughs under his breath,
 “
H
e’
s an even heavier sleeper than I am, babe. H
e’
ll be fine until morning, if I had to guess
.
”

******

The bathroom is filled with fog as I enter. Clin
k’
s got the water running and waiting for me to I join him. I pull the glass shower door open as h
e’
s facing the tile wall, rinsing the suds from his hair.

His muscles flex as his body works to rinse itself, contracting and tensing. His large back tattoo moves with him, the oversized letters of the Kingsmen logo sprawled out, shoulder to shoulder. Almost undressed, I drop my panties and step out of them, into the shower stall.

He hears me enter and tilts his head to the side,
 “
He still sleeping
?
”

I roll my eyes,
 “
Yes. You were right
.
”

I could
n’
t help but make one last trip back to check on Brendan, even though Clink knew he would be in the exact same state as we left him.

He laughs,
 “
Say that again
?
”

I snort defiantly,
 “
Do
n’
t push your luck, big boy
.
”
 
I slip into the water stream and feel my body drench itself under it.

“
Ho
w‘
bout I push something else
?
”
 
he turns to face me, water cascading down the front of our bodies.

I reach up on my tiptoes to taste his lips.
 “
You could. O
r…
you could lean back and let
me 
do the pushing
.
”

I press on his shoulder, urging him to sway back until h
e’
s resting on the wall behind him. Our eyes lock, and he lazily drawls,
 “
I missed you, Sugar
.
”

I drop to my knees, setting myself up to take him,
 “I’
ll bet you did
.
”