Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 125531 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 628(@200wpm)___ 502(@250wpm)___ 418(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125531 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 628(@200wpm)___ 502(@250wpm)___ 418(@300wpm)
“It would’ve been worse if you’d married that Billie.”
Whip closed his eyes and ground his teeth. “Nothin’ wrong with Billie.”
“If there wasn’t—”
“Enough!” he barked. He quickly glanced over his shoulder toward the living room and dropped his voice. “We’re not talking about Billie. We’re not talkin’ about marriage. Or grandkids. Or anythin’ like that. We’re gonna sit at the table and enjoy the food you made. Yeah?”
His mother turned to face him with her hands on her hips. “I only want what’s best for you. And, by the way, that club is not it.”
“You got your opinion. I got mine. Let’s leave it at that.”
“I worry about you. I don’t want you falling into the same trap as I did. You saw how that turned out.”
No fucking shit. He certainly would never forget that fucking day. He actually considered sleeping in the bunkhouse tonight just in case he relived it again as he slept.
Normally he kept that shit under control but it was the main reason he hated coming home. It brought the shit he buried deep back up to the surface. He didn’t understand how she could live in that house and not constantly be haunted by it.
Maybe she had buried it even deeper than he had.
“No need to worry and I won’t. And we ain’t discussin’ that tonight, either.”
“That club is bad news. Just like your father.”
Of course she had to fucking mention him anyway. “It ain’t.”
“It isn’t!” she shouted, making him wince. Her face fell. “What happened to my good boy?”
“He grew the fuck up,” Whip growled.
They stared at each other. His mother’s mouth got tight and her blue eyes narrowed. “Fine.”
Thank fuck. “Thank you,” he said more softly, attempting to reduce the tension between them. “Now—”
“Is everything all right in here?” came from the doorway that separated the kitchen and the dining room.
Shit.
He turned and Fallon’s eyes met Whip’s. He pushed a breath out of his nostrils, trying to unclench his jaws. If anyone could take his mind off what happened out front twenty years ago, it was the woman leaning one hip against the archway.
To him, she looked just as sexy in her black jeans, button-down cream-colored blouse with just a hint of cleavage and heeled boots than if she was wearing a see-through negligee.
He didn’t need to see her in a negligee. He knew every inch of what was under those clothes.
“Everythin’s good. Food’s done if you wanna grab a seat at the table.”
Fallon turned eyes to his mother. “Do you need any help, Tonya?”
“That’s sweet, but no. You’re our guest. Please have a seat and we’ll have dinner out shortly. I hope you’re hungry!” she finished in a sing-song voice.
Fallon turned her gaze back to him and stared at him a little longer, then nodded before disappearing from the doorway.
His mother whispered, “How old is she?”
“Mom,” he warned.
“I’m just curious is all.”
Sure she was. “It matter?”
“I only want to make sure she’s not taking advantage of you, Tyler.”
“Mom, she ain’t takin’ advantage of me. You know I don’t got a goddamn pot to piss in. While she could quit her job and still afford to travel wherever she damn well pleases.”
“How?”
“That’s somethin’ you can talk to her about over dinner. Yeah?”
His mother rolled her eyes. “Talking about money is rude. Especially at the dinner table.”
Jesus fuck. “She ain’t gonna care.”
As soon as his mother opened her mouth to correct his language, he lifted a palm to stop her. “Don’t. Just don’t. Not tonight, for fuck’s sake.”
A slow smile spread across her face. “You like her.”
“Yeah, Mom, wouldn’t have brought her along if I didn’t.”
“I’m just concerned about her age.”
“Don’t be.”
“Well, she looks like her biological clock might be ticking. You don’t want to saddle yourself with someone who might not be able to give you babies.”
Christ. “Babies ain’t even on my radar.” He lifted his hand again to stop what normally came next. “They’re on your radar. Enough talk about babies and that’s another subject you won’t be bringin’ up at the table. Along with marriage. Billie. No bitchin’ about the club, either. Got me?”
She rolled her eyes.
He grabbed his mother’s shoulders and dipped his head until they were almost nose to nose to make sure she heard him clearly. “Mom, she’s only in town for like a week. She don’t need to know about any deep, dirty secrets when it comes to Manning Grove, the club or this family. Just talk about stupid shit like the weather.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Please.”
She sighed and patted his cheek when he straightened. “I just want you to be happy.”
“Wanna make me happy? Avoid talkin’ about that bullshit.”
“Fine.”
He grinned. “Fine. Now, what d’you need me to carry out to the table?”
Down the hallway, where he sat just a few feet away from the bathroom, Whip had his back pressed to the wall. He had his teeth clenched together tightly and whatever was happening inside the closet-sized bathroom could be heard past the hands clamped over his ears.