Salem Charm: Book 3 of Colson Brothers Series (21 page)

“I doubt anyone would believe me if I did.” I laughed. “She’s not going to watch us… later… is she?”

“No honey. She maintains video surveillance outside, but inside she’s on a sleep mode unless her name is mentioned.”

“Good. It’s still a little weird.”

“You’ll get used to it. We’ll use blankets until you do.” He hinted and winked over another big bite.

“Don’t put so much in your mouth. Pig.” I teased taking a lady-like size bite from the back piece. The back is the tastiest piece of a fried chicken. There’s not much meat, but the flavor makes up for it.

He made snorting noises and leaned into me with his cheeks full as he chewed.

“Oh!! You’re such a… man. Quit!” I laughed and pushed him back.

He swallowed easier than I thought possible and chased it with a beer and a smile. “My polite little belle. That’s what I should call you. Belle.”

“Don’t even think about it. If you need to give me a nickname, use the one I’m used to.”

“Which is?” He’s intrigued now.

“Bobby.”

“Bobby?? That’s a guys name. Forget it. I’ll stick to Barbara.”

“Fine by me.”

“Who started that nickname?”

“I’m not sure. I think it was one of the girls in grade school. It stuck with me until the academy.”

“Do you miss this academy?”

“Every day.” I admitted. “Until recently. It was home. School was always home. Now you are.”

He fed me a bite of macaroni salad. “I will always be your home. Speaking of which. I hope you have an eye for decorating.”

I finished my bite before replying, “We’ll do it together so you get what you like. I have a friend from school that might be able to help. I’ve always thought Cassandra had a good eye for decor.”

“Works for me. We have tomorrow off. Want to go sailing?”

“Sailing?? Are you serious??”

“Sure. I have a buddy who owns a charting business. He’ll hook us up.”

“Can you sail?” This man is just full of surprises!!

“Yes, I have my captain’s license. I work for him from time to time. The money is okay, but I go more for the sail.”

“Captain Lou Colson. That has a beautiful ring to it.”

“Thank you. I prefer Mrs. Barbara Rose Colson myself, but that’s just me.”

“Ha ha. I would love to go sailing with you tomorrow. You surprise me too Mr. Colson. Captain Colson.”

“Ooh, I could get used to you calling me that.” He smiled before biting back into his chicken.

We have to drive a ways to the far side of Seattle to get to the harbor. This time the ride is a lot easier because we’re in a comfortable SUV. Lou said it was so we could pack the cooler, but I’m sure he could have gotten the cooler onto his bike. Heck, he had our whole lives on there yesterday.

“Thank you for driving today instead of riding. I want to ride again, but the break is much needed.”

“You’re allowed. Even seasoned riders get sore. They make a butt paste for that, but I think epsom salts works best. We’ll pick you up some on the way home. With the truck we can do some real shopping.”

“You need furniture as much as you need food.”

“We baby. We.” He corrected.

“That’s taking some getting used to. Sorry.”

“That’s alright. You teach me some manners and I’ll teach you to trust me.”

“Where is Myles by the way?”

“We’ll see him tomorrow. The guys roped him into helping a member move.”

“And he didn’t balk??”

“Nah. I think Myles has found a new family baby.” He glanced at me then kissed my hand. “Sorry.”

“No, I want him to move on, to be happy. Poor guy. He’s probably been horribly lonely for twenty-five years.”

“Not anymore, besides, he had you. I’m sure that was good for him. If he really got his girlfriend killed like he said, it probably fucked him up pretty good.”

“Language Lou.” I scolded him out of habit. “Sorry. I suppose I shouldn’t be a nagging fiance.”

He laughed. “Nag all you want babe. Just as long as you’re with me to nag at me.”

“Are you going to stop transporting?” Speaking of nagging. “It’s dangerous, and probably the one thing I’ll nag you to quit.”

“Don’t worry about it. I have some regulars I’ll have to deal with, so be patient, but I’ll wind that down and pick up more architectural jobs. I have people waiting three years in line already, so don’t worry about money.”

“I’m not worried about money silly. I’m worried you’ll be bored sitting at home all the time with a desk job. Why else would you do it?”

“Ah. I should explain. Transporting paid for college. It was tricky, and took me almost twice as long, but I did it. All those years of transporting made me good at it. The club is where I get my work, so they take a cut. They need the money more than I do these days, so I kept at it. They’ll understand me retiring. It happens.”

“My husband the architect biker. Sounds so sexy.” I think I’m in a dream.

“What exactly did you study in school?”

“Business. I have multiple boring degrees. If you ever want to start your own architectural firm, I’m your woman.” I joked.

He kept looking at me, then the road.

By the fourth time I asked, “What?”

“Want to?”

“Start an architectural firm together??” I think my eyebrows have helium in them they rose so high. “Are you serious?”

“Why not? I know I’m good. I’d bet the house you’re better. You do the money and scheduling, I’ll take care of the rest?”

“Ah… wow. Yes, of course I’d love to do that with you. Is it wise to mix our personal relationship with business?”

He smiled that wicked boyish smile, “I like bickering with you Miss Whitmore. I look forward to you challenging me.”

“You challenge me right back Mr. Colson. In so many ways.” I looked out the window and let my mind wander a bit. So much has changed so fast. Is this my new home? This city? I like this city. It’s busy, colorful, and seems old without feeling antique. It reminds me of an old picture Michelle showed me once of her and her parents under a Christmas tree.

It occurred to me then that I don’t have any pictures of myself with my father. Mr. Whitmore. Why did he raise me. He didn’t raise me. He paid other people to do so. Why?

“Barbara? What’s wrong honey?”

I wiped a tear away, “Why did Mr. Whitmore bother with me? Why not just ship me off to the system? Why did he put me through fancy schools and all but give me his family home if he wasn’t my father?”

“Let’s find out.” He hit a button on the mirror. “Lily, get me Myles Carlson. The number is in my phone.”

Two minutes later Myles’ familiar voice is in the air. “Hey kid. How’s Lou treating you?”

“Wonderfully. We’re getting married.”

“Good, I won’t have to kick his ass. Listen, I’ve been in touch with the lawyers. We’ve got some paperwork to deal with, but not until Monday. Are you coming with Lou to the Poker Run this weekend?”

“I, uh.” I laughed, “I don’t know.”

“Yeah, we’ll be there. Barbara wants to ask you something about Mr. Whitmore, Myles.”

“Oh, alright. What do you want to know?”

“Why did he keep me?”

“Keep you?”

“Yeah. Why did he pay for my schooling and pamper me with all those luxuries if he resented I wasn’t his?”

“He never resented you Barb. You look exactly like your mother, the woman he loved with all his heart. When your mother was killed he sank into a dark hole. I don’t think he ever made it out.”

“She was killed?”

“Shit. I thought you knew that.”

“They told me it was complications from giving birth to me.”

“I’m sorry kid, those complications were Paulie. He didn’t want her to take him for child support. With her dead, nobody would even think about him as your father. Mr. Whitmore knew, but he kept it to himself. That is until recently. I think he tried to blackmail Paulie to expose you. He was being cornered about losing the eight million dollar deal. I guess he thought he could use that to protect himself from Paulie. The details are a little sketchy, but that’s the gist.”

“Do we still have his ashes?”

“Yes. I have them with me. Well, at the hotel.”

“Okay. Keep them. I have some thinking to do.”

“Hey Barb?”

“Yeah?” I sniffled.

“People make mistakes. We don’t always know the reasons, and sometimes there just aren’t any. Remember how you used to preach forgiveness a couple years ago?”

I laughed through my tears as Lou pulled over into a residential area. “Yeah. I remember. My Bible thumping days.”

“Forgive Barbara. It’s not worth holding on to that level of bitterness. You have Lou, and once you get used to these crazy ass bikers, you’ll have a real family. Trust me.”

His words broke me into raking sobs.

Lou hopped out of the truck and came around to open my door and hug me tight.

“You got her Lou?”

“I do buddy. Thanks. She’s okay. I’ll call you back in a bit. I’m taking her sailing this afternoon if my phone goes out.”

“Good, she’ll like that.” I heard the tone as Myles hung up first.

Lou rocked me in his embrace. “It’s okay babe. I got ya. Shhhh. It’s okay. I won’t let anyone hurt you again.”

I hugged him hard before peeling back and looking up, “I love you so much. I’m sorry to cry on you like this.”

“Stop apologizing sweetheart. You’re allowed to cry, you’ve been through a lot.” He wiped a tear from my cheek with his thumb. “I love you Barbara. We’ll get through this, then we’ll build a life together where you don’t have to look over your shoulder, and I get to sip sweet tea made by my sexy wife while I work to put our six kids through college.”

I laughed hard enough to wash away the sadness that seemed to consume me so quickly. “Six kids??”

“Seven?”

“No way!! Do you know what children do to a woman’s body??”

He smiled and put his hand on my belly, “Yeah, they make a pretty lady a beautiful woman. Our children will be well loved, by both their parents.”

“You don’t really want six kids, do you??”

“I want what you want.” He kissed me sweetly then set me back in my seat. “Let’s go sailing. I want to kiss you naked on the bow.”

“What??” I heard my voice crack as he smiled and shut the door. When he got back in and us on the road I asked him. “You don’t really expect me to get naked on your boat do you?”

“Maybe not, but we’re definitely going to have some fun. We’ll play it by ear.” For the rest of the drive we talked about ideas for the architectural firm. He said he knows two other guys that would be willing to work with us too.

Evidently Lou is a very sought after architect. I Googled a couple buildings he designed on his phone and found myself impressed once more. This kept us talking until he parked at the harbor.

For the next twenty minutes I watched as he talked to people he seems to have known his whole life. He introduced me as his fiance to more people than I’ll remember, but they all seemed very nice, and funny. Everyone joked and laughed freely as they worked to get the supplies on the boat. I offered to help but was told to stand back so I didn’t fall in. Since I don’t have much experience around boats or water I stepped back.

Lou helped me step on board and held up a life jacket, “Can you swim?”

“Yes.”

“Good, put this on.”

“Why did you ask me if I could swim if I have to wear this?” I took it anyway and pulled it around my shoulders.

“Makes me feel better taking you out on the water if I know you can swim.”

“Would you have cancelled the trip if I said no?”

He swatted my hands away and tightened the straps. “No, but I would have stayed closer to shore. Now we can go out a little bit further. For privacy.” He tightened the last strap and teased my lips with his before leaving me wanting and taking my hand to pull me down into the body of the boat.

“You give me butterflies when you talk like that.”

He led me to a seat over his left shoulder at the wheel. “Good to know. Sit there until we get out of the harbor.”

“Aye aye Captain.” I sat down and pulled my feet under my tush. This is nice already and we haven’t left the dock.

He started and engine as he smiled at me, “Keep talking dirty to me like that and we’ll never get out of the slip.”

“You look really happy Lou. Like you love this.” It’s written all over his face.

He looked past me and held the large wheel as he moved a lever with the other hand and backed us out of the space. Slip. I should brush up on my nautical terms. Obviously this is a passion for Lou. “I love you.” He replied before turning around to take us slowly through the no wake zone. Hey, I remembered that one!

Since we were moving so slowly I stood up and wrapped my arms around his middle. Surely he can’t get mad at me for this. I’m holding onto him like on the motorcycle, only this seems much safer.

He pulled me around and put my hands on the wheel. He pointed to a spot on the horizon. “See that buoy?”

“The orange one?”

“Yes. Drive towards it. I’ll control the speed. Keep your hands on the wheel.”

“Why am I getting butterflies again?” I asked nervously, but curious at the same time.

He moved my hair away from my neck as his hands moved to my hips. “Keep your eyes open.” He unfastened my jeans without me feeling it. I felt his hand though. I panicked and looked around. Okay. Nobody can see.

“You’re bad.” I scolded him trying to match the point at the front of the boat with the target he’d given me.

“You’re beautiful.” He whispered in my ear. “Are you paying attention to where you’re going?”

“Yes. So far.”

“Good.” He worked my jeans down to make room for his hand. It’s almost too far, but we’re still alone, so I let it go. “Don’t let us crash Barbara. I’m trusting you.” He became more intense with his movements in my jeans and I had to fight the urge to lean back and close my eyes to succumb to his expertise.

I gripped the wheel and focused on the buoy ahead as my body shattered once more at his touch and my knees went weak. Good thing I’m holding the wheel. “Wow.”

He fixed my jeans as he kissed my neck. “You are one sensual woman Barbara. I was concerned I might wear you out on our honeymoon, but I’m beginning to think it’s going to be you who wears me out.”