Salem Charm: Book 3 of Colson Brothers Series (22 page)

I stepped aside to get a kiss. When I got my reward I smiled up at his beautiful profile. Strong jaw. Sailor’s jaw? Maybe. Smooth sloped nose with a slight bump at the end you don’t notice right away. He’s wearing sunglasses, but I know those blue eyes are in there. Probably very proud of himself right about now. I’ve seen that look before.

I leaned into him as he pulled me under his arm and drove us slowly out of the no wake zone. I giggled when I realized we’re like honeymooners. We haven’t even put up the sails and we’re making out. That was fun.

So was the rest of the day. He worked that boat like he works my body. With finesse and expertise. I stood, or sat, in awe of him most of the day. We enjoyed a picnic lunch as the boat drifted freely for a while. I got to take my life vest off for a while, but it cost me a good upper body massage.

I didn’t mind once the initial shyness wore off. I’ve never been topless outside the bathroom, or bedroom. It seems I’m a little braver than I thought.

On the drive home I yawned, “That was wonderful Lou. Thank you for today. I know I owe you one, but I’m afraid you keep tapping my energy… by… nightfall.” I looked at him, “Are you wearing me out on purpose??”

He moved his lower jaw back and forth a couple times, “Maybe a little.”

“Why??”

“Oh boy.”

“What?? Just tell me.” I insisted.

“There’s a couple reasons.”

“I’m listening.”

“One of them is very selfish. The other is for you.”

“Lou.” It was a warning to get on with his explanation.

“If you’re exhausted you sleep better.”

“And? The selfish reason is?”

He glanced at me, “If you’re asleep I’m less inclined to start kissing you, which could easily lead up to a lot more. We need to get you on birth control.”

“I agree, and I’m just teasing you here, but weren’t you the one just talking about having six kids?”

“Not today, geeze. Give a guy a minute. You can’t rush men into these things you know. We’re a slow bunch.” Now he’s teasing me.

“Right, that’s why after almost two weeks you’re ready to marry me.”

“Like I said, we’re slow.” He kissed my hand and winked at me.

12

Later that evening, I stood with my hands on my hips looking around the large empty space that is his house. “Where do we start?”

Lou is leaning against the kitchen bar freshly showered and drinking a beer straight from the bottle. “We? Don’t get me involved.” He teased. Although I get the feeling he’d let me do whatever I wanted with his house.

I held my hand out, “May I see your phone?”

“Calling Decor 911?” He picked the phone from his jacket pocket that’s resting on the same counter he’s leaning on and set it in my palm.

“No, I’m going to take a few pictures so when we go out tomorrow to buy, or order, furniture I’ll have a reference.”

“Smart.” He agreed. “I need to check in at the club tomorrow, then we’ll shop until you drop.”

“Will Myles be there?”

“Yeah, he got there yesterday.”

“What do you think he’ll do about Paulie?”

“We’re putting together a crew right now. That’s what the meeting is about tomorrow. Just to prepare you, there will be two prospects following you around at all times. We can’t be together twenty-four seven now that I’m home. For now Myles and I will try to take turns being your body guard, but because it’s the mob we’re putting backup in the wings. You don’t want to underestimate the mob.”

“Better safe than sorry. I would really like this to be over with so we can move on with our lives.” I complained.

“I know honey. When we see Myles tomorrow you two can discuss the details of how to handle the companies.”

“I want to sell off everything as soon as possible. Before the feds start digging too deep. That way I can hand over whatever files they want and wash my hands of the whole ordeal.”

“And if you’re too late?”

I shrugged, “Then I’ll deal with it. I’m just thinking if I don’t have an active role in the shady businesses then they can’t accuse me of the same crimes as my father. It will be easier to believe I had nothing to do with this mess if this goes to court. I don’t think I’d fit in very well at some women’s correctional facility.” I shuttered at the idea.

“I’d never let that happen. You’re a smart lady my love. What about the house?”

“I’m going to make sure it’s financially stable, then split it up for the employees. Give them each equal shares until my name is no longer on it. Let them buy each other out until it’s down to who really wants to keep it. It was never much of a home, just a home base.” I waved for him to follow me to his bedroom.

“Did you get that in Vegas?” After showering, I had put on some of my new clothes that he helped pick out.

“Yes. You like?” I smiled knowing he’s watching my rear end.

“How tired are you?”, he said with that wicked grin of his.

The shower had given me a second wind. “Let me finish these pictures and you can Ahh!!! LOU!!!” I screamed because he surprised me buy scooping me up into his arms. I almost dropped his phone. “What are you doing??”

“You can take pictures in the morning. Right now I want to feel your naked skin against mine while I kiss you all over.”

I put my arms around his neck as he set me on my feet beside the sleeping bag that’s still on the floor of the living room. “I love you.”

“I love you sweetheart.” He cupped my face for a second, then drove his long fingers into my hair as he tilted my head back lifting my chin. Bright blue eyes looked deeply into mine and I’m sure he can see straight into my soul. “I think we should get married on a sailboat.”

“You do?” That was unexpected.

“The way you looked on that boat today, with the wind in your hair, and your eyes closed to the peaceful caress of the sun. I will forever have that image of you in my head. An image to conjure on a bad day when I need a smile.”

“You could just come find me for a kiss on bad days.” I leaned into him and locked my arms around his middle. He’s lean, but strong. I can feel his muscles move slightly under my arms.

“I’m going to be finding you for kisses everyday for the rest of my life.” He closed in and kissed me until clothes seemed to remove themselves as the passion ignited between us. Damn birth control. I’d welcome him tonight. I think I know where we need to go first tomorrow.

“A free clinic?? No baby, I’ll call Doc. He writes all the girls scripts.”

“I’m not sure I like the sound of that.” I broke off a piece of banana nut muffin and popped it into my mouth. Lou and I decided we should get out of the solitude of his house. Too much time alone was going to tempt us a little too much. I’m not ready for children. Yet.

“It’s no big deal. I don’t want you going to some nasty clinic. Doc has a real office and everything. He just happens to be a member too.”

“I don’t like the idea of one of your friends seeing my goodies.”

Lou spit coffee all over the table.

I grabbed napkins and started wiping, “Are you okay? Did you choke?”

He’s laughing harder than I could have imagined. It’s a fascinatingly display of male happiness I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to elicit from him as often as possible. Although for the life of me I can’t figure out what he’s laughing so hard about.

“Lou?”

He finally settled down and sat back with his hand over his stomach as he caught his breath. “Did you just refer to your girly parts as ‘goodies’?”

“Oh, I wondered what was wrong with you. Yes, I did. I don’t care for the more vulgar terms.”

“Such as?” He’s messing with me hoping I’ll say one those foul words.

“No way. I am a lady, and ladies do not talk that way. I would rather you didn’t use those vulgar terms when talking to me about my goodies either.”

He chuckled again. “You are so damn cute. Okay, no vulgar sex talk.” He leaned forward and picked up my hand to play in his. “You’re going to keep me on my toes, aren’t you?”

I smiled and squeezed his hand, “If you let me, yes.”

“I look forward to it.” He leaned in closer and kissed my hand. “Finish your breakfast. We need to get to the club soon.”

“Yes dear.” I replied sarcastically to scold him for his bossiness.

“Please.” He added giving me a look that told me he was teasing me.

“This is your ‘club’??”

“Well, it is now. Our old club got bull-dozed because of residential expansion a few years ago.”

“They just bull-dozed it??”

“Might as well have. The state offered up fair market value, which was shit because of the economy. Cracker Jacks is still pissed, so don’t bring it up.”

“Cracker Jacks?”

“The President of this chapter. He’s the General’s son. General retired about five years ago. You’ll meet him today I’m sure, this is his and his wife’s place. You’ll like Liz.”

“This place is a mansion, almost like yours but yours is more modern, and has a lot more windows, but just as big.”

“Jacks invested in Microsoft before anyone knew who they were.” He didn’t knock, just opened the large ornate front door. “This is home away from home for me. Relax Barbie, some rich people are cool.” He’s enjoying my surprise and confusion.

“Please don’t call me Barbie in here.” I begged stepping just inside the large foyer.

“What would you prefer to be called? Barbara seems little stuffy for the biker world.”

“Bobby.”

“Bobby?” He put his hand on my lower back as I looked up and around.

“Yes. It’s a fairly common nickname for Barbara, and easier to cheer for than Barbara.”

“Cheer for?”

“Myles would cheer for me when I tried my hand at sports. Evidently I’m much better with a gun than a ball.”

He wrapped his arms around my middle and kissed my neck from behind me. “I beg to differ. Or should I say, my balls beg to differ.”

I elbowed him playfully, “Lou!!”

He laughed and turned me in his arms. “Hey, I didn’t say one vulgar word.”

I laughed and felt a little bit more relaxed being in this large stranger’s house. “You’re pushing it.”

“Yes, and you love it. Come on, let’s go downstairs. This house sits on a steep hill. The basement is actually where you get out to the backyard. That’s where the club moved to until we couldn’t find another spot.”

“His wife let him put this sign up?”

He opened a normal looking interior door with a sign on the front that read, ‘Warning. Keep out unless you have really big boobs.’ “It keeps drunk bikers from opening wrong doors all over her house.”

I giggled. “I think I like her already.”

We descended two levels of stairs that rounded a corner. I looked around taking in the scene. “It looks like a sports bar.”

“A lot of times it is. The guys like to bet and grill. You’ll find we have a lot of excuses to throw parties.” He ushered me slowly over to a large table of eight that sat six at the moment.

A large portly man with salt and pepper red hair and bright green eyes stood and took Lou’s hand. “Welcome back Bro.” He took my hand next, “You must be Barbie. I’m Jacks.”

“Bobby, and yes. Nice to meet you Jacks.” His grip was firm, but not too hard. He was a gentleman, but didn’t treat me like I was to gentle for a real shake.

I was introduced to the rest of the table before Lou walked me over to the bar and sat me in the corner at the end. “Sorry to abandon you in a strange place baby. I’ll be as quick as I can, but you can’t be in on this meeting. If you need me just wave your hand in the air. I’ll just be right over there.”

“I’m a big girl Lou. Go have your meeting.”

He cupped my face and kissed me possessively. Good. That should keep men from hitting on me. Although I’m sure I’m not their type. Come to think of it, they wouldn’t know that from the way I’m dressed. Oh well. When he pulled back he said, “I have an open tab here, get whatever you want. Blue usually keeps newspapers behind the bar if you want to catch up on current events.”

“That’s not a bad idea. Take your time Lou. I wouldn’t mind a little while to soak all this in.”

“Thank you love.” He stole one more kiss then left me for his meeting across the room.

The bartender, who introduced himself as Blue, stepped up wiping his hands on a dishtowel. “Can I get you something to drink?”

“Yes please, do you have iced tea?”

“I do.”

“I heard a rumor you might have a current newspaper hidden behind this beautiful bar.” I hinted.

“I have several.” He hooked me up with fresh iced tea, sugar, and three different newspapers. I read, sipped, and people watched for probably an hour. The time didn’t drag as there was a lot to take in.

A few of the women gave me that typical territorial look women give when they feel their turf is being tread upon. Knowing I’m the new girl on the block I just gave a polite smile and went back to reading. Maybe once they realize the only man I’m after is Lou, and not theirs, they’ll warm up.

Myles walked in from outside and I all but fell off my stool to crash into him, “MYLES!!!” Okay, that was completely undignified, but I can’t help it.