Outlaw (40 page)

She grinned. “I’m sorry. I should have called, but
it was a spur of the moment decision.”

“Everything okay? Does Angel know you’re here?”

Natalie shook her head. “She thinks I’m visiting a
sick friend in Seattle.

Cole looked at her questioningly. “How long are you
here for?”

“I told her I’d be back the day after tomorrow.”

“I’m glad to see you, but what’s this about?”

“You want her back, don’t you?” she asked bluntly.

He stared at her dumbfounded, trying to keep at
least half his attention on the road. “Of course. You know I do.”

“Well, I’m here to see what kind of life you have to
offer her. I need to make sure this is the right thing before I do what I’m
thinking about doing.”

“And what are you thinking about doing?” Cole was
almost afraid to ask.

“Selling the house out from under her. Force her to
make a decision.”

“What are you saying? You mean throw her and the
kids out on the street?” Cole couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

Natalie looked over at him. “You said so yourself,
the neighborhood’s no place to raise those kids. Maybe I just need to force the
issue.”

Cole shook his head. “You think I want her that way?
Coming to me only because she feels she has no other choice?”

Natalie shook her head. “No, Cole. She has choices.
She knows I’d never abandon her. But something’s got to shake her up. Get her
over this hurt. Make her start seeing things for what they are.”

“And what are they?”

She looked over at him. “That’s what I’m here to
find out.”

“So this is what, some type of inspection? To see if
I pass muster?” Cole was a little irritated by that. Even though a part of him
understood her concern. Hell, he wouldn’t respect her if she weren’t concerned
enough about Angel to check out the guy that wanted to make her a part of his
life. Could he blame her? Wasn’t he the one always insisting he wasn’t good
enough?

Natalie watched him. She saw the tightening of the
muscles around his mouth, the way he gripped the steering wheel. She knew she’d
upset him. Well, too bad. If he wanted Angel, he was going to have to prove
himself, and that was all there was to it.

Cole looked over at her. “Okay. I’ll show you where
I live. Let you look over my life, and judge for yourself. Then you tell me if
I need to give up on her. On us.”

They drove in silence for a while. Finally, Cole
couldn’t stand it any longer. He had to ask. “How is she?”

Natalie looked over at him. “Heartsick. She tries
not to let me see it, but I hear her crying in her room at night.”

Cole looked out the window, ashamed. “I never meant
to hurt her.”

“I know.”

“I wish she’d talk to me. Let me explain.”

“She’s still hurting too much.”

“And how long will that last?”

“Like I said, something’s got to shake her out of
it.”

Cole looked at her, and nodded. He hoped she had a
plan, because he didn’t know what to try anymore.

A few minutes later, he pulled up to the house. He
watched Natalie take in the quiet, tree lined street and the white picket fence
and yard and the house nestled in the shade of the trees.

Cole turned in the driveway, and turned the truck
off. He sat quietly watching Natalie.

She looked around, and then over at him.

“Not what you expected?” he asked.

She shook her head. No. Not at all. It’s lovely,
Cole.

“Well, it’s just a rental. I don’t own it.” He
reached for the door handle. “Come on. I’ll give you the nickel tour.”

He came around, and opened her door, and retrieved
her bag. She followed him to the side door that faced the driveway. They walked
up the porch steps. Natalie noticed the wrought iron table and two chairs
nestled under the porch roof.

Cole unlocked the door, and held it open for her.

Natalie stepped inside, looking around. It was a
little messy and cluttered, but she knew immediately it had potential.

“I wasn’t expecting company.” Cole felt the need to
explain.

“I know. I won’t hold that against you.” She smiled
at him.

They were standing in a small entryway. There were
helmets and boots, and what looked to Natalie like some type of motorcycle
exhaust leaning in the corner. She looked around. The floors were hardwood.
There was a bar to the right that separated the entry from the kitchen area.
Two wrought iron backed barstools were scooted up to it. A faded, denim shirt
was hanging over the back of one.

“Follow me,” Cole said, setting her suitcase down on
the floor by the door. He led her into the kitchen. It was small, but cozy. The
countertops were dark granite that blended well with the dark, hardwood floors.
The appliances were newer stainless.

She followed him toward the front of the house, into
the next room, which was a dining room. There was a long, rustic dining room
table, made of a thick, solid, dark wood and six matching chairs. There were
two tall, wrought iron candlesticks on the table and an antique looking stained
glass lamp hanging from the ceiling, centered over the table.

Natalie ran her hands over the dark, glossy table
top, admiringly. “It’s beautiful.”

“Thanks. I built it.”

She looked at him, amazed.

“Surprised?” he asked.

“Yes. I didn’t know you were so talented.”

Cole moved on to the next room, which was a living
room that stretched across the front of the house.

Natalie looked down, noticing that the hardwood
floors appeared to run through the entire house. A huge stone fireplace took up
the left wall. There were a couple of overstuffed chairs and a matching sofa, a
flat screen TV, and antique coffee table and matching end tables that held
tiffany style lamps. A door led out to the covered front porch.

Cole turned, and led her back into the dining room
to a hallway on his right. There were two doors. One he opened, and she peeked
inside seeing a bedroom with an old, white, iron bed and a computer sitting on
an old fashioned desk.

Natalie had begun to notice that there appeared to
be a lot of antique furniture. “You like antiques?” she asked.

He nodded. “Strange, huh? I’ve picked a lot of them
up over the years, going to garage sales and flea markets. They seem to fit the
house better than any of the new stuff they make today.”

She nodded, and gave his a sly look. “Garage sales
and flea markets, huh?”

He grinned. “Guilty. I’m addicted.”

“Well you’ve picked out some great pieces.”

“This is the bathroom.” He opened the next door.

She glanced inside. It was nicely remodeled for an
older home. There was an antique dresser converted into a sink with a glass
bowl attached to the top and beautiful antique fixtures. “And this?” She ran
her hand over the top. “Did you make this, too?”

He nodded.

“Amazing.”

“You can stay in that bedroom,” he nodded toward the
bedroom she’d just seen, “and use this bath. The master is in the back of the
house, if you want to see it.”

“Yes. I’d love to.” She followed him back through
the kitchen to a room off the back. It wasn’t large by any means, but she liked
it. A big antique sleigh bed took up most of the room. It was unmade and
clothes littered the floor. The top of the matching dresser was covered with a
coating of dust and enough clutter and papers to fill a garbage can.

“Sorry. I told you the place was a mess,” Cole
explained, embarrassed.

“You need a woman, Cole.”

He nodded. “Yeah. I do.”

She smiled at him.

He nodded to the door on the right. “There’s a bath
through there. I’d rather you don’t see it until I can clean it up.”

“Fair enough.” She laughed. “So, how about you buy
me lunch? I’m starved.”

They ate at a small Mexican café with a quaint
Spanish style outdoor patio. They each ordered Coronas and tacos.

When they were done, Cole lit a cigarette, and
leaned back in his chair. “How are my kids?”

Natalie sipped on her second beer. “They miss their
father.”

Cole looked away. “I miss them, too.”

Natalie nodded. “I’d like to see this club of
yours.”

Cole’s head snapped back to her, a little stunned.
He hadn’t expected that. “What do you mean?”

She nodded toward his cut. “This club you’re a part
of. I’d like to see it, if that’s allowed.”

“It’s just a dirty clubhouse that reeks of cigarette
smoke and beer. I don’t think it’s anyplace you’d care to be.”

“I think I know what to expect. Still, I’d like to
see it.”

He took a hit off his cigarette, considering. He
blew out the smoke. “Yeah. Okay. I’ll need to make a call first.”

“Okay.” Natalie got up. “If you’ll excuse me. I have
to use the ladies room.”

Cole watched her walk away.

Shit.

What would she think after she saw the place? He
flipped his phone open, and called Mack.

When she came back, he downed the last of his beer,
and stood up. “Ready to go?”

She nodded.

He dropped some bills on the table, and followed her
out.

They got in the truck, and drove to the clubhouse.
As he pulled in the lot, Cole glanced over at Natalie, watching her reaction
closely, trying to read what she was thinking. He parked, and they both got
out.

Natalie looked around at the bikes parked in the
lot.

It was a quiet Wednesday afternoon, and there
weren’t a lot of members actually at the clubhouse right now. Thank fuck, Cole
thought. She’d probably freak out enough as it was.

He led her inside, holding the door for her.

Mack was waiting at the bar, expecting them. He
turned when they walked in, looking over at the woman accompanying Cole.

Good Lord. She wasn’t at all what he’d expected.
He’d expected some old, gray haired grandmother. What he was seeing was a woman
that looked more like a young Ann Margaret.

His eyes slid over her slim, shapely figure, liking
what he saw. She was wearing slim-cut, black pants and a silver tank top with
matching high-heeled sandals. He took in her glossy, red hair that fell to just
below her shoulders and her fiery green eyes. He remembered Angel had eyes that
same color. This woman couldn’t be more than in her mid-forties. Hell, Cole
never mentioned that, or what a knock out she was.

Mack stood up.

Cole made the introductions. “Natalie, this is Mack,
our club president. Mack, this is Natalie, Angel’s aunt.”

Natalie extended her hand, smiling. “Pleased to meet
you.”

Mack took her hand in his, but instead of shaking
it, he brought it to his lips, and kissed it, his eyes never leaving hers. “The
pleasure is all mine.”

Cole watched the exchange between them.

Mack turned to Cole. “You never told me how young
and beautiful Angel’s aunt was.”

“You never asked.” Cole winked at Natalie.

Mack turned back to her. “Surely you’re not old
enough to be Angel’s aunt. Her sister, maybe.”

Natalie smiled. “I assure you, I am. Thank you for
allowing me to come by.”

“We’re happy to have you visit us. Come, sit down.”
He led her over to a table.

Cole noticed Mack hadn’t let go of her hand yet. He
watched as Mack pulled out a chair for her, and sat down next to her, scooting
his chair close. Cole couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

Mack signaled to the girl behind the bar, and she
brought over an expensive bottle of bourbon, and three glasses. “You’ll do me
the honor of having a drink with me, yes?”

Natalie looked from Mack to Cole. “Well, I’m not a
big drinker.”

“Just one?” Mack coaxed.

“Alright,” she nodded.

He poured about an inch of the amber liquor in the
glass in front of her, and then filled one for Cole and himself. He raised his
glass. “A toast to new friends.”

Mack and Cole downed theirs.

Natalie sipped at hers; studying the man that Angel
had told her was responsible for sending her away. He was an attractive man,
even though he had gone gray. He reminded her of a young Sam Elliott.

“Cole has told me all about TJ and Melissa. How is
she doing?” he asked.

“She’s doing great. Thanks to her father.” Natalie
looked at Cole, and then back at Mack. “The transplant went well. She had some
trouble after, but she’s home now, and doing well. Almost completely back to
normal.”

“That’s wonderful news.” Mack nodded.

“Yes. Yes, it is.” Natalie looked to Cole, knowing
he hadn’t seen Melissa since she was in the hospital and so sick.