Road to Peace (8 page)

“We’ll do it again.”

“Hmm-mm,” I murmured, biting the inside of my cheek to keep from saying too much.

He drew his eyebrows together, but his phone rang and I could tell he wasn’t happy to be interrupted. He kissed my cheek and waited for me to slide into my car. I got the hell out of there as fast as I could; obeying the speed laws (sort of), and headed straight to Ali.

I pushed open the front door and Ali met in the foyer, opening her arms and pulling me in for a motherly hug. I fell against her, keeping my tears at bay, but feeling pretty pathetic all the same.

“That bad, huh?” she asked, rubbing my back.

“I’m just glad it’s over and I never have to see him again,” I admitted.

“Come inside. You look like you could use a drink. Want a Screwdriver?”

I gasped, my heart racing. “Ali, you’re not supposed to be mixing alcohol with your meds. I thought you promised Ryan you’d get rid of everything.”

Alison and alcohol never mixed, but Alison and alcohol and meds were a lethal combination. She’d had a couple of scary incidents in the last fifteen years. So much so that Ryan carried sedatives with him in case he had to control her. She’d been stable for five years, but her offering me Vodka and orange juice was not a good sign. Maybe her new meds weren’t working.

She gave me her million-watt smile and pulled out a flat-head screwdriver. “Totally just messin’ with ya, honey. I don’t have alcohol in the house. I’ll make you a cup of tea.”

“Oh, yes, please.” I relaxed. The last time I’d been in London, six years ago, actually, I’d loaded each of our homes with enough “proper” tea to last a while. “I’ll just say hi to Poppy, then I’ll fill you in.”

After getting a half-hearted hug from my daughter who was clearly miffed I’d interrupted her and Grace, but loved me enough to fake affection for a second, I headed back out to the kitchen where I sat on a stool at the island and dropped my head to the granite.

“It can’t be that bad,” Ali said, pouring water into a teacup.

“It’s worse.” I sat up and filled her in on the evening, her sarcastic smile making me realize she probably wasn’t going to be on my side. “What?” I demanded.

She chuckled. “It sounds like he’s protective. Something happened with his sister and he didn’t really want to cut the night short, but he did it because he loves his sister.”

“
No,
that’s not at all what it was!”

“Oh? Well, enlighten me, then.”

“I just
did
,” I ground out. “When I asked about his parents he shut down and gave me vague answers.”

“What if it’s bad, Maisie?” Ali leaned across the island. “What if he really likes you and wants to ease into stories about the tragedy of his childhood, or whatever? What if his parents were criminals or something and he doesn’t want to scare you off?”

I frowned. “Even if his parents were, it doesn’t mean he is.”

“I know that, you know that, but people judge.” She smiled gently. “The motorcycle club concerns me a bit, but otherwise, he sounds like a decent guy.”

“Why does the motorcycle club concern you?”

“Because most of them are outlaw clubs. Like mafia or glorified gangs.” She slapped her hands on the island. “I’m gonna have Ryan do a background check on him.”

“No you are not.” I grabbed her hands. “I’m not going to see him again, so it’s a moot point.”

“Maisie,” she admonished. “Don’t jump to conclusions, honey. I get that you’re feeling jittery and uncertain, but please recognize this as normal and relax. Don’t stop seeing him because he makes you feel too much. Try to enjoy it.”

“Don’t talk to me like you know me.”

“Okay.” She smiled. “Lecture over.”

“Thank you.”

I heard the front door click closed and Ryan walked in, a smile on his face. “How are my two favorite ladies?”

Ryan stood about five-foot-eleven and had short, dark hair and piercing green eyes. He was muscular, not like Hatch, but definitely more than Niall, and was an all around great guy.

He kissed my cheek, then pulled Ali in for a little too in-depth makeout session for my comfort, but I’d gotten used to it since neither of them seemed to mind an audience to their affection. I stared at my tea until they finished their X-rated moment.

Merrick came bounding in, followed closely by Grace and Poppy. “Hey Dad,” Merrick said, and Ryan pulled him in for a hug, then Grace, then Poppy.

I loved how Ryan treated Poppy like one of his own; lessening the blow of losing Niall by providing a father figure she could look up to.

“We need to get going, Poppet,” I said, and slipped off the stool.

Washing out my cup and saucer, I set it to dry next to the sink, gathered up my daughter, and then we headed home.

As soon as we got home, Poppy and I did our nightly reading ritual. It was my turn tonight and I chose a paranormal romance by Tracey Jane Jackson. Once Poppy was settled, I curled up in Niall’s chair and thought about Hatch. He was everything Niall wasn’t. Niall had a nerdy confidence and I thought he was handsome and sexy, but in a different way than Hatch. Niall was certainly the smartest person I knew, but it was a brain smarts kind of thing. Ryan used to joke that if we got jumped somewhere in Portland, I’d probably be the one to fight our way out… Niall would be screwed.

Hatch, on the other hand, would probably take on several assailants at one time. The man was big… tall
and
muscular… and commanded a room when he walked in it. Where Niall was clean cut and the type to bring home to your parents, Hatch had long hair and a scruffy beard, and he used the f-word in regular conversation. It was sexy as hell. It shouldn’t be. In my circle, it would be offensive, but for me, it made me want to strip down to nothing and offer myself up as a sacrifice.

I shook my head.
What the hell is wrong with me?

I couldn’t get involved with a man like that. I couldn’t get involved with any man, really. I had a daughter to think about, and I needed to make good choices so she’d grow up and make good choices. I needed to steer clear of the sexy as hell Hatch. And this was what I told myself as I climbed into bed.

I awoke the next day feeling groggy, but still resolved to my decision. I had no business chasing after a man who ran in totally different circles than me. He was gorgeous, yes. He was sexy… oh, hell, yes. He seemed like he took care of his family, yes. But I reminded myself I was a single mum and I needed to focus on my daughter and my business. I didn’t have time to date, and a man like Hatch was a distraction I couldn’t afford. Even if he would be a lovely distraction.

I leaned into the hallway. “Poppy, time to rise and shine. We’re a bit late.”

“I’m up, Mum,” she called from her bathroom.

“Will you hit the button for the coffee while I shower, please?”

“Sure.”

“Thanks, love.”

I lost a little resolve when Hatch left a voicemail later that day, and I really lost my resolve when he left another one two days later, but I finally felt like I could relax when two days after that, his third voicemail said,
Hey, babe. It’s all good. Won’t be callin’ you again. Have a nice life.

I was sad, but at least I could move on.

Hatch

S
UNDAY AFTERNOON, CRICKET walked into the kitchen with a case of beer and a box of cupcakes. Hatch grinned, taking the beer from her and setting it in the fridge. “Just a case, huh?”

“Well, since you blew up my job prospects, I can no longer afford more than that,” she quipped.

“Nice, sis.” Cade grinned, pulling her in for a hug. Cade was thirty-nine, divorced with one kid, and an Army vet. As soon as he’d turned eighteen, he’d headed for war… it was a hell of a lot calmer than home at the time. He and Cullen worked construction, helping out at Hatch’s shop when the weather was bad. “How’s my favorite sister?”

“I’m jobless.”

“Yeah, we get it, Cricket,” Hatch ground out. “Not gonna change, so off the subject.”

“So you didn’t think about the Blush thing,” she accused.

“Thought about it, the answer’s ‘no.’”

“Kinda harsh,” Cullen said. Cullen was thirty-five and had married his high-school sweetheart as soon as she turned eighteen. She’d died two years later.

“His jaw’s tickin’, Cull,” Cameron pointed out. “Maybe drop the subject.” Cameron was thirty and fucked anything with a skirt. The only problem with that was Cam wasn’t good at figuring out sane pussy from crazy, and Hatch was pretty sure crazy was acomin’. 

“Maybe you three could back me up once in a while,” Cricket countered.

“Maybe we don’t like your ex beatin’ the shit out of you.” Cameron hugged her gently, ending it with a noogie, which in turn, earned him a punch to the gut. “Fuck, Cricket! Did ya have to hit me that hard?”

“Next time, I’ll aim for your junk, big brother.” Cricket fixed her hair.

Cullen slapped the back of Cameron’s head. “I can’t believe you’re still pulling that high-school bullshit, Cam.”

Cameron went to retaliate with a jab, only he missed because Cullen dodged, causing Cameron to fall against the refrigerator.

“Enough!” Hatch bellowed. “Get the fuck out.”

“Where’s Devon?” Cricket asked, ignoring Hatch’s order to leave the kitchen.

Cade nodded toward the family room. “Call of Duty.”

Cade’s ex, Diana, was off on her honeymoon with her third husband, so Devon was staying with them for the next few months. Hatch had a feeling shit was going down, however, considering Diana was a bitch and only wanted Devon for leverage (and child support). Cade was getting fed up with this arrangement, and now that he’d landed somewhere permanent, he had more of a chance of getting his son full-time.

“So what’s up with this English chick?” Cricket asked.

Hatch’s body locked. Fuckin’ Kim.

His brothers turned to him, all eyes focused and alert, waiting for an answer.

“What English chick?” Cameron demanded.

“Connor helped her with her car,” Cricket provided. “Kim says she’s gorgeous and her name’s Maisie. Isn’t that so sweet?”

“She’s no one,” Hatch said, grabbing the plate of steaks and heading for the deck. His family followed.

Cricket greeted Devon as she walked past the sofa and out onto the deck with Hatch, handing him the tongs. “Hatch met up with her and her daughter at Vincenzo’s after Cassidy’s dance thing.”

“Shut the hell up, Cricket,” Hatch snapped.

“Hold up,” Cullen said. “She’s got a kid and you still met up with her?”

Hatch scowled, but didn’t comment as he threw the steaks on the grill.

Cricket nodded. “Kim said—”

“Kim needs to mind her own fuckin’ business,” Hatch ground out. “I’m done with this conversation.”

“She’s got money,” Cricket continued. “Top of the line Lexus. Wears Louboutin heels, carries a Louis Vuitton handbag, probably wears Perla.”

“What’s Perla?” Cameron asked.

“Panties that cost like a grand,” Cricket said.

Cameron scowled. “Damn, Cricket. Don’t wanna be talkin’ about panties with my sister.”

She grinned in triumph. “Payback’s a bitch.”

“I thought the punch to the gut was payback.”

“That’s because you’re an idiot.” Cricket focused on Hatch again. “Are you gonna call her?”

“Swear to Christ, sis, you don’t drop it, you’re leavin’,” Hatch warned.

She threw her hands up in the air. “Is it so bad that I want my big brother to be happy?”

He took a deep breath and forced a smile. “Go grab the corn for me.”

She studied him for a few seconds before dropping the subject and heading back into the house. Lucky for Hatch, he only had one sister, and his brothers were smart enough to know that if the subject was closed, it was closed, so they backed off.

The rest of family night went without incident. Cricket headed home around ten, Cameron had a date or a hook-up or whatever, and Cade was takin’ Devon to a movie, so Hatch and Cullen headed down to the basement for beer and a game of pool.

“Maisie, huh?” Cullen asked as he racked. “You really not gonna call her?”

“Already called her.”

Cullen raised an eyebrow. “And?”

“And, we went out,” he said. “Then she ghosted me.”

“Fuck, seriously?” Cullen asked.

Hatch nodded and took a swig of beer.

“You don’t get ghosted.”

Hatch chuckled without mirth. “Yeah, well, now I do.”

“Shit, you like her.”

“Don’t know her, Cull.” Hatch shook his head. “Pretty sure she’s high-maintenance if she’s buyin’ thousand dollar panties.”

“You know her enough to like her though, brother.” Cullen leaned against his pool cue. “I get you think I’m a dreamer and I’m an idiot because I don’t want anyone since I lost Elizabeth. But you’re a good guy, Con, and she obviously made an impression, so if she’s ghostin’ you, I’m sorry. That can’t feel good, especially if you put yourself out there after Jana. Even a little.”

Hatch stuffed down the emotion with a nod of his head. Cullen knew him and he was the only one Hatch would ever admit his true feelings to because Cullen would take anything he shared to the grave, but that didn’t mean he was willing to share right now. “Let’s play, yeah?”