The Winter of Regrets (15 page)

D
ee was stressed out about the upcoming wedding and the fact that her dad was bringing too many people. For once in her life she wanted him to leave his damn club behind, and he couldn’t do that for her, nor would she even ask him. He didn’t have the common sense to see that and never would understand her. Jack said maybe he was showing off how proud he was of her but Dee wasn’t buying it. Whiskey was a handsome man and no doubt looking for a new ol’ lady. She crossed her fingers and hoped he wasn’t bringing a date. Lacy-Jane would probably know.

She dialed her dad’s house hoping she would answer. “Hi,” she said the moment she heard Lacy-Jane’s voice. “I’m so glad you answered and not my dad. Do you know if my dad is bringing a woman with him for my wedding?” Dee held her breath.

“Not that I know of,” she answered. “Of course he’s on the lookout for a new one, but so far, nothing serious. I’m packing to come early. Is the place ready for Shanna and me? I can’t stay here with Violet wanting this baby.” Lacy-Jane hesitated before she continued. “I want to get as much as I can out of here, and he said I can come early to help you. Were you able to get a crib or something for Shanna to sleep in? I don’t want Violet poking around and seeing I took this one.”

“Yes, we got you a crib,” answered Dee, “and anything that Kima’s daughter outgrew. There’s a two-bedroom cottage for you. Oh, do you know where Angie, Bebe, and Chrissie plan to stay?”

“I haven’t heard anything, just that they’re on their way up. Maybe you could see if there’s another cottage for them? As far away from Violet as possible would be best for us all. I’ve got to run and get done here. Cousin, I’ll see you before noon tomorrow.” Lacy-Jane hung up, leaving Dee looking at the phone in her hand in a daze. 

Great
, she thought,
I have to ask for another favor and hope Kima doesn’t mind.
She took a deep breath and dialed Kima’s house, pushing the phone back to her ear.

“Hi, Kima, it’s Dee. I just got word that more of my family—well,
extended
family—is coming. Do you have another cottage for three?”

“Yes, actually,” answered Kima. “I’ve moved my aunt into a cottage and now I have to see about renting out her house. It’s been hectic or I’d have come to see you. Are you doing okay?”

“I’m not happy my dad’s bringing so many people and I’m worried it will be a nightmare. My cousin told me that Dusty’s sister Angie and her daughter are on their way up here from Florida along with Bebe, their step sister, but nobody’s supposed to know. They might want to rent a cottage for a while. Angie’s moving back here for good. I’d tell Dusty, but I promised not to, so please don’t tell her.”

Kima didn’t say anything for a few seconds. “Do you think they’d want to rent the whole house and split the rent? It has furniture my aunt left behind and would be much bigger and nicer than the cottages. I’d give them a good deal.”

Dee thought about it. “It sounds perfect but you’d have to ask them. I don’t know their plans. My concern is my sister and Lacy-Jane. She will be here by noon tomorrow so I’ll bring them over in the afternoon, if that’s okay?”

Dee heard Kima laughing and wondered why.

“Sorry,” she said when she recovered. “I was looking out the window and Jo is yelling at my peacocks. Did Jack tell you what happened between Jo and I?”

“Yes, he did, and so did your mother who gave me an earful about being nice to Jo at my wedding. I don’t know her as well as I know you. Jack say she has moods and to not pay any attention to her. He said you bombed her with horse shit and that it was really funny.”

Kima giggled. “It was. Bitch deserved it. I’m avoiding her and my mom, to be honest. It’ll be a wonderful wedding, Dee. Don’t worry about it. You look so beautiful in your wedding dress! I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon.”

After hanging up, Dee plopped down on the couch and started to pray that it would be a wonderful wedding, but her gut instinct told her it was going to be a total disaster. 

E
lena handed Rhiannon over to Jersey and Joy for a few hours. She stopped home to put on a sexy sweater, boots, and her tight black jeans. She looked herself over very critically in the mirror. She didn’t see the old Elena who had danced and drawn men to her with little effort. She saw a woman that looked stressed and needed to get her life back on track. She grabbed the makeup bag she barely touched anymore and began to make her face up. Finally, she was satisfied with how she looked and smiled at herself. It was time to go see Thrash and talk some things out with him.

She pulled a black leather jacket on and headed to her truck. On the ride to Ocean View, she sang along with the radio and realized she wasn’t missing Hunter as much. The truth was that his dying had been such a shock that it blindsided her. She and Hunter had drifted apart long before his death. She didn’t have to mourn him anymore. It was finally time to live again. She felt peace and forgiveness in her heart toward Hunter. That was such a weight off of her that she couldn’t wait to tell Thrash.

She pulled into the parking lot of his new tattoo shop and looked for his truck. She would have gone up to Ocean Cove if he wasn’t here. Right in front of the shop, there was an open parking spot and she pulled into it. Shutting off the engine, she looked at the new shop. There was lettering on the huge window and she could see inside. Thrash was sitting on a couch and a pretty brown-haired girl dropped next to him and began playing with his loose blond hair. Thrash seemed to be enjoying it and pulled her into his lap.

A sharp pain hit Elena in the stomach. Feeling sick, she started the engine up and backed out of the parking spot.
Men
, she thought. Thrash was just like all the rest of them. She drove aimlessly around and realized she was headed towards Dirty Deeds. She had time to waste and a few drinks wouldn’t hurt. Seeing Darko and Dusty would lift her spirits, too.

The parking lot of the club was full, but she found a parking space and headed into the bar. Looking around, she saw an awful lot of bikers and most she didn’t know.

Dusty spotted her and came over to greet her. “Elena! I can’t believe you’re out! It’s so good to see you. Darko’s busy, but he’s going to be so glad to see you.” Dusty leaned forward and kissed Elena on the cheek. “Careful, some of Satan’s Attitude are here. Dee’s dad, Whiskey, came up two days early with some of the boys.” She pulled back and smiled, her eyes shining as she looked at her old friend.

“I don’t care who’s in the house, Dusty. I need a drink. I was going to see Thrash, but found some tat groupie all over him. I thought he was different but I guess I was wrong.” Elena looked around the bar, checking the dancers out. “Who makes the strongest slammers?”

Dusty laughed. “I do, of course. Come over to my area and I’ll make us a batch. Darko isn’t letting me dance while these bikers are here.” She led Elena over to a quieter area and got behind the bar. In no time at all, the slammers were ready and both women were sipping them.

The door to Darko’s office opened and a bunch of bikers spilled into the hallway leading to the bar. Elena happened to look up as the light hit the hair of a tall biker dressed all in black as he came through the doorway. His long mahogany hair was held off his face with a leather cord. The light made his hair gleam beautifully and she stared at him. He looked at her and Elena drew in her breath. Whoever this man was, he was stunning. He turned away to speak to Darko.

Elena turned to Dusty, who frowned slightly and said, “Elena, do you even know who that biker you’re staring at is?”

“No, but he is one fine looking man,” she replied despite the warning in Dusty’s voice. “I haven’t looked at a man like that since I set my eyes on Hunter.”

Dusty bit her bottom lip, wondering if she ought to warn her about Whiskey. Elena had not said anything like that about Thrash to her ever. Her friend deserved some happiness after all she’d been through, so she decided to let fate take its course.

“He’s Deidra’s father, Whiskey,” Dusty answered. “The vice president of Satan’s Attitude. I think he’s coming over here.”

Elena didn’t have time to answer Dusty because Whiskey was almost in front of them, Darko frowning behind him.

Whiskey reached out and ruffled Dusty’s hair. “Long time no see, Dusty. Your mom and Rebel are coming up on Friday.” His voice was smooth with a slight southern accent to it.

Dusty pulled back and tried to keep her face devoid of emotion as she flatly answered, “I didn’t expect to see them. How is my mother?”

“The same old Violet Rose. Nothing changes with your mother. Now, who is this?” His hand touched Elena’s black hair softly.

“Elena, meet Whiskey.” Dusty’s hands fluttered in the air.

Whiskey sat down next to Elena and the bartender came right over to him with an odd-shaped glass tumbler filled halfway full of whiskey and a glass of water. Elena noticed the glass was personalized with the name Whiskey and “SA MC” etched on it.

He noticed her interest in the glass and offered it to her for closer inspection, holding it closer to her face with his hand. “I like fine whiskey drunk in a proper glass, so I bring my own wherever I go.”

Elena looked into his eyes. They were almost the same amber color as her own. “I see. It’s a nice glass.” She really wasn’t sure what to say to this man who was staring so intently at her.

“Got an ol’ man, Elena?” Whiskey asked bluntly.

Elena paused, taken by surprise. “No. I don’t any longer.”

The smile that appeared on Whiskey’s face transformed him from looking like a hard mean biker. He had very white teeth and he smelled very good—not like cigarette smoke, but a good clean scent of the wind and leather.

His hand touched her thigh and stroked it, her skin tingling as his fingers trailed over her denim-covered leg. “No ol’ lady anymore, either,” he said. “You a dancer here?”

Darko answered for Elena. “She doesn’t dance anymore, Whiskey. She hires my dancers and has her own agency. She recently had a baby.” His voice sounded a bit cross.

Whiskey still had his hand on her leg as he looked at Elena more closely. “Is that so? I’d never have thought that. Good body.”

Elena found her voice finally. “I have a riding stable and I train horses and rescue them. We have some track horses too, my partner and I. It keeps me in shape.”

Whiskey’s dimples showed as his smile deepened. “Is that so? I’m a fan of the track myself. Some of the best thoroughbreds come from Maryland.”

Dusty and Darko shared frowns behind the couple’s heads. Darko began motioning to Dusty to follow him. She was right on his heels.

“What the hell is Elena doing here tonight?” he asked angrily.

“She said she saw Thrash with some chick all over him,” she retorted, “so she dropped by the bar. I didn’t know she was coming, Darko. What did you want me to do? They saw each other!” 

Darko ran his hand through his hair. “Nothing to do now, but Thrash is gonna be pissed.”

“She doesn’t belong to him. Elena made it clear that she isn’t anyone’s ol’ lady. Go ahead and try to get Whiskey away from her, if you’re not happy they met. I’m not getting involved.” She walked toward the ladies’ room and left Darko standing there.

He shrugged, realizing Dusty was right: Elena was nobody’s ol’ lady and she could do as she pleased. He wished it wasn’t Whiskey who had caught her interest, though. As long as Thrash stayed out of Dirty Deeds and didn’t see them talking, maybe later he could tell Whiskey a Bound for Hell member had already staked his claim on Elena, but somehow he didn’t think Whiskey would give a flying fuck.