Because of her dad.
I always told myself it was one of thosekeep your enemies closerkind of thing.
Lies.
The truth of it slams into me when she tips her head back and her blonde hair, which is hanging down past her shoulders, catches the lights from the booth next to her. One of her students is saying something while waving his hands around.
Her laughter hits me right in the middle of my chest. She’s so damn gorgeous.
Why have I never let myself really see it before?
The way Sheriff Lyons curls his lip whenever he sees me flashes in my mind. Right. That’s why.
Seeing how stunning Ezra Lyons is doesn’t mean a damn thing. Her father is who her father is. I am who I am.
It’s never going to fucking happen.
My gaze slides over her body slowly. Just because nothing can happen doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate her. It would be a shame not to.
Practically criminal.
I hope the kids she teaches, and the ones she devotes her time to because of her club, know how lucky they are. Teachers like her don’t come around all the time. I had one or two back in the day.
Maybe she had the same ones? The thought makes my heart do something funny in my chest.
Unable to keep my distance a moment longer, I swallow hard and step closer to her tent. As much as I want to walk right over to her, I don’t. I go toward where the silent auction is set up. The winners will be announced on the last night of the fair.
All of my club’s businesses are represented and see that has pride filling me. There’s no way we wouldn’t donate to the cause.It’s a damn good one. Not to mention, the kids are the ones responsible for visiting businesses to ask for donated auction items. Ezra doesn’t do the work for them.
If these are the kids who end up working for the government, at various levels, I think I might start giving a fuck again. They’re kind of impressive when they stop in and give their spiel. They’ve never assumed that by getting one of our businesses to participate means they all will.
You gotta respect the work they put in.
I make my way around the auction, bidding on everything. Not outrageously, but enough.
Fuck, I’d give Ezra the money to ensure all the kids in her club can go on their yearly trip. There’s no way she would take it. Honestly, I doubt even the kids would take it.
They like doing this. It’s written all over their faces. The kids engage with people who come near their table and explain what Youth in Government is and why they’re raising money. Like I said, impressive.
I can’t help but smirk as I look down at the weekend getaway to Chattanooga. I put in a bid for twice what the weekend is worth even though I’m the one who donated it. My mom could use a weekend away. I’m sure she’d take Patsy with her and get away from their husbands.
Dad would pout the entire time. I almost snort at the thought. The man doesn’t like being away from his woman.
It’s how they always were while I was growing up. It was interesting to see their relationship with the backdrop of the club, including the club whores who are just part of the lifestyle. I never saw Dad look at one of the whores twice.
When he did, it was for club business and nothing else. I don’t think the man’s even been tempted.
Mom was made to stand at Dad’s side. She was the heart the club needed, and she made sure to help create a family, one threaded together with chrome, wind, and loyalty.
I can’t imagine the woman made to stand by my side. My gaze darts to where Ezra was just standing, but she’s not there anymore. Why does it make my heart sink?
A gentle throat clearing next to me has me looking down. Right into the blue eyes of Ezra Lyons.
What the fuck? I freeze, totally taken apart by the sweet smile on her face. Up close, it’s hard not to notice how she only comes up to my shoulder as I tower over her. Fuck; my hands itch to reach for her, but I force them to stay at my sides.
“Hi,” her voice is soft and there’s an edge of uncertainty there that she’s trying to power through, “I just wanted to thank you, and the club, for helping the kids out so much. You all donated a lot, and I have no doubt that the kids will earn enough to pay for the trip at the end of the year. I appreciate it,” her words lose steam a little at the end.
Her blue eyes bounce back and forth between mine and she swallows hard. I should say something. Anything at this point.
