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You Make Me Weak
You Drive Me Crazy
The Family Simon series…
Tucker -Free
Jack
Maverick
Teague
Grace
Cooper
THE BARKER TRIPLETS TRILOGY
Offside - Free
Collide
Conceal
A Barker Family Christmas
34
You Make Me Weak
Crystal Lake held a lot of bad memories for Hudson Blackwell and he remembered every single one of them on the long drive back from Washington, DC. By the time he crossed the bridge that separated the north side of town from the south, his mood was black and a scowl transformed his handsome features into something dark.
He pulled up at the main stoplight downtown, fingers drumming along the steering wheel, eyes scouring the quaint buildings that lined each side of the street. The place had gotten a facelift since the last time he’d been home, and he noted a few new shops. Mrs. Avery’s flower depot was about the only one he recognized, and his scowl deepened thinking of the last time he’d been inside.
God, he hated coming back here.
The light turned green but instead of heading out to the family home on the lake he made an abrupt U-turn and a few minutes later pulled into the parking lot of the Coach House. Hudson killed the engine of his black F150, eyes on the building.
Now this place hadn’t changed a bit and for the first time since he’d begun this trip home, a slow smile curved his bottom lip. The parking lot was shit, potholes galore, the tin roof looked rusted as hell, and the front entrance and door needed a new coat of paint. The overhead sign hung crooked, held in place by one hinge and it looked like a good gust of wind could knock the damn thing clear off. He didn’t remember it being this bad, but hell, it was something he could live with.
As he walked inside the darkened interior he was assaulted by the smell of stale beer and that certain mustiness only a place like this could hold. Hudson had never been one for change so he’d take the sticky floors and crap smell over new any day.
It was an early Monday afternoon, late September, and the place held few customers. Hudson didn’t make eye contact though he took note where each of them was at, and headed for the bar, taking the last stool at the far end. Neon beer signs twinkled down at him, casting shadows along the wall of bottles lined up in a row. He pushed aside a damp, used, coaster and out of habit reached for his cellphone. He paused and then let his arms rest on the bar.
Work was a long way away and at the moment, the least of his worries.
“What’ll ya have?”
A huge hulking man stood in front of him, a faded black wife-beater stretched thin across wide shoulders and bulging biceps. His head was shaved clean and glistened with sweat, while his handlebar mustache and full beard did nothing to hide the colorful tattoos that lined his neck. Hudson had never seen him before and frowned glancing to the end of the bar.
“Where’s Sal at?”
The bartender’s eyes narrowed and he tossed a rag over his shoulder. “You from around here?”
Hudson nodded, leaning back on his stool as each man took measure of the other.
“Sal’s been taking some time off.”
