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“No, he never was much at that at all. Course, you know I’m taking a huge risk with Kayla.”
“You are? How is teaching her a risk?”
“It’s a serious gamble. Smart as she is, I might get her trained into a proper mechanic and then have her decide to go to law school or something.”
“She’s got the brain for it. All she’d need is the money.”
“Money is vastly overrated.”
“By them that has it.”
“Thing is, if she wanted something like that, we’d find the money. Your Kayla is worth doing what it takes. Hell, I figure I could raise plenty of tuition money by passing the hat at the clubhouse, seeing as it’s Kayla.”
Willow gave him a thin smile. “Maybe you could at that. Don’t think it’s a problem unless the law schools start offering courses in advanced mechanics, though.” A coughing sound came from the bedroom, and Willow shuffled to the counter. “Sounds like Linc is stirring. I better finish getting dinner on. Would you like to stay? It’s just spaghetti, but I made plenty.”
Watching her as she turned to ignite the burner under a big pot of water and start it heating for the noodles, he realized how much Willow had aged. She was still attractive, but at forty, his own age, she was a faded memory of the bright-eyed girl that he remembered riding behind Linc. That had been back in the day—before he’d been sent up, just before Kayla was born. The hard times, the stress, all took their toll on her and it showed.
He’d aged too, but Willow and Linc had their family—each other and Kayla. He was riding on the coattail of their happiness.
Growing old certainly wasn’t for the weak. Willow was strong, but he worried she was losing her faith in the future. He could understand her thinking that life wouldn’t improve much anytime soon, and Kayla did face an uncertain future. Having to hold up Linc when he was down increased her burden.
The look in her eyes told him she wanted him to stay, to be company.
“I’d love to stay. I’m looking forward to hearing Kayla explain to Linc about how hard it is to get the jets just right when you’re adjusting a carburetor.”
“What’s hard to explain?”
“I just need to find out if she can manage to explain it without saying ‘it’s a bitch.’”
Willow laughed. “I know what you mean. I’m looking forward to it too ‘cause there’s a conversation he’ll enjoy. That’s gotta raise his spirits.”
It would, of course. Linc adored his daughter and was pleased at her interest in bikes. Despite his accident and being unable to ride, Linc was a biker. Pain and the sense of loss that came from trying to relearn basic movements took its toll. Linc often got depressed, and Kayla was a positive force in their life. Ronan intended to be one too, as best he knew how. Happily, her hot teacher seemed to be one as well. Tessa Lee deserved checking out on several levels. The fact that she, her smile, and her curvaceous figure in that snug pencil skirt seemed to intrude into his thoughts with such frequency told him he and Jett needed to get to know her.
“Hey, little brother,” Linc said, making his way unsteadily into the main part of the trailer. “How did my little girl do today?”
Ronan smiled. Linc had his problems right now, and like Ronan he had a shaky record in terms of being a solid citizen, but he’d been a damn good big brother. He was also far more of a family man than anyone had expected.
“I think it’s only fair that she get to tell you about her day. She is bursting to tell you herself.”
Linc smiled proudly. “Then I guess I don’t mind you’re drinking up all my damn beer. I can’t have any anyway, not with all these freaking meds I’m on.”
Kayla came back with her face scrubbed pink, and they all sat down to eat around the table in the cramped kitchen.
Things were tough, but watching Willow and Linc, he could see they managed to care about each other even when things were rocky. With any luck they’d get through this rough patch. They both listened intently to Kayla’s description of her dealings with things mechanical. Willow’s blank look made him smile. She hadn’t a clue what her daughter was talking about, but she forced herself to be attentive. Linc listened and asked biker’s questions in between bites of spaghetti.
Watching them made his own thoughts, with a poignant and involuntary twist, turn back to Tessa Lee, the teacher Kayla thought was great, with the tantalizing figure and smiling face that he thought were more than interesting. And if Kayla was right, she was showing at least some interest in him. That gave him something to work with.
When Jett finishedthe bike for the night, he was surprised to literally run into Stella Wilson as he locked up the shop. He jumped back as quick as he could, not wanting to stain her white pantsuit. “Sorry, Mrs. Wilson. I didn’t see you there.”
She smiled, and there was an interesting glint in her eyes. “I didn’t think you could miss me.” She winked as she thrust out her chest.
He cleared his throat as his gaze dipped down to admire the display of cleavage. Her breasts were unnaturally buoyant, likely from silicone, and while he had nothing against fake tits, he couldn’t help thinking about Tessa’s instead. Just the thought of her modest, a bit more than a handful breasts, was enough to put him off Stella’s entirely.
He jerked up his gaze in time to see her knowing expression. Great. Now she thought he’d been appreciating the view. “I wasn’t expecting you and Don tonight. Where is he?”
Stella gave him a smile that could probably melt metal if a guy was into her. “He’s asleep. Like always. Don gets to bed at nine every night.” She rolled her eyes.
“I imagine he needs his rest.” Mr. Wilson was at least twenty-five years older than his young, hot wife, and Jett didn’t have any doubt what Stella saw in him—all the zeros in his bank account.
