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Throwing the door open, he jumps out of the way.
“What the hell do you want now? And don’t tell me it’s a coincidence that you are at the same gas station as we are. By the way, how’s your brother or whatever he is with the Grimm Wolves Motorcycle Club, you lying jerk?”
Presley grins at me, and damn, he’s so goddamn cute it takes my breath away.
“Oh, you mean my cousin, right? Guess he’s doing okay, that’s why I’m heading down, had to pick up my car and bring it back. Do you know my cousin, Karma? He’s the shit for sure. So is his club, that’s why I want to prospect with them. How well do you know him?”
With the way he’s watching me, I know he’s trying to guess if I know his cuz or the club or maybe both. Just when I get ready to play with him, Dottie leans up from the back.
“She doesn’t know Karma at all. I do and he’s an awesome dude. Love his little boy, Calum, what a cutie. Guess you didn’t get the red hair, huh, Presley?”
As the two of them start shooting the shit on the folks they both know, I stand here like a goof taking in every single word. What else can I do since I don’t know one single soul they are talking about. Same story, different scene. Always standing outside of the circle looking in.
FIFTEEN
‘KITTY’
RUBY
Son of a bitch is Houston fucking crowded. It’s like driving in the Indy 500, I’m sure. We’ve been on the road all day and just hit the Lake Conroe area. Damn, this is going to turn into a clusterfuck, I can feel it. Thank God Dani was smart enough when Hannah was throwing this idea out there a couple of months ago, when she saw this event on Facebook, she went to the venue hotel and got us a cute little cabin by the water. We are going to be way late for check-in, but fuck, can’t wait to get out of this goddamn vehicle and stretch my legs. Not sure how Dottie does all the driving and likes it at the same time. Weirdo.
“Hey, look at all the buildings. Damn, this place is awesome. Can’t wait to get to the hotel and go exploring.”
Dani turns to Hannah with such a look of, I don’t even know, what it is.
“Hannah, once we check in there isn’t going to be any exploring tonight. Sister, for Christ’s sake, it will be close to midnight by the time we get settled in. We have the morning time tomorrow before the signing and then all-day Sunday and Monday if we stay to see the sights. Not sure about y’all, but I’m frigging exhausted. And I know Dottie could use a good night’s rest, and not in a moving vehicle.”
Looking in the rearview mirror, I see the pout pop up instantly on Hannah’s face. Yeah, our newest prospect has some major growing up to do. She’s not the only one on this goddamn trip and she needs to think of the others with her. But as usual, I bite my tongue and maneuver my way with the navigation assistance. The car is suddenly quiet, so I turn up the radio. Music always helps when there is conflict, I’ve come to realize.
Hannah is right, this looks like a happening town/city or whatever the shit it’s called. Nothing like Timber-Ghost up in Montana. I like our town because it’s rather quiet and small. Everyone knows each other and helps their neighbors. Even when we have visitors come through, the town is always there to make sure nothing bad happens. Here, I don’t think they’d care at all.
Turning into the Margaritaville Lake Resort, I can feel my eyes bugging out of my head. Wow, this place is huge. And again so many people, cars, and shit, can’t keep my eyes in one place.
“Kitty, WATCH out.”
My head turns and I see a bunch of people walking across the street. I slam on the brakes, and everyone looks our way. I hear Hannah screaming in the back.
“Holy mother of God, look who that is! Can’t believe it. No way. My first author sighting. Got to make a note to put this in my book signing journal. See that woman with the colored hair? That’s Sapphire Knight and that hot guy is her husband, Jamie. She’s the author who sponsors this whole event.”
Then she rolls down the window, screaming out of it.
“Sapphire, Jamie, oh my God, hi. I’m so glad to be here, thanks for planning this whole signing. Can’t wait to see all the authors. Nice to meet ya both. Oh, by the way, we drove all the way from Montana to be here. Yeah, I know, long-ass drive. Sorry to stop ya, maybe we’ll see you later. Oh, thanks so much, you guys have a nice night too.”
Hannah is beaming when she closes the window while bouncing up and down in her seat.
“See, I told you guys this was going to be the ‘BOMB.’ Wait ’til you see all the authors who are going to be signing here. It’s a list of the best authors of MC’s, mobsters, and just plain mayhem. Come on, Kitty, we need to check in, guess we go to that big building where it says main entrance at the fancy front.”
I sigh because I know our youngest is going to become the biggest pain in the ass. The writing is all over the wall.
* * *
I wish, for once in my life, I was the one who got their ass beat to shit. Then maybe I’d be in bed relaxing, watching some television, instead of running around this huge as fuck resort trying to find ‘authors’ late on a Friday night. Hannah is like a rabid dog, for Christ’s sake. Dani gave up about thirty minutes ago, using theneed to check on my sisterexcuse. I’m ten seconds away from strangling Squirt if she doesn’t calm her ass down.
“Hannah, how much longer, sister? I’m beyond exhausted and from the way you explain it, tomorrow will be a long-ass Saturday and we will be on our feet all day long, fighting crowds and shit. I’m all for one and one for all, but girl we need some downtime. So let’s say thirty minutes then we call it a night. Yeah?”
“Oh, all right, Kitty. Damn, for a young woman, you tire quickly. Thought we could make a night of it, but damn, I’m with a bunch of old party poopers. Naw, I’m just joking, Kit, I’m tired too. Let’s start walking toward our cabin, maybe we can find something to nibble on. I’m sure the twins could eat something. Even if we just raid a vending machine.”
As she turns, her body jerks as her eyes bug out of her head. She’s smiling like a lunatic and pointing at a woman and man walking on the other side of the path, holding hands.
