Page 20 of Colton (Raging Barons MC #17)

-:- NYX -:-

“Morning, Penny. Did you sleep well?” I ask. It doesn’t seem that long since I made the call to check on her and Arabella last night.

“Morning, Nyx. We are fine, thank you. Did you sleep well?” I can hear a rustling at her end of the conversation.

Picking up my tumbler of coffee, I make my way to the door as I continue speaking, “Not bad, actually. Do you have any plans today?”

“No more than usual. I am taking Arabella for her six-month check this morning. But apart from that, as I said, the usual.”

“I’m heading out to work. If you need anything, give me a call, or leave me a message. I’ve a busy day, and I am cooking tonight. Got a date at home.”

Penny laughs, “Ah, I see you are getting all loved up. Just make sure you take the pills or get the jab because girl, you don’t want to end up like I have.”

“I’ll talk to you about that sometime, but gotta run. I’ll not be doing any of that stuff tonight, so don’t be thinking I will.” I laugh as I unlock the truck, close the call and climb in, ready for the drive to work.

Locking the truck, I walk to the back door of the house where I know at least one of my ladies will be waiting to say, ‘Good morning.’ However, I stop when a familiar ring tone sounds. Oh yeah, this is my father, and I can guess he’s heard from my lawyer .

“Good morning, and how are you on this fine day?” I keep it cheerful, but know it’s going to be nasty any moment. I continue walking inside the house because I’m happy to close this call in the blink of an eye.

“Nyx, what the hell do you think you are doing? That house is mine and I want it sold so I can use the money for a house here.”

I take a deep breath, close the kitchen door and give Tina a finger wave as I answer, “Well, that is not right, is it? The house isn’t yours; it’s mine. My Momma left the house to me, with an amount in trust to pay utilities, which you’ve been stealing from. Yeah, I know what you’ve been doing.”

“I wasn’t stealing from money that should have been mine.”

Oh, I don’t wait to hear more. “Yours? Hardly! My Momma owned that house pre-you, and as you know you have no right to it. Her will was clear as day. Oh, and maybe you can tell me if you were cheating before she died, because you sure married your wifey quickly after my mother took her last breath.” Now I’m snarling at the end of that because I’m beginning to really despise my father as much as his wife.

“No, I was not cheating on my wife. I would never do that…”

You can bet your life I interrupt him. “Yes, you would. We both know you would. Just look at your morals at the moment. You are harassing me to sign over the property that my mother left me, so you and your bit of fluff wife can live a comfortable life. Well, get a job like the rest of the world.” I close out the call and Tina, along with the other three ladies who had appeared while I was busy snarling at my father, applaud while looking at me proudly.

“Sounds like a real douche,” Joan says, wrinkling her nose .

Sandy takes a seat at the kitchen table, tapping her knuckles on the top and frowns. “He can do nothing about your mother’s will, and what is in it. But if he pushes it, you may need to speak to your lawyer about it.”

“Yeah. I have considered that, and I will if I think I need to. But he lives in Europe so he’s not likely to turn up and harass me. I can change my phone number if necessary, or block his butt.” I give them a cheeky grin, and I get cheeky ones in return.

Clapping my hands, I look from one of my ladies to the other. “So, what do you all have planned today?”

That is how I end up in the yard covered in dirt and wishing I hadn’t asked this morning what plans they had.

We’ve been planting bushes, shrubs and making up pots, which I’ve been lugging around the garden.

The damn gnome looks like it’s been placed onto blocks, as it now stands twelve feet in the air, and yes, it’s visible now to the neighbor.

How they got someone to raise it onto blocks I don’t know, and I’m not asking.

I have noticed small characters dotted around the shrubbery, and peeking from behind the apple tree.

Disney characters, including Snow White, next to the giant gnome.

Maybe the ladies think it’s a dwarf? Oh, and I saw a dragon, cat, dog, fairy, and a goat.

Why a goat I do not know. The ladies keep looking at me and I’m sure they are waiting for my reaction, but they don’t get one.

I’ve been learning my lesson well, that it’s best to just stay quiet and go with the flow.

I slice chicken breast into thin strips, fry them in the wok and add a vegetable mix, along with a stir-fry packet mix for flavor. It’s a fair-sized stir-fry and since the cakes they’d made need eating, they are all set for their meal. I’m doing this so they can eat when I leave for the day .

“Okay, my lovelies, I’m away and will see you tomorrow.” My endearment has them all smiling up at me from where they are sitting at the table, ready to start their meal. I don’t hang around as I have to get home, shower, change, and finish the meal I’m making.

****

Three hours later, I open the door to Colton, who gives me a broad smile, before surprising me by taking hold of me and kissing me gently. “What do you have cooking? It smells fantastic.”

Smiling as the look on Colton’s face is amusing. “I’ve made meat balls, with spaghetti and a meat sauce, with garlic bread on the side. I’ve got us a slice or two of cake my ladies made for dessert, too.”

Once we are seated and eating our meal, the easiness between us is obvious. No awkwardness at all, just a peaceful quiet. A few minutes into the meal, Colton surprises me when he asks about my family.

“Do you have family, Nyx?”

“Well, I have a father. He’s in Europe with his wifey.

Obviously, me saying that tells you she’s not my mother, and I’m thankful for that.

At the moment, he is trying to force me to sign over what was my mother's house. She left it to me in her will, but he thinks he can pressure me into signing it over to him, so he can buy a house where he is.”

“So where exactly in Europe is your father, and do you think he’ll come back here to push you?” Colton places his fork on the table and leans back in his seat, giving me more attention .

“I’ve never asked him, and he’s never said so he could be anywhere and I really don’t care anymore. In fact, I’m beginning to despise him as much as his wifey.”

Shaking his head in disgust, “What a fuckin’ asshole. Well, don’t you sign it over to him. People are so greedy, and he is showing he doesn’t give a shit about what you want, or that you may need the house or the money if you sell it.”

“Oh, I’ll not sign it over to him. I’m toying with selling it and buying something here in town.”

Colton nods. “Well, Nyx, if you do that there are a few nice houses kicking about. I’ve been looking at buying myself.

That’s how I know.” Colton gives me a grin as though he thought he needed to explain himself.

“I’ve put an offer on a place. It’s near the clubhouse, has a nice parcel of land with it, and it’s going to be a great family house. ”

“That sounds good. Do you want a family?” I can imagine Colton with a few kids if I allow my imagination to run riot.

Colton smiles, “Yeah, I’d like four. Don’t give a shit what they are as long as they are healthy, that’s all that counts.”

Now, everyone says that which has me smiling. “I’d like kids, too. Never thought of how many, but being an only child, I’d like at least two.” I pause, then ask, “Do you have family, Colton?”

“Well, I do, but they are not in my life and never going to be. Both parents are drug users, and they were terrible parents. I am better without them in my life.” Colton shows no genuine emotion, and I’ll not push to find out more, but they sound like losers, so hey, who cares!

“I’ll take you to look at the house when the sale is completed and I get the keys. A woman’s eye on the place would be great. If you’d be up for it, of course?”

Now, my eyes light up because I’d love to go see the house he’s buying. “Oh, I’d love to, and of course I would be happy to help in any way that you think I could.”

“Did you enjoy cleaver throwing on Sunday morning?” Colton asks, changing the subject once more.

“Oh, my, it was amazing once I got over my nerves. I loved it. The cleavers I thought were easier to throw accurately. Meat thought it was the weight in my hand that I liked. Whereas the knives, gosh, I was terrible. Everyone ran for safety when it was my turn.” I laugh, remembering Eden dodging behind a large tree for safety.

Colton nods. “Yeah, I can agree with that. The cleavers roll through the air, don’t they? Tumble, if you like. Then thunk as they hit the target. It is exhilarating, if you ask me.”

“Yes, it was exhilarating. I really love it. I can’t wait to go back on Sunday and do whatever else is planned.” I gush because honestly it was great fun, and I was making friends which I badly need.

We talk more about general things, and plan to go out again one evening.

Washing the dishes and getting the kitchen cleared didn’t take long between us.

Placing the tea towel on the counter, I turn to ask if Colton would like to go into the living room, but he steps up to me, taking my face between his hands and placing his lips over mine.

Now, I have to inform you that Colton is a master kisser. I’ve not kissed that many men, and only slept with one, so my experience is not high. But Colton kisses like you are the most important thing in his life. My heart beats faster, my stomach clenches, and my knees turn to jelly.

The air between us is electric, and I know that sounds weird, but that is how it feels to me. As if the air is charged with a need that I’ve never felt before.

Colton isn’t tentative, he is claiming me as his. His territory, if you like, his destiny, and I feel that too in my heart. It is a little frightening. This kiss, which isn’t our first will be the one etched into my memory for all time.

Time stops existing, and all I feel is the kiss, the utter moment, the passion. Everything around us no longer registers in my mind. I clutch Colton’s shirt and hang on as the feel of his tongue tracing mine sends shivers throughout my body.

We break apart, and Colton looks at me right before a huge smile crosses his face.

“I knew we were meant for each other, and I think that kiss shows us how much we could mean to each other. Like I’ve told you before I don’t want to rush this, but I’m not sure how long I’ll hold out before I have to have you in my life, and my bed, every day and night. ”

“So far I think we are very much in tune with each other. I’d like us to see each other more. With that said, would you like to come over on Friday evening? We could go out Saturday night, and then I’ll see you on Sunday morning at the club place.”

Colton kisses my forehead. “Yeah, that’s great. Now, I’d like to do more with you, but I think it could lead to other things, so let’s watch a movie.”

“Okay.” I take Colton’s hand and lead him into the living room, where we take a seat on the sofa, and I pass him the remote where he scrolls for a movie before we settle snugly together .

I have to admit we stop to share passionate kisses a few times. Some Colton instigates and some I do. But all told, we are comfortable with each other, and showing what we want. I reckon I’ve found my man, but only time will tell.