Page 19 of Wild Card (Royal Bastards MC: Cody, Wyoming #1)
“Don’t worry, my love, I’ll find you some more suitable accommodation until we’re married. There's always room at Mrs. Kellen’s guesthouse.”
“No…” I interrupt him far too quickly. “I…I like being here. Earl needs keeping an eye on.” I smile, taking Brett's hand and hoping that affection will distract him.
“I understand you wanting to do things the proper way. As intolerant as it is, it makes a good impression, but Earl is going to have to find a way to cope without you when we’re married.
” He strokes my cheek, and I don’t realize that his words have caused tears until I feel them drip between his fingers.
“I’m fine where I am, until the wedding.
Like you said, Ash won’t be here for long.
” I take his hand and drag it away from my face so I can get back to work.
I want to ask him what he means by a good impression, but I also want to get rid of him.
I don’t regret what happened with Ash last night, but I do feel like I’m going to burst into flames and get dragged to Hell for it.
“I’m going to work, too. Shall I pick you up after I’ve finished?”
“I have a shift tonight,” I lie. The truth is, I need to sit Ash down and talk to him; he can’t behave the way he just did again. He was far too close to giving us away.
“No, you don’t.” He waggles his finger around my nose playfully. “I spoke to Earl, and he assured me you're free. I booked us a tasting session at the country club.”
“A tasting session?” I stare back at him, wondering what the hell we’ll be tasting.
“And there was me thinking it was the brides who got all obsessed with these things.” He laughs as if this is something I got into voluntarily.
“The chef at the country club is going to make us some samples of what we can offer our guests on the big day, and we’ll choose our menu,” he explains. “We need to register for a gift list, too.” He takes out his cell and adds that to his notes.
“Brett, you don’t need me to help decide what the guests at our wedding eat.” I try not to sound as if I don’t care. “You know me, I’m not good with all that fancy stuff.”
“No, you’d have them serving up hot wings and cobbler if you had it your way,” he teases, and I smile as I pick up a cloth and start wiping down the bar.
“But this is a special day; one we want people to remember…I’ll pick you up straight after work and we’ll head to the country club.
No denim, remember." He reaches over the bar to kiss me, and when he finally leaves, I toss the cloth and sigh.
“What are you doing, Ruby?” I hear Earl's voice coming from the door to upstairs, and when he steps inside, he looks disappointed in me.
“I know you don’t think he’s right for me, but we’re good together.” My lips pick up into another phoney smile.
“I don’t mean with him. I mean with Ash.” He raises his eyebrows and dares me to lie. “I may be old, but I ain’t an old fool. I see that there's something between the two of you.”
“What are you talking about? I hardly know the guy. Besides, he's a jerk.” I laugh his idea off like he’s crazy.
“A handsome jerk.” Earl tilts his head judgingly.
“Handsome or not, he’s not my type and even if he was, he’s just passing through; ain’t no use in screwing up everything I got with Brett for some wild …hot…fling.” I quickly shake myself out of the daydream I start slipping into.
“You don’t love Brett.” Earl takes a seat on one of the barstools and starts filling the end of his pipe with tobacco. “If you did, you wouldn’t have been lookin’ for somethin’ in Wild Card’s room.” He looks up through his gray, bushy eyebrows accusingly.
“I was…I…”
“I’m too old and too experienced for your shit, Ruby, and I don’t know what it is that mayor’s son has over you, but–”
“He doesn’t have anything over me. Nothing at all. I love him.” I stop him before he can get started. I know how much Earl cares about me, and I’m convinced it’s because he was so in love with my mom. I get that he’s concerned, and I appreciate it, but him interfering isn’t gonna help me.
“We’re getting married, and I want you to give me away.” For years, I was convinced that Earl was my father; I even sent away one of those DIY DNA kits to cure my curiosity, but it came back negative.
“Me?” The old man looks surprised. “You don’t want me at your fancy wedding, bringing down the tone.” He laughs.
“There’s no one that I need there more.” I take his aged hand in mine and squeeze it tight.
“You’ve got your mother’s eyes, you know that?
” He smiles at me, “And I’m the same damn fool for 'em as I was for hers.” He smiles to himself.
“I’ll give ya away at your wedding, but that don’t mean I agree with it.
I know that asshole did that to your face, and he deserved everything Ash gave him for it,” he tells me sternly.
“How did you know As–”
“I told ya, I ain’t a fool; stop playin’ me for one, and stop being one yourself.
You should get out while you can and stop fuckin’ around with Wild Card.
” He points his finger at me in warning, and I can’t help but smile.
DNA results may have come back negative, but he’s the closest to a dad I’m ever gonna get.
“Why would you say that?” I look at him suspiciously, wondering if he knows all of Ash’s dark and dirty secrets.
“Because that son of a bitch is crazy enough to save you, whether you want him to or not.” He laughs as he strikes his match.