Whiskey Blues: Serrated Brotherhood MC, #2

WHISKEY BLUES

BIJOU HUNTER

––––––––

Copyright © 2017 Bijou Hunter

––––––––

No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmosphere purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.

––––––––

Cover Design

Photo Source: Adobe Stock

Photographer: BlackDay

Cover Copyright © 2017 Bijou Hunter

––––––––

Dedication

Sally, Mike, Jack, Max, and Luca for bringing light to a sometimes-dark world

Author Aimie Grey for putting up with my madness

Lovely Carina for being a Bijou encyclopedia

My betas Sarah, Janie, and Debbie for pointing out my blind spots

&

Judy’s Proofreading

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHARACTER LIST

One - Bonn

Two - Ruby

Three - Bonn

Four - Ruby

Five - Bonn

Six - Ruby

Seven - Bonn

Eight - Ruby

Nine - Bonn

Ten - Ruby

Eleven - Bonn

Twelve - Ruby

Thirteen – Bonn

Fourteen - Ruby

Fifteen - Bonn

Sixteen - Ruby

Seventeen - Bonn

Eighteen - Ruby

Nineteen - Bonn

Twenty - Ruby

Twenty One - Bonn

Twenty Two - Ruby

Twenty Three - Bonn

Twenty Four - Ruby

Twenty Five - Bonn

Twenty Six - Ruby

Twenty Seven - Bonn

Twenty Eight - Ruby

Twenty Nine - Bonn

Thirty - Ruby

Thirty One - Bonn

Thirty Two - Ruby

Thirty Three - Bonn

Thirty Four - Ruby

Thirty Five - Bonn

Thirty Six - Ruby

Thirty Seven - Bonn

Thirty Eight - Ruby

Thirty Nine - Bonn

Forty - Bonn

Forty One - Ruby

Forty Two - Bonn

Forty Three - Bonn

Forty Four - Ruby

Forty Five - Bonn

Forty Six - Ruby

Forty Seven - Bonn

Forty Eight - Ruby

Forty Nine - Bonn

Fifty - Ruby

Fifty One - Bonn

Fifty Two - Ruby

Fifty Three - Bonn

Fifty Four - Ruby

Fifty Five - Bonn

Fifty Six - Ruby

Fifty Seven - Ruby

Fifty Eight – Ruby

Fifty Nine - Bonn

Epilogue - Ruby

Epilogue – Bonn

TEQUILA BLUES SNEAK PEAK

BIJOU READING ORDER

About Bijou

CHARACTER LIST

TO PREVENT SPOILERS, THIS LIST ONLY INCLUDES CHARACTERS FROM PREVIOUS BOOKS

––––––––

Daisy Crest — wife of Camden Rutgers; sister to Ruby and Harmony

Ruby Bauer —bartender; mom to Chevelle w/Bonn; sister to Daisy and Harmony

Harmony Slater — group home caregiver; mom to Keanu; sister to Daisy and Harmony

Camden Rutgers — Dayton’s twin brother; married to Daisy; member of Serrated Brotherhood MC; heir to Hallstead family

Dayton Rutgers — Camden’s twin brother; member of Serrated Brotherhood MC; heir to Hallstead family

Bonn Fletcher — cousin to Camden and Dayton; son of Jude Hallstead; dad to Chevelle w/Ruby

Adam Mojo Rutgers — president of Serrated Brotherhood MC; dad of twins Camden and Dayton

Clara Hallstead — heir to Hallstead family; ex-wife of Mojo; mom to Camden, Dayton, and Hudson; married to Erik Patrick

Sally Slater — mom to Ruby, Daisy, Harmony

Alice Hallstead — Hickory Creek Township sheriff; aunt to Camden and Dayton

Eloise Hallstead — Hickory Creek Township mayor; aunt to Camden and Dayton

Jude Howler Hallstead — Serrated Brotherhood MC’s VP; brother to Clara, Eloise, Alice; dad to Bonn

Angus Hayes — crime boss in next door town of White Horse; married to Candy Wilburn; step dad to Chipper and Cricket (Junkyard Dog)

One - Bonn

One misstep in life was all I needed to ruin everything. That’s a fact no adult tells a kid. They promise everyone makes mistakes, and we can rebound from them. Maybe other people recover, but I’ve been stuck in a swamp of my misery for eight years with no one to blame except the asshole in the mirror.

I grew up with nothing much to hold onto. My father has too many bastard kids to keep track of, not that he ever tried. My mother suffered from alcoholism and reoccurring bouts of cancer until she became a shell of the vibrant woman she once was.

Though I’m not particularly smart, I was blessed with my parents’ good looks and my father’s athletic build. If my life goals were to be a slut like him, I’d never have any problem finding willing partners. Instead, all I wanted was Ruby Bauer, who I loved and lost because life doesn’t provide a do-over button.

Time passed quickly after I lost Ruby. At first, anyway. Our daughter was born and took up most of my waking time. Those days, I worked in construction, barely making enough to pay for a bachelor-sized apartment.

I didn’t push Ruby back then. Partly because I was too ashamed to share a room with her. But I also figured if I gave her space, she’d come around on her own.

Chevelle is now nearing her ninth birthday, and Ruby still hates breathing the same air as me. We have the most awkward parent-teacher conferences and throw separate birthday parties for our daughter. My waiting did nothing except allow us to fall into casual, lonely routines.

Ruby’s tried dating, but her heart was never on board. I’d watch her with the guys and notice how fake her smile looked. As much as I hated knowing she was dating, I enjoyed seeing how little she liked the guys. Fortunately for everyone involved, she never went on second dates. No doubt, I’d have taken my stalking to a more dangerous level. Ruby would have been pissed, and I hate when my woman yells at me.

So, I waited, thinking fate would bring us back together. Then, I waited, thinking I’d come up with the exact perfect way to win Ruby back. Then, I waited because I figured I was too stupid and unlucky to win her forgiveness.

Then one day, my cousin, Camden, said he’d married Ruby’s little sister. Daisy went from hating him to wedded bliss because he refused to let her go. Camden chased and nagged and flirted and chased some more until she couldn’t deny his charms. Now, they’re living in the condo down the hall from me while I’m still alone every night.

So, no more waiting or expecting life to warm Ruby’s heart. I’ll have to do it the hard and ugly way. I won’t give up until she finally sees me as a new man rather than the boy who broke her heart.

And my plan starts today.

Two - Ruby

What’s the statute of limitations on breaking a heart? Based on how people treat me, I’m the bad guy for holding a grudge against the man who broke mine. For them, a lover’s betrayal is a petty crime, meaning the punishment shouldn’t be drastic or permanent.

They tell me to date someone else. Falling in love and living well is the best revenge, they claim. Well, I live just fucking fine, but I have no interest in any other man. When the love of your life tears apart your dreams, what lower specimen will do?

Perhaps, I’m overly dramatic. Possibly, I hold grudges for longer than necessary. No doubt, I should have found a nice guy to help me forget about Bonn.

Perhaps possibly, no doubt, I don’t give a crap what others expect from me.

My heart broke, and I’m unwilling to forget or forgive. I once believed Bonn was the best person in the world. Then, he crushed me. No way could I trust him or any man again. Screw them all. I’m happy man-less.

Besides, I’ve seen what love did for my mother. Sure, Sally got three kids out of her relationships, but she never found her true love. Or maybe she did, and he let her down like Bonn did me.

My mother and father met during her vacation in Jamaica. She longed for a wild adventure with a sexy man while he craved a green card. They lasted long enough for my birth and him to gain legal status. Once he left his opinionated wife, Dad created a new family with a woman who knew when to shut up and let the men do the talking.

Unlike my father, who wrote me off as part of his past, Bonn adores the little girl we created just out of high school. Chevelle is our angel, and we got lucky. Most girls in her class are divas, which is a nice way of saying they’re horrible bossy bitches.

Not our girl, though. Elle is well-behaved. When she wants to be bad, she doesn’t throw a fit but instead gets sneaky. Elle is an ace at conning adults. I admit she’s played me a few times with her big brown eyes and angelic smiles.

If not for our daughter, Bonn and I wouldn’t see each other at all. I’ve done an exceptional job of avoiding him, even in the tight-knit Hickory Creek Township. Of course, Bonn helped by not forcing his presence on me.

Over the years, he did his thing while I did mine. We rarely spoke, managing to raise Elle together without sharing a room for more than a few minutes. Everything was perfect.

Now he’s standing at my trailer door, holding a handful of purple flowers.

How are you feeling? Bonn asks, handing me the lavender and carnations.

What are these for?

They’re for you.

I don’t want them, I say, handing them back.

I catch a hint of uncertainty in Bonn’s rich brown eyes. Rather than backing off, he smiles again and looks at Elle.

Then, I guess Chevelle can have them.

Our daughter stops her homework long enough to beam at her father, adoring him in the way I once did. She trusts him completely. He’s her frigging hero. I’d warn her about his ability to betray everything she believes in. Of course, I know Bonn won’t hurt her like he did me. He’s perfected the father role. Elle’s his princess, and he’ll die for her.

Are we done? I ask after handing the flowers to Elle and crossing my arms angrily.

We’re never done, Ruby.

Startled by his response, I stare at him for way too long. Bonn is as painfully handsome as ever, even just wearing a pair of faded blue jeans and a simple beige T-shirt. His dark hair is a little long and hangs over his brow. I fight the urge to reach out and brush it aside. Simply the thought of touching him after all this time sends my love-starved body into a damp whiny heat.

What do you want now? I ask after regaining my ability to speak.

Smiling in his breathtakingly beautiful way, he forces me to look away. Even after feeding my anger for all these years, I remain a slave to his brilliant smile. His power over me is why I avoid him.

Why are you still here? I ask when he only grins at me.

Let’s go to a movie together.

Me too? Elle immediately asks.

Yeah, Bonn says, ruining my chance to shut down his crap. We can see that movie you’ve been talking about.

I narrow my eyes, glaring hard at him. Meanwhile, Elle bounces joyfully at the idea of going out with both of her parents.

Baby, go put your flowers in the vase, I say, buying a minute or two alone with Bonn.

Once she can’t eavesdrop, I force Bonn off my trailer’s porch and onto the dirt walkway. What crap are you pulling?

A movie won’t hurt.

You purposely asked in front of Elle to force me to say yes.

True.

You’re cheating. That’s a scummy move I didn’t expect from you.

Bonn’s dark eyes scan my body before returning to my face. I still remember what that look means.

If cheating is the only way to get what I want, I guess I’m a big fat cheater, he says, reaching out to touch my hair. When I dodge his fingers, he doesn’t even hesitate before making another move. Does this mean you agree to join us at the movies?

After avoiding his fingers again, I’m snookered when he fakes me out with one hand and caresses my hair with the other.

You’re an ass, I grumble, and cheating is your go-to move.

Ignoring my dig at his shady past, Bonn proudly smiles at how I allow him to touch a lock of my dark brown hair. I’m taking that as a yes on the movie.

Elle watches us from the window, no doubt hoping he wins. I don’t blame her, but Bonn's sneakiness still pisses me off. For eight years, he’s respected my resentment toward him. We had an unspoken agreement to avoid each other, yet now he’s eager to trash our truce.

Yeah, I’m more than pissed. I’m enraged and ready to lash out, but our kid is watching us with her big brown eyes. My righteous anger proves no match for my motherly love.

When? I say, already imagining how to avoid him while we share the same space for a few hours.

Bonn’s arrogant grin is something I once adored. When he won a basketball game and flashed that smile, I melted into proud mush. I thought my man was so frigging flawless. Reality was a vicious bitch. I learned the hard way how Bonn is anything but perfect.

Today, he flashes me the same smile, and I only glare at him. I don’t know what spurred his new pushy attitude, but I won’t be his toy.

If he thinks I’m the same girl who loved him more than herself, he’s in for a rude awakening.

Three - Bonn

I live on the opposite end of Hickory Creek Township from Ruby’s trailer park. Arriving home at my condo, I sport a smile, some swagger, and a raging hard-on. Time has not stolen any of Ruby’s exotic beauty, and I can still feel her soft, thick hair on my fingers.

Despite the anger in her dark eyes, I felt liberated by having her look at me. I’ve been a man lost in the dark for too long. As much as I love my daughter, Ruby is the only person whose smile can free me.

A year ago, I took a job as a stripper to make enough money to get the condo. I was sick of Chevelle visiting me in a dump, and my construction gigs never brought in enough regular income. I danced mostly at birthday and bachelorette parties in nearby Nashville. While I didn’t enjoy getting pawed by drunk women, I was prouder than shit to be able to give my daughter a safe, attractive place to live.

Ruby never considers leaving her trailer park. She loves living at Lush Gardens with her family. It’s the only home she’s really known.

When her mother married a lawyer in town, they moved to a small house. Ruby told me how she never felt comfortable there, clearly realizing it was short term. The marriage didn’t last, and she ended up back at the trailer park. At least, she got a sister out of the experience.

Up the elevator and down the tiled hallway, I’m nearly at my condo when Camden’s twin brother, Dayton, appears from his place. The tatted biker wears only boxers that struggle to remain on his hips. I often think my cousin needs a woman to clean up his act. Or at the very least, someone to buy him new underwear.

Long night? I ask while he shuffles toward me.

Drank too much shit. Got in a fight. Drank too much shit again. Banged three chicks and learned I can’t handle that many holes at a time. A man has his limits, you know? he says, rubbing his tired eyes. Finished the night by drinking too much shit and eating four hamburgers. I think the fast food is what did me in.

A normal person might think you were overcompensating for something.

A normal person? Let me tell you a secret, he mumbles, leaning closer, so his shoulder-length blond hair falls into his face. You are not normal, Bonn. Hearing that probably breaks your heart of gold, but you’re all kinds of bad childhood fucked up.

I’m not the one hungover at four in the afternoon.

Yeah, but only because you’re too stupid to know you’re fucked. I understand my place in the world and embrace it.

Uh-huh.

Where you been? he asks, grabbing a receipt hanging from my pocket. Who’d you buy flowers for?

Ruby. We’re going to the movies with Chevelle.

Dayton studies me with his dark eyes and then laughs loudly. Like I said, you’ve got no idea how fucked you are. Good luck with that, buddy, and feel free to call me when you need to drown your sorrows.

After shuffling down the hallway, Dayton pounds on his brother’s door until Camden answers.

If I see your dick, I’m setting it on fire, Camden says, glancing down at Dayton’s tattered boxers.

Why are you always talking about my dick, man? It’s weird.

Leaving the twins to bitch at each other, I head to my condo. Soon, I toss a beef patty in a frying pan and make a quick burger.

Once it’s finished, I sit at my kitchen table and eat alone. Every day, I feel the ache of loneliness a bit more. I don’t want to be the life of the party with a shitload of friends. I ought to be satisfied with Chevelle, the twins, and my mom.

But I want more.

Dating is pointless. Ruby is the only woman I could ever want. I miss her raspy laugh and how she bounces in her chair when she’s telling a funny story. Today, I wanted so fucking badly to reach out and caress the curve of her full lips. My woman draws me to her without batting an eye, and no other chick will do.

Every night, she haunts my thoughts. I wonder how much she’s changed since we were together. Is she still the girl I loved all through high school? Mostly, I wonder if she misses me.

Done guessing, I’ve forced my way back in her life, and I’m terrified.

This is my big chance to win back the only woman I’ll ever want. All those nights imagining this moment, I’d focused so much on the part where we tried again that I never considered what would happen if our second chance crashed and burned.

Even worse, what if the people we are now don’t click? What if the Ruby I fell in love with as a teenager doesn’t exist anymore? Or what if I’d changed so much, she could never love me again?

My burger tastes bitter in my mouth, and I push away the plate. Sulking now, I imagine a life where my questions about Ruby aren’t answered in the way I hoped. What kind of future can I have if she isn’t the one for me?

Four - Ruby

I’ve lived in the Lush Gardens Trailer Park for most of my life, and I’ve never considered moving somewhere else. No apartment on my budget would provide two decent-sized bedrooms.

Lush Gardens