Free Bitter Sweet Deception (The Kingsmen M.C Book 4) by Tara Oakes Page B

the earning potential for a strip club, a pawn shop, bike shop, and the other fine establishments Clink has claim to through the club.
    Her eyes light up.  “ I see! Well, Charlie must have told you about her father, then? He was one of the most successful business owners in Dayton County. He owned eight dry cleaning businesses. He worked himself hard every single day to see that his girls never went without . ”
    Mom smiles at both her daughters.
    Clink sits back to allow the waitress to set wine glasses in front of each of us.
    “ Sounds like my kind of man. I’ m sure w e’ ll have a lot to talk about . ”
    Mom looks as though sh e’ s been slapped. Dana just stares at me as mom speak.
    “ He- he passed on last year. Has- has n’ t Charlie told you ? ”
    Clin k’ s hand turns to stone in mine. I shut my eyes tight.
    “ I t’ s not something I really like to talk about, mom. Can we please change the topic ? ”
    Mom clears her throat.  “ Yo u’ ll have to excuse my daughter. She was very close to her father . ”
    Clin k’ s hand comes to life, squeezing mine reassuringly, although he does n’ t move to look at me.
    “ So i t’ s just you ladies now ? ”   He pours us each a glass of wine while mom prepares her answer.
    “ Just Dana and me, left at hom e… since Charlie moved here to take her new job. I was hoping sh e’ d move back home eventually , but it seems sh e’ s setting down roots in Oakton , ”   she thinly veils her accusation of Clink being a possible cause for that.
    “ Mom , ”   I sternly beg her to stop her passive/aggressiveness. She holds her hands up as she feigns innocence.
    Dana jumps in to relieve her.  “ So, Bria n… how did you two meet ? ”
    Clink takes a deep breath,  “ Charli e’ s car needed some work, so she brought it into one of my shops. We struck up a conversation and the res t …”
    “ Is none of your business , ”   I finish his unanswered sentence, although I’ m sure he had a different choice in words.
    He finally looks to me and raises his eyebrow. I finish my wine as our guests place their lunch order with the waiter. When i t’ s my turn, I ask for a miso soup and salad with ginger dressing. I’ ve suddenly lost my appetite. Clink orders a teriyaki glazed steak.
    I’ m busy pouring my second glass of wine when Dana catches my eyes and poorly shields her mouth from the other two, mouthing  “ H e’ s hot ! ”
    I chug the wine. Great, my spoiled brat of a sister has a crush on my man. Fantastic. Maybe when he kicks my ass to the curb after everything comes out, she can give him a call. They can go get some coffee.  I t’ ll be fucking great. My overly sarcastic booze bitchiness is seeping in.
    “ So, do you girls come visit Charlie often, in her new hometown of Oakton ? ”   Clink asks my family. I’ m sure he wants to hear their answer, but the real purpose of the question was for me to hear it. Oh God, please just let this be over already.
    Almost every embarrassing base has been covered by the time w e’ ve finished lunch. Le t’ s se e … terrible stories of when I was determined to try out for the boys football tea m… check. Dying my hair black in middle school and wanting to change my name to Rave n… check. Failing my drive r’ s exam three time s… check.
    I’ ve tuned the voices out as the three of them continue to bond. Dana is the president of the Brian Abbott fan club. Mo m’ s deciding whether or not sh e’ ll be an honorary member. He has them eating out of his hand.
    I lift my glass to take another deep sip of my wine when Clink, or Brian ,  I should say, mindlessly intercepts it and takes it from me. He slides the glass far away from us without breaking his conversation with my mother. She eyes his movements and smiles, gloating that someone has some sort of handle on me, since she obviously does n’ t.
    I roll my eyes. Fine. I reach for the wine bottle and tilt it to take a swig. Dana laughs