Free Stone Cold (An Iron Tornadoes MC Romance) by Olivia Rigal Page B

being brought to her husband-to-be by the twin brother of her deceased spouse. I'm watching my father's double giving my mother away to another man. I wish David were here to share the strangeness of the moment with me. I turn around to look at Aunt Nancy, and even though she's smiling, I see tears pooling in her eyes. Nancy looks happy for my mother, but there's something missing. Since David's death, something has broken in her. It's as if all her energy and joy had been transferred to my mother.
    I reach out for her hand, and she holds on to mine. I wish I knew how to comfort her. I want to tell her about my suspicion, but I can't.
    First of all, I'm not sure that Brian is the undercover cop that has infiltrated the MC. Since I spoke to Mike, I've read in the papers that there have been some arrests, but I haven't had any opportunity to get more information out of anyone. Captain Williams has erected a Chinese wall between the police station and my home. He never talks business at all.
    Second, if it's true that Brian is undercover, telling Nancy would be putting him in danger. She's been carrying so much shame and guilt on her shoulders that nothing would prevent her from going around hinting to anybody who would listen that her boy hasn't really turned bad. Obviously, I can't let that happen.
    So I hold her hand until Uncle Tony comes to sit next to her and wrap a protective arm around her shoulders. I'm so glad he's supportive of her.  
    He's probably just as torn as she is.
    The ceremony is short and sweet. The groom gets to kiss the bride, and I have to look away. The very fact that I'm here testifies to the fact that my mother is a sexual being, but that's something I don't like being reminded of. Her passionate kissing of Captain Williams is way too much for me. As everyone stands, applauds, and lines up to offer the new couple congratulations, I make a run for it. I enter the clubhouse and bump into Everest. He does look dashing in his uniform. Did I just think dashing ? It's such a Gone with the Wind type of word, but it's fitting.
    "You don't enjoy the crowd, or you're unhappy with the entire event?" Everest asks as he catches me.
    "Neither," I say. "I'm uncomfortable with public displays of affection."
    "Wanna talk?" he says.
    "With you? Not really," I snap back.  
    Actually I would. I would like him to tell me why he didn’t try to see me after he let me go with Brian. I want to know why he didn’t even check to see if I was okay.  
    I’m conflicted about him. I didn’t want to string him along and yet I feel hurt that he gave up on me so easily.  
    My bark doesn’t scare him because he says, "Well, I'd like to talk to you—can you give me two minutes?"
    Without waiting for my answer, he takes me by the elbow to the corner of the reception room farthest away from the garden doors. I sit at one corner of a table and he takes the chair next to mine.
    "I really like you," he says.
    He stays silent while I look around and see that he's got me cornered between the wall, the table, and him. I look back at him without saying anything. It's probably what he was waiting for, because he continues.
    "I really like you," he repeats, "but I understand you have unfinished business with someone else."
    Since I don't owe him an explanation, and he's not even asking a question, I just stare at him, waiting for him to continue.  
    "I know you're going back to finish your last year of law school, and you won't be back before next June to take the Florida bar." So much for the Chinese wall of Captain Williams—obviously home intel makes its way to the office. "So what I really want to tell you is that I'll still be around when you come back, and if by then you know where you're at, I would be happy to spend more time with you."
    He's got the kindest eyes and the sweetest sad smile. It wouldn't be hard to fall for such a nice guy.
    Yeah, but he's right; I have unfinished business with Brian, and one way or another, I