work, club, and town belong to him. The more he cares
about something, the less he’ll back off. Justice is his kid, and he’ll track
her every move. Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if the sneaky fucker didn’t
already know about Justice’s stolen wallet before I told him.
Like Jared, I
keep my feelings close to the vest. Chucky is my best friend and Basil has been
attached at his hip for five years. I know these people, but I don’t gossip.
Not back in the day with my shit relationship with Becca and not now with a new
chance with a new girl.
Even if I were
the gossipy type, I’d stay quiet about Justice. Something about the motor-mouth
blonde makes me suspect I have no idea what I’m getting into.
6 Black Sheep
Justice
C ourt makes quite an impressive image roaring up to the house. Poppy watches him from
the window and whispers to our cat Thelma how the scary man is going to pound
my vagina soon. Less curious, Journey stands in the kitchen with Christine.
"Be home
by midnight," Christine says.
Everyone laughs
at her comment while Hal growls at the approaching Harley and does his agitated
doggy dance.
"No
worries," Poppy tells the dog. "Justice likes danger. That's why she
cries on roller coasters."
Checking my
appearance in the mirror at the front door, I smile at Poppy's comments. Was I
such a horror show at fifteen?
"Did you
take the pill?" Poppy asks, stopping me at the door. "There’s no room
in this house for your bastard offspring."
"Don't be
jealous of my hot date. One day, you'll find a boy horny enough to deal with
your big mouth."
"Promise?"
Poppy asks, laughing at her fake sincerity.
Brushing her
aside, I grab my bag and reach for the doorknob.
"Yay for
me," I say to my family.
"Yay for
you," they say back.
I walk outside
to where Court turns off his Harley and gives me the once over.
"Like what
you see?" I ask, turning around to show off my black jeans and a red
flannel vest top.
"Wouldn't
be here, if I didn't."
"Why,
aren't you the charmer," I say, stepping closer to the Harley. "Nice
hog but I wonder. Are you a good driver? Like do you have any points on your
license?"
"You're
kidding, right?"
I caress the
Harley's handle. "I'm not interested in dying young. In fact, I’m looking
forward to dying of old age in my bed a million years from now."
"I bet
you'll be a sexy old broad," he says, leaning over and tugging at a lock
of my short wavy hair.
"Oh, I
know I will be, but you didn't answer me about being a good driver."
"I ride
with my kid. Wouldn't do that if I wasn't a good driver."
"Kid?"
I say, stepping back. "How old? Not still in diapers, is it?"
Court furrows
his brow, making him handsome in a new way. "He rides on my Harley, so how
could he still be in diapers?"
"I don't
know babies."
"He's
eleven."
"Oh,
that's fine. I'm okay with that age. Now how do I climb on this thing without
injuring myself?"
"What if
my boy was a baby? Would you still want to climb on my hog?"
Focusing on his
face, I find him somewhere between genuinely offended and redneck flirting.
"How do I
know? I don't think things out that way. I just do what I'm gonna do. Since
you've neglected to explain how to climb on your hog, I might injure you. Be a
doll and don't cry if I squish your balls."
"Man,
you're seductive. All flowers and heart-shaped candies," he says, wrapping
a hand under my bicep and swinging me behind him.
I settle my
thighs behind his. "Cool trick."
"Figured
you'd be impressed."
I lean forward
and slide my hands around his waist. "I guess you do a lot of
crunches," I murmur and then pat his hard gut. "Where do you want my
hands?"
Court glances
back over his shoulder. "Do you really have to ask?"
"If I hold
it, can I pretend the Harley is a stick shift, and I'm driving?"
Court laughs
deeply. "On second thought, keep your hands to yourself."
Laughing too, I
grip his loose white tee and lean my cheek against his sweaty back. He smells
like heat and soap. I flinch when the