Chapter One

Baz

Days like this I wished I still smoked. Nothing like sucking back a Camel to make shit like wedding menus a little less annoying. What the fuck did I know about weddings, anyway? Not one goddamn thing, that’s what. There had been a time—a long fucking time ago—that I thought about marriage. Hell, that there was a woman I’d actually wanted to spend forever with but she up and left without notice. That’s when I knew guys like me weren’t cut out for happy endings and forever, or any of that lovey dovey shit.

But Torch was my friend. My fellow brother in arms. Hell, he’d taken care of my kid sister Cherie when I was off fighting on behalf of corrupt politicians and the corporations who paid for them. So yeah, I owed him. And apparently wedding menus were how he wanted me to repay the debt. There was no use bitching about it any longer and since I didn’t have a smoke, I went inside Black Betty where I knew pretty much everyone.

“Want some coffee Baz?” Talon flashed a smile, her belly growing with her second child. She and Mick were the happiest parents I’d ever seen.

“Sure thing. And some of that chicken fried steak on special today,” I told her and took a seat in the middle of the counter. This time of day the place didn’t have any customers but a few old guys sat to my left and a kid played on my right. “How’s that baby treatin’ ya?”

She smiled bright, rubbing her belly. “Great, thanks. I’ll be right back.”

Talon was a good woman and a great fit for the club president, Mick. Though she’d come to Brently to claim her inheritance, she’d fallen for the man her father had treated like a son. She had an open mind when it came to the club and CAOS business. Unlike some other people. Where the fuck did that thought come from? I had no clue but I needed to get my shit together. It wouldn’t do me any good to start reliving the past.

“Hey Baz.”

“Hey Kyla, where’s your grumpy groom to be?”

She grinned and took a seat beside me. “He dropped me off in front and then went to park. Apparently, everyone is out and about today.”

The Founder’s Day parade would be held in about a week which meant committees were out decorating and setting up for the big event. A bandstand was being built in the park and soon the main drag would be filled with booths selling food, crafts, booze and other wares. “You forget what small-town living is like already?”

She laughed. “No but I kind of took it all for granted back then. It’s nice now though, knowing my kid will have the same kind of upbringing.”

“Yeah good for you guys.” I was happy for Torch, the same way I was happy for Mick and Cash and even our old prez, Roddick. They’d all found nice girls, women too damn good for them, and settled down. They were doing the whole wife and kids thing. I envied them, but I felt like I’d pissed away my chance at that life. “So, what are we doing here?”

“The table in the back is occupied so we wait.”

“Or we take another table?”

Kyla smacked her bag. “No can do. We need the space.”

I was about to tell her to spread that shit out right here so we could get it over and done with but something cracked my fucking elbow. “Shit!” Rubbing my funny bone, I turned ready to rip someone a new asshole, only it wasn’t just a someone. It was a kid with the biggest green eyes I’d ever seen.

“Sorry mister, it was an accident,” the little boy said as he shrank away from me.

That pissed me off. Clearly there was a man in this boy’s life who frightened him and I didn’t put up with anyone who beat women or kids. If that asshole was here I’d fuck him up. For the kid, I smiled and ruffled his hair. “Don’t worry about it little man, shit happens.”

He gasped. “You said a bad word.”

Shit, I had. “I’m a grownup so it’s okay.”

He grinned. “Okay. I’m Jack, what’s your name.”

“My friends call me Baz. Want to tell me what’s wrong with your car?”

He lifted up a shiny new remote-controlled race car. “The dang thing don’t drive right.”

That was a problem I could fix. “That’s easy. You just need a light touch. You ever played a video game before?”

“Uh-huh. Lots. But Mom doesn’t let me play the really cool ones.”

Which meant the violent ones. “Okay well what happens if you move the controller too hard?”

“It messes up.”

“Exactly. Same here. You just need a light touch,” I took the remote and showed him, sending the car straight to the end of the counter, busting out a three-point turn and coming right back. “Now you try it.”

He did it without a problem and whooped loud, holding his little hand up for a high five. “I did it, mister! I did it! Thanks.”

“No problem kid.” Shit had I ever been that young? So trusting and carefree? “How old are you kid?”

“Ten. How old are you?”

I laughed at that. “Much older than ten. Where are your parents?”

“Mom’s back there getting some work done. I don’t know my dad though.”

Damn. Tough break.

“Hey Baz, you comin’?”

Torch called from the back and I hadn’t even noticed him enter. I nodded and turned to the kid. “I need to go help my friends, Jack. Take it easy kid.”

“Okay,” he sounded a little sad to see me go. “Thank you, Mr. Baz. Bye.”

Mr. Baz. No one ever addressed me so formally and I couldn’t help but smile. It’d been a long time since I spent any time with kids but that Jack was a good kid. Lost in my thoughts as I made my way to the big table in the back of Black Betty where Minx was huddled close to a head of shoulder-length strawberry blonde hair. “Hey Minx, what’s up?”

She looked up and smiled, glowing with the happiness of yet another pregnancy. I swear all these guys did was fuck. “Baz you devil, how’s it going? You here to help with the menus?”

“Yep. Torch guilted me into it, you?”

“I’m finishing up a job with a new client, this is-,”

“Trina?” I said the moment she turned and faced me. I’d never forget that face, beautiful and fresh with a sprinkling of freckles. I hadn’t seen her in more than a fucking decade after she’d skipped out on me.

“Baz,” she replied icily. She wasn’t happy to see me, that was for goddamn sure, but the question I wanted to know was why. She’d been the one who left. “If you’ll excuse us, we have some work to finish here.”

Dismissed. But not quite. “Actually, my friends have reserved this table so I believe your work here is finished.”

“Damn, Baz,” Minx chided, “don’t be an asshole.”

“He can’t help it,” Trina said, packing up her laptop and a bunch of papers. “It’s his way or no way at all. Thanks for your help Minx. Let me know a good time to go over the rest and just send me your bill.” She hoisted the big patchwork bag on her shoulder and handed Minx a couple books.

“Oh my goodness, thank you!” She pulled Trina into a hug. “I can’t believe you’re you. Wait until I tell Talon and Trudy, they’re going to shit a brick!” She squealed and—amazingly—Trina blushed. “We’ll get together again soon and you can meet some of the girls.”

Trina pulled a card from her pocket and scribbled on the back. “That’s my cell. Give me a call whenever and thank you, for everything.”

I watched her walk away with the same swing in her hips that had pulled me in twelve, or was it thirteen years ago when I’d seen her in that bar. Her hair was shorter now but she still smelled like fresh peaches and sunshine. Her legs were still long and lean under that denim skirt, and had more muscle than when we were younger. A pink blouse hid most of her figure but I could still make out the shape of those spectacular tits. Shaped just like teardrops.

“Okay, dude. I know there’s a story there and I want it,” Minx whispered with a little too much glee for my liking.

I grunted at Minx but I couldn’t take my eyes off Trina, heart stopping as she paused in front of Jack, who wrapped his hand around hers before they made their way to the door. He turned, pointed at me and said something to her before waving and Trina froze, quickly herding Jack out the door. Shit. Jack was her son? Trina was a mom. Probably had a husband too. Every fucking thing she ever wanted.

“I see you made quite the impression on Jack,” Minx said, amusement in her voice.

“Where’s the husband,” I asked finally turning to Minx even though the truth was I couldn’t give a fuck. Mostly.

“Husband? She never married.”

The last thing I wanted to hear and also the best fucking news I heard all day. “Fucking wedding menus,” I grumbled and took the seat Trina had just vacated.