Kisses and Warfare

“You’re welcome, have a good night.” Mom leans in and kisses my cheek before she wraps her arms around Rochelle and Annabelle, and she even gives Marcus a cuddle, which in turn, makes him freeze on the spot. I laugh at his awkwardness. My mother doesn’t care if you’re shy, she’ll still grab you in a hug if the mood strikes her.

“Do you need me to watch her?” Rochelle asks. “You said you were going to go to work and talk about your job.”

“No. I can do that another day.”

“Are you sure?” Rochelle asks again.

“Yes. What’s another day?” I reach for Annabelle, taking her in my arms. She comes willingly and touches my face, smiling at me. Fuck, I love her. How is it possible to love a small human this much?

“Do you want to come to Marcus’s for dinner tonight?” Rochelle pauses. “Blaze will be there.”

I smirk at her words. “I’ll have Annabelle.”

“Bring her. You know she’s always welcome.”

“Pretty girl,” Marcus warns.

Rochelle turns to face him. “If I have to put up with him, at least give me some normal company who doesn’t hate me.”

Marcus reaches up and touches her face, stroking it. “I’ll be there,” he says in a voice that makes me feel like I’m invading their conversation.

“Yes, and so will my sister and niece. Maybe they can sort out their differences, since it seems Blaze and I can’t.”

“Kat, would you like to come to dinner tonight?” Marcus asks, holding Rochelle to him. She turns against his chest with a smile on her face.

“Yes. Thanks.”

“You know where we live,” is all he says before he heads off, walking with Rochelle. “And Kat?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t come straight away. We have plans.”

Rochelle giggles as they walk to his car.

I know exactly what type of plans he means.

As soon as I step into the house, my phone starts ringing. I had turned it off earlier, as I planned to get ready and go into my old work to get my job back. But now, those plans have changed, as my mother can no longer care for Annabelle.

Ignoring whoever is calling, I take Annabelle to her room and change her diaper before I start packing her bag to head out to Marcus’s house later.

“Momma,” she says, reaching for me. A small giggle leaves her as I blow a raspberry on her belly as my phone starts up again.

Quickly changing her, I carry Annabelle out as I retrieve my phone and answer it. “Kat.”

“Yes.”

“It’s Steve.” Steve runs the club where I used to work. “It’s been a year. You coming back? Or do I have to try to replace you?”

“Ummm…”

“And are you coming to see me this week like you planned?”

Now is the time to tell you the club I managed isn’t just a bar, it’s a strip joint. And I loved working there. I’m not a stripper, and I don’t dress like they do. Not that I have anything against the way they dress, because I usually help them choose their clothing, but I prefer pants. Sometimes skirts. Definitely not G-strings and bras. Being a manager has its perks.

“Hopefully.” The week is almost over, but he doesn’t need to tell me that.

“Good. Good. The girls work better when you’re here. They miss you, and quite frankly, I do too. A year is way too long for me to be doing this without you.” Annabelle makes a noise in my arms. “Will you be able to come back to work, Kat? Now you have…” Steve doesn’t say the word, but I know what he’s about to say. Baby.

“Yes, I have a family that helps, so it won’t be a problem.”

“Okay. Okay, that’s good. So, when should I expect you?”

“I’ll try tomorrow, Steve. But no promises.”

“Good. Good. They will give you a pay raise. You deserve it. Fuck knows how you do it all, it’s been driving me crazy.” He hangs up in my ear.

Steve is my second-in-charge and has been helping out while I haven’t been able to work. The girls seem to walk all over him.

My parents think I just run a normal club. They don’t know, and I don’t want them to know. My mother judges me enough as it is.

Making sure I have everything ready, I leave to head for Marcus’s house.

And smile when I remember Blaze will be there.

This should be interesting.Chapter ThreeBlaze“Fuck! Will you put some clothes on?” I shake my head at Marcus, who has a towel covering him.

“You’re the one who interrupted. You weren’t meant to be here for another hour,” he tells me, walking away to his room and leaving me in the doorway to his house. I go straight for the kitchen and grab a bottle of beer.

It isn’t long before Rochelle walks in and stops when she sees me. Then she blurts out, “My sister is coming!” Her hands going to her hips, and I raise an eyebrow at her. She says nothing more as Marcus walks up behind her.