Rebel (Wolfes of Manhattan 1)

“Good enough.” He sauntered away.

“That’s odd,” Rock said.

“What?”

“That he knows I went to New York. I never talk about my family with these guys. They have no idea I’m part of that Wolfe family.”

“It wouldn’t be too hard to find out,” I said. “Just do a search for Derek Wolfe, and his children will be listed. How many Rock Wolfes are there in the world?”

He shook his head. “I smell a rat somewhere. Like I told Burke, I was just in here two weeks ago, before my father died. There was no reason for him to even know I’d been out of town.”

A tattooed server with three nose rings brought us water and menus.

“Honey, could you send Burke back over here?” Rock said.

I didn’t relish him calling her honey, but if he was attracted to me, no way would he be attracted to her. She was pretty, but I was as strait-laced as they came. No ink, no piercings. Well, my ears, but that didn’t count.

“Sure, Rock.”

“You know her?”

“That’s Honey. She’s Burke’s sister.”

I nearly spit out the drink of water I’d taken. “Honey is her name?”

“Yeah…” Then he guffawed. “You thought I was calling her honey?”

“What else was I supposed to think?”

Rock continued to laugh.

“I don’t see anything funny from where I’m sitting.” I took another drink of water.

“Sorry, Lace. But Honey and I…” He continued laughing. “It’s just too much to even think about. Besides, she lives with two men. They share her.”

“They what?”

“It’s a threesome. A permanent ménage a trois.”

“Do the guys…? With each other?”

“I have no idea.” He shook his head. “Don’t want to know. But if they do, you can bet no one gives them any shit. They’re both the size of tanks.”

“And her brother…?”

“Burke looks the other way. What else can he do?”

“Oh my God…”

“Sweet little Lace. You’re so sheltered.”

“I’m not…” I stopped. “I can’t pull that off. I’m a Manhattan attorney. I was raised on Long Island. My parents are still married. I had a normal childhood. Yeah, I guess I’m a little sheltered.”

“You are, but that’s part of what makes you you.” Rock smiled.

God, that smile. It could melt the polar ice caps.

Burke sauntered back over. “Honey said you wanted to talk?”

“Yeah.” Rock cleared his throat. “I was just wondering… How did you know I was in New York?”

“Heard it from…Manny, I think? Or maybe Hoss.”

I couldn’t help a smile. “Manny and Hoss? Are we trapped in an old episode of Bonanza?”

Burke erupted in laughter. “That’s some funny little lady you got there. Sweetheart, Hoss is an attorney in Billings. Real name is Horace Stiers the third. Manny is Parker Manfred, a gynecologist. The two of them come down on the weekends.”

“Weekend bikers?” I said.

“Sure. Doctors and lawyers who pretend to be bikers on the weekend. Hoss and Manny are good guys, though. They’re around. I expect them in for lunch any time now.”

“How would they know I’d gone to Manhattan?” Rock eyed the menu.

“Don’t know,” Burke said. “But you can ask them yourself. They’re walking in the door.”47RockManny’s broad shoulders and short, stocky build were a stark contrast to Hoss’s height and lankiness. We sometimes called them Mutt and Jeff. Both were bald as cue balls, Manny by choice, Hoss by genetics.

“Hey, guys,” Burke said, motioning them over. “Look who’s back!”

“Jesus, Burke. I wasn’t gone for long.”

“Hey, Rock.” Manny held out his hand. “Good to see you. Nice do.”

Right. My short hair. “Ha! Funny, coming from you. Sit down, guys.”

“Don’t mind if we do.” Hoss grabbed a chair, turned it, and straddled it. “Who’s this lovely lady?”

“Lacey Ward. She’s an attorney too.”

Hoss held out a hand to Lacey, and she shook it tentatively.

“You’re way prettier than any of the old stodges at my firm. We’ve got some juicy associates, though.”

Lacey reddened. She wouldn’t find Hoss’s sexist talk particularly amusing.

“Knock it off, Hoss,” I said. “I need to talk to you two.”

“Yeah? What about?”

“Burke says one of you guys told him I’d gone to New York.”

“That’d be me,” Manny said.

“Interesting. Exactly how did you know that? I didn’t tell anyone when I left.”

“A new patient,” Manny said. “She came in, and we were doing the requisite small talk while I was examining her. Anyway, she asked if I knew you, and I said yes. Then she said you were in New York.”

“Do you remember her name?”

“Not offhand,” he said. “But I wouldn’t be able to tell you anyway. Doctor-patient confidentiality and all.”

“I’ll make it worth your while,” I said.

“Rock, if you think I’m the kind of guy who’d sell his integrity—”

“Then you’re right!” Hoss slapped his knee.

“Thanks, ass munch. Nice, coming from my lawyer.” Manny chuckled. “I can’t help you, Rock. I’m sorry.”

“Fuck.” I shook my head. “This was a new patient, you say? A woman?”

“Men don’t usually have gynecological issues,” Manny said.

“Funny.” I searched my mind. It couldn’t have been my mother. She only let her own personal physician and plastic surgeon near her. One look at Manny’s shaved head and beer belly, and she’d have hightailed it out of there. Besides, I’d interacted with her on a nearly daily basis since I’d returned to New York.