Dance With The Devil (Devil's Riders 4)

It was the best thing because I’d never been happier than when I was with him. But most of all because of the little wiggler in the other room. My bouncy angel. The apple of my eye .

Too bad the daddy wasn’t the settling down type .

I sighed, knowing what Mae was here to ask me .

She wanted me to move back home with her. I knew I needed help, and she knew it too. Plus, she needed me helping out at the diner. Her most reliable waitresses had all taken off in the past couple of years .

First Kaylie and Sally. Then me .

She was taking shifts herself now, and far too old to be running around on her feet that long. She needed me. Either that or her place would close. She couldn’t work all those hours with just the cooks and bus boys. The landlord had jacked up the monthly rent too. With the new higher cost of doing business, she was losing money for the first time ever .

I could not let that happen. Lots of people relied on Mae’s for jobs, hot meals and even companionship. Some of the older people in town didn’t see a friendly face all day until they came in. It was more than just a diner .

For some folks, it was a second home .

Mae knew I couldn’t say ‘no’ to her. Not now, not ever. To sweeten the pot, she’d offered up free babysitting and two bedrooms in her house. Her much, much nicer house. I looked around. This place was a dump, but I’d made it work .

Once Petunia started crawling though… well, it wasn’t exactly safe. I was pretty sure a few of the outlets gave off sparks, even if you didn’t stick your finger in it .

“We’d have to baby proof …”

Mae clapped her hands together with glee. Her eyes were shining as she pulled me into her arms for a big ol’ bear hug. I knew she’d been lonely without us. And she adored Petunia .

Truth be told, everyone who set eyes on her loved her .

“Does that mean you’ll come home? You could even start school part time. I can look after Petunia as much as you like .”

She twinkled her eyes at me .

“Heck, I’ll pay you double. Just give me some of that sugar !”

“I’ll come home .”

She folded me into her arms again. I was excited to come home. But then I immediately thought of him and the tears started .

“Hush now, no man is worth it. He comes in all the time you know. Askin’ after you. I won’t give him so much as a glass of water .”

I let out a startled laugh, leaning back to look at her .

“You won’t serve him ?”

“Not unless it’s pick up for the boys at the club. I can’t cut them all off. But if he has to share french fries with somebody, so be it .”

I laughed harder .

“Oh Mae, you are priceless .”

“After what he did to you! Knocking you up and going back to his motor bike club floozies! I should have dumped a milkshake in his lap !”

I sobered immediately. The sting of that night came back to haunt me, as it often did. I dreaded seeing him, even as I longed for it .

He was the only man I’d ever loved. Not that he knew that. I hadn’t told him how I felt, and now I never would. He’d probably laugh in my face anyway .

No he wouldn’t. He wasn’t cruel, even if he was a manwhore. In fact, I didn’t know what he would do .

But it didn’t matter. I would never tell him the truth. That he’d had my heart and then he’d broken it. I wasn’t about to give him that sort of power over me. I’d cried too many tears over Whiskey already. I refused to do so ever again .

Not one more tear .

Still, I hoped I didn’t have to see him with someone else. I’d have to skip hanging with Kaylie, Janet and Sally at the club because seeing him with other girls would hurt too much .

For all I knew, they were mad at me for skipping town anyway. But maybe, just maybe, my friends would be glad to see me. Maybe they’d hang out with me somewhere else .

And maybe after seeing him face to face… I’d be able to get over it once and for all .

Chapter Three

Whiskey

“I ’m hungry .”

The formerly stoic Jack had his head rested on his folded arms. The big man had three kids at home and a wife who was refusing to cook for him. He was wiped .

“You want me to run over to Mae’s ?”

He opened an eye and gave me a sour look .