KAITLYN
“Are you sure about this?” I asked, my hand tightly squeezing Landon’s as we walked into Cassidy’s.
It had been a week since the incident on my front lawn with all the Dukes. I hadn’t seen them since. Hell, I hadn’t seen anyone except people at work. Landon and Jed had completely taken up all my time. All of it.
Landon stopped, tugged me out of the way of others in the bar and looked down at me. “Of course. What’s the matter?”
“What are they going to think?”
Landon grinned. “That your men are crazy about you and only let you wear clothes long enough to be at work.”
I flushed—they still had the ability to do that to me even after all the things we’d done together. Things that had to be illegal in thirteen states. It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered but the way Landon and Jed made me feel… in bed and especially out.
“We can skip the last part,” I grumbled.
He grinned, gave me a quick kiss. “Julia’s waving us over.”
Landon led me through the tables to where the Dukes were sitting. They’d pulled two together to accommodate everyone. Mr. and Mrs. Duke, Tucker, Gus and Julia were all there and based on the drinks and plates of appetizers in front of them, they’d been here a while.
Landon pointed to the bar where Jed was working. He gave me his usual easy grin before helping a customer once again.
Landon went to his mother first, kissed her cheek, then continued around the table. I felt awkward hugging them, still unsure of how to behave with them when Mr. Duke stood and wrapped his arm about my shoulder. He smiled and squeezed me. “I like seeing Landon this happy, and knowing you’re the cause of it makes me like you even more. Come sit and tell us all about your work, your friends… everything. We have a lot to learn.”
“Kaitlyn!” I recognized Ava’s voice and turned. I hadn’t seen her since the stripper night, but we’d texted.
Hugging her, I introduced her to the Dukes. When I got to Tucker, her eyes widened and she didn’t even give Gus—who was the last person I was going to point out—any attention. Tucker offered her a wicked grin in return and invited her to sit beside him. She abandoned me and went around the table to his side where he’d pulled an extra chair from a different table and held it for her as she sat down.
Landon found chairs for us as well and conversation picked up in twos or threes. I was between Mr. Duke and Landon and I told the older Duke about my time in school for library science and how I enjoyed my work at the local library.
“I hope to continue there, but eventually drop the second job at the hotel.”
“You’ve worked hard and achieved so much.”
“A Leary won’t amount to much. Two jobs? Just like your father. I should run you off the road just like he did to the Dukes.”
The table quieted at the voice. Looking up, there stood Roger. He looked the same as usual, sleek dark hair and overly-pressed clothes. The only addition was the purple and yellow bruising around his eye. Clearly, there’d been more to the visit the Duke men—and backup—had had with him last week.
Landon stood, making Roger appear small. Mr. Duke stood as well. So did Gus and Tucker. While I doubted any of them wanted a fight in Jed’s bar, it seemed they were ready for it.
“Didn’t you get the hint you’re to stay away from Kaitlyn?” Landon asked.
“Yeah, leave my friend alone!” Ava said, standing, ready to storm around the table and beat up Roger.
Tucker hooked an arm about her waist and pulled her back into him. Held her tightly. “Easy, tiger.”
Everyone around us took notice and quieted, watched.
“I don’t want her now. Sloppy seconds of not just one man, but two? Think the city council will be eager to hear how our librarian is fucking two guys?”
I stood then. While a bit embarrassed that what I chose to do with my men was being openly discussed, I wouldn’t let him talk bad about Landon or Jed. Wouldn’t even think of what he’d watched when he’d stood outside my window. I stepped close to him and he smirked. Clenching my fist, I punched that evil little smile off his face.
“You bitch,” he hissed, bringing a hand up to his bleeding lip.
Landon grabbed me, pulled me back. “Nice shot, slugger,” he whispered.
Mrs. Duke stood, walked around the table to stand beside her husband. “I’m on the city council, if you’ll remember, Roger.” Her voice was loud and clear, carrying across the big room. “We don’t have issue with anyone finding love and happiness. I’m sure everyone in this bar knows not only Jed Cassidy and my son, Landon Duke, but the entire Duke family. I’m sure they remember the accident and our connection to the Learys. We still have a connection. A new one. A better one. A happy one. Kaitlyn is welcome and loved, that’s more than we can say about you.”
Roger shook his head, not contrite in the slightest. “Trash, all of you.”