Tempting Country (Ruthless Sinners MC 6)

“Okay, sounds good.”

I could feel Kiersten’s eyes on me as I stood and followed the others towards the door. I wanted to look at her, take her in one last time, but I knew it would only make it that much harder to leave—which was already something I didn’t want to do. I wanted more time with her, but there was only one way that was going to happen.

I had to talk to Viper.

Six

Kiersten

“It sounds like a sweet deal to me.”

“Yeah, but we’d be giving up all control,” I argued.

“And all the hassle that comes with it.” Braylon had always been my voice of reason. He was older and somewhat wiser, and I trusted him—something that didn’t come easy to me. I valued his opinion, so I tried to keep an open mind when he said, “I think this could be the answer you’ve been looking for.”

“I just don’t know. We’ve worked so hard to get here, and I’m not sure I’m ready to just hand it over to someone else.”

“You won’t be. You’ll still have the say, and you can get back to working in the lab. That’s where you’ve always wanted to be.”

“I know, but—”

“You need to remember why you started this whole thing.”

“To get back at my father?” I scoffed.

“Yeah, well, there’s that,” he chuckled. “But I remember you telling me you wanted to create something that was better. Something that could end up helping people who are suffering. Maybe this is your chance to start focusing on that again.”

“Maybe.”

“So, if this deal with the Sinners comes through, what are you going to do about your boy toy?”

“My boy toy? Really?”

“Call him whatever you want to. I’m just asking what you’re going to do about him.”

“Well, his name is Country.” It seemed strange to say that out loud, so I added, “At least, that’s what his brothers call him, and honestly, I don’t know what I’m going to do. I guess there’s not really anything I can do.”

“Do you like the guy?”

“Yeah, I do.” Just thinking about him brought a smile to my face. “He seems pretty great, but I’ve been wrong about men before.”

“Gah, you really need to get past these daddy issues of yours.”

“Easier said than done.”

“I know, but it’s just been a while since I’ve seen that spark in your eyes. I just don’t want you to let the past interfere with your future.”

“It was one night in a bar.” My smile faded as I continued, “Besides, he’s a biker, and we might be going into business with his club. I doubt I’ll be seeing him again, much less have a future with him.”

“You never know. Stranger things have happened.”

“I never knew you were such the romantic.” I stood and started to the door. “I’m going to check in on things at the lab. I’ll let you know if I hear anything from the guys.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

I left the office and headed down the hall to my lab. I hoped it would help take my mind off of things, and it did for a little while. Unfortunately, experimenting with a new fertilizer wasn’t enough of a distraction from the phone call I was expecting from the Sinners. I started to worry that something might’ve been wrong with my phone and that I hadn’t heard it ring, so I pulled it out of my pocket and checked the screen. That’s when I noticed the date. It was my father’s birthday. With everything that had been going on, I’d totally forgotten all about it.

I immediately dropped everything and rushed over to my house for my keys and purse. After sending Braylon a message about where I was going, I got in my car and drove over to my dad’s. On the way, I stopped to pick up a small cake and a generic card, but I didn’t bother with a gift. The man already had everything he could possibly want and more. The only thing he didn’t have was a real relationship with me, and no matter how hard he tried, that was something he would never have—not after years of trying to deceive me.

When I got to the house, the front door was wide open and coffee was brewing, but there was no sign of Dad. I placed the cake and card down on the table, then opened the basement door. “Dad?”

No answer.

I stepped over to the back door and opened it before shouting, “Dad!”

Again, no answer.

Worried something might be wrong, I rushed to the front to make sure I hadn’t missed him, and that’s when I spotted him out on the pier. I hated myself for it, but my heart ached seeing him out there all alone. It was his birthday. He should’ve been with family or friends, but he’d spent the last ten years living like a recluse and had neither. I didn’t want to feel sorry for him. I knew his work was why he’d chosen to distance himself from the world, but that didn’t stop the sorrow dwelling in the pit of my stomach. I inhaled a deep breath and feigned a happy smile as I walked over to join him at the pier.