Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
SERENITY
“I’m on my way, I swear. I just need to change really fast and touch up my hair and makeup.”
I flew into my apartment like a tornado, whipping my shirt over my head and tossing it aside somewhere in the living room. My boots were kicked off on the move, and my jeans were discarded somewhere in the hallway.
“Jesus, Sere,” Stella said in my ear. “Are you okay? It sounds like a stampede is moving through your apartment.”
I managed to balance my cellphone between my ear and shoulder as I slipped and slid on my socks the rest of the way to my bedroom before colliding with my closet door.
“I’m fine. Just trying to hurry so I’m not even later.
It took me longer to get out of the bar than it should have, but I had a table of frat assholes who thought their shit didn’t stink and it would be funny to mess with their waitress. ”
It meant losing out on a whole table’s worth of tips when Rory had them ousted, but honestly, it was worth it.
They were drunk enough to think the word “no” was a challenge, and if they hadn’t been removed, I would have ended up kicking at least one of them in the balls so hard they’d never be able to have kids.
Not that the world wouldn’t be a better place if they weren’t able to procreate.
“Will you relax,” my sister said through the line. “I told you, you don’t need to rush. We’re happy to wait for you.”
I spoke as I flicked through the hangers in my closet, trying to find the perfect outfit.
“I know, I’m just excited. I haven’t had a girls’ night out in—” I paused to try and remember back, only to come to a startling conclusion.
“Damn, I guess I’ve never had a girls’ night.
Not that hanging with you and Kira doesn’t count.
” But it was a sad reality that the closest I’d had to a girlfriend in too many years to count was my sister-in-law.
Stella’s voice was soft and gentle as it came through the line.
“I know what you mean. I didn’t really notice my lack of a social life until I moved here either.
I love our family, and we always have fun together, but there’s something to be said for having a crew that isn’t related to you in one way or another. ”
“You get it,” I said with a grin as I came to a stop at a little black dress that would be perfect for tonight. “All right, I’m hanging up so I can finish getting ready.”
“Okay, sis. See you soon.”
I disconnected and tossed the phone onto my bed before fishing through my dresser drawer for my strapless bra I needed in order to wear the dress I’d picked out.
Since moving to Hope Valley two months ago, I’d grown accustomed to living the jeans and T-shirt kind of life.
There was something to be said for living life comfortably, especially when, in my past life, I’d had to dress myself up to the nines in order to attract whatever man was my target for the evening.
I was more than happy to leave that all behind, but sometimes a woman just wanted to dress up and hit the town with her girls, and that was exactly what I had planned for the night.
There was a club one town over called Whiskey Dolls that was one of the best burlesque clubs in all of Virginia and the surrounding states.
I’d heard all about it and had desperately wanted to go, but I’d never really had the time to waste, standing in a line that wrapped around the whole damn building.
Fortunately, a few of the women we were going with tonight were friends with the owners and a few of the Whiskey Dolls themselves, so not only were we getting through the door without waiting, we also had a table reserved just for us.
I couldn’t remember the last time I was this excited to hit a club.
I was a pro at making quick work of my hair and makeup and was out the door fifteen minutes later.
The air had a bit of a chill to it as I climbed out of my car in the back of the parking lot and started toward the entrance, making the pine scent in the air even crisper.
As I bundled myself tighter inside my coat and picked up the pace, I couldn’t wait to see what Hope Valley looked like in the winter.
The town was beautiful in the summer and fall, especially with the leaves changing colors, making the surrounding mountains look like a sea of fire, but I bet once the valley was covered in fresh white powder, it would look like a snow globe.
I heard my sister’s excited voice as soon as I rounded the corner. “There she is!”
I opened my arms so Stella could walk right into them. My sister and I had always been close, hell, she was my best friend, but our relationship had changed recently.
We hadn’t grown apart. Just the opposite, in fact.
But the difference came with the fact that she was blissfully, unapologetically happy.
All her life she’d hated what we’d done.
She’d kept it to herself, letting it eat at her until it nearly made her sick, but she’d always wished for a different life.
She’d been lonely, feeling like the odd man out in our family of grifters.
Because she hadn’t been honest with us, she didn’t know that Spencer and I hadn’t been too thrilled with our lot in life either.
She thought she was the black sheep. But once the truth finally came out, that we all wanted better lives for ourselves, somehow a relationship that was already strong became titanium. Nothing could ever break it.
Then there was the matter of us being kidnapped together. There was just something about kicking the ass of the man who’d abducted us that solidified the bonds of sisterhood.
Now she was happier than she’d ever been, living her dream life with her dream man, and I . . . well, minus the man part, I didn’t have many complaints about my new life. I loved working at the Tap Room. I even liked my tiny apartment, mainly because I paid for it honestly with hard work.
“I’m so glad you were able to come tonight,” she said once we broke apart. “This is going to be so much fun.”
“I’m glad too.”
“Oh my God,” a voice behind me spoke, and I turned just as Sage reached my side, her gaze cast downward. “You got them. And they look hot.”
I glanced down at my stiletto-clad feet, lifting the left one to flex and twirl, showing off the shoes we’d talked about only a couple weeks back. “I sure did. And this is the first chance I’ve had to wear them. I’m glad I finally had an excuse.”
My sister did a quick round of introductions. There were a few familiar faces in the crowd, such as Sage, Eden, and Gypsy. Then there was a stunning redhead named Nona, and two close friends of Sage’s: Danika, who owned Muffin Top, the best freaking coffee house in the US of A, and Hayden.
A second later, the bouncer, a huge wall of burly, intimidating man, stepped aside and held the door open for us without even checking the clipboard in his hand, and we were heading inside.
A woman dressed in a vintage cigarette girl uniform met us in the entryway and led us to our table. It was barely nine o’clock, but the place was already packed to capacity.
“Wow,” I breathed, as we slipped into the massive red velvet U-shaped booth in the very center of the floor. “This place is incredible.”
It was obvious this was the best table in the whole place. From our vantage point, we had a perfect, unobstructed view of the stage. It was currently empty and dark, but that was only because the show hadn’t started yet.
Gypsy looked at me with a waggle of her brows. “Doll, you haven’t seen anything yet.”
The song blasting through the speakers ended, the bright spotlights lighting the stage shut off, and the entire club erupted.
After a couple drinks and some mouthwatering appetizers while being engulfed in a seriously cool as hell ambiance, I was starting to think I understood what all the hype was about.
But then a few of the Whiskey Dolls hit the stage for a performance, and I realized the club could get even better.
I’d cheered and whistled for the women who just finished their number so loudly my throat was starting to feel scratchy.
“Oh my God,” I exclaimed over the raucous applause, leaning into our table so my crew could hear me. “They were incredible! I’ve never seen anything like that. This place is the tits.”
Sage shuffled closer to me in the booth so she could be heard easier. “The one that was on the far left, that’s our girl, Charlotte. She’s married to Dalton. He’s another Alpha Omega dude. She’s cool as hell. You’ll really like her when you get a chance to meet her.”
I had no doubt about that. So far, I’d really come to like everyone I’d met since moving to town. Well, with the exception of Sue Ellen Mayfield, but from what I’d been able to gather, I was in the majority with that one.
“She’ll be at our next girls’ night in,” Eden said.
“Once a month, we all shift our schedules around so we can meet up at someone’s house to gossip and drink and give each other facials.
” Her doe-eyes went even wider, like she’d just had the most brilliant idea.
“You should totally come! It’s so much fun. You’ll fit right in.”
It sounded like it, and I had to admit, I loved hearing that I’d fit in.
Growing up a Ryan, I’d never had the luxury of having sleepovers with my girlfriends.
I’d seen countless movies where the popular girl had all her friends over.
They’d do each other’s hair and give each other makeovers, and I’d desperately wanted something like that.
Sitting in the booth, surrounded by all these awesome women, I felt that little hole inside me, the one teenaged-Serenity never had the chance to fill, growing smaller and smaller.
“You had me at gossip and drink. The facials are just an added bonus.”
Eden beamed at me, like I’d made her day instead of it being the other way around. “Great. I’ll text you with the details.”
I couldn’t wait.
Hayden, a stunning woman with beautiful strawberry blonde hair spoke next. “So how do you like Hope Valley so far?”
Like Stella and me, she’s been a transplant from the city.
She’d moved here to take over her aunt’s flower shop after finding out her husband at the time had been banging her best friend.
She divorced his loser ass, settled in a new town, and met a new man, one who was hotter than her ex and treated her like she was the most precious thing he’d ever owned.
I loved hearing her story; in fact, all these women had stories that kept me on the edge of my seat all night.
“I love it,” I answered. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure about going from the city to a smaller town. I worried I’d get bored, but things here aren’t as quiet as I’d expected.”
Snorts and laughter filled our table. Between the women around me there had been more abductions, stalkers, and showdowns with bad guys than I ever thought possible.
Seemed like, just when things started to level out in Hope Valley, something came in and stirred the dust back up.
So far, everything that had gone down had a happy ending, so that was something.
“Yeah, it’s a sweet town and a great place to live,” Nona started, “but it’s certainly not boring. Even if no one’s being kidnapped, you still have people like Mrs. McClintock going around, talking about breaking her new hips in.”
I hadn’t had the luxury of meeting the eighty-something blue-haired woman she was talking about, but I’d heard rumors, and I was looking forward to the day I crossed paths with the blunt-as-hell, cantankerous old woman.
“I hear you already experienced your first showdown at the bar not too long ago,” Gypsy said, reminding me of what had happened with Fletcher’s biological father.
A shiver worked its way down my spine as I thought back to that man’s hate-filled eyes. Evil eyes. That was the only way I could think to describe him.
I lifted my martini glass, swallowing back a healthy sip to try and dull the effects of that memory.
“Yeah, it wasn’t pleasant. I just hope he got the message and leaves Fletcher alone.
I’m worried that just as he’s getting his feet on solid ground, the shithead will pop back up and ruin everything he’s worked so hard for.
He’s such a good kid. He deserves better. ”
Stella reached out and placed her hand in mine, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “If he’s got you in his corner, I have no doubt he’ll be okay.”
Man, but I had the best sister in the freaking world.