9. Player
Chapter nine
Player
Beck sets down a box. “That’s the last of it.”
We just carried a load from the bed of my pickup truck. I only needed to bring my personal stuff since the condo I’m buying is a furnished vacation rental. We don’t close for a month, but I was able to rent it until I take ownership.
Beck moves to the sliders and onto the balcony that overlooks the marina, and I follow.
It’s early morning, and the sun peeks through some clouds. He folds his arms. “Nice place, brother.”
“Thanks.”
“What are you, like a block from The Rusty Pelican? Guess I don’t have to ask what drew you here.”
Leaning my hands on the rail, I give him a half-smile. “Nope.”
“Dad will be thrilled. He always loved Taylor. He never understood why you dumped her.”
“He still doesn’t know, Beck, so don’t tell him.”
Beck shakes his head. “Why the hell are you keeping it secret?”
I spin on him. “Did you tell anyone? Who else knows?”
He lifts his hands in the air. “Far as I know, just me, and only because I eavesdropped.”
I rake a hand through my hair. “Yeah. Someplace you shouldn’t have been.”
“I hid in the bed of the truck because I thought you were going to meet those fucking Thompson boys. I was afraid you were going to get your ass beat. I had no clue it was Dozer you were meeting.”
“You shouldn’t have been there.”
“He had no right to ask that of you, brother. Hell, he didn’t even ask—he demanded.”
I don’t need Beck to refresh my memory. I remember that night like it was yesterday. I’d been a prospect just long enough to satisfy the club before they could give me my patch and not have it look like favoritism. My dad wanted me in, so they made it easy.
“Well, he did, Beck, so drop it.”
“I get he didn’t want his sister involved with a club member, but you were the president’s son, for Christ’s sake. He knew you were a good man.”
“Didn’t have anything to do with what kind of a man I was. As long as I wore that patch, he didn’t want me near his sister.”
“So, he made you choose.”
“The patch or Taylor. He promised he’d make sure I never had both. If I didn’t give her up, he said he’d never vote me in.”
“And it had to be unanimous.”
“One lousy vote would have stopped me.”
“You really think Dad wouldn’t have demanded why he voted against you? I’m not so sure he would have had the balls to go against his president.”
“I did what I had to do.”
“That had to be hard. Everyone looked at you like you were the biggest asshole. And you just stood there and took it, knowing the whole time it was because of Dozer.”
“I broke her heart.”
“Dozer didn’t give a shit about her feelings, apparently.”
“He said he was protecting her. Maybe that’s what he did. If we’d been together, maybe it would have been her that day when the bomb went off at the clubhouse.”
“Well, now you get another shot, huh?”
“I want that, but God, the guilt will destroy me if hooking up with her puts her in danger. If she ends up hurt or killed because of me, I won’t be able to live through it, Beck.”
“Come on. Nothing is going to happen.”
“Depraved Sinners gave up. Dad saw to that.”
“Trouble is never truly gone, brother.”
“Okay, enough doomsday talk for one day. Let’s go walk over to that coffee shop I saw half a block over. I’ll let you buy me a donut.”
“When do we have to be at the house?” I ask.
“You mean when do we turn into two-men-and-a-truck? Noon. And I’m not looking forward to it.”
“None of us are.” We move inside, and I grab my keys off the bar between the kitchen and living area. “Come on. Let’s go get that coffee.”
We head down the stairs to the parking garage under the building and out the side. It’s a short walk, and I leave my cut hanging on the back of a barstool in the condo.
Beck is just wearing a t-shirt as well.
Though we may not have our colors on, our arms are covered in ink, a lot of it club symbols. Crowns and skulls and anarchy signs.
The tiny café has a small outdoor courtyard to one side and a storefront and entrance on the other.
A bell jingles when I pull the door open.
An older woman is walking away from the counter with her items, leaving only one customer in front of us. It’s an attractive woman wearing jogging clothes that hug all her curves. She’s got earbuds in and doesn’t turn to look at us.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Beck’s gaze trail over her shapely ass, and I elbow him before he does something stupid like try to speak to her.
She moves on, and we place our order.
Beck stares at the board filled with too many choices. “Jesus Christ, when did ordering a damn cup of joe get so difficult?”
“He’ll have a large Americano.”
“And you?”
“Give me two small cappuccinos.”
I pay and she moves off to make them.
Beck makes a show of looking around. “Who’s the other for? Your invisible friend?”
“Taylor.”
“Bring her a coffee. That’s the way to her heart. Maybe you should throw in a donut, big spender.”
“Shut up.”
When the clerk returns, I add a donut, and Beck chuckles.
We move to a table in the courtyard, and Beck pulls the lid off his cup. “I hate these damn things. It’s like I’m a toddler for God’s sake.”
I sip mine, and my phone goes off.
“Who is it?” Beck asks.
“Dad.”
“Tell him Two-men-and-a-truck ain’t open yet.”
“Yo,” I answer, putting it to my ear.
“Mornin’ VP.”
“Mornin’, prez.”
“Noon. Don’t be late. Find Beck. He’s not answering his phone.”
I grin at Beck. “Will do.”
He disconnects, and I toss my phone on the table. When I look up, I see Taylor pulling into a diagonal parking spot on the street. When she climbs out of her car, I stand and whistle. “Babe. Over here.”
She’s surprised, but walks over to the courtyard, taking in Beck. “What are you two doing here?”
He stands and gives her a hug. “Hey, darlin’. Ask Romeo. We just moved him into a condo down the street.”
I glare at him, and he grins. I pull a chair out for her. “I got you a cappuccino.”
“And a donut. That was my idea.”
“Thanks.” She looks bewildered. “You moved in down the street?”
“Thanks, blabbermouth.” I glare at Beck.
“No problem. Just here to help.”
I cough over the word bullshit. Taylor is staring at me, waiting for an explanation, so I go with the truth. “I bought a place at the Marina Condos. Maybe after you get off, we can go for a ride.”
“Well, I hope she works until sundown at least because that’s how long we’re gonna be movin’ furniture,” Beck adds helpfully.
“Oh, right. Your dad’s place, huh?”
“Yeah. So, when do you get off work?” I already know from the schedule Kayla gave me, but she doesn’t know that.
“Six.”
“I’ll swing by and pick you up. We can take a ride out to Slaughter Beach.”
“Slaughter Beach? What for?”
“Show you Dad’s new place. It’s right on the sand.”
“Wow. That must be nice.”
“Midlife crisis is what I call it,” Beck adds.
She glances at the time. “I’ve got to get to work.”
I stand and walk her to her car.
Beck, thankfully, stays at the table.
She pauses at her door and turns to face me, then glances down the street at the condos. “So, you’re right here now?”
“Yeah.” I put my hands on her hips and pull her flush against me. “Does that tell you how serious I am about this?”
“I hope you’re not playing me.”
“I don’t play games, Taylor. And certainly, never with you.” I cup her face and kiss her, then she climbs into her car. I watch her drive off, then return to Beck.
He’s dipping his head and lighting a cigarette, then blows the smoke to the sky. “Well, that was as sweet as molasses.”
“Like you’d know what molasses tastes like.”
“Seriously, I hope it works out this time. You plannin’ to take it slow?”
“Fuck no.”
“Well, all I can say is I better be your best man this time around.”
“Debbie and I eloped. I didn’t have a best man.”
“Exactly. Don’t cheat me out of makin’ that toast at the reception a second time. I’ve got a lot of one-liners saved up.”
I roll my eyes. “Just remember, payback’s a bitch.”
“Me? Get hitched? No way. I plan to stay single forever.”
“Yeah, let’s see how that works out for you.”