Chapter 11
Dirty – A Week Later
I smile softly as I watch Lyra and Caleb run around the sports hall while I refill drinks, and music fill my ears, the children giggling, the parents all talking and laughing.
This is probably my worst fucking nightmare, which says a lot since I’ve gone into a fucking gun fight with the Cartel before we became allies.
But fuck, being stuck around mothers eyeing me, dads scowling since it’s apparently my fault their women like the rugged biker with tattoos and a man bun look.
Teachers dropping hints for wanting more out of the club than we’re giving them already—yet here I am, pouring drinks for a bunch of kids, most not caring if they spill them all over the table.
Vultures, fucking all of them.
For the past forty minutes, I’ve been trying my hardest to ignore the eyes on me, continuously keeping myself busy, all while keeping my eyes on my kids.
And I mean kids plural, and my woman, who is in a fucking gorgeous deep red wrap around dress that I want to unwrap, seems to be the only teacher ensuring everything is going smoothly.
Does it piss me off that the other teachers are busy chatting instead of helping my girl? Yeah, it does, but I’m also proud of her, of how much these children mean to her.
She’s fucking amazing, and I’m in awe of her.
Not once has she scolded a child when she’s talking to a parent, she kneels to their level and listens. Even if she’s in the middle of refilling the snack table, she stops again.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, my son was right, she’s mine. Over the past week, I’ve realized it. Now I just have to get her on board. Tank said to go slow, and I have, but it’s not fast enough for me and Cheryl's lying has made me speed things up.
I’m more touchy-feely with her, texting her every single fucking day and calling her in the evenings to ask about her day, fuck, her and Ly have been round for dinner four times in the past week, something I have sprung on her each time just so she shows up.
I want her, need her, and I will make her mine.
“Hey, Dirty,” a voice husks to my right, and I look away from my kids and lock eyes with Sandra’s light blue ones that eye me up, something I always fucking ignore.
Since Caleb’s been in this school, the woman is continuously trying to get my attention, or any brother really.
“Hey Sandra, how’s Tuck doing?” I ask the woman, ignoring her fuck me eyes as I pour some fruit juice for a sweaty, red-faced little boy who grins wide, a tooth missing at the front, and he says, “Thanks, Mr. Dirty,” and I chuckle.
I guess he’s in Holly's class.
“Go, Thomas, the adults are talking!” Sandra commands, and Thomas’s little face falls, and I frown.
What the hell?
“Hey Thomas,” I hear my darling's sweet voice call, and we all look to see her smiling widely at the boy as she asks, “Can I have this dance?”
Thomas’s face lights up as he gently places his now-empty cup in the bin then rushes over to my girl, grabs her hand, and my mouth parts in shock as she winks my way before she bends so he can twirl her.
Am I man enough to say I'm jealous of a seven-year-old? Yes, yes I fucking am.
Damn.
“So where were we?” Sandra husks, gently tracing her nail along my arm and I step back and raise a brow at her.
“You were just about to tell me how your husband is doing,” I remind her, more so the fact that she is married and her shit is getting old.
Her jaw ticks as she gives me a fake smile and admits, “He’s good, he mentioned coming to see you in a few days, apparently there is a knocking noise on the front right of his BMW.”
I nod and say, “Most likely the axle bushes, tell him to bring it in tomorrow, I have a free afternoon, Tank’s in the garage,” then I turn away from her, dismissing her.
“Mr. Dirty,” Lyra says loudly, gaining my attention just as Sandra goes to move her hand again, and I look at my girl with a raised brow.
“Can I have a drink, please?” she asks as she rocks on her heels, and I hum and confirm, “Orange?” knowing she won’t drink anything else at the moment, and she nods.
“Lyra, why don’t you go find your mama? The adults are talking,” Sandra snaps, making Lyra jump just as I hand her the drink, causing her to drop the cup, and Sandra growls, “Now look what you’ve done! Go and take a time out on the bench right now!”
Lyra’s face drops, tears pooling in her icy blue eyes, and I glare at Sandra and hiss, “She wouldn’t have dropped the cup if you hadn’t snapped at her for coming to get a drink at the drinks table!
Why don’t you go sit on the bench, or better yet, do your job instead of trying to chat up a taken man, especially when you’re married! ”
Sandra’s mouth drops open in shock just as we hear a sniffle, then my darling's voice, closer than before, demands, “Lyra, what happened, sweetheart?”
I look just in time to see Holly kneel in front of our girl, Caleb stands right behind Holly, a scowl aimed at the so-called teacher beside me.
“She-she told me I had to go to the bench because I spilled my drink after she made me jump. I just wanted a drink, Mama,” Lyra sniffles, and Sandra huffs.
“Maybe she shouldn’t be so clumsy,” Sandra snaps and I have to look away from the glare my girl gives the woman because my cock has perked up—getting a hard on at a school dance is definitely not appropriate, but fuck, that mama bear look is hot.
“Lyra, go dance with Caleb, sweetheart,” Holly says softly, but I can hear the edge in her voice, and fuck, even Sandra swallows.
“B-But the mess,” Lyra stutters, and I glare harder at Sandra, who has the decency to at least look ashamed.
“Mrs. Jones is going to clean it up. Off you go—and maybe, before the party ends, you can convince Mr. Dirty to dance with you,” Holly says and I give her a mock glare, but she just side eyes me.
“Mr. Dirty can’t –”
I cut Sandra off before she can upset my little girl any further and I turn to Lyra and say, “I would love to have a dance with you, baby girl.”
She grins widely as Caleb grabs her hand and pulls her onto the dance floor and only once Lyra is out of earshot does Holly pounce.
“You ever make my daughter cry again, fuck my job, I’ll lay you out!” she snaps and fuck me.
Would it be inappropriate to rearrange my jeans?
“She–”
Holly cuts Sandra off, “dropped her drink because you snapped at her for being at the table when you should have been doing your rounds with the kids instead of trying to flirt with the parents, especially when you are a married woman!”
Oh shit…
Sandra blinks once then twice and as much as my girl won’t admit it, she’s jealous.
Don’t get me wrong, seeing Lyra cry because of this woman pissed her off but she didn’t like her flirting with me and yes, my ego gets fucking bigger because for the past week she’s kept her cards close to her chest, trying her hardest not to fall for my charms.
She likes me, that much is clear, she can feel the connection, but she’s refusing to give in, which just pisses me off, but I also understand.
She hasn’t brought up Lyra’s biological father, and I’ve only ever seen Matty, so I don’t think he’s involved.
I could just press a few buttons on my computer, and I’d know instantly, but I want her to trust me, and to do that, she has to open herself up to me, which hopefully will happen soon.
I’ve been using the kids a lot this past week, and I’ll continue to do so until she’s wearing my ring and my patch.
“Go and do your job before I report you,” Holly growls, “And the next time you make my daughter cry…”
Sandra clears her throat, hearing the underlining threat and mutters, “I uh, I’ll get Tuck to contact you, Dirty,” before she skedaddles away, and I chuckle.
“I really don’t like that woman,” Holly mutters, and I grin as I round the table, another parent giving me a head nod as they take over from me, and I walk over to my pissed off darling, and I have to admit, I fucking love this look on her.
“How about a dance?” I murmur as I wrap my arm around her waist, and she looks up at me.
“A dance, huh?” she asks, and I grin as I guide her onto the dance floor with our kids.
I swing Holly out, she gasps, then giggles as I spin her back, grab her right hand, and dance—something I’ve never done with another woman.
I hear a few chuckles from the parents, the kids all coming around us and ignoring Sandra's scolding glare, I dance with my girl, who has the biggest grin on her face, as a few parents follow our lead, but all I can focus on is this breathtaking woman before me with the biggest grin on her face.
***
Two hours later, after helping Hol clear up, I pull up outside her townhouse and grit my teeth, trying my hardest not to speed away with my girls inside the car, and I know for a fact Caleb would encourage me as well.
I didn’t want to bring them here. I wanted to take them home, where they belong, and I swear to fuck, the more I get to know her, the more my possessiveness grows which is scary as shit considering it’s only been just over a fucking week.
She’s mine, they both are.
“Thank you for the ride, Mr. Dirty,” Lyra says from the back seat, and I grin widely at her, trying to hide my frustration.
I didn’t even want this a few weeks ago, and yet here I am, furious to leave them.
“Anytime, cutie,” I say softly, and she grins wide as she leans forward and presses a kiss on my cheek before climbing out of the truck and says, “See you tomorrow, Caleb,” then rushes inside as my son waves like a lunatic.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Caleb, okay?” Hol says as she looks behind her seat, and Caleb gives her a sad smile that makes my stomach tighten.
“Can you not come back to our house, Ms. Robins?” he pouts, and Holly swallows hard, quickly looking my way, and I bite back a smile.
“How badly do you want to give in right now, darling?” I ask, and she pulls a tongue out at me just as I hear, “You put hair removal cream in my lube?!”
Holly's eyes widen in shock, and I burst out in laughter as we both look towards the front door to see Matty with a small towel around his waist, his thighs, hairless.
“Oopsie,” Holly whispers, and my shoulders shake as I stutter, “Y-you sure you don’t want to come back to mine?”
“Tempted,” she mutters back, and I laugh even harder.
“Look at me, Holly?!” Matty demands, “The woman I was with ran out screaming for Christ's sake because she said it burned her inside and then that bitch tried to attack her!”
“Crap, I didn’t think about him using it with someone, especially with the woman still stalking him.” Holly whispers and trying not to piss myself becomes difficult.
Matty growls loudly before stomping back inside, and Holly chokes out a laugh and admits, “I better go in and face the music,” before looking at Caleb, who leans forward and kisses her cheek before grumbling, “Good luck, Ms. Robins,” and she scrunches her nose up and replies, “Thanks, I think,” before looking my way.
I give her a soft smile and say, “Thanks for the dance, darling,” and her cheeks heat.
I lean forward, ready to finally press my lips against hers, but she turns her head and gives me the cheek.
Dammit, I wasn’t quick enough.
“I’ll call you later,” I whisper against her soft skin, and she nods before climbing out of my truck, and I watch her slowly walk to her fate.
She looks my way just shy of the door, and I kiss my fingers and send them her way, and even from here I see her suck in a breath before going in, and I smile slightly.
“When are you going to marry her, Dad?” Caleb asks as I drive away, and I mutter, “Soon, son, I promise, soon.” And I see him nod in the mirror as I drive down the street, my whole body calling for me to turn around.
Just over one week, that is all it took for me to come to terms with the fact that she is mine, they are mine. One week to become absolutely besotted with them. One week to realize I can’t live without them and need them both under my roof.
One fucking week!