Chapter 20 Out of the Picture #2
Punc stepped into Doug’s space, even as he spied Catalina parking the Buick in the street since Doug had parked in the dead center of the driveway blocking her entry.
“I’m the man who took care of all the trouble you brought to Savannah’s door.
You fucked up and made a bad investment. Take the loss and move on.”
Doug narrowed his eyes. “You know, Frank asked me all kinds of shit about you. Now, I can’t get a hold of Frank at all. Cops came around asking me if I knew where he’d gone. I’m thinking I need to point them in your direction.”
“You do that, and I will never talk to you again, Dad,” Catalina said from behind him.
Doug’s face blanched and he turned around. “Catalina, my sunshine! Don’t you worry about me and Ted, it’s man stuff.”
Cat’s eyes widened and filled with irritation.
“I’m seventeen, not seven, Dad. I heard what you said, and if the first police officer comes around here, I’ll tell them you’re lying.
I’ve never seen Savannah as happy as she is with Punc.
If you do anything to mess with that, I’m cutting you out of my life every way I can. ”
Doug jerked his head toward Punc. “He killed Frank.”
Catalina shook her head. “No, he didn’t.
And even if he did, I wouldn’t care. That man followed me from school and threatened to send his customers here.
I was scared out of my mind that day, and even more scared after Savannah was attacked.
I called you when she was in the hospital, but you weren’t anywhere to be found. ”
“I was in jail, Cat.”
Cat quirked her lips while giving him a wry look. “Surprise, surprise.” She shook her head again. “You need to go, Dad, before I say something I’ll regret. I got homework, and your Kia is in the way.”
Doug grabbed Catalina’s hand. “I’ll go, honey. But please unblock me.”
“I’ll think about it, but no promises.”
Doug trudged to his SUV and Catalina scurried to the Buick. Punc walked down to the end of the drive to check the mail while Cat moved her vehicle.
After she parked in the garage, she tugged her backpack out of the passenger seat, slung it over her shoulder, and faced Punc. “I meant what I said, Punc. You make Savannah extremely happy, and I won’t let Dad do anything to screw with that.”
Punc’s lips formed a small smile. “I appreciate that, but you don’t have to worry about it. I didn’t kill Frank, and no amount of investigating will turn up any evidence to that end.”
Cat’s lips pursed, just like Savannah’s did when she wasn’t sure if she wanted to say something. “This doesn’t say much about me, but I had hoped you killed him. Otherwise, where did he go?”
Punc gestured for her to go inside, and he followed her into the kitchen. “He’s out of the picture, Cat. That’s all you need to know. Go hit the books. I gotta shower and head to work.”
She grinned at him. “Yeah, you’re pretty sweaty. And thanks for mowing the grass. Savannah and I both hate doing that chore, so you rock.”
Turk approached Punc an hour before closing. “There aren’t even six customers here. Tundra’s got it. Come up to the office with me.”
In the office, Turk stood at a credenza holding up a bottle of scotch. “You’d think by now, I’d know your preference, but you want scotch, bourbon, or something else?”
“Scotch works. You want me to shut the door?”
Turk nodded and poured into two highball glasses.
Punc closed the door behind him and grabbed his drink. “This is unusual. Are you giving me the ax?”
Turk lowered himself into his chair and twisted a hand up. “No, but it’s interesting that’s your first thought.”
Punc slouched down in the chair opposite Turk, sipped the scotch, and waited him out.
“You don’t have anything to say?” Turk asked.
“Brother, I had to deal with Savannah’s dad this afternoon right after mowing the yard. I’m in no mood to guess what’s going on or why what I say is interesting to you.”
Turk’s head reared back. “Did he want his merchandise?”
Punc huffed out a chuckle. “Only after he noticed the boxes were MIA, and I told him they’d been dealt with.”
“I take it he didn’t like that you sold them.”
“No, he didn’t like that I insisted the other half of the profit went to Catalina as back child support.”
“What’d Ava say to that?”
Punc grimaced. “I didn’t get to see her before leaving. My guess is that Catalina will tell her before I do.”
Turk nodded. “That’s going to happen a lot with your schedules.”
“Yeah. So far, we’ve managed all right.”
“It hasn’t been that long. What are your goals, Punc? When you started prospecting you were a mechanic. When we bought Platinum’s you were all in to help, and initially I thought it was only because of the dancers.”
“It wasn’t, though they didn’t hurt either.”
“Right,” Turk said with a chin dip. “Now that you’ve claimed a woman, wouldn’t you rather have a schedule similar to hers?”
“At some point, perhaps, but I understood what I signed on for three years ago.”
“Right, but that was before you started seeing Ava.”
“I thought you said I wasn’t getting fired.”
“You aren’t. Just feeling you out.”
“Feeling me out for what?”
“What do you want out of working here? Yak pointed out that for you, Tundra, and Evict this is a dead-end job.”
Punc chuckled. “Got a feeling Yak said something else.”
“Yeah. Dead end with blue balls every night.”
“That’s more like it.”
Turk sipped his scotch. “Lucy and Desiree are worried you’re gonna leave. I’ve realized you flirting wasn’t that. It was your way of putting the dancers at ease.”
It felt good to be vindicated. “Yeah, but you and Volt were right, too. It’s easy for that to be misconstrued. Heaven had the wrong idea, from what Ava tells me.”
Turk nodded. “That doesn’t surprise me. I don’t want to lose a headliner because you might leave.”
“I’d definitely give you ample notice.”
“Yeah. Is there any chance I can offer Ava an opp—”
“No fucking way.”
“I was going to ask about offering her a part time social media manager gig. Yak contacted some people and the cost is jacked.”
Punc blew out a calming breath. “She’s mine, but that’s her decision.”
Turk finished his drink. “Are you sure you can’t make more working on cars?”
He weighed his words. “If I’d stuck with my old job, I might be making more, but I wouldn’t have the flexibility I have here.”
“The club would work around your shit.”
He tossed back the rest of his scotch. “As Savannah points out, nothing beats having a great boss. Other than this bullshit, you and Yak are pretty great bosses.”
“Don’t be a kiss ass.”
“I’m not. Pulling me aside like this isn’t cool.”
Turk grinned. “Don’t care if you think that. I gotta take care of this business, and having this conversation is how I do that.”
“Fair enough. I’m gonna see if Tundra needs any help.”
Turk cocked a brow. “He doesn’t. Head home - if you’re good to ride.”
Savannah’s phone alarm sounded, waking him from a deep sleep. After she silenced it, he rolled toward her.
She slid her hand up along his bicep. “Morning, honey. I’m sorry my alarm woke you.”
He kissed her bare shoulder. “Don’t be. I can sleep after you leave.”
“Oh,” she said, skating her hand over to his chest.
He stopped her hand, and chuckled. “Got an opportunity to tell you about - if you’re interested.”
“Sure, what is it?”
He told her about Turk’s idea.
She stretched and yawned. “I’m not sure. I definitely shouldn’t decide on zero caffeine.”
“Considering it’s part-time, I don’t know how much you’d make. You could use it as a stepping stone to move into that industry if you wanted.”
She smiled. “Yeah, but yesterday, Rita beat me to the punch about a promotion.”
He rolled on top of her. “Forgot about that text you sent me yesterday. Now I can congratulate you in person.”
Six months later…
While Savannah changed clothes after work, Punc grabbed the box he’d picked up earlier in the day and placed it on the coffee table.
Savannah came out of the bedroom in shorts and a t-shirt. She smiled at him. “How long before you have to leave?”
“I switched with Tundra tonight.”
“That’s cool. Any particular reason?”
“Something I ordered came in and I want to give it to you.”
Her brows drew together, and she chuckled nervously. “And that requires a night off?”
Punc grinned. “Yeah. I ordered a cut for you to officially make you my old lady.”
“Oh, wow. I didn’t realize you’d done that.”
“Did that the same day I dropped the lease on my place.”
She shot him a sly smile. “And the day you insisted on paying the monthly mortgage.”
“Right. Thing is - this signifies a serious commitment in my world.”
“You say that like you’re asking me a question.”
He tipped his head to the side for a beat. “It kind of is. Are you down with a commitment?”
“Ted. The way I love you, there’s no way I’m not in this for the long haul.”
He smiled. “That’s fucking great, baby.”
She took a step forward. “Does this mean no marriage?”
He grabbed her hand and pulled her closer. “No, I want us to be legal. But I want you to have the wedding you’ve always dreamed of and that takes time to plan.”
She dipped her head with a shy smile. “Good. But I don’t want anything too big or too expensive.”
He chuckled. “Got a feeling your sister and my sister will convince you otherwise.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure,” she muttered.
He took the cut out and held it open.
Savannah shifted toward him, then paused. “Why is there a number patch under my name?”
He smirked. “That was your contestant number at Platinum’s on audition day. If you hadn’t shown up, who knows where we’d be.”
With a coy gleam in her eye, she turned and put her hands through the arms, and he settled the leather on her shoulders. He stepped back and felt pride surge through him. This beautiful, smart, sensitive woman was his. He wanted to roar.
She turned around and thanks to the beaming smile on her face, he had no choice. He wrapped her up in his arms and kissed her.