A Wilde Night (Old Town Country Romance Book 3) (13 page)

“As long as I don’t have to wait tables again,” I tease.

“But you were so good at it. At least that’s what Harley said.”

I raise an eyebrow. “She did?”

He nods. “Getting a compliment from her is really saying something.”

“They had no idea who I really was?”

Hunter suddenly looks uncomfortable and I feel like he’s holding something back. I narrow my eyes at him.

He heaves a sigh. “They didn’t know you were Katie La
wrence, but they do now.”

“What?” I can feel my heart start to thump wildly in my chest. “Why did you tell them?”

He takes me into his arms and holds me for a moment and I immediately feel calm again.

“I couldn’t lie to my family. They were asking a lot of pointed questions about you and I just felt like I had to tell them the truth. It’s really not a big deal.”

I frown. It feels like a much bigger deal than he’s letting on. “I just don’t want them to treat me any different now that they know the truth.”

He laughs. “You obviously don’t know the Wilde boys that well yet. They’
ll give you just as much shit as they did before, maybe even more so. Don’t worry. You’ll still be teased mercilessly just like before.”

“They’re not that bad. I think part of the reason they gave me a hard time is because they care about you and they don’t want to see you get hurt. Harley actually threated me and told me I’d better not break your heart. She actually scared me a little bit.”

He laughs. “She scares me too. Even when I carry a gun. And just remember the more shit my family gives me the more they like you. If they didn’t like you they’d just ignore you.”

I smile. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Should we get another disguise ready? Ponytail and glasses?”

“What about that big, floppy hat I was wearing when you picked me up?”

“That may be a little much for Haymakers. Better just to stick with jeans, sneakers, sweatshirt, the ponytail and glasses.”

“Yes, Officer,” I tease.

He rolls his eyes. “When I’m not in uniform just forget I’m a cop, okay?”

“Whatever you say, Officer.”

He leans down and kisses me. “Do you like kissing cops?”

“Just one in particular.”

“Is there anything else you like to do with this one cop in particular?”

I nod. “Do we have a few minutes before we have to get ready? I can show you exactly what I like to do.”

Thirteen

Hunter

It’s late afternoon when we arrive at Haymakers. The lunch crowd has already disbursed and the dinner crowd hasn’t really arrived yet. There are a few regulars at the bar and just a few tables have patrons finishing their late lunches.

Harley makes a bee
line for us as soon as we make our way to the bar.

She looks Kat up and down then says, “I hope you’re not planning on waiting tables dressed like that.”

“I wasn’t actually planning on working tonight,” she replies.

Harley frowns at her. “I don’t know why. You obviously still
need a makeover.”

I think Kat will be insulted, but she’s actually grinning from ear to ear. Maybe because Harley’s treating her like Kat and not like she’s a movie star.

“If you change your mind I’ve got some extra clothes in the car. At the very least you could actually wear something that fits your body and not that clothes sack sweatshirt.”

Kat tilts her head like she’s giving it some thought then she says, “Okay.”

Harley gives her the hint of a smile. “I’ll be right back.”

As soon as Harley takes off I whisper in Kat’s ear. “Don’t let her bully you into anything.”

She frowns. “This is an initiation ritual, Hunter. And I think she’s actually starting to accept me. Don’t worry.”

I shrug. Just when I think I may have women figured out—even just a little bit—I get thrown a curve ball again.

As we head over to the bar I take Kat’s hand in mine. I know it probably sounds corny but I feel like our hands just fit together. I feel like everything fits together—probably a little too well. I don’t want to get my hopes up about anything, but she did come back to New Jersey to see me again. That must mean something.

I just hope it means a little more than wanting to get laid again.

Tucker is talking to one of the regulars at the bar. Izzy Grant. They were both outcasts in high school, but Izzy was a couple of years younger than Tucker and a year older than me. I remember Tucker once stood up for Izzy when some of the popular kids were making fun of her. They teased her mercilessly. He got the shit beat out him. That’s when he started lifting weights and no one ever beat him up again.

Izzy and Tucker are both scary looking, with don’t-mess-with-me attitudes, and they’re both heavily tattooed. But Izzy is tiny, maybe as small as Gracie. And while everything about Gracie is light and beautiful, everything about Izzy is dark and
disagreeable. If a guy had the courage to sleep with Izzy (not that I’ve ever met anyone who did) he’d probably keep one eye open all night just so he didn’t get murdered in his sleep.

Tucker glances up at me and Kat when we approach the bar. “Hungry?”

I nod.

“What do you want?” he asks Kat.

Kat glances in my direction and raises an eyebrow. “What are you having?”

Tucker beats me to it. “Burger, fries, onion rings. He likes two slices of cheese and two tomatoes on his burger.”

“I’ll have that,” Kat says.

Tucker just nods in response. He was never a person of many words, but when he got back from serving in Iraq he was even worse. He really closed himself off from everyone. The only thing that’s made him truly human again is his love for Gracie.
Not that he doesn’t love his brothers, but we couldn’t reach him the way Gracie did.

Kat takes a seat at the bar next to Izzy and I join her.

Izzy briefly glances in our direction just long enough to give us a death stare then looks back at her beer.

After Tucker places our order with the cook he makes his way back over to us. “What do you want to drink?” The question is directed at Kat.

“Feel like having some wine or maybe a beer?” I ask her.

She purses her lips for a moment then narrows her eyes.
“Maybe a beer.”

Tucker doesn’t bother to ask me. He pours us two Buds and places the tall glasses on coasters.

I look around the place, but don’t see any signs of Gracie. Tucker generally doesn’t let her out of his sight. “Where’s your better half?” I ask him.

    When he glances up at me I see just the slightest bit of fear in his eyes. It’s not an emotion I generally see coming from Tucker. “She’s not feeling well. I left her at the house. She’s resting.”

I suddenly feel embarrassed that Kat and I made so much noise when we were there. I thought everyone had already left for Haymakers.

“Do you want us to check on her after we finish eating?”

Tucker gives me one quick nod then turns away. I don’t think I’ve seen him so upset in a long time, maybe since our parents died.

“I’m sure she’s fine,” I try to reassure him. “The flu is going around again.”

He nods, but I can see the concern in his eyes.

Harley plops down what looks like a pair of jeans and a top on the bar next to me. “Here you go, Kat.”

“Thanks.” Kat jumps down from the barstool and grabs the clothes. She gives me a warm smile. “Be right back.”

Once Kat is on her way to the ladies room Izzy glances over at me. She’s usually pale, like some kind of weird vampire chick, except for the bright red lipstick she always wears. And her clothes are always all black right down to her black cowgirl boots.

Izzy wasn’t always so weird and anti-social. She was actually like most of the other girls at school until the middle of her sophomore year. Then something changed. She withdrew and became antisocial. Whenever anyone tried to get close to her she lashed out at them. In a weird way it was similar to how Tucker was for a long time after he got back from Iraq.

“What’s she doing here?” Izzy asks. It takes a moment for the words to register because Izzy rarely speaks to anyone.

“Who?” I reply.

“Katie Lawrence.”

“Having a beer.”

“Funny.” She looks me up and down. “You’ve got quite a sense of humor for a cop.”

“I guess I’m a lot funnier when I’m off duty.”

“You didn’t answer my question.”

I eye her. “She’s having lunch, too. Does that help?”

For that I’m actually rewarded with the tiniest of smiles. I didn’t realize Izzy still smiled.

“I’d appreciate it if you kept that observation to yourself. We’re just trying to have a quiet lunch together.”

Izzy gives one cold laugh. “I don’t actually have anyone to tell.”

Izzy’s a loner like Tucker. It’s probably why she likes hanging out at the bar with him so much. Not that the two of them ever actually talk to each other.

I breathe a small sigh of relief when Kat comes back and I don’t actually have to talk to Izzy anymore. I always feel like she
is judging me.

Kat’s now wearing the tightest jeans I’ve ever seen and
a white lace push-up top that accentuates her assets.

I’ve got to push my hands deep into my pockets to keep the monster growing in my pants from completely breaking loose.

“It’s an improvement,” Harley says as she looks Kat up and down.

Izzy gives another one of her cold laughs.
“If you say so.”

Harley glares at her. “I don’t think anyone was talking to you, Crazy Girl.”

Izzy glares right back at Harley. They’re both mean girls, but in completely different ways. Harley is a beautiful blonde who everyone wanted to be like in high school. Izzy is the girl who everyone loved to hate.

“Okay, Barbie Doll,” Izzy fires back. “I wouldn’t wear your clothes for a million dollars.”

Harley rolls her eyes in response. “Like anything could ever help you. You’re beyond redemption.”

“Coming from you I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Is there a problem here?” Tucker glares back and forth between Izzy and Harley as he places our lunch orders on the bar.

Izzy heaves a sigh then stares at her beer again. Harley looks like she’s going to say something, but obviously thinks better of it when Tucker slowly shakes his head at her.

Harley doesn’t back down for anyone except Tucker. He could be the one person on Earth who actually intimidates her.

“You’d better eat before your food gets cold,” I urge Kat.

She picks a small onion ring and pops it into her mouth. She actually lets out a small moan as she savors the food. “Do you have any idea how long it’s been since I ate something with grease and fat?”

I shake my head.

“It’s been so long I can’t even remember.” She points to her plate. “It’s good.”

“Try the fries. They’re even better. But you need a little bit of mustard to dip them in first.”

I grab the squeeze bottle of mustard and hold it over Kat’s plate. I’m just about to put some next to her fries when I see the look of horror on her face.

“Don’t tell me you’ve never had mustard on your fries b
efore.”

“Fine, I won’t tell you.”

I have to laugh. She’s already managed to steal my best line.

“It’s really good. Trust me.”

Her eyes are still narrowed like she doesn’t believe me.

“I’ll put it on my plate and give you a bite of one of mine.
How about that?”

“Okay…” She still sounds hesitant.

I squirt some mustard on my plate then dip one of the smallest fries I can find into it. I then feed it to Kat.

The moan that she lets out lets me know that I scored anot
her hit.

“You’re right.” She smiles then places a kiss on my cheek. “I shouldn’t have doubted your culinary expertise.”

Izzy coughs. “The two of you are kind of making me sick.”

“Jealous much?”
Harley says to Izzy.

Izzy looks her up and down.
“Definitely not of you.”

Harley laughs.
“Yeah, right. Whatever you say.”

“Why do you insist on turning everyone into a clone of you?” Izzy asks.

Harley tucks a strand of her long blonde hair behind her ears. “Make no mistake. There is only one Harley Davis. There will only ever be one Harley Davis. And I’m the one who gets to be her.”

Tucker glances in Harley’s direction and says, “Why don’t you give it a rest, okay? Do you want me to get Jake out here?”

Harley purses her lips. “He has been in the back room a while, hasn’t he? Maybe I’d better go check on him?”

Tucker rolls his eyes at her. “Great. Now who’s going to wait tables while Jake and Harley hook up in the back room?”

Izzy holds up her hands. “Don’t look at me. I doubt anyone wants me touching their food anyway. I’ll probably be accused of spitting in it. Or something worse.”

My stomach kinds of turns at the thought of what could be worse than having someone spit in your food.

Tucker nods in my direction. I shake my head in response. “It’s my day off. I plan on spending it with Kat. We only stopped by to get some lunch.”

“Could you just help out for a few hours until Coop and Riley get here? With Gracie being sick we’re short-handed.”

“If you guys are busy why hasn’t Jake hired anyone to help out?”

Tucker’s mouth is an angry line. “Every time he tries to hire someone he ends up scre
wing them. When they figure out there’s nothing more going on than just a quickie in the back room they quit.”

I glance over at Kat, but her expression is neutral. I don’t want her to think any less of me because I’ve got a brother who’s no better than her ex, Devon Black.

But she seems to be more interested in savoring her French fries and mustard than bothering with our conversation about Jake and his sexual conquests.

The bar doesn’t seem that busy right now, but I know in a few hours the place will probably be packed. Hopefully by then Coop and Riley will have arrived. I know I’ll only have Kat here for a short period of time and I want to enjoy every moment of it with her. I definitely don’t want to waste the little time we have working at the bar.

“This is really good,” Kat states as she practically inhales the last bite of her burger then gives me a satisfied grin. “It even has a pickle on it. I love pickles.”

“I always get extra pickles. I love them too.”

She pushes her plate away and hops down from the bar stool. “So it sounds like we’ll be working at the bar for a few hours.”

I shake my head. “I’ll be working at the bar. You don’t have to.”

“I don’t mind. It’s fun.”

“This is supposed to be a chance for us to spend time toget
her. I didn’t invite you here to work at Haymakers.”

She laughs. “I kind of invited myself.”

I grab her hand and pull her toward the back room, away from the few patrons in the bar.

“I need to kiss you,” I whisper in her ear.

“I’m not going to stop you.”

I pull her close and put my lips on hers. She tastes a little like French fries and mustard. I laugh when she says the same thing about me.

“You barely touched your food.” Her eyes are filled with concern.