Winter's Touch (The Last Riders Book 8) (14 page)

“I’ll think about it. Did Viper show you the bathroom upstairs?”

Sasha grinned in satisfaction when Winter told her he had.

The women moved to the stools at the kitchen counter, where Rider, Willa, and Lucky were sitting. Sasha and the couple laughed about Rider’s reaction when Viper had texted her last night about the bathtub.

“He can be such a girl sometimes,” Winter said.

Rider lifted a brow at her comment, yelling across the room to her husband, “Viper!”

Winter winced when Viper yelled out, “Yeah?”

“How does Winter feel about pirates?”

“
Y
ou look handsome tonight
,” Winter complimented Viper, as she straightened his tie.

“Thank you.” He took her hand, twirling her in her long, multi-blue formal dress. “All the husbands are going to be jealous of me.”

“I doubt that. I have some stiff competition from Beth and Lily.”

Both of the women were going to look lovely that evening. Lily would be wearing a lilac sheath that made her look sexy, highlighting her purple eyes. Beth would be wearing a white and gold gown that emphasized the golden tan she had worked on the entire summer while lying out with her by Aunt Shay’s pool.

Winter and Beth had spent the summer packing up years of Aunt Shay’s possessions. They had moved into the house Viper had built them within a week, but it had taken the entire summer to pack and give away what she didn’t want.

Viper buttoned his jacket. “We need to leave. The dinner is getting ready to start.”

“I’m ready.” She picked up her small purse, following Viper to the top of the steps.

He lifted her into his arms, carrying her down the steps then setting her on her feet at the bottom.

Aunt Shay turned the television down. “You both look so elegant.”

Winter kissed her aunt on the cheek. “Are you sure you don’t want to go with us?”

“No, dear. You two go have some fun. Ton and I are going to finish this movie. Then, after he leaves, I’ll go to bed. You can tell me about Drake’s party in the morning. Don’t forget to take the bottle of wine Ton and I picked out to congratulate him.”

“I’m sure he will appreciate it.”

Was Viper’s father sitting a little too close to her aunt?

Winter gave him a warning glance when she noticed he was wearing cologne.

Viper took her hand then went to the counter to pick up the wine. “Make sure she locks the door when you leave, and set the alarm.”

Ton bristled, shooting his son a glare. “I was the one who taught you how to take care of a woman, so I don’t need to be reminded to make sure Shay is safe before I leave.”

Winter scrutinized how close Ton was sitting next to her aunt again, seeing his arm resting on the back of the couch behind her.

“I didn’t think you did. I was going to remind you of the code for the alarm. It’s loud enough to wake the dead if you key it in wrong,” Viper cautioned.

“Oh… You two have a nice time.” Ton leaned toward the television.

They went out the back door.

“I hope he doesn’t remember everything he taught me about women,” Viper joked as they walked slowly down the path.

Winter didn’t think it was funny. “I’m not letting Sex Piston do Aunt Shay’s hair or take us shopping ever again.”

“It’s too late for that. She hit a homerun when she got Aunt Shay to loosen up and stop dressing like she’s from the fifties. I can’t complain. She helped you pick out that dress, didn’t she?”

“Yes, and Lily’s and Beth’s. That woman has a knack for knowing what will look good on a chick.”

Viper opened her car door, and Winter carefully lowered herself into the seat, holding his arm as she slowly turned to face forward.

“Okay?”

“Yes.”

She was at the end of her seventh month of pregnancy, and so far, it was going fine. Her pregnancy was showing, but it was barely noticeable. When she had gone shopping in Lexington, strangers hadn’t realized she was pregnant until they’d seen her from the side.

Dr. Price told her last week to stop exercising when she had said the pain was starting. Aunt Shay’s pool had become her only way to keep herself in excellent condition. She missed her workouts with Viper. Since they had increased the orders at the factory, they hadn’t been able to see each other during the day.

She had taken the new school year off at Dr. Price’s suggestion, and boredom was driving her nuts. She had finished Aunt Shay’s puzzle book and been forced to buy more to keep herself busy.

Viper settled himself behind the steering wheel. “Did I tell you how beautiful you look?”

“You’re not going to distract me. You need to have a talk with Ton.”

“Hell no. He stopped drinking. He even let Beth clean his house so Aunt Shay would come over and see his garden. Aunt Shay has never looked better. They’re good for each other.”

“He’s nothing like Uncle Dennis.”

“That’s for sure,” Viper scoffed. “I don’t see Ton waiting a fucking year to share her bed.”

Winter stiffened, shooting him an angry glance. “That’s my aunt we’re talking about.”

“She’s still a woman. Even Dr. Matthews said her depression is gone. I think it’s time we told her.” Viper pulled the car into the parking lot of King’s restaurant.

“I know. Every time I start to do it, I just can’t bring myself to. How do I tell her she’s broke? That Vincent stole her money? He worked in a bank. If he hadn’t let Beth handle her bills, we wouldn’t have known until the bank put a foreclosure notice on the door. The son of a bitch did such a good job of doctoring her accounts that we didn’t find the discrepancies until Beth couldn’t find the money to fix the roof and let us know.” Vincent was Aunt Shay’s son-in-law. Because he was so highly respected in town, and a president of the largest bank, no one suspected he had been stealing from accounts that his mother-in-law and Viper’s brother had trusted him with. Gavin had figured it out, and had lost his life for trusting Vincent. Aunt Shay still didn’t know. Beth, Winter, and Viper had protected her from the truth, but now had the dilemma of continuing to spare her feelings or telling her the truth.

“We’ve been paying all her bills for years, and I’m not complaining. I only want to tell her, because she wants to put the money from the sale of her house in a trust for our baby. If you don’t want to tell her, we won’t. I’ll buy the house and give her the money she thinks she’s getting from the sale.”

Winter shook her head. “You’d be paying for the house twice. You already bought it from the bank three years ago.”

Viper reached out, cupping her cheek. “It’ll make her think she’s still independent. I don’t want her to think she needs to stay with us because she has nowhere else to go. Besides, she wants to leave the majority of the money to our baby, and I’m planning a trust for him anyway, so it will all work out in the end.”

“Lucky isn’t the only Last Rider who is lucky. How in the world did I luck out when you fell in love with me?”

Viper gave her a lingering kiss before getting out of the car and opening the door for her. He put one hand on the roof of the car, leaning down to give her his other hand. “I guess it was just your lucky day.”

“Yes, it was.” Taking his hand, she maneuvered to the side so he could help lift her slowly to her feet.

Locking the car, he escorted her into King’s restaurant, which had been closed for the night to other customers.

Winter was in awe of how King decked out the restaurant to celebrate Drake’s victory. The restaurant had been transformed into an elegant gathering, with expensive linens, candlelight, and music playing in the background.

Drake and Bliss were standing at the door to greet their friends as they arrived.

“You look amazing, Bliss.” Marriage was definitely agreeing with the petite woman.

“You do, too. I’m jealous of that dress.” Bliss hugged her then hugged Viper before taking the wine he carried inside.

Winter smoothed her hands over the chiffon, loving the feel of it against her skin. “Sex Piston picked it out.”

“Mine, too! I’ve been keeping her busy since Drake decided to run for mayor.”

The town had elected Drake after a special election was called for after Knox had found enough evidence to remove the former mayor due to embezzlement. He had pocketed the town’s money for his personal use.

Bliss had always been the sexiest of the Last Riders’ women, but Sex Piston had toned it down to make her look more sophisticated, giving her a chic style that drew everyone’s gaze even more than before. Her elegant black gown was demure until she moved to place the wine on the bar, showing a slit that came up to just above her knees.

Winter and Viper sat down at one of the tables with Lily, Shade, Beth, and Razer. Willa, Sex Piston, and her friends were sitting at the table next to theirs. The conversation flowed back and forth between the tables as Viper and Shade talked to Stud and Cade, while Sex Piston nitpicked every woman who hadn’t taken her advice on what to wear.

When a familiar face came to fill her water glass, Winter was stunned by Megan’s appearance. The girl had put on thirty pounds since she became pregnant, and her once curly hair was lank and listless.

“Megan, I didn’t know you worked here.”

Her former student gave her an overly bright smile. “Hello, Winter, Willa. I started last week.” She filled the water glasses before taking everyone’s drink order then disappearing into the kitchen.

Winter turned to Willa, who was sitting at the table next to her. “I thought she was working for you?”

“She quit,” Willa said grimly. “Curt must have talked her into leaving. Apparently, I was asking too many questions.”

Winter lowered her voice, watching for Megan’s return. “She looks terrible. Her hair looks like it hasn’t been washed in two weeks.”

“I know, and I’m shocked by how much weight she has gained. The Lord knows I have been eating one too many cupcakes since I found out I was pregnant, but it’s her attitude. I think she keeps hoping Curt is going to make good on all the promises he made when she married him.”

“Hell will freeze over first,” Viper spoke up from her other side. “He’s been earning enough money from the factory to put a down payment on two cars.”

“What’s he doing with his money, then?”

“I’m guessing it’s going up his nose,” he said bluntly.

“That poor woman.” Willa and Winter shared an upset glance as Megan returned with a small tray and another waitress carried two additional ones filled with drinks.

After Megan set the drinks down at their table, she took their food orders before returning to the kitchen.

“She’s still a girl. She believes Curt is right in everything he tells her to do. Maybe I should talk to her.”

“You can try. I don’t think it will do much good though.”

Viper’s skeptical response didn’t sway her. She was going to talk to Megan privately before she left.

Turning the topic to something less depressing, Winter asked Willa if she started having any cravings yet. Willa and Lucky had found out last week that she was two months pregnant.

“Didn’t I mention the cupcakes?” Willa shook her head at herself. “Sugar has always been my downfall.”

“I wouldn’t say that.” Lucky gave his wife a lusty wink. “Cupcakes aren’t what Willa’s been craving.”

Viper rolled his eyes at Lucky’s bragging. “Enjoy it while you can. The first five months is fun, but wait until you can’t get your zipper up because your dick is too sore.”

Winter choked on her iced tea, and Viper tried to pat her back. She punched him for the effort.

“I’m going to kill you for that when we get home.”

Her husband was unfazed. “Maybe I’ll get a good night’s sleep.” Leaning back, he placed the linen napkin on his lap as Megan served the salads with the other waitress.

The whole table cracked up as Winter fumed. She had to admit her libido had been on overdrive since becoming pregnant, but her husband must have been boasting to the men before tonight.

She decided to take him down a peg or two.

“If you’d done it right the first time, I wouldn’t have to keep asking for repeat performances.”

The look Viper gave her had her nipples tightening in arousal. Satisfied he had shut her down, he started talking to Stud behind him.

Jerk.

Winter was debating dumping her iced tea over his head the way Penni had dumped a pitcher over Killyama’s. The woman was sitting next to Sex Piston. Killyama was stunning in a long gown. The bottom half was black and so tight Winter didn’t know how she moved. The top was white and crossed between her breasts, leaving her upper chest and midriff bare. It showed off her killer body when she walked to the restroom.

Train watched Killyama’s movements, his face impassive as she passed his table. He had only been back from his mission for a week. His hair was longer, tied behind his neck, and he had lost weight. Winter couldn’t understand why he didn’t try to date Killyama. It was obvious he had a thing for the woman, and it was obvious she returned the feeling.

“Stay out of it,” Viper stated, having turned to see who she was staring at.

“What? I was just watching King. He’s making sure Megan doesn’t carry anything heavy.” Other workers carried the entrees while Megan gave out the butter and condiments.

“Mm-hmm.”

“All right, I was wondering why Train doesn’t get the stick out of his ass and make a play for Killyama,” Winter confessed. “His eyes almost fell out of their sockets when he saw her naked at Aunt Shay’s house. He couldn’t even eat lunch when we went out.”

Viper started cutting his steak. “Can you see her as a Last Rider?”

Winter blanched. “No.”

“That’s why. Eat your steak.”

The thought of Killyama as a Last Rider had her made her lose her appetite. There wasn’t enough land in the graveyard where Gavin was buried to bury them all. Winter could only think of two women in the clubhouse that would be safe from her wrath. Train and Rider had a knack of sneaking under a woman’s guard, and into her panties.

“Worried?” Viper’s white teeth snagged a bite of her steak.

“Terrified.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll protect you.”

Winter lowered her lashes, studying the other wives. “It could be worth it. She could be interested in Rider. At least then I would be in the clear,” she said out of the corner of her mouth, thankful the rest of the table was talking and not listening to them.

“For now.”

Viper’s playful mood was contagious. Ever since the night he had found out she was pregnant, her husband had become less rigid and more lighthearted. It had made her love him even more, deepening the bond between them.

“Not even if a zombie apocalypse took out every living man?”