Truly, Madly, Whiskey(85)

A loud bark caught her attention as a large brown and black dog bounded toward them. Bear sank to one knee and opened his arms. The dog went paws on shoulders, nearly bowling him over, and covered Bear’s face in slobbery kisses.

“Hey, Tink.” Bear laughed, smiling up at Crystal. “This is Tinkerbell, Bullet’s Rottweiler puppy.”

“Bullet has a puppy named Tinkerbell? And are you sure she’s a puppy? She’s huge.”

“She’s definitely a puppy, and if you make one crack about her name, I’ll make your boyfriend pay the price. Kennedy named her, and anything that little princess wants from her Uncle Bullet, she gets.” Bear’s brother pulled her into a hug. “How’s it going, sweetheart?”

“Great, thanks. It’s good to see you.” Between Bullet’s size, tatted-up body, and eyes that seemed to be in a constant state of back off, he was as intimidating as they came. But when it came to Kennedy and Lincoln, he was soft as butter, and he’d always been warm with Crystal.

Tinkerbell ran over to the garden and began digging.

“Tink.” Bullet patted his leg, and the dog came to his side. He crouched and took the pup’s face in his hands. “Don’t you dig in Red’s garden, sweetheart. I worked hard to make it pretty.”

Crystal felt her eyes widen, and she tried to hide her surprise. “You garden?”

Bullet rose to his feet, hands on hips, scowling. “I suppose you’re going to give me shit about that like Bear and Bones do?”

She held her hands up, unable to stifle a laugh. “I think it’s adorable.”

He growled.

Bear laughed.

“Manly,” Crystal added. “That’s what I meant.”

“Come on, Tink.” Bullet slapped his leg again, and the dog trotted alongside him toward the backyard.

“There they are.” Bear’s mother waved from across the yard. Her hair was a shade darker than Dixie’s, cut above her shoulders in long layers. She pushed her sunglasses onto the top of her head as she approached and embraced Bear. “Hi, honey. I’m glad you two made it.”

She smiled at Crystal, and in his mother’s smile she saw Bear’s warmth, and his mischief.

“Crystal, you look beautiful, honey.” She embraced her.

“Thank you…?” She wasn’t sure what to call her. Wren? Mrs. Whiskey? Red?

“Call me Red, honey. Everyone else does.” She winked at Bear and put an arm around each of their waists, heading for the backyard. It was easy to see where Bear got his loving nature.

The backyard was beautiful, all grassy lawn and mature trees, with lovely gardens surrounding a large patio. A glass table set for seven with a vase of flowers in the center.

“I want to know everything Bear won’t tell me,” his mother said.

“Red.” Bear gave her a please don’t look.

“You finally meet the woman of your dreams, and you want me to back off?” She turned to Crystal with an amused expression. “You’d think after thirty-three years he’d know me. Honey, why don’t you go see if they need help getting lunch ready?”

“I’m not leaving you alone with her. You’ll give her the third degree.”

Bullet tossed a ball for Tinkerbell and wrapped an arm around Bear from behind, putting him in a headlock and dragging him away. “Come on, bro. Help me play catch with Tink.”

Crystal watched Bear maneuver out of the headlock and turn on Bullet. They began dancing around like they were boxing. “Should I be worried?”

“Pfft. If I worried every time they played like that, I’d be much grayer by now.” Red pointed to a basketball hoop. “They’ll take out their aggression playing ball. Give ’em five minutes. And don’t worry. I’m not going to give you the third degree.”

She breathed a little easier, although Red was so easygoing, she wouldn’t have minded if she did.

“I know my big-hearted youngest son,” Red said. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you, and Dixie tells me he’s been trying to catch your eye for months. You’re also the first woman he’s brought home since high school. It seems to me, the boy who used to tumble into my bed at five o’clock Sunday mornings to cuddle, then wrestle with his brothers until they were sweaty from head to toe and starved for breakfast, has grown up and met his one and only.”

Crystal felt herself blushing. “I love the man he is, and I’m happy to tell you whatever you’d like to know about me.”

“Honey.” Red smiled. “There’s nothing you could say that would make me think you weren’t right for him. I trust my boys, and of all of them, Bear is the most in tune with his feelings. He’s with you, I’m with you.”

Crystal’s throat thickened with emotion, and a pang of sadness moved through her. Red offered the unconditional love she’d wanted so badly from her own mother. Before she could respond, Dixie and Bones came out the back door carrying a tray of sandwiches and drinks. Dixie’s eyes lit up as she set the tray on the table.

“Hey, Crystal.” Dixie hugged her, looking over at Bear and Bullet, who were racing around with the puppy. Their father had agreed to let Dixie take over the renovations and manage the bar. But Dixie being Dixie, had insisted on remaining part-time at the shop as well. She was a loyal, stubborn Whiskey through and through. “Welcome to Testosterone Central.”