Truly, Madly, Whiskey(87)
Biggs’s mouth curved up in a smile, lifting his thick gray mustache. His gaze softened and he reached for her with one arm, leaning on the cane with the other.
“I’m just trying to live up to my reputation.” His speech was slow and slightly slurred. He leaned down and kissed her cheek, and she exhaled with relief.
“Now I see where Bullet learned it.” Crystal smiled at Bullet. “You had me shaking in my boots.”
“No, I didn’t. You’re a tough cookie. I can see it in your eyes. I’d bet it takes a lot more than a look to make you shake in your shoes.” He winked at Bear and made his way over to the table.
Lunch was delicious, and they fell into easy conversation. Red told stories about Bear burying—and holding ceremonies for—everything from his pet goldfish to dead birds he’d found in the woods. Each of his siblings did their best to embarrass him, and by the time they’d finished eating, Crystal couldn’t remember why she’d been nervous in the first place. She was drawn to his father, who took every chance he could to squeeze his wife’s hand, wink at Dixie, or give his boys a hard time. He was a bit stern, and Crystal could see an underlying darkness in him, the way she could in Bullet, but the love he had for his family was palpable.
Bear’s family was everything she’d always wished she’d had.
Crystal helped carry the dishes inside, and when she came back out, Biggs was sitting at the table petting Tinkerbell. He patted the seat beside him. “Sit with me a minute.”
She heard Bear’s hearty laughter, which she loved so much, and as she sat down, Bear and Bones came outside.
“Tell me about your family,” Biggs said.
Bear sat beside her and pulled his chair so close their legs touched. He took her hand in his, watching her with a look that said he’d rescue her from the conversation, but she didn’t need rescuing. She needed to cross this bridge at some point. It might as well be now.
“We lost my father when I was nine. My mother lives about an hour away, and honestly, she’s a mess. A drinker,” she said, surprised at how easily the truth came. “And my brother, Jed, is, well, he’s a good guy, but he’s been in some trouble. He’s trying to clean up his act, though.”
Biggs’s gaze never left hers. He wasn’t looking at her with a harsh glare or with tenderness. He was simply looking at her, without judgment. “I’m sorry about your parents. And glad to hear your brother is finding his way. Sometimes we have to fall before we learn to stand on our own.” His eyes shifted to Bear. “And sometimes life throws us oceans of trouble, and it’s all we can do to keep our heads above water.”
She couldn’t be sure if he was talking about her life, or theirs, but she lowered her eyes, feeling self-conscious. “Yes, that’s true.”
He tapped the side of her leg with his cane, and when she met his gaze, he was smiling again. “You keep that head up, darlin’. You’re floating. Nothing can keep you down. But if life ever tries to drown you again, you’ve got Bear and all of us to pull you up. We take care of our own.”
Tears welled in her eyes. She didn’t think as she rose from her chair and hugged the father who had taught the man she adored about family, loyalty, and respect. He’d taught him how to be a man—and how to love.
Chapter Twenty-Two
CRYSTAL STOOD IN front of the bathroom mirror fixing her makeup and trying not to laugh at Bear, who was leaning on the doorframe watching her. His legs were crossed casually at the ankles, but there was nothing casual about the wolfish grin on his face.
“Don’t you have something better to do?” She set down her eyeliner and smoothed her black tank top, giving her hips an extra shake for his benefit. She secretly loved that he was always lusting after her. They’d been together for more than a month, or by Bear’s count, more than nine months. Either way, she was more in love with him than ever.
He stepped behind her, nibbling on her shoulder the way he knew drove her mad. “Better than this? Are you nuts, silly girl?”
“Bullet will be here in a few minutes. There’s no time to fool around.” They were helping Jed move into Quincy’s apartment today. Crystal was so excited she could barely stand it. She and Jed had been talking more often since the incident with their mother, and they’d gotten even closer after she’d told him what had happened to her in college. It reminded her of how close they’d been when they were younger. She missed those times. She missed him.
She turned in Bear’s arms, and he lifted her up on the counter, pushing her legs open and claiming his spot in between. She was glad he’d stopped being quite so careful with her.
“All I want is to touch you, sugar.” He nipped at her lower lip, his hands gliding up her bare thighs to the fringe on her shorts.
Harley meowed as she came into the bathroom. She’d grown tall and slender, and Crystal swore she had developed a homing device for Bear’s advances.
“There’s our little cockblocker.”
She felt him smiling against her neck. He loved Harley so much he let her have her own pillow on their bed.
She pushed off the counter and wound her arms around his neck. Guiding his mouth to hers, she kissed him until she felt him go hard.
He groaned against her mouth. God, she loved that. She loved everything about her naughty biker boy. He’d been a happier man since he’d agreed to work for Silver-Stone, and she was looking forward to the days when he was no longer working day and night. But she was even more excited to know his dreams were finally going to come true.