Loving Me, Trusting You(27)

“Sparks, I think you should talk to Diamond.” I get three sets of glares leveled on me from Austin, Kimmi, and Mireya. I hold up my hands to keep the peace, letting them know I'm not trying to start shit. “Listen to me first and then shoot me after if you don't like what I have to say.” I drop my hands and move out of the bathroom to sit on the edge of the bed. Austin and Kimmi exchange a look and move inside, closing the door behind them. “Melissa knows most – if not all – of the shit that Kent was up to. She knows how he kept things running so smoothly. Now, I know you and Kimmi have been our breadwinners for f*ck knows how long, but it's going to take more than that to sail this ship, especially with all of the crap that's going down. People are okay now, but what happens if they think you can't control the group? That you can't keep things the way Kent did. They'll get antsy and things will get weird. Think about it. Melissa Diamond is a train wreck, but she's probably our best hope of managing this without a hitch.”

Austin stares at me for a moment with a blank expression and then breaks out into a grin.

“Now, tell me this,” he says, lifting his head up a bit to glance at Amy. She smiles back at him, and Mireya rolls her eyes again. “Why did it take a damn infant to bring that shit up? Don't know why I didn't think of it.” He slaps me on the back and it's my turn to roll my eyes.

“Fucking geezer,” I mumble at him as he watches Kimmi check out our newcomer. She looks pleased with what she sees. Now, I don't know if Christy swings that way or not, but Kimmi Reynolds has been known to turn a few heads that wouldn't otherwise look her way, if you catch my drift. “Now go rob a bank or some shit. That's your specialty, ain't it?” Austin laughs, and Kimmi flicks me in the nose with her long nails.

“Glad you guys are so chill with this,” she says, dangly earring swinging as she turns her head from me and focuses back on Christy. A double take. This doesn't bode well for Kimmi's current girlfriend, Margot. Poor thing. Looks like our female casanova is ready to move on. Wonder if she knows the girl's a virgin? I can practically smell her innocence from here. Christy is not like Amy, a facade of politeness wrapped around an animal. Nope. If their positions had been switched, Mireya might still be holding Austin in her grip.

I shiver and try not to think about Mireya's grip. God. My cock starts to stiffen anyway, and I drop my hands to my lap to try and cover it.

“Ain't gonna be any bank robbing going on tonight, but if we're doing Fort Walton, our plans have got to be solid. You don't mind if we step out together for awhile?” I start to shake my head, and then pause to look over at Mireya.

“You don't want any help?” she asks, and I notice that her voice softens just a bit. God, what I would give to have her look at me like that. Austin shakes his head.

“Much as I appreciate the offer, sugar, Kimmi and I have been a two-horse team for as long as I can remember. When Kent tried to get Melissa involved, it didn't exactly go over well. I'm going to say that we'll stick to what works.” He pauses and the two of them share a strange stare over my head, communicating without words. Old friends can do that, you know. It's pretty f*cking special. “You'll stay here and watch the group for me though?” Mireya smiles, but it's tight-lipped, nodding her head reluctantly.

“Yeah, sure, Pres. Whatever the f*ck you want.”

Austin takes a step forward like he wants to go to Amy and then pauses. Out of respect for Mireya, I watch him pull himself in, drop us a salute and leave the room with Kimmi practically drooling behind him. Thing is, I think I see Christy returning the stare. Hmm.

“I want to take a moment to thank you both,” Amy says, turning to look at us with a gentle smile. “The way you handled yourselves in that bar was admirable.” She pauses and her blue eyes lock onto Mireya's brown ones. “Especially you. I know we haven't had the best of of beginnings, but my mother always used to say that the best things are worth working for. I think we could work at being friends, don't you?” Mireya stares at her for a moment and then lights up her cigarette, shrugging like she doesn't give a shit. But I think she does. I really, really do.

“I'm going to take this outside,” she says, raising her smoke up with two fingers and moving past the girls and out onto the patio. I follow after, wanting to give the two friends a chance to catch up. And well, maybe because I'm still a little bit off after having Christy catch me whackin' it.

“Go away, Gaine,” she says before I can even close the sliding glass door behind me. I watch as she leans over the railing and sticks her leather clad ass out like she has no clue how friggin' hot she is. I know she does though. I've seen Mireya Sawyer flaunt it like a f*cking peacock. She knows the body she has and the power she's got over men. I stare at her ass for a moment and step up beside her.

“Are you pissed at me?” I ask her, and she groans, dropping her head down and letting her cigarette dangle, ashes trailing off into the warm wind. The town below us stretches out, sleepy and quiet, fading into the sultry evening like a fairytale. I swear, sometimes I think these little Southern towns are in a universe of their own making, one where the hustle and bustle and bullshit doesn't reach. It feels so peaceful here.

“What for, Gaine?” she asks, and I don't really know what to say. I guess it just feels like she's angry with me all the time. I wish she'd let go a little bit. I wonder if Amy Cross could help her out with that? I think that girl just learned how to lose herself. It's a valuable skill, one that I think Mireya would benefit from. As stupid as I feel taking Beck's advice, I keep his words in mind and try not to pester her. Whining and bitching and moping around isn't going to endear any woman to me, especially not one that's tough as nails like Mireya.