Calder watched her nibble from the buffet Sex Piston had set out for Stud’s birthday, promising himself he would be finished with the one he had been secretly building for her by Christmas.
“So… how did you know Gavin was the answer to the Three Musketeers clue?”
“That was the easiest of the clues. Three jackets belonging to three club presidents: you, Stud, and Viper.”
“You’re saying that we are the musketeers?”
“Oh, yes.” She ran a caressing hand down his chin, running her thumb over the naked flesh of where his goatee used to be. “And what do they all have in common that they were protecting?”
“Gavin.”
During his last week at rehab, he had been able to tell something was on her mind. After lunch with Gavin one day, she had told him that she knew the answer to the clue, pretending that she had just realized it. That must have been what was on her mind: deciding to take the prize or give it to Gavin. She had decided to give it away.
It had only taken him a second to agree. He had already planned to let her have it all, anyway.
Calder still believed she had waited to tell him for another reason. She had hoped The Last Riders would win it and let them be the ones to give the prizes to Gavin, taking the temptation away from her.
When Crazy Bitch had called to ask if Viper wanted to switch the bikes, Viper had told them that the closest team to winning was Shade. He and Lily had gone to the penitentiary, too, but it seemed they had been all out of Three Musketeer bars.
She had worked so hard to win, but then had given it away without a backward glance.
Crazy Bitch deserved more than the motorcycle that was in the same disastrous shape as the green car she had suckered Train into buying, but that was all she had now to get back to work.
She had stayed with Peyton during his time in rehab, refusing to leave him in Lexington. Sex Piston had taken what appointments she could, but she had lost her income for several weeks.
There came a time in a man’s life when he had to decide how he was going to spend the rest of it, and Calder intended to spend the rest of his with her.
No other woman would have been able to tolerate him touching her after she had gone into that bedroom. From Stud’s description, it had turned his stomach.
He had confessed his doubts about wanting to be with her due to Candi’s Oscar-worthy performance, making Stud and everyone else believe he had seen her at the groundbreaking and had left with her. That is, everyone but Crazy Bitch.
Not once had he felt recriminations from her, and when he had felt too dirty to touch her, she had taken care of that problem, too.
“What color lipstick are you wearing?”
“Sweet Pink.”
“Jesus.”
Calder turned to see one of Razer’s sons asking Star to dance. “Which one is he?”
“Who?”
Calder frowned. “The little—”
“That’s Chance.”
“Suit’s him. He’s taking a chance.”
“Chill, papa bear. You have a few years before you have to worry about boys. I don’t think he even knows how to tie his own shoes yet. If you keep glowering at him, he’ll go crying to his mama.”
“I can take Razer.” He stared across the room at the man, judging his fighting skills. When he decided it would be an even match, he continued to finish his plate. Besides, he had plans for when he went home. None of them involved nursing another black eye.
“Have I told you today I love you?” She twirled her strawberry into the fondue. Pulling it away, she lifted it toward his mouth.
Calder opened his mouth, letting her place it inside. Before she could move her hand back, he swiped his tongue over one of her fingers that had a drop of chocolate.
“Yes, you have.”
“Just checking.” She moved closer to him, making room for Killyama and Train to fill their plates.
“How’s it going?” Calder greeted Train.
“Good. You?”
“My woman just told me she loved me for the fourth time today. I couldn’t be better.”
“I heard.” Killyama made gagging noises.
“I didn’t hear you say it back.”
“Give her a good whack for me.” Killyama snickered.
“Huh?” Calder looked questioningly at Killyama, who had gotten into a shoving match with Crazy Bitch.
Calder set his plate back down, pulling Crazy Bitch away from Killyama, who had gotten into a weird karate pose and was egging her to “Bring it.”
“There are kids around,” Calder hissed.
“She started it.” Crazy Bitch pulled her top back up that had become dangerously close to spilling her breasts into the fondue she was standing next to.
Killyama dropped her pose, coming back to take her plate from Train. “I was just trying to be helpful. Issues like yours need serious attention.”