“I was—”
“I know, you were going to tell her. I saved you the trouble. Plus, she gave me a kiss for saving your sorry ass.” Shade pointed to his cheek. “Right here.”
“Let me show you my gratitude.” Lucky punched Shade’s smug face, making him stumble backward into the counter, knocking the platter of omelets to the floor.
“Watch the food!” Rider yelled.
Shade gave him a triumphant look before swinging his fist back and nailing him in the stomach. Lucky launched himself at Shade and both of them barreled into the kitchen table, crashing it to the floor and sending Winter and Jewell scrambling to get out of the way.
Moon pulled Lucky to his feet while Viper and Train yanked Shade back.
Lucky struggled against Moon’s grip.
“Take it easy, brother.”
Lucky knocked him back with an elbow to his face.
“What the fuck was that for?”
“I saw you looking at Willa’s tits when she was sweeping up the cookie jar.”
Moon gave him a shit-eating grin. “Can you blame a brother?”
“When I get finished with you, you’ll be riding back to Ohio in a hearse.” Lucky picked up one of the kitchen chairs, throwing it at Moon who ducked out of the way. It hit one of the crockpots sitting on the counter, tumbling it off the edge and sending oatmeal oozing onto the floor.
“I said to watch the food.” Rider pushed Lucky back before he could attack Moon again.
Moon was pissed off enough to shove Train when he tried to keep Moon from attacking Lucky. Train’s mercurial temper rose and he struck Moon in the eye, sending the two men into a fist fight while Lucky went at Rider.
“Why in the fuck are you hitting me?”
“Leave my fucking cookies alone.”
Rider began hitting him back in defense, the two barreling into Viper who was still trying to contain Shade.
“What in the fuck is going on in here?” Knox barked out, coming into the room and then tossing the brothers apart.
Lucky managed to catch himself on the kitchen counter, holding his jaw that Rider had managed to land a blow on. Straightening, he angrily started at Knox then stopped. He hadn’t lost what sense he had left to go for him.
Taking a deep breath, he managed to get control of his temper, and the other men quit fighting, looking around the destroyed kitchen.
“I’m hungry. Is there any food left?” Knox went behind the counter, searching for an unbroken plate.
“There are some paper plates in the pantry,” Raci said helpfully, snagging one of the last biscuits.
“After Knox eats, there won’t be anything left,” Rider complained, glaring at Lucky. “You already ate that big plate Willa fixed you.” He stomped to the refrigerator, pulling it open, and staring him in the face were rows of breakfast parfaits.
Lucky couldn’t help laughing at Rider’s face when he turned around, slamming the fridge shut then pointing his finger at him.
“Will someone fucking tell me how that fucking lucky bastard managed to catch the best cook in Kentucky who actually wants to wait on him hand and foot, is rich as shit, has the best tits I’ve ever seen, and from the sounds coming from downstairs, is fucking his brains out?”
Lucky gave praise to the one responsible. “I give thanks every day for her.”
Shade gave him an unnerving grin. “You’re welcome.”
Chapter 32
“Did I do something wrong?” Ginny asked tentatively.
Willa set the decorating bag down. “No, I’m sorry. I’m not in the best of tempers today.” She apologized for the silence that had continued throughout the day.
“That’s okay. I just wanted to make sure I hadn’t screwed something up.” Ginny stacked another pink box of cupcakes she had finished filling. “I’m excited about being able to cook full-time. When do you want me to start at the clubhouse?”
Willa had offered her the job as soon as she had arrived that morning before her temper cooled, and now she was regretting it. Firming her resolve, she stuck to her guns, though. “Give notice at the diner and let me know when would be good for you.”
“I’ll tell them this afternoon when I go in.” Ginny began filling another box with cupcakes. “I’m renting an efficiency apartment because I can’t afford anything bigger right now. I don’t make much waitressing, so once I start working full-time for you, I’m hoping to rent a one bedroom.”
Her chattering dissolved the rest of Willa’s ill humor.
“Can I ask you a personal question?”
“Shoot.” Ginny neatly folded the ends of the box closed.
“Why don’t you like the Wests? I mean, you lived there for several years, but you avoid them when you see them at church.”
A guarded look crossed Ginny’s face as she reached for another box.
“I was just wondering since they have custody of Darcy. Her older brother Cal is living with a friend of mine, Drake Hall.”
“They never laid a hand on me or did anything inappropriate, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“Is she safe?”
Ginny paused then began placing cupcakes into a box. “Is your husband leaving Treepoint, or is he here for good?”
Willa felt a chill go down her back at Ginny’s words.
“We’re not going anywhere.”
“Then she’s safe,” she said with a nod of her head.
“Did Lucky…?”
“Lucky saved my life. I’ll never be able to repay him for what he did. They aren’t bad people; they just have very high standards that I couldn’t measure up to.”
“I know what that’s like. I never measured up to my mother’s standards.”
“You? I can’t believe that. You’re perfect. You’re sweet, kind, and you try to help everyone. I wish I could be more like you.”
Willa felt humbled by the compliments. “Go get us some lunch at the diner while I finish the order. I’ll take a chicken sandwich and a salad.” Willa handed her a twenty. “Buy yourself lunch, too. I noticed you didn’t eat any yesterday.” Willa gave her a wink. “You can give notice while you’re there.”
Ginny grinned back. “I’ll wait until I get our food then tell them.”
Willa turned her back to the door as she left to count the boxes that had been finished, deciding she would call Carl after lunch.
When her cell phone rang, making her lose count, she frowned at the number she didn’t recognize.
“Hello?”
“Willa! I need your help!” Sissy’s frantic voice on the other end of the line had Willa’s hand tightening on the phone.
“What’s wrong?” Willa could barely understand her for her crying. “Slow down so I can understand you.”
“Can you come and pick me up at the lookout? I was dropped off here, and I don’t have a way back to the place I’ve been staying. Can I stay with you?” The girl began crying harder.
“Yes, give me ten minutes to get there. I’m on my way.” Willa grabbed her purse as she walked to the door.
“Hurry, please!” The phone went dead.
Willa started running out of the church to her van. Her fingers were trembling so badly she barely managed to put the key into the ignition. Finally starting the van, she peeled out of the church parking lot, driving toward Lookout Mountain. Thank God it wasn’t far away.
It was actually the mountain that sat above Rosey’s bar, and it was where the local teenagers hung out. Willa had never been there herself to party, but she had been there as a volunteer to clean the area when the church had become concerned it was being filled with trash and becoming overgrown. It was one of the few visitor sites the town had, giving a spectacular view of the other mountains and the valley below.
Willa made the turn onto the side road that led up the steep mountain, going slow as she looked for Sissy. She was almost to the top when she pulled over as close to the edge of the road
as she dared so she could call Sissy back to find out where she was waiting.
When she couldn’t make a connection, she looked at her phone to find there were no bars. Her cell phone couldn’t get a signal through the heavy trees and mountains.
“Darn it.” She was going to have to turn around. Sissy couldn’t have called her from this high up; she wouldn’t have a signal. The only place to turn around was at the top, though.
As she got to the top and turned her van around, she saw Sissy sitting on a picnic table by the chained-off cliff.
Willa slammed on her brakes, throwing the gear shift into park. Getting out of the car, she ran toward Sissy then slowed down when she saw the triumphant look on her face.
“Sissy, is everything okay?”
Sissy ignored her question. “See? I told you she would be stupid enough to come, didn’t I?”
“Yes, you did.”