Page 97 of Trick or Treat

“Ahhh,” Lindsey nodded her understanding.

Trick watched Jed mosey off to the bar, sidling up next to Tori. He was proud of Lindsey. She didn’t even blush when Jed got up close to her. He pulled her down onto his lap and introduced her to Race’s kids. “That pretty girl there is Shannon. She’s his youngest. The older pretty girl is Elizabeth and the newly licensed driver over there is Derrick.”

“Hello. It’s nice to meet you.”

“I wasn’t expecting to see you guys until later at the house. I thought you were going out to eat with your mom and Alex.” Race pulled his youngest into his lap and Elizabeth took Jed’s vacated seat. Derrick stood behind her with his hands in his pockets.

“We were going to but his parents were meeting us there and we weren’t in the mood to listen to them talk trash about you and the club.”

Trick watched as a tic started up in Race’s jaw. Although his ex, Eve, never had anything bad to say about Race or the club, her new husband’s parents had no such problem with it. Eve knew what she was getting into when she married Race, but as the years went on, she resented his time with the club more and more and eventually left him. They had joint custody of the kids.

“If you haven’t eaten, there’s food in the kitchen. I can help you get something.” Lindsey, sensing a sore subject, led Race’s kids away.

“Hey, you hear from Preacher yet?” Jackson asked.

Race released a deep breath before he answered. “Yeah. Kurtis Black is now serving in the same capacity as the women he’s sold.” His phone dinged. “Hang on.” He pulled his phone out and saw a message waiting on him. He clicked on it. “Preacher said everything worked out and he sent an attachment.” He clicked on the short video and frowned. He chuckled and slid the phone across the table to Trick. “Check it out.”

Trick hit play. As he watched the video, a very happy, satisfied smile spread across his face. Jackson and Tuck leaned in from each side to watch along with him. Kurtis was naked and laying on his stomach, tied to a bed. An overweight, hairy-assed man was plowing his ass and riding him hard. “That’s Karma, motherfucker.”

Another highlight to an already perfect day.

It wasthree weeks later that Trick found himself and his kids staying the night at Lindsey’s house. They’d made it through Christmas and New Year’s bouncing between his house and hers and he was tired of it. He wanted them all together under one roof. He was tired of making two house payments—one for a house he didn’t live in anymore and hadn’t for a long time and another he was only there half the time. It didn’t make sense to keep making two house payments. He could use the money on something else. He hoped to bring up the subject again tonight.

He understood that Lindsey was afraid of going too fast with his kids considering everything they’d been through in the last few months. She was afraid they would be setting a bad example by living together before they were married. He disagreed.

“You love me and my kids?” he’d asked.

“Yes. You know I do.”

“You plan on marrying me and giving me babies?” he’s pushed.

“Yes, Trick. I plan on marrying you and giving you babies.”

As far as he was concerned, he didn’t see a problem. He’d talked to his kids about what his plans for the future would be. He told them that he wanted them to all live under the same roof and be a family. He said that would mean Lindsey would be sleeping in his bed every night because they were going to be husband and wife and that at some point, he’d like to have more babies with her, meaning they would be getting little brothers or sisters. Reagan was excited at that idea because she thought she’d have someone to play Barbies with all the time. Trick didn’t have the heart to explain that if the first one was a boy, he doubted he’d want to play Barbies. And if the first one was a girl, it would be a few years before she’d be interested.

He was lying in Lindsey’s comfortable as hell bed after checking on the kids, impatiently waiting for her to get off the phone with Cami so they could talk before they went to sleep. He could hear her coming down the hall and it sounded like she was wrapping things up. “Yes. I’ll talk to you soon. Bye.”

His heart skipped a beat at the smile she sent his way as she made her way to her side of the bed, plugged up her phone to charge and climbed into bed. “’Bout fucking time. Didn’t think you guys would ever get done yapping.” As expected, he’d earned himself a jab in the side and a disgruntled “Whatever.” She knew he was messing with her.

“Come here and don’t turn out the light. Need to talk to you about something.” He held his arm open for her to cuddle in as he reclined on a stack of pillows. His woman didn’t disappoint. She scooted right in, laying her head on his shoulder, her hand over his heart and her leg over both of his.

“What do you want to talk about?”

He’d gotten distracted by the silky feel of her hair against his bare skin. He cleared his throat and got to it. “Gotta call from Michelle today.” He felt her stiffen against him and her head tipped back, her eyes searching his to see if this was a good call or a bad call.

“Oh?”

“Yeah. It was a good conversation I think. She says she’s got a job at a doctor’s office as a receptionist. Been there two weeks and says she really likes it.” He leaned down and placed a kiss on top of her head, inhaling the smell of honeysuckle shampoo.

“That’s great news, Trick.” Her hand absently roamed his chest, her fingers running through the hair there.

“Here’s the deal. She said she can’t afford the house on her salary, especially since she isn’t getting child support anymore. She’s refusing the alimony I’ve been paying, saying she’s going to stand on her own two feet and prove to me and the kids that she can be a good person again. She really didn’t like the person she’d become since Patty came back and started bulldozing her life.” He ran his fingers up and down her arm, his focus turned to the inside, remembering the conversation.

“Wow. That’s good news for you and the kids. I hope she can do it.” She kissed the underside of his jaw, making him smile. He’d never met anyone like her. Any other woman would get all bitchy if he brought up his ex and tried to talk to them about her. Not Lindsey. She had a big heart and only wanted what was best for everyone. She’d even gone so far as to convince him to let Keegan and Reagan spend a couple of hours with their mom at their grandmother’s house on Christmas Eve. He’d been freaked out, but knowing his kids would be at their grandmother’s made it easier. Seeing the happy smiles on their faces when he went to pick them up, he realized Lindsey had been right. It had been a good call. It also gave Michelle an incentive to make good decisions and something to work toward.

It was never his intention to cut Michelle completely out of Keegan and Reagan’s lives. He just wanted her to straighten her life out and prove he could trust her with the kids.

“Yeah. It is. I really hope it works out because despite all the shit she put the kids through, they still love her.” He looked down at Lindsey when she turned her face up to him.

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