Page 27 of Shar: A Woman Alone

“No problem. I’ll sure giveher my thoughts on her bullying my girl, I’m doing my best to be a good fatherto Zara, and I’ve had to make a lot of changes to my life to do just that. I’llnot let someone like Clarice put a wrench in the works,” Gunner snarls at thethought of Clarice causing drama.

“I also had a word with Zaraabout her dress code. She was going too far trying to look grown-up. But shehas her head straight now.”

“I was going to speak to herabout her dresses, but I didn’t want to piss her off. Being a dad on your ownisn’t easy. If she’d been a boy, I’d a clipped him one, but I would never dothat to Zara,” Gunner sighs, and I can see cogs turning in his brain.

I squeeze his arm and smile.“You are doing a great job, Gunner. You know Zara told Mia you were a fantasticdad now, and that she wouldn’t leave you alone ever. That is a huge differenceto when Mia got out of prison. Keep it up, Gunner, your daughter loves you.”

“Thanks, Shar. I am sorryabout everything that happened with Mia. I’m ashamed of myself, but I’m doingeverything I can to be a better person. Women, I have to admit, are not mypriority, and my right hand has become my best friend.” Gunner grins at me whilewiggling his eyebrows. I burst out laughing because I can tell he is trying tolighten the conversation. I slap his chest with the back of my hand and laughas I pass him to go into my room.

Three hours later, I’mstanding in the kitchen talking with Lira. She’s made chili, which goes down atreat with the brothers. I wonder if she’s going to do garlic bread? Before Ican ask Crack walks into the kitchen. “Hi, Shar, how are you doing?”

“I’m good. I want to organizegoing to look at the tattoo place, and the diner in a few days. You up forthat?”

Crack leans on the back doorframe and nods. “Yeah, I can do that. You got a minute?”

“Yeah, what’s up?”

Giving me a flick of his headto follow, I give Lira awhat the hecklook before stepping out theback door. As I clear the doorway, Crack grabs my waist, lifts me and pulls mearound the corner of the clubhouse. “What!” I exclaim right before he turns mearound, places my back against the wall and slams his mouth down on mine.

Crack explores my mouth,slowly tasting me and savoring that taste, I’m sure. He wraps his arms aroundme, pulling me to his chest. I return the kiss, slowly sliding my tongue overhis before sucking it gently. He tastes a little of peppermint, and it’s notunpleasant. I pull away and Crack places his forehead on mine as we look intoeach other's eyes.

Taking a moment, before Igrin up at him. “That was like kissing my brother.”

Crack looks at me a momentbefore he also laughs. “Yeah, it was a bit flat, wasn’t it? Sorry to say, Shar,we have no spark.”

“No, we don’t. But what we dohave is a great friendship, and if I had a brother like you, I’d be a veryhappy sister.”

Throwing his arm around myshoulders and kissing the top of my head, he chuckles, “Come on, sis, let’s goget a beer.”

That’s exactly what we do. Wesit in the bar, drinking beer and talking about any kind of bullshit we canthink of.

CHAPTER 13

Sharp

This has been one hell of a busy week, and I am more thanaware that Shar is working through what she considers her list of chores beforeshe leaves the club and town.

Rubbing the back of my neck, I look up when, after a knock,Gunner opens the door and walks into my office. “Sorry for disturbing you,Pres. I wanted to fill you in on a couple of things if you have time to talk?”

“Of course, take a seat.” I wait for Gunner to sit and lookback at me. “So, what can I do for you?”

“I’m going to keep Zara home-schooled. She’s had thatbullying issue, as you know. But, she’s doing really well with this tutor and Ithink it would be stupid to send her back into a toxic environment when she cancontinue as she is. I don’t mind paying the extra to make sure she gets hereducation.”

I happen to agree with his thinking on this issue, andknowing Zara can be timid at times, I don’t know how well she would have copedwith going back to the school. “I agree with you, Gunner. Zara is doing better,and she’s come out of herself more with Shar being here. They are getting alonggreat, and it’s the sisterhood if you like, that is helping her thrive.”

“I saved a lot when we were running the guns and shit, soI’m not bothered about spending that on Zara. She’s never asked me foranything, and she’s been a good kid. I am doing everything I can to make up forthe shit in the past.” Gunner rubs his hands over his face, and I know he isdoing everything he can to help Zara grow into a confident and caring woman.

“Did you know Zara wants to open a hair salon?” I ask andcan see by Gunner’s expression he knows.

“Yeah, I’m happy to buy the salon if that’s what she wants,but she really has to make sure she has a plan set out,” Gunner states.

Nodding my head, “Yeah, I agree, and Shar said she’d do abusiness plan with Zara so we all could see if it was viable. They are talkingabout Zara getting herself qualified, but having a manager and another stylistin place. Zara will ultimately be the owner, with the club as co-owners. Youknow we won’t let her do this on her own, and she’ll always have the club’sprotection on her business.”

“Ah, so that’s what they were doing last night with theirheads down, laptop open and a calculator they grabbed from Bank’s office,”Gunner relays what he’d seen and heard.

It sounds as though they are taking this seriously, which isas I would expect from Shar. But teaching Zara to be the same is a wise thingfor her to do, and a blessing for the club.

“I’m willing to buy it outright, but if you want the club topart own, that’s good with me, too. I don’t think, as you say, it’s a bad thingto have the club behind her for security. Nobody will want to mess with theplace if they know we are involved.” Gunner taps his knee before rising fromhis seat and heading to the door. “I’ll see you later, Pres. I’m heading out tothe strip club to do a shift on the door.”

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