Page 4 of Under the Influence

Leaving the SUV, I wonder if adding all their IQs together would reach one hundred.

“Behave,” I tell them in a casual voice.

The men notice how my sharp gaze betrays my tone. Despite the arranged marriage being my family’s idea, I’m on edge and ready to beat the shit out of someone. If the meatheads don’t want to be the ones to win my attention, they best keep their mouths shut and their hands to themselves.

Val comes bouncing out of his parents’ house like a big dumb dog. I don’t know how he’ll keep my guys in line when he’s as obnoxious as they are.

“So hot,” he says to Lola before remembering the rest of us exist. Peeling his horny gaze from my daughter, he loses his happy gaze and flashes a disappointed look at the men. “My sexy teenage step-niece will be underfoot at this party. If any of you act gross around her, I’ll very gently remove one of your testicles.”

When he notices my glare, he adds, “I’m letting them keep the other ball out of respect for my new club.”

Val takes Lola’s hand and tugs her toward the house where his parents wait. Lola instantly reaches for Clover’s hand. My younger daughter grabs Erin’s hand. They walk in a line up to the main house.

“What are we supposed to do?” Cubby asks when I remain with them.

“Say and do nothing. Be like robots with no batteries.”

The guys manage to behave until the entire Rawkfist club arrives. Egos clash. I start worrying someone will pull out their dick and a measuring tape. Suddenly, Val appears to announce how the men ought to save their energy for the Charleston club.

I can’t deny the kid is trying to be a leader. But I don’t know if such a pretty man can win the respect of my guys who are beefy blunt objects.

As the party gets bigger and more people arrive, I fall into the background rather than take charge by talking to Court, Donovan, or Emmett. I already feel like my time is over.

Getting myself a jar of moonshine, I plan to ease my worries by erasing a few brain cells.

I’m near the buffet table when I catch sight of Edith Mooney out of the corner of my eye. I’ve seen her around a few times. Her dad’s a former sheriff deputy turned Rawkfist VP. Her mom is a looker with a no-nonsense attitude. Her brothers are bruisers known for putting men on their backs.

The last thing I need right now is to horndog Donovan Mooney’s only daughter, but she’s a goddamn vision. Her brown hair is shiny and slick down her back. She’s tall and athletically built, yet her T-shirt and jeans do nothing to hide her curves.

I notice her baby blue eyes sizing up my guys. She doesn’t have to say a damn word for me to know she thinks they’re idiots. Her plump lips remain tight as if she might say something wrong if she dares to speak. If she’s half as obnoxious as her cousin Tuesday, Edith might not shut up once she gets going.

Seeing her up close like this leaves me hypnotized. I forget to drink the moonshine. I can’t hear what Val is saying or if my guys are behaving.I’m absolutely transfixed by Edith Mooney.

Her gaze finds mine. I hope I’m not fucking drooling. Her father is nearby. He glances at me without seeming homicidal. I must look like I always do. Inside, my heart races, and my dick twitches. I feel like something was slipped into my drink. Am I high? Is that what this feeling means?

Edith walks over to the table where I stand. She takes a paper plate, places a single spring roll on top, and then focuses on me.

“You're Lola’s father, right?”

“Yes.”

Edith stares at me before narrowing her gaze like I’ve done something wrong. “Tuesday claimed you were elderly.”

“Yes, she likes to talk.”

“You don’t look elderly.”

Her words aren’t particularly friendly, yet I feel like a sexy fuck just to have gained her attention.

Edith bites her lower lip. “Tuesday wants me to check out the men in your club for a boyfriend. It’s warm out, and I don’t feel like interviewing them. Can you tell me if there’s anyone in Basin Rock worth swooning over?”

My mouth goes dry at the thought of her wasting time with one of the meatheads. “I don’t know what you’re looking for.”

“Can they read?”

“Yes,” I reply before setting down the moonshine. “But they don’t read.”

Edith glances over at them bunched together like dateless girls at a school dance. Her gaze returns to me and focuses hard. “I would like a man who understands the value of reading.”

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