Page 49 of Misrule
“Please, dearest heart. Don’t discuss intercourse in front of your daughter.”
Roxanne and Bailey looked at each other, then broke out into peals of laughter. It was so happy, so contagious, that Knox couldn’t help but join in. Even Mortician chuckled.
“Since we all here, why don’t we talk about wedding plans,” he suggested.
Knox shook his head. “This isn’t a night for those discussions,” he disagreed. “This is a night for me to honor my fiancée.”
Ithadbeen a night to discuss the pre-nuptial agreement. He’d chosen today specifically because he knew about church, which Mortician never missed. After Roxanne told him to contact the biker and convinced Knox it would keep down bullshit that might ruin their date, he’d decided to get Bailey on board first.
For the next couple of hours, Knox decided to give Mortician a chance to show he was more than a killer and a biker. More often than not, he found he enjoyed Mortician’s witticisms. Other than his prolific use of the wordfuck, the enforcer showed he at least knew his ABCs and the fundamentals of Civics and American History.
At the end of the night, when Roxanne excused herself to go to the ladies’ room and Mortician left to smoke, Knox found himself alone with Bailey.
She picked up her second glass of champagne and sipped.
Knox drummed his fingers on the table, then glanced at his watch before adjusting his tie. “You aren’t much of a drinker,” he said after five minutes and he was still alone with Roxanne’s daughter. “We’ve gone through four bottles and you’ve only had a glass from the first and last.”
Setting her glass aside, Bailey pursed her lips and stared at him, drawing her brows together. Obviously, she wished to impart something to him.
“Yes?” he inquired politely.
“Lucas told me,” she announced.
Knox lifted his brow. “About?”
“What you said about having the longest engagement in history. Asking my mother to sign a prenup.”
“He had no right to open his fucking mouth.”
“He hadeveryright,” Bailey argued with coolness. “You can’t act so high-and-mighty to Lucas, Outlaw, and the others, and not expect repercussions. I’ve defended you! Helped to arrange a night for you and Momma. I should’ve known Lucas had reasons for his actions. How dare you? Don’t hurt my mother. Don’t insult her by asking her to sign this document.”
“Or what?” Knox sneered, offended that she thought to chastise him. “You’ll tell Roxanne? I didn’t mean what I said, Bailey. You, of all people, should realize that. Out of the two of you,youhave the brain.”
Bailey drew herself up. “My husband was a double major. He earned a math and music degree.”
Knox laughed. “If you say so.”
“I’m not going to argue with you over this. My mother is vulnerable to you. She loves you, so don’t be a jerk to her. Don’t ruin her wedding with bullshit.”
“I can’t believe you’re telling me not to ruinourwedding, whenyoualready have. You had no fucking business allowing your husband to run roughshod over the situation and force you to be in our wedding. How dare me? How dareyou? Being a spoiled brat and ruining my wedding to your mother.”
Her eyes watered and her nose reddened. Knox thought she might cry. Instead, she narrowed her eyes. “Fuck you,” she hissed, shocking the hell out of him.
He’d never heard Bailey cuss.
“Right back at you, babe,” he responded.
“You about ready, pretty girl?” Mortician asked, walking back in a moment later. He paused and looked between her and Knox. “What the fuck he said to you, Bailey?”
Bailey got to her feet. “Nothing, Lucas. Where’s Momma?”
Mortician stared at her a moment longer, then glowered at Knox. “She saw Cam and Jordan at a table. I told her I’d come in here to round the two of you up.”
“Let me run and say ‘hi’ to them,” Bailey said, rushing away before her husband could respond either way.
Mortician watched her leave, then turned to Knox and lit another cigarette.
“Smoking isn’t allowed in this building.”
