CHAPTER ONE
December 1st
Jason
I pull into the parking lot and park in my spot. It’s been my spot for more than twenty years, but after today it will be someone else’s. I’ve rarely been more certain of a decision in my life. This isn’t just a smart move. In my gut, it feels like I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing at this point in my life.
I get out and head inside, going straight to Jeremy’s office.
I knock once, and he yells out, “Come in!” I open the door and walk into his office, sitting in the chair that I’ve sat in thousands of times over the years. Jeremy leans back in his chair and looks at me, studying me. “You sure about this?”
I give him a look. “You askin’ that as my boss or as my big brother?”
He sighs. “Shit, Jason. I can get another officer. I’m asking as your brother. It’s just you and me in here. Are you sure retiring is what you want to do?”
I lean back as I nod. “Yeah, it is. I want time to be the grandpa who can go to games and recitals and all that. The twins are getting older, and I sometimes feel like I've missed some of that. I don’t want to miss anything with the younger ones. I want to travel and be able to spend quality time with my kids, grandkids, and Romona.” I can tell by the look on his face that he’s got more to ask.
“You sure this ain’t just Romona talking. I mean, I know it scared her when you were shot, but that wasn’t even on duty.” Is he really gonna fucking go there?
I lean forward in my seat, never breaking eye contact with my brother. “She isn’tmakingme do anything. She supports whatever I want to do. You need to fucking stop questioning her motives. She’s not like Mindy. I fucking swear, ever since you divorced her, you think every woman out there has got some agenda. You weren’t like this when you divorced Brenda, even though she’s the devil’s spawn. Just because you got all caught up with that barely over twenty-one-year-old gold-digger doesn’t mean there aren’t women of quality and substance out there. Lani wasn’t like that, and Romona ain’t either.”
Jeremy sighs and rubs his face. “Fuck. I know that. Hell, Owen called me out on it just yesterday. Said I was being a jaded old man.”
I can’t help the chuckle that comes out. “Leave it to your boy to call you out on your shit.”
He shakes his head and smirks a little. “Told me I better not act like that with June. Used my own grandbaby to make a point.” Seeing my brother full-on pout is more than I can take, and I laugh hard enough that tears come to my eyes.
After a couple of minutes, I find my composure. “Back to your original question. Yeah, this is what I want. I’ve loved this job and been honored to do it for as long as I have, but now I’m ready to move on and try this whole retirement thing out.” I pause for a second before I continue because this part I haven’t shared with Jeremy yet, and I’m not fucking sure just how he’s gonna take it. I want to tell him before I tell my kids. I look straight at him as I drop a shocker on him. “I was asked if I wanted to join the club. I accepted.” I watch as Jer’s eyebrows go sky high.
He leans back again in his chair and whistles. “Well, that’s a hell of a retirement plan there, little brother. You tell your kids about it yet?”
I shake my head. “Not yet. Gonna do that tonight.”
He sighs and raises an eyebrow. “You do know that you’ve been in law enforcement for decades and never been shot, but you helped the club one time and got shot. Think that’s gonna be any safer?”
I can’t help staring him down. “You and I both know that I could die walking across the street to get a cup of coffee. The club isn’t violent. It’s why we’ve let them take care of…certain things overthe years.” I say the only other thing that I know will resonate with him. “You and I both know all too well that tomorrow’s not promised, and it’s time to go on this new path for a while. It’s not like I’m leaving town. We’ll still have our Monday breakfasts, just you’ll be the only one wearing a badge.” That gets me a little chuckle. Jeremy looks at me, and I know what I just said hit home.
He’s the same age Dad was when he dropped dead from a heart attack. He’d just finished his shift as sheriff and was coming home for dinner with Mom. He never made it inside. He died without doing so many things he always promised Mom they would do, but because he was a workaholic, they never got around to it. He never took her on the weekend trips to the coast. He never got to really know his grandkids, all because he was driven to work. Mom would’ve been happy for him to work less and spend time with her, but I think he didn’t know how to stop.
“I get what you’re doin’, brother, I just don’t think I’m there yet. Hell, who do I have to go home to? Maybe when June gets a little older…just right now, this still gives me purpose.”
I really look at him. I know he’d love to find someone to spend his life with, but his picker is just so bad. Might have to see what we can do to help him—without him realizing it, of course, because my brother is nothing if not stubborn as a mule.
I can tell he’s done with this conversation when he picks up a file and hands it to me. “As a parting gift, you get the lucky job of dealing with our frequent flyer this morning.”
Oh, please let it be Wanda. She’s a character, but I know she showers regularly. I open the folder and immediately my head hangs, and my brother, the fucker busts out laughing. He couldn’t have planned this if he tried. I walk out of his office and head straight to booking. As soon as I open the door, I know this is gonna be a pain in my ass all morning long. “Ray, get your fucking pants back on. No one needs to see a moon that bright inside this morning.”
Romona
I just finished basting the roast chickens I’ve got in the oven. I’ve got scalloped corn in the oven too. The pot of mashed potatoes is on low to keep warm on the stove. I’ve got salad, rolls, and peas ready to go, too. This isn’t the first time we’ve had all our kids over for dinner, but it is the first since Jason moved in. He’s also going to tell his kids about joining the club tonight. So not nerve-racking at all.
His boys, Thomas and Luke, both seem to be fine with us dating, kind of like my Mick. His daughter, Shelby, seems to still be assessing me. I know last time they came over for dinner, she brought her mama’s recipe for potatoes, and if that’s nota claiming gesture, I don’t know what is. Jason has blinders on when it comes to his little girl, but luckily, we seem to be muddling through things okay. She’s got to know that I’m not looking to replace her mom, and I just hope that at some point we can be friends. I know it’s also because she’s been the only girl in Jason’s life for so many years now, and I’m not sure how she’s adjusting to sharing his time. Luckily, she’s not shut me out completely, and that gives me hope. I think she likes Madison, so maybe she’ll help my case.
I hear a vehicle pull up and look out the window, expecting it to be Mick since he mentioned coming over early. I’m surprised to see it’s the man who makes my heart go pitter-patter.
I watch him get out of his truck, and I know I’m a lucky woman. That man’s ass is so biteable, he makes me want to do dirty things to him every time he wears jeans. I think it’s only gotten better with age because I definitely don’t remember it being so delectable when we were in high school.
My phone dings with an incoming text. Since we’re expecting people over, I pick it up to check it.
