“Fine. I’ve been talking to a member of the Kings of Anarchy,” I confess, grudgingly.
“Grifter? But I thought he had an old lady? We even heard she was pregnant.”
“Not Grifter. Caleb comes here with him, though.”
“Candyman?” she asks, her eyes wide as saucers.
“You don’t have to look and sound that shocked, Gabz.”
“I’m sorry, Izzy. It’s just … well … he’s …”
“A man whore?” I laugh, but it’s not humorous at all.
“King said the girls flock to him, and they call him Candyman because he has a particular hunger for blowjobs. Heck, Pez told me he heard the man refer to his dick as a candy cane that the girls love to lick.”
I laugh out loud, lowering my head down to the table and slightly bang my head against the wooden top repeatedly. “God,” I groan.
“Izzy?” Gabby prompts.
I keep my chin against my hand that is flat on the table but force myself to stop banging my head and look at Gabby. “He’s a dumbass,” I confess, because what else could I say?
“Why do I get the feeling that the fact he’s an idiot isn’t going to stop you from going there?”
“Because it’s not. He’s promised that for however long we do our thing, there will be no other women.”
“First question. What is your thing?” Gabby asks.
I sigh. “I’m not sure what we are to be honest, Gabz. It’s not long term. I have a life in Lexington and my residency will be killer. I don’t have time for a relationship anyway—but especially one with a guy in Tennessee who is used to women falling at his feet and worshipping him daily. Still, there’s an attraction there. So, I’ve kind of termed it friends with benefits.”
“Why do I feel like you’re playing with fire here, Izzy?”
“Because I am? I think, though, at least in this case, it might be worth the burn.”
“As long as you don’t let your heart get involved,” Gabby adds, and I find myself nodding.
“Yeah, as long as I don’t do something as stupid as that.”
“Where’s my woman?” King booms from the other room.
“In here, honey,” Gabby calls just as King walks into the room, holding a car seat by the handle, where little Etta is snuggled and sleeping soundly.
“Hey, Izzy,” he says, never taking his eyes off Gabby.
“Hey, King.”
He walks over and kisses Gabby in a way that even makes my toes curl just from watching. “Missed you, Sunshine.”
“Missed you, too. Were Mom and Dad alright?”
“Oh yeah, they loved their day with Etta.”
“That’s good. I thought they might. Our daughter loves attention.”
“That’s because she’s a princess and deserves everyone’s attention,” he purrs, bending down to place a gentle kiss against his daughter’s forehead. “How are you doing? he asks, looking over at me briefly.
“Hey, King. Is BB with you?”
“Nah, he had to take Beau to the doctor today. They get to hear the baby’s heartbeat.”
