“Fuck,” I growled out, spinning toward Oliver and grabbing him around the waist. I heaved him up and spun him around, laughing at his squeal of surprise. “She’s fucking beautiful.”
“Put me down, you big asshole.” Oliver slapped my shoulder, but his face relaxed and he chuckled as I finally set him back on his feet. “Did you think I was selling her parts or something?”
“No,” I said quickly. Too quickly.
KC snorted. “Or something.”
“Hush, Kansas.” I shot him a weak glare. “I had one hundred percent faith in you.”
“Liar.” Oliver grinned smugly and crossed his arms. “But that’s okay. Shakira’s your baby, so I forgive you. Maybe.” His phone buzzed in the pocket of his jeans and tightness lined his face. He steeled his jaw and yanked the phone out to glare at it. He tapped the red button.
“Your mom still calling?” I asked.
His flinch told me the answer. “She doesn’t stop calling.”
“Who?” PD came out from the front door of the house, a mug clutched in his hands. He took a sip as he meandered toward us, eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
“Mom.” Oliver shifted uncomfortably, and I wrapped an arm around his shoulders, giving him the support he needed. “Dad’s out of jail. Did you know? Of course you know. He’s a King.”
PD’s face did something I couldn’t quite explain, like he was struggling with an emotion he wasn’t used to feeling. He grabbed his bowler hat off his head and slapped it against his thigh. “He’s been loyal to the Kings, but I know he’s not the best father.”
“That’s an understatement,” I muttered. “He deserves to get knocked on his ass.”
PD shook his head. “Don’t go asking for trouble with him, Booth. He’s an asshole, but he’s still a King and he went away for the club. If you start something with him, you start it with all of us.”
“You’d choose him over Oliver?” My fingers curled into a fist at my side. I felt KC move in closer and I wasn’t sure if it was to offer his love or stop me if I swung at PD.
“I owe my loyalty to Cain. He went to prison for us and he was our VP. He’s a terrible father, but that doesn’t make him a bad friend.” PD had the decency to send Oliver a sympathetic look. “Sorry, kid, but Kings come first.”
“Right, well, just because you like him doesn’t mean I have to. He’s a giant d-bag.” Oliver spun on his heel and stalked back to his mug. He took a long sip, and from his wince, I guessed it was still hot. Steam curled from the liquid inside.
Will shot him a worried glance. “You don’t have to talk to him, Oli. You don’t have to do anything with him.”
Oliver nodded. I watched, not sure what else to do. I had experience in the bad dad category, but unlike Oliver, I never idolized my piece-of-shit father. How the fuck was I supposed to comfort him about this?
Distraction? I was good at that.
“Thanks for fixing Shakira, Kitten.” I ate up the distance between us and wrapped my arms around him. I plastered my chest to his back and kissed his cheek. “I have a gift for you and KC, too.” I nibbled the top of his ear, and he instantly melted under my attention.
“Oh.” His ears burned a bright red. “You’re, um, you’re welcome. It’s the least I could do. So, what kind of gift?”
I waggled my eyebrows. “I’ll show you on Saturday. It’s a special surprise for both of you.”
KC sidled up beside us. Having him stand near us was always a reminder of how much bigger he was than Oliver and howclose he came to my height and bulk. He wasn’t a small man, but he was soft in ways I’d never seen in a person his size. If anyone asked me, he was too gentle for this world. A big-ass golden retriever who only wanted love and attention.
“Should we be worried?” KC asked.
“Yes.” I slapped them both on the ass. “Okay, get in the Jeep and head out. I’m going to talk to PD, and then I’ll follow you in Shakira.”
Oliver narrowed his eyes suspiciously, but I gave him a pointed look that had him sighing and lacing his fingers with KC’s. They moved to the Jeep and slid in, and when KC had reversed the vehicle out of the driveway, I turned toward PD.
His stance was wide and his arms were crossed. He’d set his mug down on the ground. His bowler hat was back on his head and a tick had started in his jaw. “If this is about Cain and my loyalty to him, don’t. This is none of your business.”
Will shifted until he stood at PD’s side. He was quieter than I’d always imagined he’d be, but I supposed his accident had knocked his brain and body around. “Cain’s a Kings of Men MC member.”
“Who gives a shit? I’m sure you’ve dealt with Kings,” I snapped.
“The brothers who deserved it. Cain hasn’t done anything to us but be loyal.” PD shot Will a glare when he pulled out a pack of cigarettes, and Will winced, shoving them back into his dirty jeans pocket. I finally noticed splotches of purple paint on Will’s clothes, which meant he’d helped Oliver. I owed them, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t defend my boyfriend.
