Page 103 of Love, Lies, and Whiskey

“No. You were overly confident, if not a bit cocky. You had direction and friends and all the hallmarks of a happy life. But your father and I always felt like you were a little unsettled. Searching for something. You’d had plenty of girlfriends, and that never seemed to settle whatever it was we were seeing. Then Juliette came to the ranch, and everything changed.”

He grinned. “She definitely knocked me for a loop.”

“Yes, she did. We were concerned when we first realized how close you two had gotten and how fast it happened, because she was not quite seventeen, and that’s awfully young.”

“I tried to keep my distance.”

“We know that, too. During that week when you were trying to hold back, you were as tense and restless as a bull in the chute, dying to break free and conquer.” She smiled. “Well, we won’t go there.”

“Please don’t. But how did you know I made it a week?”

“Oh, honey. You were oblivious to everything around you except her, but we weren’t.”

“Why didn’t you stop me?”

“You can guide your kids, but you can’t stop them. If we’d told you she was off-limits, you’d have only wanted her more. But we could tell it was deeper than a summer fling for both of you. It was like looking into the eyes of two horses that had been rescued. Your eyes got clearer and brighter, and you and Juliette had this aura, this energy that I swear threw sparks. When we saw those changes in you, we knew you’d found your one and only.”

“I wasn’t looking for a relationship, much less to fall in love, but she knocked my boots off.”

“That’s how love happens. When your father rolled into the Roadhouse the first time, I had plans for graduate school and then building my career off the ranch. I wasn’t looking for a gruff and gritty, possessive, tatted-up biker. But your father, like each of you, has his own brand of charm, and I was a goner by the end of our first date.”

Doc had heard the story a million times. Tiny had walked up to her in the Roadhouse, taken one look at her, and said, Hey there, darlin’. I’m Tiny Whiskey, and I’m going to be the last man you ever go out with. The fact that he was indeed the last for a strong woman like his mother said a lot about his father, who had been raised by a heavy-handed misogynist biker who believed women should be seen and not heard.

“Any regrets?” Doc asked, though he knew the answer.

“Honey, your father is a brilliant, big-hearted hunk of a man who came from a horrible situation and tries to make the world a better place every day of his life. How could I regret giving my heart to a man as special as that?”

“I hope Juliette feels that way about me someday, and I hope Lucas feels as proud to have me as a father as I am to have you and Dad as my parents.”

“I think they both already do,” she said. “They may not be ready to admit it, but I can feel it, and I can see it in the way they look at you.”

“Thanks, Mom. Any parenting advice?”

“I could fill your ears, honey. Parenting is the hardest and the best thing you’ll ever experience. Some days you’re sure you’re doing everything right, and others, you feel like you’re sledding down a hill on a bed of razor blades.”

He laughed. “Ain’t that the truth.”

“But that’s what makes the good times even sweeter. Keep following your heart, honey. You’re doing great so far.” She looped her arm around his. “Shall we?”

As they made their way back to the fire, Birdie’s car pulled into the lot. “About time your sister arrived.”

His mother went to sit with Tiny, who had Gus on his lap, and Doc headed for Juliette. He handed her the soda and kissed her tempting lips. As he drew back, he caught an imploring look from Juliette and froze. Fuck. Lucas. He turned to see if Lucas saw them kiss and caught the same worried expression from Sasha and Cowboy.

“Try not to look so guilty,” Ezra said under his breath.

Lucas was staring right at them.

“Doc, you look like you did when you were six years old and you got up in the middle of the night and opened everyone’s Christmas presents,” Tiny said.

Fuck. “Lucas, your mom and I were going to tell you we’ve gotten close—”

“Give me a break,” Lucas said. “You’ve been telling me you love my mom in one way or another since we first met. Did you really think I wouldn’t put two and two together? My mom never texts with guys or hangs out with them. You think I don’t hear you guys on the phone late at night? And you’re always at our place.”

“We should’ve told you right away,” Juliette said. “But we didn’t want to make things more complicated. I’m sorry.”

“Mom, chill. It’s not like you lied to me,” Lucas said. “You always tell me when you guys are going out. Knowing you’re together makes it easier than guessing.”

“So, you’re not upset?” Juliette asked.