Winter's Touch
Page 30

Viper took her hand then went to the counter to pick up the wine. “Make sure she locks the door when you leave, and set the alarm.”
Ton bristled, shooting his son a glare. “I was the one who taught you how to take care of a woman, so I don’t need to be reminded to make sure Shay is safe before I leave.”
Winter scrutinized how close Ton was sitting next to her aunt again, seeing his arm resting on the back of the couch behind her.
“I didn’t think you did. I was going to remind you of the code for the alarm. It’s loud enough to wake the dead if you key it in wrong,” Viper cautioned.
“Oh… You two have a nice time.” Ton leaned toward the television.
They went out the back door.
“I hope he doesn’t remember everything he taught me about women,” Viper joked as they walked slowly down the path.
Winter didn’t think it was funny. “I’m not letting Sex Piston do Aunt Shay’s hair or take us shopping ever again.”
“It’s too late for that. She hit a homerun when she got Aunt Shay to loosen up and stop dressing like she’s from the fifties. I can’t complain. She helped you pick out that dress, didn’t she?”
“Yes, and Lily’s and Beth’s. That woman has a knack for knowing what will look good on a chick.”
Viper opened her car door, and Winter carefully lowered herself into the seat, holding his arm as she slowly turned to face forward.
“Okay?”
“Yes.”
She was at the end of her seventh month of pregnancy, and so far, it was going fine. Her pregnancy was showing, but it was barely noticeable. When she had gone shopping in Lexington, strangers hadn’t realized she was pregnant until they’d seen her from the side.
Dr. Price told her last week to stop exercising when she had said the pain was starting. Aunt Shay’s pool had become her only way to keep herself in excellent condition. She missed her workouts with Viper. Since they had increased the orders at the factory, they hadn’t been able to see each other during the day.
She had taken the new school year off at Dr. Price’s suggestion, and boredom was driving her nuts. She had finished Aunt Shay’s puzzle book and been forced to buy more to keep herself busy.
Viper settled himself behind the steering wheel. “Did I tell you how beautiful you look?”
“You’re not going to distract me. You need to have a talk with Ton.”
“Hell no. He stopped drinking. He even let Beth clean his house so Aunt Shay would come over and see his garden. Aunt Shay has never looked better. They’re good for each other.”
“He’s nothing like Uncle Dennis.”
“That’s for sure,” Viper scoffed. “I don’t see Ton waiting a fucking year to share her bed.”
Winter stiffened, shooting him an angry glance. “That’s my aunt we’re talking about.”
“She’s still a woman. Even Dr. Matthews said her depression is gone. I think it’s time we told her.” Viper pulled the car into the parking lot of King’s restaurant.
“I know. Every time I start to do it, I just can’t bring myself to. How do I tell her she’s broke? That Vincent stole her money? He worked in a bank. If he hadn’t let Beth handle her bills, we wouldn’t have known until the bank put a foreclosure notice on the door. The son of a bitch did such a good job of doctoring her accounts that we didn’t find the discrepancies until Beth couldn’t find the money to fix the roof and let us know.” Vincent was Aunt Shay’s son-in-law. Because he was so highly respected in town, and a president of the largest bank, no one suspected he had been stealing from accounts that his mother-in-law and Viper’s brother had trusted him with. Gavin had figured it out, and had lost his life for trusting Vincent. Aunt Shay still didn’t know. Beth, Winter, and Viper had protected her from the truth, but now had the dilemma of continuing to spare her feelings or telling her the truth.
“We’ve been paying all her bills for years, and I’m not complaining. I only want to tell her, because she wants to put the money from the sale of her house in a trust for our baby. If you don’t want to tell her, we won’t. I’ll buy the house and give her the money she thinks she’s getting from the sale.”
Winter shook her head. “You’d be paying for the house twice. You already bought it from the bank three years ago.”
Viper reached out, cupping her cheek. “It’ll make her think she’s still independent. I don’t want her to think she needs to stay with us because she has nowhere else to go. Besides, she wants to leave the majority of the money to our baby, and I’m planning a trust for him anyway, so it will all work out in the end.”
“Lucky isn’t the only Last Rider who is lucky. How in the world did I luck out when you fell in love with me?”
Viper gave her a lingering kiss before getting out of the car and opening the door for her. He put one hand on the roof of the car, leaning down to give her his other hand. “I guess it was just your lucky day.”
“Yes, it was.” Taking his hand, she maneuvered to the side so he could help lift her slowly to her feet.
Locking the car, he escorted her into King’s restaurant, which had been closed for the night to other customers.
Winter was in awe of how King decked out the restaurant to celebrate Drake’s victory. The restaurant had been transformed into an elegant gathering, with expensive linens, candlelight, and music playing in the background.
Drake and Bliss were standing at the door to greet their friends as they arrived.
“You look amazing, Bliss.” Marriage was definitely agreeing with the petite woman.
“You do, too. I’m jealous of that dress.” Bliss hugged her then hugged Viper before taking the wine he carried inside.
Winter smoothed her hands over the chiffon, loving the feel of it against her skin. “Sex Piston picked it out.”
“Mine, too! I’ve been keeping her busy since Drake decided to run for mayor.”
The town had elected Drake after a special election was called for after Knox had found enough evidence to remove the former mayor due to embezzlement. He had pocketed the town’s money for his personal use.
Bliss had always been the sexiest of the Last Riders’ women, but Sex Piston had toned it down to make her look more sophisticated, giving her a chic style that drew everyone’s gaze even more than before. Her elegant black gown was demure until she moved to place the wine on the bar, showing a slit that came up to just above her knees.
Winter and Viper sat down at one of the tables with Lily, Shade, Beth, and Razer. Willa, Sex Piston, and her friends were sitting at the table next to theirs. The conversation flowed back and forth between the tables as Viper and Shade talked to Stud and Cade, while Sex Piston nitpicked every woman who hadn’t taken her advice on what to wear.
When a familiar face came to fill her water glass, Winter was stunned by Megan’s appearance. The girl had put on thirty pounds since she became pregnant, and her once curly hair was lank and listless.
“Megan, I didn’t know you worked here.”
Her former student gave her an overly bright smile. “Hello, Winter, Willa. I started last week.” She filled the water glasses before taking everyone’s drink order then disappearing into the kitchen.