Chapter 4
"Tell me something Jared, is she going to turn my place upside down?"
"Nah...well not in a bad way anyhow."
I looked at him full on with the do not f*ck with me glare.
"What am I in for?"
"All I will say is that it's good to see some of the old Kat again, after what those f*cks did to her..."
He stopped short and cut himself off, I felt a burning in my gut as my fists curled.
"What f*cks, what're you talking about?"
"F*ck, it's not my story to tell..."
"Bull f*cking shit, somebody hurt her?"
Why the f*ck was I so angry at the mere thought? I looked towards the door she'd just gone through, what the f*ck was going on here?
"I can't tell you man, it's up to her who she tells, just know it was a bad scene, she came out of it okay, but...f*ck man it was bad."
I somehow found myself following her into the office, nevermind that the man I've been trying to pin down for the last year was even now waiting for me to conduct business, the type of business that could keep me and the boys busy for the foreseeable future, not to mention make a f*ck load of money, get our bikes recognized worldwide, along with a whole lot of other perks.
Jared had hinted at something sinister in her past and foolish or not, I had the need to see her, to make sure she was okay.
She was back behind the computer, eyes glued to the screen in concentration or she was giving a good impression of concentrating anyway.
I took the time to study her, she had her hair pulled back in a tight bun with two pencils sticking out of it.
The ugly gray suit jacket looked like a box on her small frame as she hunched her shoulders.
When she looked up I was caught once again by the unparalleled beauty of her eyes, they were a deep indigo blue, without a speck of black, more than that, the thing that made them shine were the whites, there was no blemish no redness, nothing.
Just clean, clear whites, like a baby's.
I could get lost in them or maybe not.
She flicked her eyes my way and back down again, hunching her shoulders even more.
"What do you have to say for yourself Sloan?"
"Uhm..." She bit her lip and hung her head.
"Sorry?"
"Why do you phrase every thing like question?"
"I didn't know I was doing that si... I mean Colton."
"You want to tell me what went on with you and Grimaldi?"
"The gentleman was a little unpleasant..."
"Tell it like it is, the old f*ck is a rude a*shole, what I want to know is what you did that caused him to offer me a deal that he's been waffling on for almost a year.
"Nothing, absolutely nothing."
She sure could do I innocent well, if I hadn't heard her light into him I would've sworn she was a timid little thing, but I'd gotten a glimpse of the fire inside her.
"Didn't I tell you if anyone bothered you you were to come see me?"
"Uh, well, he got here too fast for me to do anything."
Don't let that shit happen again..."
The phone rang and interrupted me.
Just as well because I was running out of shit to pick at as an excuse to stay.
Why the hell I should want to was beyond me because the girl for all that she had amazing eyes, dressed and acted like someone's grandmother.
That is, when she wasn't spitting fire like a hellcat.
"Yes ma'am he's right here, Katarina ma'am, no ma'am it's my first day, yesterday."
I heard my mother's squeal from across the room. Shit.
I walked over to take the phone before she said God knows what.
"I'll take that."
She handed over the phone with a frown.
Mom tended to have that effect on unsuspecting people.
"Mom..."
"She's the one Colton, Char was right, I can't wait to tell her, when can I meet her..." She went on and on not letting me get a word in edgewise.
"Mom no, not going to happen now why were you calling?"
"The annual Memorial Day barbecue picnic you have to remind the guys, I sent out the invites but not everyone got back as yet and I need the numbers, I also need to know if there're any special dishes I need to prepare, you know Linda became a vegetarian last year, just need to stay on top of things so everyone's taken care of.
Now tell me about Katarina, is she as sweet as she sounds?"
"We're not having this conversation mom."
"Oh, I get it, she's right there, never mind we'll talk later, I want all the details.
Whee a new daughter, I can't wait..."
"Gotta go mom, working here."
"Okay son, talk to you later." I hung up before she could start in again.
"If that lady calls here do not divulge any information, she'll know your whole history in ten seconds flat trust me."
I hated the fleeting look of sorrow that flashed across her face.
"I have to get back."
"'Kay."
I walked away wondering about the hint of pain in her eyes, there was something there and I wanted to know what the f*ck it was.
If I didn't get some answers real f*cking soon I'd just beat that shit out of Jared.
* * *
She'll know your a whole history in ten seconds flat.
What a depressing thought.
I'd been feeling a little giddy then, I'd gone from facing imminent termination to landing the boss a lucrative contract, something I still didn't quite understand but knew it was all good.
Though I did think grumpy old man was bat shit crazy.
Colton came into the room sucking up all the oxygen and I'd sent up a silent prayer of thanks that I'd get to bask in his glow for yet another day.
Then came the phone call.
Obviously it was his mother, she sounded nice enough if a little nosy, I could so see the truth in his words.
She talks a mile a minute and trips from one topic to the next before you can catch your breath.
I settled back into work for the last couple hours until it was knockoff time.
Jared was all excited when he came to take me home.
I barely heard or understood a word he said since I was too busy being bummed that Colton was nowhere in sight.
"So you're going to go right?"
"Huh, go where?"
"The Lyon's barbecue, didn't you hear a word I said?"
"No, not really."
"Colton's parents, every year they have a Memorial Day barbecue slash picnic, you have to come, everyone's going to be there, even your dad drops by sometimes if he's not working."
"I don't know, I mean no one invited me... plus that's only like five days away I didn't bring anything suitable to wear to something like that."
I looked down at the butt ugly suit and nurse Ratchet shoes I was now wearing.
"Come on Kat,it'll be fun and I'll be there, nothing will go wrong."
"I don't know Jared..."
"At least think about it okay."
"Sure, I'll think about it but no promises."
"No problem, let's get on the road I have a hot date lined up for tonight."
"You're such a dog Jared, who is she this time?"
"New chick, you know the chicks dig me, sexy beast."
"Yeah okay, whatever floats your boat, at least you got the beast part right."
"Whatever smart ass."
He put me in a playful headlock just as Colton turned the corner.
"See ya later boss."
Jared called out as we walked pass.
Didn't he notice that look on Colton's face, talk about shooting daggers with your eyes, it's a wonder I wasn't an ember, and why the hell was he looking at me like I betrayed him, I hope bat shit guy hadn't changed his mind about the deal. Shit.
That night I called my mom for our nightly chat, my mom is my sounding board whenever my mind becomes overcrowded.
"So how's the new job sweetie, you like it?"
"It's fine mom, pretty easy, but guess what, so this guy calls today and he's as rude as you want to be, he just rubbed me the wrong way you know, so I kinda let him have it..."
"Wait a minute, you did what?"
"I put him in his place, next thing I know he's showing up there."
"He didn't hurt you did he baby?" I hated the panic in her voice.
"No mom let me tell you, so anyway, turns out he's this uber rich old coot with the manners of a wildebeest, but guess what, he gave the boss a contract to supply him with bikes for all his ventures and apparently there are a ton of them.
Like he works with Hollywood and racing circuits here and in Europe among other things.
He said he liked my style and that's why he finally decided to give Colton the contract."
"Colton, ooh....... first name basis already, is this Colton handsome?"
"Mom... that's what he wants to be called."
I won't be telling you about the sir conversation.
"Are you having fun baby?"
"I'm fine mom, promise."
"You'd tell me if something was bothering you right?"
"Yes mom, besides dad's here, everything's fine, I like my new job, Jared's there which makes it easier.
My truck's almost ready so I should have a little more freedom soon, right now I'm pretty much stuck in the house but that's cool, not much to do around here anyway... wait a minute mom, someone's on the other line."
I put her on hold and clicked over.
The number didn't look familiar but it was local.
"Hello?"
"Hello, is this Katarina?"
"Uh, yes?"
Why did this voice sound familiar and not at the same time?
"This is Elena Lyon, we spoke earlier today."
"Oh hi."
Why the heck was Colton's mother calling me, please lady don't ask me any leading questions, please please please.
"I bet you're wondering why I'm calling when we've never even met.
I got your number from Jared, he's such a good boy, anyway I'm calling to invite you personally to our annual barbecue picnic on Monday, I know it's short notice but I didn't know about you until today so you can't refuse.
I won't take no for an answer, besides there's nothing else to do in this town on that day, everyone comes to my little get-togethers, you'll have a great time, great food, nice company what more can you ask, besides it'll be a great opportunity to meet the wives of the guys you work with, it'll be wonderful.
So I'll see you at about one, we like to start early, make a whole day and evening of it. If you need a ride that's okay too, I can certainly arrange that for you,so we're set then yes?"
"Uh, sure, okay."
Geez the lady's a steamroller.
I hurried her off before she had me agreeing to God knows what, and for some unknown reason, my heart was beating unusually fast.
"Mom can I talk to you later?"
"Sure baby, everything okay?"
"Yeah everything's fine, just have to do something."
I hung up with my mother and fell back against the bed, a barbecue picnic with people, from the sounds of it lots of people.
No wonder my heart was beating out of sync.
What a way to throw yourself into deep end Kat.
Oh well, you can't change your mind now and offend the boss's mother, so it's sink or swim time.
* * *
Ha, my son thinks he can outsmart me, good luck with that, the boy has always been a bit too brainy for his own good, but nothing beats a mother on the hunt for a daughter-in-law and grand babies.
Shoot, Stacy had already declared herself out of the running since her and Em had been trying for years without success and she refused to try artificial insemination, and Carol was nowhere near ready.
Anyway, my girl Char might be a crackpot but she knows her stuff.
My son had the nerve to lie to me repeatedly over dinner last night, he'll pay for that.
'No mom, I didn't meet any girls today.'
Ha, he's been telling that same lie for ten years now, I wonder how on earth he got his reputation as a cad if he wasn't meeting girls.
Of course he doesn't know that I know about such things, but women talk and some of the things I've heard about my one and only baby boy are not fit for mixed company.
He's his father's son after all.
Well according to Jared this Katarina is young in years but very smart,we'll just wait and see.
She sounded sweet as pie on the phone and I hope I'm not disappointed when we finally meet.
* * *