It’s a laugh that resonates through her eyes. She winks at me before settling her eyes on her son and I can’t help following her gaze. Riggs’ laughter subsides, but the smile stays planted on his lips as he crosses his arms and nods in appreciation.
“Well played, Eric. Well played,” he whispers and then surprises both me and his mother when he leans forward to kiss Eric’s cheek but plants a pec on his mother’s first.
Robert ‘Riggs’ Montgomery is the complete package.
Colorful.
Eccentric.
Full of heart.
After spending quality time with Eric and Lauren, making sure they’re settled before I leave, I search the house for my father. I tell myself it’s because I’m entrusting my old man with my family, I’m giving him my most prized possessions and he needs to know that’s a big fucking deal. It’s bigger than his millions, his mansions, it’s more than any oil rig.
I stand at the doorway of his office, listening as he speaks with one of his employees.
“Everything goes,” my old man says.
“Where are you going to conduct business?” The employee questions.
“I’m not worried about it and neither should you. Now, make sure it’s all cleared out by the end of the week. Get the contractors here to paint as soon as possible.” He pauses and I watch from the door as he strokes his jaw in concentration. “Something neutral, in case my new grandbaby is a girl. I want them both to be comfortable.”
“Very well Mr. Montgomery.”
“Yellow or green,” my dad decides. “And maybe we can get animals painted on the walls. I want it bright and cheerful.”
“Whatever you wish.”
Stepping into the room, I knock on the door and watch as my father’s lackey sizes me up, his eyes gawking as they take in my worn boots, ripped jeans and the tatts decorating my arms. I walk to him, take the phone out of his hands and flip the camera, lifting my middle finger I smile and take the selfie before handing the phone back to him.
“That should hold you over. Don’t jack off to it though, that shit’s just wrong,” I say purposely as his eyes bulge out of his head and his mouth drops to the floor.
“Arnold that will be all for today,” my father says, dismissing the jaw slacker.
“Don’t post that shit on Facebook and shit. Kim K may have broken the internet with her ass but people are dying to get their hands on the Tiger. You’ll destroy the internet with that bad boy,” I tell him as I take a seat on top of the mahogany desk.
I chuckle as Arnold hurries out of the office and my old man crosses his arms and looks at me bemused.
“You love to bust chops don’t you?”
It’s more of a statement than a question so I shrug my shoulders and glance down at the desk.
“I couldn’t help but overhear you tell him to clear this place out,” I begin, taking a stress ball off the blotter on his desk and squeezing it in the palm of my hand.
“Yes, well, your mother and I were talking and we want a place for the kids to feel comfortable when they visit.”
“What’s going on with you two?”
“Your mother and I?”
I nod as he shrugs his shoulders and walks toward the French doors and looks out toward the pool.
“To be honest, I’m not sure. It started off as two parents banding together to get in touch with their only child and now, well, I suppose I’m becoming reacquainted with the woman I first met.” He turns to face me. “I didn’t realize how much I missed her or the early years of our marriage, but watching her with your son has reminded me of all the things we wanted when I first met her. Money ruined us. It’s funny, most people think money will solve all their problems yet money caused all of ours.”
I watch as he pauses for a moment and steps around the desk and opens the top drawer producing a framed photograph. He walks back around and stands in front of me, staring down at the picture before handing it to me.
I thought seeing my mom with a smile and Eric on her hip shocked me but the photograph in the frame completely throws me, mind fucking me as I make out the young faces of my parents standing in front of a Harley.
“You’re shitting me!” I accuse, lifting my eyes to his.
“There’s a lot you don’t know about your parents, Robert,” he smirks.
“Clearly,” I reply, averting my eyes back to the photograph. “Were you part of a club?”
“No,” he says with a chuckle. “Not for lack of trying though,” he adds, taking the photograph from my hand and standing it upright on his desk. “I understand you better than you think I do.”
“Maybe,” I say finally. “I’m heading out and I’m not sure when I’ll be back. There are some things that need to be taken care of back home. My club needs me and in order for me to bring my family back home I need to concentrate on making them safe again.”
My father nods his head in understanding.
“Lauren and Eric will be safe here,” he assures me.
“Promise me,” I plead.
“I swear it,” he says, patting me on the shoulder. “They’re our family now too.”
“You really mean that, don’t you?”
“Of course I do.”
Holding his gaze, I can spot the sincerity in his voice.