“I see that.”
Winter was infuriated. Curt was at least ten years older than the young woman. Not to mention, he had been the high school football coach when Megan had been a cheerleader at Treepoint High. He had lost his job last year when Rachel told Viper, who was on the school board, that Curt had raped a friend of hers in high school. They hadn’t been able to fire him since no charges had been brought against him, but Viper had looked into his billing records and seen he had pocketed cash from the money raised for new football uniforms.
“Curt’s here.” Megan nodded toward where Curt Dawkins was driving into the parking lot.
He rolled down the passenger window. “Let’s go.”
Winter glared at the man as Megan clambered inside the big truck.
“It’s good to see you again, Mrs. James. Since I told you I won’t be back in school, I guess I don’t have to come in Monday. I can sleep in!” She chuckled as she shut the truck door.
Curt backed up without giving her a glance.
“Son of a fucking bitch!” Winter gripped her bag, wanting to throw it at the departing truck. “The bastard should be in jail instead of going on a fucking honeymoon.” It took everything she had to get inside her car and drive home.
Luckily, the clubhouse was quiet when she got there.
She went to her room, throwing her bag on the bed.
“I take it you didn’t have a good time?” Viper stared at her from the bathroom doorway.
“I did until I saw Megan Smith and she told me not only will she not be coming back to school, but she married Curt Dawkins and is pregnant.”
Viper ran a towel through his damp hair. “Her parents can’t be happy.”
Winter sank down on their bed. “She even sold her car so they could buy her an engagement ring and go on a honeymoon. Curt told her that he’s buying her another car when he starts work. Curt’s family has money; he could have bought her a ring if he wanted to.”
“He wants to keep her under his thumb, dependent on him to take her everywhere she goes so he can watch every movement she makes.”
Winter nodded, blowing out an aggravated breath. “She applied for a job with Willa to take over Genny’s job. Curt promised to set her up in her own business in six months.”
“Really?” Viper frowned, tossing his towel into the hamper before coming to sit next to her on the bed.
“Yes. She plans to learn all of Willa’s recipes to start her own business. She seems to think Curt’s new job is going to give him enough money to do it. Who in Treepoint would hire that asshole?”
“Shade did.”
“What?” Winter’s mouth dropped open. She started to jump off the bed to go find Shade. “He can just un-hire him.”
Viper grabbed her thigh, pressing her back down on the bed. “Jo went to the sheriff’s office to see if there was any way to press charges on Curt for raping her in high school. Diamond came in, and the three talked. It would be an uphill battle to convict Curt. Neither Jo nor her parents notified the police when it happened. And because it happened years ago, he would probably get away with it if it was brought to court.” Viper shrugged. “Shade came up with the idea to hire Curt. There are men who work at the factory who’ll keep an ear out. If he brags to one of our men, it will help Jo’s case.”
Winter still couldn’t relax. She didn’t trust Curt Dawkins as far she could throw him. “How much is he paying him? He’s promising Megan a lot. Shade didn’t make him a manager, did he?”
“That’s the interesting part. No, he’s an hourly worker. We pay well, but not enough to set up a new business and buy a new car in six months.”
“Maybe his family is planning on giving him the money when he starts a new job?”
“Either that or he’s planning to take something that doesn’t belong to him. We know Curt doesn’t have a problem taking what’s not his. Shade and Jewell will keep an eye on him; don’t worry.”
“All right. Will you tell Shade to listen for whether Curt starts bragging about sleeping with Megan before she was eighteen?”
“Yes, but consent is sixteen in Kentucky.”
“Curt was a school employee when he was the football coach, and Megan was fifteen when she was a cheerleader.”
“If Willa hires her, then Megan might become comfortable enough to let a few of Curt’s indiscretions slip out.”
“I married a very devious man.”
“That’s how I caught you.” Viper kissed her then pulled back when she punched his shoulder.
“Jerk.”
“I try.” He smiled, pulling out the bag he had been sitting on. “I see you had a successful shopping trip.” He pulled out the handful of sleepers and the pink blanket. “I thought you were buying for Fat Louise and Cade’s baby. Who are the pink things for? Who’s pregnant now?” His amused smile slipped when Winter couldn’t hide her expression. “Pretty girl, don’t tell me you bought this for us.”