Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 72156 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 361(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72156 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 361(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
Anne groaned. “This is why I should stay away from alcohol. The control I have on myself becomes limited.”
Preacher laughed. This was the first conversation he’d had with the woman. He liked her. Of course, anyone who would persuade Robin to pick him was in his good books.
“Where’s Robin?” Anne asked. “I haven’t seen her this morning.”
“She’s still sleeping.”
“I don’t want to know,” said Bear.
“Did you apologize last night, like I told you to?” Preacher asked.
“Yes, I even told her I wasn’t ordered to do it either.”
“Wait, you have to be ordered to apologize to Robin?”
“Look, I’ve got issues. It’s none of your concern.”
“You’ve got issues? That is such a man thing to say, as if it excuses you from actually taking responsibility. You remind me of my husband.”
“Do not even think to throw me with that prick.”
“Please, he always makes excuses. I’m sorry, my dick just magically appeared in my young secretary. She was needy, baby, she needed me, and I couldn’t resist. A man has urges and you can’t hold it against me. Ugh, I’m tired of men always making excuses rather than owning up to who they are. You’ve been an asshole. I don’t even know everything you’ve done to Robin, but I bet she doesn’t deserve whatever crap you’ve said to her.”
“This is still none of your concern.”
“Actually, seeing as I’ve adopted her as my new best friend and she seems to have no one but a bunch of men around her, all with an agenda, no mother to speak of, and the last best friend threw her into this mess, I have declared myself as her mother, best friend, protector, and voice. Whatever you say or do, I will find out about, and I’ll deal with you.”
Anne glared at him. “Robin is a wonderful, sweet, kind, and confused young woman. She’s trying to do what’s right for her child. It’s what any mother would do. All I’ve ever seen from her is her trying to do right. To help anyone and everyone. I don’t know what it is you’ve done, but if you care about her at all, like a father should, then your apology needs to come from the heart. It certainly doesn’t need to be ordered by someone for her to hear it.”
Preacher smiled. “I like you.”
“I wouldn’t. I talk a good talk and I’ll be able to help Robin, but when it comes to my own problems, I’m a complete and total failure.” Anne laughed.
“Do you think Robin will forgive me?” Bear asked.
“It depends. Do you feel you need to be forgiven? The only way you and Robin can truly come past this is if you really believe you said something wrong.”
Bear looked at Preacher.
“No, don’t look at him.” Anne grabbed his attention, forcing his gaze on her. “No offense.”
“None taken.” He was finding this thoroughly entertaining. It had been a long time since Bear was put in his place by a woman he hadn’t fucked. This had a lot of possibilities. He watched them go back and forth.
“I don’t know.”
“Well, I think you should understand the entire situation rather than feeling Robin went out of her way to hurt your good friend. She wouldn’t do that. If that had been my daughter, I would’ve been by her side. She’s been through a lot, more than we could’ve ever imagined. I think you should consider her side of things.” Anne got up. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go barf.”
Preacher got to making his woman breakfast as Anne left to go throw up.
“I wonder if she’ll have to line up to barf.”
“You need to cut Robin some slack, or better yet, not even bother her with this shit,” Preacher said, turning to face his friend with a bowl and whisk in his hand.
“Come on, you can’t be serious.”
“I’m more serious than I’ve ever been. Robin doesn’t need this crap, not with what we’ve found out. I need you guys to get in position. If Anne’s here, I know Reaper has Bethany. I don’t want to prolong this any more than it needs to be.”
“What if she doesn’t want you to kill him? What then, Preacher? Will you live in harmony with a woman who has a kid with another dad?”
Preacher added a little butter to the pan and then began to add some pancakes. “She won’t.”
“You don’t know this. You don’t know shit when it comes to my daughter.”
“I know she needs someone strong for her right now and so far, that guy isn’t you. Get your shit together, round up the boys, and do as I’ve instructed. It ends today. I’m not drawing this shit out, not now, not ever. Robin is mine, and once he’s dead, you better understand me, Bear, you will never hold Bethany’s presence against Robin again.”