Page 17 of April 5

Excitement filled her. They had never had a time when they weren't fighting to find time together.

Their moods were always off. When she needed him, he pushed her away.

Just like today.

And yet, she'd swear that he needed her as much as she needed him. If he wasn't allowed to have a relationship with her because he was a Havlin member, then now that he was the president of Seaglass Cove, there was no way he'd bend the rules.

But he'd never keep his distance if she were here twenty/four-seven. What they had was beyond anything they could control.

Nobody would be able to keep them apart, especially her dad.

Wire joined Cora. Her aunt snuggled against his side. It wasn't hard to tell they were newlyweds.

Timing was one reason she wouldn't want to live in the house with her aunt. She wasn't that big of a bitch to ruin someone else's relationship when they'd just gotten married.

But Cora had a fancy-ass van. Hell, yeah, she'd live in one if it meant she could be close to Jagger.

As Cora talked with her husband, Katrina stepped away and picked up her duffle bag, keeping an eye on Jagger. She would prove to him how useful she could be around here, just like she'd done back in Beaverton.

As soon as Wire gave his okay on Cora's plan, she'd call Mama Sue and let her know she intended to extend her vacation and have her get the message to Hatchet. The mother chapter would have to make their own drinks for a while.

"You're the best." Cora threw her arms around her husband. "I'm so excited."

She turned her attention to her aunt. Going by her happiness, she must've gotten her way.

Cora bounced with joy. "You can stay in the van. Wire's going to ask Jagger if—"

"No." She hurried the three steps back to Cora and Wire. "Don't ask him."

"But you wanted to stay at the clubhouse," said Cora.

She glanced at Wire. He studied her. She had to think fast.

"For now, I'll stay at your house. In your driveway. I won't be a bother, I promise." She quickly added. "If that's okay?"

"OFC." Cora hugged her.

"OFC?" said Wire.

Cora let Katrina go and laughed. "It means, of course, honey."

Katrina swung her duffle bag over her shoulder. "I need to track down my dad and tell him about my plan. When do you think you'll head home?"

"Anytime you're ready." Cora slid the strap to her sundress up on her shoulder. "Wire has a meeting, but I can leave whenever I want. I planned on taking the van home while he stayed at the clubhouse."

"Give me a few minutes." She lugged her duffle to her car and threw the bag onto the backseat.

Taking out her cell, she pushed the number for her dad and put the phone to her ear. He picked up on the second ring.

"Hey. It's me." She looked at Jagger as she spoke with her dad. "Cora invited me to stay at her place. She's offered some fancy van she's not using at her house for me to sleep in, so I'm going to spend a couple of weeks in Seaglass Cove—get to know my aunt."

She'd met her aunt. That's all she'd wanted to do. Cora was just an excuse to see Jagger.

"I need to get back to Beaverton." Her dad paused. "It's best you go back with me."

"I've never had time off from slinging drinks, Dad. This is the first time I've been to the coast. In my life." She frowned when Wire walked over to Jagger.

She had to think fast before Cora's husband blabbed about her staying at their house and ruined her shot at staying there. In the mood Jagger was in, he'd haul her ass to the interstate and have his men escort her out of town.

---