Page 27 of Playing for Keeps

My dad stops me from escaping. “What’s this?”

“My bequeathed is losing her mind from horniness.”

Pa-Emmett is a man capable of great seriousness and violence. However, he’s also been married to my ma for decades. Her family’s quirkiness found its way inside his heart and corrupted his brain. So, despite him wanting to remain on guard with the Blood-Red Suns nearby, he snorts at my bullshit and tries not to laugh.

“Just settle down.”

I smile at Lola who stands nearby, still wanting to punch me over teasing her about Duke. Gesturing for her to join us, I enjoy how she doesn’t immediately obey. I could never love a submissive woman. I was raised around wild women who razz each other and get their feelings hurt if no one ever razzes them back.

That’s why Lola’s antics enchant me. She’s moody in the best way. Right now, she inches toward Pa-Emmett and me. Her gaze flashes around, as if searching for allies. Her people are spread out around the homestead, enjoying the music and booze.

“Lola, this is your future father-in-law. Can you say hello?”

Her fists ball up, wanting to punch me again. I stroke her back before she can unleash her temper. Lola’s irritation fizzles out, leaving behind a lovesick woman.

I’m the guy she hopes will make her pussy purr and heart race. I’ll be the dad to her pretty babies. No matter how muchshe pretends otherwise, Lola McGraw has gotten her heart set on loving me.

LOLA, AKA DADDY’S LITTLE TROUBLEMAKER

Once Emmett gets involved with my drama with Val, Duke decides to jump into the fray. The two dads end up deciding on a wedding date. I get the sense they both expect me to complain or back out.

Duke seems crankier than when we arrived. I don’t know if someone rubbed him the wrong way or he’s struggling with how Basin Rock’s future rests with the people on this homestead.

Having wandered over when Duke and Emmett started planning, Poppy asks, “The dates you’re suggesting are less than a month away. Is that long enough to plan a wedding?”

Before anyone can respond, I remind her, “The wedding is only a formality.”

Offended maybe, Poppy Mercer shoots me a dirty look. “My son deserves a quality wedding. He needs a cake and the best wings in the state. Can that be organized in less than a month?”

I frown at Duke who seems like he’s lost interest in the conversation and is daydreaming now. He barely acknowledges the food requests. Clover is no help since she has decided she will glue herself to Roxie and Alexis to avoid engaging with anyone older than twenty-three.

“This is a fine wedding,” Zeb Earlham announces as he walks over to our group. I’m shocked by the sight of such an old man. The geezer wears a brand-new red T-shirt with the tag still dangling from the sleeve. He’s also dressed in overalls and flip-flops. A fishing cap sits on his bald head. “This wedding needs more booze.”

“The moonshine man,” Mucky murmurs, and the other Blood Red Suns members nod approvingly.

Val’s great-grandfather is a rather famous local moonshiner with a bad reputation. The first time I ever saw him was during a county fair when he screamed at a carnie over a game. Duke told Clover and me to stay away from Zeb.

“He might look old and scrawny, but the bastard’s a biter.”

As I consider how I’m marrying into a locally infamous family, Zeb circles us while dragging his feet to keep his flip-flops on.

“We haven’t had the wedding yet,” Poppy tells him in an overly loud voice. “This is an engagement party. Do you know the difference?”

“I know there’s no good booze at this party. Where’s my sandwich?”

“We don’t have sandwiches,” Emmett mutters and stands over the smaller man. “You can have ribs.”

“Have you lost your damn mind, thug? I ain’t got the teeth for that.”

“I’ll drag meat from the bone for you,” Tuesday offers and cajoles the man to follow her. “Come on, fella. I’ll get you tender meat and soft potatoes. Won’t that be nice?”

When Zeb makes a move to bite her, Tuesday takes off running. She gets tripped up by her flip-flops and ends up in the grass. The old man stops and laughs at her before losing interest and wandering toward the meal table.

“Does that level of crazy run in your family?” I ask Val when I notice Duke frowning hard and likely second-guessing the situation.

“Yes,” Val says with utter sincerity as he takes my hand and presses it against his chest. “If our children reach the ripe age of a hundred and ten, they too will become weirdo hillfolk. Like, even if they’re super educated and classy, they’ll devolve into that monstrosity.”

Val waves at his great-grandfather who flips him off. “It’s a sad fate.”

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