Page 42 of Smooth As Whiskey

And funnily enough, it had been the easiest thing I had ever done.

I was sitting beside Maisie, helping her color a picture of Minnie Mouse, her favorite, by the way, because she was Sutton’s, too.

When the door to the clubhouse opened.

I lifted my head from the image and looked in that direction.

And when I saw it was the Soulless Outlaws, I dropped my head, knowing there was no danger, and kept coloring with my daughter.

It was only minutes later when I felt a hand trace the base of my neck, my entire frame tensed, and I pulled away, then jerked my head up to see who had dared to put their hands on me.

Because I knew it wasn’t Sutton.

My body knew her touch, it fucking craved it.

And no one else would ever do.

Cynnamin stood there, smiling down at me, “It’s been a long time, Irish. I need you. No one else has been able to satisfy me like you have.”

I shook my head, “Can’t. Go find someone else.”

I looked back at the picture and started coloring again.

Cynammin sighed, “I see that you’re busy, so I’ll find you later.”

When I felt her move, I said, “Don’t bother. I’m spending the day with my daughter, then I’m going to bed,” I bit back the words that I would be going to bed alone until I could get Sutton to forgive me.

Because Sutton didn’t deserve to have me talking about her to this woman.

Not after the shit I had put her through.

Cynnamin frowned, “But any time I’m here, we always go to your bedroom. What’s changed?”

I didn’t know that we had the eyes and ears of everyone in the clubhouse not until after I said what I did and everything that unfolded after.

I looked down at Maisie and said, “Cover your ears, cutie.”

I waited until she did just that.

Then I looked up at Cynnamin and said, “I know that. But shit has changed. I had the perfect woman in my life, and I was blind to it. Not anymore. She’s the only woman for me. So again, like I said, you need someone to feed your habit, then go find someone else.”

And that was all she would be getting from me about Sutton.

“Wait, is it the same woman who always looked sad anytime you headed off with me?” I didn’t answer her.

She stood there.

Waiting.

But it was Maisie who I learned could still hear everything, and she proved that when she said, “My daddy already told you no. And he wants my mommy back. And I want her back, too. And he already knows that if he doesn’t bring her back, I will never forgive him for it.”

Jury came over then, the same fucker who I had knocked out for daring to ask Sutton if she wanted to head back to her room for some fun playtime, tagged Cynnamin’s arm and pulled her away from the table.

I didn’t watch where they went. My head just dropped to the picture I was coloring with Maisie.

Minutes later, her little arms wrapped around me as far as they could go, and she said, “I know you gotta work on getting Mommy back. You do that, and she still doesn’t come home, I won’t be mad at you. But if you ever go near that woman again, then I’ll pull a Mommy and take your plate and throw it in the trash can.”

I lifted my brow at her as she released her little arms and asked, “You will, will you?”

---