Page 10 of Nick

“Yes, but Emily likes running her fingers through it, so I’m keeping it like this for a few more weeks for her. Then I’ll have it cut.”

“What is the woman’s name?”

“Her name is Katherine Whittle. She went back to her maiden name. His name is Todd Holter. I figured even if the police caught him, he’ll be in jail for a few months and then let out to finish what he started.”

“I think Nick is getting the hots for Opal,” Owen interrupted.

“Fuck, Owen, I am not. I told you Opal was safe from me.”

“I’m glad to hear that. Jax is very protective of his sisters-in-law. Opal is the only one who isn’t married. So if you don’t want Jax breathing down your neck, don’t start messing with Opal.”

“You guys are frigging crazy. You act like I’m hard up for a woman. Besides, isn’t she getting up there in age?” I felt terrible about saying that, but I wanted to ensure they didn’t think I was pining away for Opal. I thought she was the perfect age for me. I was forty-one, and she was perfect for me, except I didn’t want to get serious with any woman. I only wanted a good time, and then go home alone. I wouldn’t mind having lots of good times with Opal. In fact, I would love to have a good time with her. I’d had a taste of her, and I wanted more. I didn’t want anyone else.

“Up there in age, that’s stupid. Opal isn’t getting up there in age. Hell, she’s no older than Emily, and Emily is still young and beautiful. Damn,” Kash said, “I could kick your ass for that remark. Let me tell you something: Opal and her family are good friends with us Rangers, so don’t start anything with her unless you intend to go all the way. None of us want to see her hurt.”

“I’m not going to start anything with her. Will you two shut the hell up? All I did was drop Julia off with her for a couple of days only because Julia knows her. So, until my ex-in-laws return, Julia will be at her house.”

Kash was still angry. He looked at me, “How does Julia know her?”

“Opal went with Matt to Italy to help Nick with Julia and his in-laws, remember,” Owen said, smiling at Kash through the rearview mirror.

I knew Kash was looking at the back of my head. I felt him.

“Did Opal stay the night? I remember Matt came straight home.”

I said nothing. It was nobody’s business that Opal and I had the hottest sex I’ve ever had. I wasn’t going to give him any information.

“Damn, she stayed the night with you. Didn’t she?”

“It’s none of your business what Opal and I did. We are grown-ups. You two act like I have to report to her father or something. Opal is dating someone right now, anyway, so stop worrying about whether we are going to date. I’m forty-one, for Pete’s sake. I’m through with this conversation.”

Kash turned his conversation to Owen now, “Who is Opal dating?”

Owen chuckled, “He’s a lawyer she worked with when she was district attorney. I’m unsure if they are dating, but I’ve seen him there a few times. Now, I’m finished with this conversation also.”

I chuckled as Kash made a few noises in the back seat. He has always been a daddy bear to all of us. I guess it’s hard for him to stay out of everyone’s business.

6

Opal

Iwatched Julia playing in the water. She was having so much fun. I wished her grandparents would stay gone longer. We were going to get our hair and nails done this afternoon. I wanted to ask Nick if I could have the stylist layer her hair. It was so thick and long. She was so pretty with all that dark hair but it looked far too much for her and was always getting in the way.

My hair was a dark red, naturally wavy like my sisters’. We all looked alike, except Ruby’s hair was black like our fathers. But the rest of our bodies looked like our mothers. At least, that’s what we’ve heard. We each had curves like Marilyn Monroe. I can’t remember what our mom looked like. She was murdered by a man she was sneaking around with. Our life was crazy growing up.

For years we thought this other man was our father—Liam Penn; it was a shock to find out he wasn’t our father. He killed that man who killed our mother and spent twenty years in prison. Liam married our mom when we were all little.

Of course, we found out she was still married to our dad, so the marriage to Liam wasn’t real. Our mom was barely pregnant with Ruby, so when she got with Liam, he didn’t know she was already pregnant. Samuel was also there when all this happened. He took care of us our entire life.

For all those years, we thought Liam was our dad.

Then we found out Liam wasn’t our dad, and I remembered my real father. Our mother stole us from him when he had custody of us because she was different. She had a problem with her brain that made her act crazy at times. She was wild, as wild as they come. She danced around singing most of the time, and we girls loved her. It was horrible the day she died. She loved her girls. She called us her jewels because she named us after gemstones. There is Amber, Jade, Ruby, and me, Opal. Sometimes I can shut my eyes and still hear her singing. Thank God we had Samuel, he raised us as if we were his girls, and we love him as a father. That’s what he was to us. He was our father, and he still is.

Julia was so excited to have her fingernails and a pedicure done, and when we were getting our hair done, I asked Gale to layer Julia’s hair a little, so it wouldn’t be so heavy on her; I would talk to Nick about it later. Those two days went way too fast when her grandparents showed up three days later. I didn’t want to let them take Julia. I almost asked if she could stay with me. But I stopped myself because I was being silly.

“I had so much fun. Thank you for helping me make bread. You’re a great bread baker,” I told her.

“I wish I could stay here with you. I had fun too.” Julia hugged me like she didn’t want to let me go.

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