The Originals (Ghosttown Riders #10)

Chapter Nineteen

Regina had slept in longer than expected. After arriving back at the apartment, they hadn’t gotten to bed until after five. Absence made the heart grow fonder and did amazing things for the libido.

“You coming home tonight?” Regina asked as she poured her coffee in her to-go mug.

When he didn’t answer, she glanced over toward the door. He had an odd look on his face.

“What?”

Grain smirked and looked around the apartment.

“Grain,” she snapped, losing her patience. “What?”

He walked through the living room and stalked toward her. While she was always up for a quickie, she was already running behind on time. The last thing she needed was giving Ernie any reason to call her out.

“No.” She held up her hand, but that didn’t deter Grain. Regina stepped back until she butted against the counter. Grain grabbed either side of the counter, caging her in.

“If I’m late ’cause we fucked, I’m gonna kill you.”

“Not looking to fuck you right now.”

She furrowed her brows, “Then why are you looking at me like that?”

He lifted his chin, gesturing to the apartment. “First time you ever called our place home.”

Was it?

“It slipped.”

Grain smiled, slowly nodding. “Yeah, but it only slipped ’cause that’s how you think of this place.” He paused. “And me. We’re your home.”

Regina drew in a breath and clamped her lips. Usually, she would deliver a sharp-tongued retort, but she was at a loss. She didn’t have one because Grain was right. She did think of her life with him in the apartment as her home. Opening up was never easy for her. Regina was one of the most guarded people. She’d shed some of her armor in the last year with Grain, but it had taken time.

She tapped her nails on the bottom cabinets and slowly glanced up. “You’re gonna make me late.”

Grain snorted and cocked his head. “Alright. But to answer your question. No, I won’t be home tonight. Jack’s got me on two back-to-back runs, and we leave from Ghosttown at five tomorrow morning. Just gonna crash in my room.” He paused, leaned closer, and smiled. “But I’ll be home by Friday night.”

Regina squinted, knowing exactly what he was doing. Before she could say a thing, he hooked his arm around her waist and pulled her up to his chest. His mouth came down on hers for a hard kiss. It was how they did everything. She looped her arms around his neck, deepening the kiss and softly moaning as she rubbed up against him. She started to contemplate how late she’d be if they had a quickie.

It was a fleeting thought when Grain abruptly ended the kiss. He smacked her ass and stepped back.

“Be home Friday night.” Grain winked and turned to the door, grabbing his keys from the hook.

“Ride safe.”

He opened the door and glanced over his shoulder, giving a curt nod. “When the fuck don’t I ride safe?”

She rolled her eyes. “You want a list? It’s gonna be long.”

His glare sharpened, but his lips twitched, and he shook his head. He turned back to the door.

“Always giving me shit, woman.” There was a slight pause as he walked out, and then she heard his parting words. Just two. The same ones he gave her any time he left for an extended amount of time.

“Love you.”

As soon as the door closed, she smiled, whispering. “I love you too.”

She still hadn’t said them to him. Those words had never come easy for her. But she felt them.

*

Can this shift get any longer?

“Do you want me to try and make that one?”

Regina stilled, then rolled her neck. Ernie’s new hire was in training and had the misfortune of shadowing Regina. She hadn’t expected such an easy task to be so painstakingly aggravating. Sure, everyone needed to learn, but Regina wasn’t the best teacher. She lacked the patience necessary to be a proper instructor. Regina could show her how to make drinks, but the constant questions were grating on her last nerve. Regina only lasted an hour into the training before she took it upon herself to make all the drinks.

“No,” Regina said.

“Gee,” Ernie snapped and waved her over to the opposite end of the bar.

“What?”

Ernie pointed over her shoulder to the girl. “She’s never gonna learn if you make the drinks for her.”

“Well, I’m gonna die of boredom if I have to watch her take ten minutes to make a margarita.”

Ernie sighed and folded his arms. “It’s called training.”

Regina scoffed. “And you thought I’d be a great teacher?”

Ernie rolled his eyes. “Didn’t actually think it through, but now that I’ve seen you in action, I’m realizing my mistake.”

Ernie glanced around the bar. It was a slow night and would probably remain that way.

“Why don’t you take off early. I’ll work with her.”

Regina never gave up shifts. It meant parting with her money, which was something she never did. She was about to protest, but an idea popped in her head. Grain was in Ghosttown until tomorrow morning. She glanced down at her watch. If she left now, she’d probably make it there by ten. It would only give them a few hours, but she’d take it.

Regina smiled and patted Ernie’s back as she passed him. “Have fun with training.”

She walked into the backroom, grabbed her jacket and pocketbook, and walked out into the parking lot.

Surprise, Grain!

****

Grain was on his fourth beer, his sixth cigarette, and it was the tenth time he glanced up at the clock hanging over the bar.

Where the fuck was she?

“What time is Gee getting here?” Jack asked as he passed the bar.

“Should be rolling in soon.”

Debbie, one of the club whores, sat next to him. She kept a decent distance. Unlike the newer girls, this one knew better. She’d been around Regina enough.

“So, Grain? I saw you behind the bar earlier. What were you making?”

He side-eyed the girl. “A fucking drink.”

She giggled. “Well, I know that, but what’s in it? It was pink.”

That question had gotten the attention of everyone near the bar, including Colleen. Grain made eye contact, and he pointed at her.

“Took your advice.”

Colleen widened her eyes and pressed her hand to her chest. “Mine?”

“Yeah.” Grain nodded. “You said to make Gee something, so I did. Her own drink.”

Colleen lips spread into a smile. He was hoping Regina had the same reaction.

“Well damn, that’s so sweet, Grain.” Debbie shook her head. “I can’t even get most guys to make me come, and you’re out here making special drinks.”

Grain turned to her and laughed. It only lasted a few seconds before an object flew across the room in between him and the club whore.

“What the fuck!” Grain shouted and whipped around in his seat. He scanned the clubhouse with a harsh glare. It only took seconds to spot her. And she was pissed.

Regina stalked over to the bar.

“What the hell are you doing?” Grain shouted.

Had her aim been on point, he may have been removing a heel from his head.

“What the fuck are you doing, Grain? I get off early to come and surprise you, and you’re hanging with some fucking skank whore.”

Grain could understand how it looked to her. However, this time it was completely innocent.

Grain reached out, trying to grab her hand, but she stepped back, swatting at him. “Fuck you!”

Here we fucking go again!

He furrowed his brows and cocked his head, asking innocently. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

Regina scoffed and folded her arms. “With me, asshole?”

Before she could say another word, Jack sidled up next to her. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her into his side.

Gonna let my president take the lead on this. Grain stood back, watching their interaction.

“Settle your ass down. He’s having a fucking drink at the bar,” Jack said.

She angled her head, sending Jack a harsh glare. “Settle my ass down? That’s your advice?”

Grain cupped his mouth, concealing his smile.

Jack chuckled, sliding his finger over her arm. “Yeah, darlin’. That’s my advice.”

“I shouldn’t be pissed that my man is sitting at a bar with another woman?”

Jack smiled, looking over at Grain. “He’s waiting on you.”

“He didn’t fucking know I’d be here, Jack.”

Yes, I did. Ernie had called, giving him a heads-up for no other reason than knowing she was on the road and keeping her safe.

Jack scoffed, and his brows dipped tightly. “Your man will always know where you are, where you’re headed, and where you’ll be. That’s his way of protecting you. I taught my boys well.”

Grain refrained from pointing out that for three days, he had no clue where Regina had gone. That was an argument he hoped stayed buried forever.

“Bullshit!”

Jack squeezed her arm. “You ever known me to lie to you?”

Regina flattened her lips and remained silent, though she still seemed pissed.

Colleen walked up to the edge of the bar. “Grain wasn’t fucking around with her, Regina.”

Thank you, fucking Colleen. Regina couldn’t stand any of the club whores, but for reasons unknown, she tolerated and was much nicer to this one.

“See!” Grain shouted, pointing to her. “Colleen’s got no reason to fucking lie. Christ, woman. Waiting on your ass for the last two hours, and this is the reception I get?”

Regina glared at Grain, but he could see some semblance of her settling down. He’d take what he could get.

“You need a ride home, Coll?” Jack asked.

“I’d appreciate it, Jack,” she said and walked past Grain.

He was so focused on Regina he didn’t pay too much attention to Jack and Colleen. He had more important matters to tend to. Namely, giving Regina her gift. He’d worked all afternoon on it.

“Are those two fucking?” Regina asked.

Grain had no idea, but he had his own suspicions. “What do you think?”

“I think Dunn would be pissed she rode off with his president.”

Maybe. But after the comment from Dove at the bar that night, it would serve Dunn right for losing Colleen, if it was true. What kind of man raised his hand to a woman? Certainly not one who’d have Grain’s respect.

“Wouldn’t have reason to be pissed if he treated her better. Always gonna be a better man waiting in the wings for a good woman.”

“Oh yeah? Where’s mine waiting?”

This fucking woman of mine.

Grain wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her against his chest. She was still feigning resistance, but he knew better.

“Got something for you.”

“If you say a threesome, I will fucking kill you!”

Grain shook his head, giving in to a chuckle, and released her. He walked around behind the bar and started grabbing a few bottles of liquor.

“Making you a drink.” He said.

“Vodka will do.”

“Been working on something special for you.”

Grain started mixing the drink, careful to keep the recipe under wraps. This would be her drink only. He capped the container and started shaking it up.

“What is it?” she asked.

“It’s yours.”

“Mine?”

Grain raised his brows. “It’s your drink.”

Regina seemed hesitant, but Grain watched her eye the shaker in his hand.

“It’s my drink?”

“Yeah.”

“Is it called the Regina?”

Grain snorted. “Something like that.”

If he’d made it right, and it had the effect he was hoping for, it would have a different name. Grain poured the pink liquid in a glass and put a small straw in before handing it to her. Regina immediately pulled out the straw, tossing it onto the bar.

Grain watched her take a small sip, lick her lips, and then take another.

“Oooo.” One of the club whores stopped at the end of the bar, looking at the drink. “Can I have one of those?”

Grain didn’t even have time to part his lips.

“No! It’s my drink. Now fuck off,” Regina snapped, harshly glaring at the girl.

Grain laughed, shaking his head. It was at this moment he decided he’d never share the recipe. It was for Regina only. She took another sip and settled back in her seat.

“Well?” Grain spread out his arms. “You fucking like it or what?”

Regina licked her lips and rested her elbows on the top of the bar.

“This drink is gonna get you laid.”

Fucking perfect.