The Originals (Ghosttown Riders #10)

Chapter Twenty-Eight

“Well, the day fucking started out great.” Jack sighed, shaking his head.

Much like the last three mornings, Jack had woken up just before five in the morning, overheated from the warm body nestled against his chest. I ain’t complaining. Colleen was like a cat in her sleep, curling into him until she couldn’t get any closer. It had been a long time since he’d shared a bed with a woman, and even longer in his own bed.

Three nights ago, when he took Colleen to his room, he didn’t have plans on keeping her there. But every night when she attempted to go to his son’s room, he grabbed her and took her to his bed. Jack didn’t know what to make of his feelings for her. They were so foreign. It went beyond the sex with her. Not to say it wasn’t good. Best I ever fucking had. But Jack found himself staying in bed with her a little longer, enjoying the comfort of her. They’d spent the last couple days spending so much time together, he was waiting to grow tired of her presence. I’m still waiting.

Jack had laid low with Colleen. He stopped into the clubhouse to check in with a few brothers that were headed out for a run, but other than tending to some business, he felt himself eager to get back to his house. And her.

He’d made plans to go back to the clubhouse later tonight. With Dunn, Mack, and a few others away on a run, he considered bringing Colleen with him. She never made any mention of wanting to go back, but Meg and Maureen had asked about her a few times. This would be a different experience for Colleen. He didn’t have a specific title for her, but she wouldn’t be walking back into the clubhouse as a club whore. Jack would make sure of it.

Jack grabbed his mug and sighed. This had not been part of his plan when he woke up this morning. He sipped his coffee, looking out his front window from the kitchen. He rolled his shoulders watching the beat-up station wagon pull up the long driveway. He’d been given full warning she was back in town. Not by her, of course. His ex always did like to make an entrance. It was part of the appeal when he’d first met her years ago. She’d always been a little larger than life and up for anything. Until he’d knocked her up.

It was never his intention. Jack had no plans of settling down and raising kids. Especially as a single father. But life threw a curve ball at him, and he took it on. Jack was a lot of things, and not all of them good, but he knew the value in family. Something this woman hadn’t one clue about.

If Jack reflected long enough, and he had in the past, he and the boys were better off without her. His ex brought chaos and empty promises. It had been years since she’d visited, but she’d made a few calls over the years to the house. Kase had given up a while ago, but Caden being the softer of the two still took her calls. However, he’d grown more cynical about it in the last year. It must’ve been hard for them to see the true colors of a parent who truly didn’t give a shit about them.

Jack may have made a lot of mistakes in their upbringing, but he showed up when his boys needed him. The same couldn’t be said about their mother.

Jack set his cup down, reached for a cigarette from the pack, and grabbed the lighter. He watched the car stop in front of the house. Most people parked on the side not to block the driveway. Not her. Still inconsiderate and selfish. He lit the cigarette, took a deep drag, and squinted, watching her get out of the car.

Jack snorted. “Still a fucking trainwreck.”

He waited for her to walk in. He knew better than to think she’d actually knock. She had too much entitlement. Just as he predicted, he heard the screen door open and close softly. It was only around eight o’clock and usually the boys would still be sleeping. Had she been any other woman, he’d assume her tiptoeing through the living room was her being considerate not to wake anyone up.

Not his ex, though. She was a typical snake, looking to slither her way in, serving a sneak attack. She was looking up at the stairs as she appeared in the doorway of the kitchen. Jack enjoyed the shock on her face when she turned, eyes wide, and flinched subtly. She recovered quickly and smiled.

“Surprise!”

Jack scoffed. “No it ain’t. Heard you were in town yesterday.”

He’d gotten a call from the owner of the diner. As he’d said, the townspeople weren’t part of the club, but they too recognized they were all part of Ghosttown. And we take care of our own.

“From who?” She gripped her hips, seemingly annoyed.

Jack ignored the question. She’d given up the right to know any information when she’d walked out on the boys. Some may have thought Jack held a grudge against his ex for fucking around behind his back. They were wrong. He wasn’t happy about it, especially knowing she’d done it in his house, the kids within earshot. But that wasn’t the main source of his contention. Her shitty mothering skills were the prime reason.

If anything, Jack was relieved to be rid of her crazy ass. He’d done the right thing back in the day and married her, though had she not pushed so hard for it, he wouldn’t have made that mistake. But he questioned if he ever really loved her. Or any woman for that matter. Until… No, he wasn’t going there.

Jack took a drag of his cigarette and tapped the ashes in the ashtray. It was a homemade art project Caden had made five years ago. It’s the ugliest fucking thing. But it was a Father’s Day present, and his boy was so damn proud of it. Jack used it every day.

“What do you want?”

She lifted her chin, smirking. “Can I get a cup of coffee?”

“Yeah.” Jack sipped his coffee and pointed to the front door. “Families in town makes a hell of a good cup.”

Her lips twisted. “Still a bitter fucking prick, I see.”

Jack chuckled, shaking his head. “Yeah.”

He wouldn’t argue. His ex was right. Jack was fucking bitter, but not for the reasons she thought.

“Where are the boys?”

The fucking nerve of this woman.

“Well, that’s a fucking testament to what a shitty parent you really are. You’re their fucking mother. Shouldn’t you know where your kids are?”

Her lip curled in a sneer. “Don’t stand there and give me your holier than thou bullshit. Stepping in to care for your kids doesn’t make you a king. It makes you a parent.”

Jack smirked, arching his brow. “And what does it make you when you step down?”

“Fuck you, Jack.”

“No, fuck you, and get the fuck outta my house. You wanna see the boys, then pick up the fucking phone and do something you ain’t done in a while. Call them.”

“I’m only in town for the weekend.”

“Well, you’re shit outta fucking luck then ’cause neither of them is around.”

“You can’t keep them from me.”

“What the fuck are you talking about? It was you who walked out on those boys. Decided the mother thing wasn’t working around you fucking around. You abandoned them, and I still left that fucking door open for you to come back. To them, not me. You were the one who never came around, couldn’t make time for your boys. You think leaving them, making no contact, is somehow my fucking fault?” Jack pointed his chest. “You’re just as fucking crazy as you were years ago.”

****

Colleen had heard what sounded like the television playing downstairs. After waking up alone, but most importantly, in Jack’s bed, she considered not leaving. His sheets smelled like him, among other things, mainly sex and sweat.

The man lived up to every expectation, and even exceeded in a few areas. The last three days waking up in his bed had been the highlight of her year. Possibly, my life. While she wasn’t eager to leave the comfort of his bed, she was more than eager to see him. Jack hadn’t mentioned any plans for the day, but for the last few days, they’d had breakfast together, and if she remembered correctly, it was her turn to cook.

Some might roll their eyes at domesticated life, but Colleen was loving every minute of it. With Jack.

She grabbed a T-shirt from the chair in the corner of the room but didn’t bother putting on her panties. Hopefully, she’d have no need for them today. She walked out of the room and down the narrow hallway, making a pit stop in the bathroom. When she washed her hands, she looked in the mirror. She didn’t have a lick of makeup on, and her hair was ruffled. She drove her hands through it trying to make some decent semblance of style, but in the end she was left with her original I got fucked last night hair. She smiled, taking one last look then walked down the hall and stairs.

She took a few steps, glancing over at the television in the corner. It was off. It should’ve given her pause considering she knew she’d heard voices. It wasn’t until she stopped in the doorway to the kitchen that she realized exactly who she’d heard.

Oh shit.

She didn’t recognize the woman, but clearly she was not happy. Colleen wasn’t sure what she’d walked into, but she regretted her decision to get out of bed. She tugged at the hem of the shirt, but it still barely covered her ass cheeks.

The woman’s stare was going right through her, and Colleen shifted on her feet. She was unsure whether to excuse herself or play opossum and hope the woman looked away. Eventually she did but not without a cutting comment.

“Whores in the house now, Jack?”

Colleen clenched her jaw and stared over at Jack.

The corner of his mouth curled. “Only one whore standing in my house, and it ain’t her.”

“You’re an asshole. Is that the way you talk to the mother of your children?”

Colleen gasped at the admission. She’d never seen Jack’s ex, but she’d heard the whispers about her. There wasn’t one person who’d ever said a nice or even half decent thing about her. And it seemed Jack didn’t either.

“Show me a good mother, and I’ll watch my tongue.”

This was a conversation Colleen had no place listening to. She was about to step back, turn to go upstairs, and give them their privacy, but his ex spun around, glaring at her.

“You mind fucking leaving, bitch?”

Colleen’s brows shot up to her hairline, and her mouth fell open. She had been on the receiving end of vitriol plenty of times, but this was completely unwarranted.

“Marie.” Jack growled, and he stalked across the room, placing himself between Colleen and his ex. “Get the fuck outta my house. Next time you show up, gonna consider that trespassing. You know what happens to people who come on my property without my fucking permission?”

“Are you threatening me?”

“ Warning you,” Jack said, and pointed to the door. “Get out.”

With Jack standing in front of her, Colleen grasped the back of his shirt by his waist. He straightened, becoming a bigger barrier between her and Marie. There was comfort in knowing not only was he shielding her, he was making a statement. Want her, gotta come through me.

Maybe she was thinking too deep into it. Either way, this rarely happened for her, and she was enjoying every second of it. Marie stood her ground for another few seconds before spinning around and walking to the door.

“Still an asshole, Jack!” she shouted, slamming the door so hard the picture on the wall shifted.

“And she’s still fucking crazy.” Jack sighed and turned, forcing her to let go of him.

Colleen stepped back, but Jack hooked his arm around her waist, his hand landing on her ass, and her shirt pulled up slightly.

The corner of his mouth curled. “No panties?”

“Well, I wasn’t expecting company.”

Jack snickered, pulling her closer. His lips came down on hers hard. Kissing Jack Reilly exceeded all her expectations. And they’d been high. She’d spent plenty of time imagining what it would be like. It had never been this good in her imagination. Hard but slow would be the best way to describe his technique.

His mouth hovered overs hers as she ran her hand through the back of his hair.

“What do you want to do today?” His voice was raspy, hinting at what his plans would be.

“Your bed was comfy.” Colleen licked her lips. “We can just stay there all day.”

His eyes heated. Jack was definitely on board with the idea. Unfortunately, the phone rang. He released Colleen and walked to the kitchen, grabbing the phone.

“Hello?”

There was a slight pause.

“Yeah, hang on.”

Jack glanced over his shoulder and jerked his chin. “Head upstairs for a bit.”

Colleen nodded and walked up the stairs. She couldn’t hear any of the conversation since Jack lowered his voice. It was most likely club business. If she’d learned anything from her time with the club, business was never discussed with or in front of any outsiders. That’s me.