Part 24 (1/2)
She frantically began was.h.i.+ng herself, rubbing between her legs so hard she was becoming red and raw.
”What in the h.e.l.l are you doing?” He jerked the wet cloth from her, tossing it into the sink.
Evie burst into tears, burying her face into her hands. ”Don't hate me. I was supposed to go on another form of birth control. I made my appointment with my OB-GYN, but with Beth on bed rest, I didn't have time.”
”Evie, baby, calm down. It's all right.”
”You hated Brenda for getting pregnant.”
King closed the toilet lid, sitting down. His hands pulled her between his legs then his mouth kissed her bare belly. ”Evie, there is no comparison between you and Brenda. I was high and don't even remember f.u.c.king her; I wouldn't have touched her with a ten-foot pole otherwise. The b.i.t.c.h never even told me she was pregnant. She kept Lily hidden from me because the woman knew I would be furious.”
The day he had seen Lily sitting outside that apartment building, dirty and underfed, was the worst day of his life. That he hadn't known of her existence hadn't eased his conscience; it had made him ache at the time he had lost with Lily. Her being born, her first step, her first word. To see the little girl run to him yelling Daddy when he came home from work. The bonding of a father to a daughter. That time couldn't be recaptured. He hated Brenda. There was no comparison between her and Evie.
”To be honest, I wouldn't mind if you became pregnant. I missed raising Lily and would really like a do-over at it. So, if you do get pregnant, I promise I won't suck as bad at it the second time around.” The thought of holding a child they had created filled an empty hole he hadn't even been aware existed. This would be a love he could make himself worthy of earning this time.
”Really?” Evie raised her face from her hands.
”Really.” His violet eyes were filled with agony. ”Do you know Lily's only called me Dad when she thought she or I was going to die?”
”King, you haven't been the perfect father, but it's not too late. I've known Lily a long time; it won't be the last time she calls you Dad. Knowing her, she wants to make sure it's okay with you. Talk to her.”
”I don't know how I ever created something as beautiful as her.”
”Baby, you didn't do it alone.”
”Brenda doesn't deserve any credit for giving birth to Lily.”
”I wasn't talking about Lily.” Evie looked down into the face that looked so much like his daughter. ”Lily told Shade that, if things hadn't turned out the way they had, she wouldn't have ended up in Kentucky. I don't believe that, but I do believe she ended up exactly where she belongs. Just like you, King. Maybe you weren't a good father to her when she was a child, but you have the rest of your life to make it up to her. Talk to her and clear the air. Lily's not the only one who needs to heal.”
”I don't want to bring up the past and upset her.”
”Then don't. Talk about the future, and let her know you're always going to be there for her. She's come so far over the last six months, and once she knows you're not against her marriage anymore, she won't feel torn between the two of you.”
King stood, taking her in his arms. ”Let's get some sleep.”
”No stripper pole tonight?”
”Tonight, I'm going to be the one to please you. I have a lot to live up to. It's hard for one man to live up to so much compet.i.tion.”
King packed her back to the bedroom, laying her down on the bed.
Evie searched his eyes, looking for censure or jealously, and found none. ”King...”
”Evie, I have never been afraid of a little compet.i.tion.” His fingers twisted her nipple. ”I'm certainly willing to prove I can keep you satisfied.”
Evie grinned back. ”King, you can prove yourself to me all night long.”
Evie set her orange juice down on the table, staring at King in shock. ”You're going to do what?”
”Don't look so shocked,” King grumbled. ”Shade invited me to go on the fis.h.i.+ng trip with all the men the night you have Beth's shower, and I accepted.”
”You've never went fis.h.i.+ng or camped out a night in your life.”
King shrugged. ”How hard could it be?”
Evie spread some jam on her toast. ”The only reason they are going to get out of attending the baby shower is Lily scarred them for life with s.e.x Piston's.”
”All of The Last Riders are going, so I take it as a good sign they invited me.”
”Bulls.h.i.+t. You just don't want to be stuck with all the women by yourself.”
”That's not true,” King denied, pouring himself a cup of coffee. He had come to the conclusion that building a relations.h.i.+p with Lily was more important than breaking her marriage to Shade. He still didn't trust the man, but he was certain he would never hurt Lily. He figured going on the camping trip with Shade would show Lily he was willing to try. Shade had looked surprised he had accepted the invitation King was certain had been given after Lily's prompting.
”You do know you'll have to s.h.i.+t in the woods?”
”Are s.e.x Piston and her crew coming to the shower?”
”Yes.”
”Then camping will be a new experience I will thoroughly enjoy.”
”Sure it will,” Evie said doubtfully.
”I'm beginning to feel insulted.” King looked at her over the real-estate section of the newspaper.
Evie eyed King's immaculate clothes. ”When I look at you, 'outdoorsman' doesn't come to mind.”
King sighed and changed the subject. ”I have a meeting this morning with the owner of the property I told you about that I want to buy for the restaurant.”
”I can f.u.c.king guarantee he won't be wearing a two-thousand-dollar suit.”
”It's all about intimidation to get the best price for the property,” King informed her.
Evie took a bite of her toast, chewing it thoughtfully. ”Have you met Drake Hall yet?”
”No, the realtor set the appointment up for me.”
”He's not going to be intimidated by you. You want a better price on the property, take Bliss with you; he'll be too busy staring at her t.i.ts to concentrate on you chewing his price down.”
”I think I can handle him. I've bought over a hundred properties in Queen City.”
Evie finished her toast, placing her plate in the sink. ”Don't say I didn't warn you.” She went back to the table, bending down to give him a kiss. ”I have to go. I need to see a couple of Beth's patients before I go to the grocery store to buy the groceries for tonight's party.”
”You need me to do anything before I leave? Shade and Rider aren't picking me up until this afternoon.”