15. Mr. Grumpy Puss

CHAPTER 15

Mr. Grumpy Puss

NATE

T ori and I somehow had reached an unspoken agreement between us. We didn’t dare talk about the kisses we shared at all at our wedding party. In fact, anytime we were out in public, the only touch we shared was holding hands if needed in front of people to keep up appearances.

Privately, we busied ourselves like we were truly settling into town, and that suited me fine. Over the span of a week, several things happened. We moved into the farmhouse on Love Ranch. Andrew hired me on at the Knights as a guard. Tori worked everyday for Hartlyn and Cody, helping them prepare for the upcoming Harvest Festival. And, making Porsche elated, we enrolled her into the high school.

All of it was arranged so fast, my head spun while we sat in the pick up line, waiting for our girl to get done with her classes one afternoon.

Tori sat in the passenger side on her new phone I’d bought her. Our daughter got one, too. I couldn’t very well let the two of them out of my sight without a way to get immediately in touch with me in case of trouble.

On Robbie’s advice, we expanded the circle of people to trust with our secret. Kipp, Dillon, Andrew, and the entire Knights security team now knew. The principal, and the security guards at the school knew, too. There’d be an unmarked van parked outside during school hours, with guys rotating shifts, pledging to keep an eye out for Bottesta. I switched off and on between the van and watching over Tori on the ranch.

It was the best we could do, unless I locked Porsche up in her new room in the farmhouse. That was hardly possible, considering the teen had more new friends than I could count between Opal’s friends becoming hers as well, plus those she worked with on the Ranch for the festival.

“What kind of axe would be best for throwing at hay bales?” Tori broke into my thoughts with a random question.

“I wouldn’t have the first clue about something like that.” She blessed me with one of her notable sighs, and, to the side, my eyes went right there, watching her chest rise and fall. So we didn’t talk about the kisses at our wedding party? It didn’t stop me from fantasizing about fucking my fake wife.

Her scent, her sassy mouth, hell, her breathing next to me, lit me up, setting my groin on fire. She was the mafia princess I couldn’t fuck, but the one I wanted to with every fiber of my being.

From things we talked about, and passing comments, I deduced early on she’d been dealt a crappy hand in life. Men used her and abused her, and those men belonged in jail or underground; I hoped Cap would be successful in bringing in Bottesta soon. But why hadn’t we heard from him?

What if he was compromised once again and we never did? How long would we keep up this family life charade?

At least now in the three-bedroom farmhouse, we had more room to maneuver; we weren’t in such close proximity. She and Porsche occupied the bathroom upstairs and I took the one below.

At home, each day that passed, Tori built a wall around herself, keeping me at a ten foot length, while her daughter welcomed me with open arms, never giving up the act, like she truly believed—hoped—I’d be her father.

I spied Porsche exiting the building, on her way to the truck, our little Miss Sunshine, laughing with her friends, her purple hair more vibrant outside.

Then two guys called her name, stopping her progress. My insides twisted in a knot. She got to me. She fucking got to me. Cap said not to ever get close. Too late.

My hands gripped the wheel like a vice. A primal fatherly urge took hold, wrapping around my gut and heart, ready to be the papa bear she needed. Anytime, anywhere.

These weren’t Bottesta’s men, but two kids, with their pants riding so low on their hips, their boxers and buttocks showed in back.

“What is she doing?” Tori asked, looking up from her phone finally. I reached for the door handle as the kids laughed. She turned on her heel and practically ran to the truck, the look on her face tortured.

“What the hell did they say to you?” I couldn’t stop my inquisition when Tori scooted to the middle so she could get in.

“Nothing. They just made fun of my purple hair. No big deal.”

Tori’s shoulders dropped. “Oh, honey. Not again. I don’t want this to be like last time, so I’ll talk to the principal.”

“What do you mean?” My head snapped to hers.

Tori explained, “There were some snotty, mean girls at her last school…”

I’d heard enough. “We don’t need the principal. Let me show how we take care of things in the South.” I launched from my seat so fast, blowing like a hurricane until I came face to face with the two young fellows.

“What do you want, old man?” The tall redheaded kid addressed me with a very disrespectful voice.

“You see that girl in my truck with the beautiful purple hair? I suggest you leave her alone,” I growled in the voice I’d learned to use in the Army, the one that should scare the pants right off these kids.

The shorter was was too stupid to be scared. “Get back in your truck and mind your own damn business.”

Something caught my eye on the notebook he carried. His last name he’d written on it. Scott Montgomery. I assumed these two were brothers.

“Holy shit. Don’t tell me you’re Scott Montgomery’s kids?” Yep. I saw the resemblance, the hair, the freckles, right down to the gap tooth in their shitty grins.

“So?” The tallest had an attitude that needed taken down several notches.

“Your dad still have a crooked nose?”

His head jerked back. “How’d you?—”

I closed the distance between us and got right into his face. “You give your Dad a big hello from Nate Harland. I’m sure he’ll remember me. I’m the one who kicked his ass in high school for looking at my girlfriend the wrong way. And if you ever bother Porsche again, I’ll make sure your noses match.”

The kid’s freckles turned pale as I turned on my heels. Back in the truck, Tori gaped at me like she’d heard every word.

“You cannot go around threatening kids like that.”

“Too bad. I just did.”

“Great. You watch. Tomorrow the principal will call us in for a chat because that kid’s parents will have complained about us.”

“Let them. I’m not going to stand around and watch while our daughter gets bullied. We’re a team, right Porsche? That means we watch out for each other.”

Tori squinted, waiting for our girl to respond, probably thinking she’d take her side. Instead, she took mine, breaking into a smile.

“Thanks, Dad. That was awesome.” Her smile was all the reward I needed. Father of the year here. At least, for now.

“You’ll let me know if you have more trouble from them, right, Pip?”

“Yep. I’m hungry. Can we stop at Aunt Minnie’s for pie?”

I chuckled and checked the time. It’d be dinner soon and Tori had a roast in the new crock pot at the house, thanks to one of the wedding gifts. Each night, we’d let Porsche open another gift, and it’d been fun to see what people gave us.

Tori shook her head, the entire way until I parked in front of Minnie’s. “Baby, go on in and find a seat. We be right there in a minute.”

Uh-oh. I was in trouble. Porsche sent me a sympathetic smile as she got out and slammed the door.

“What are you thinking, Nate?”

“That I didn’t want her to be seen as someone who could easily be taunted in school. She’s too good of a girl for shitty kids to treat her bad.”

“Not about that.” Her bottom lip wobbled, confusing the crap out of me. “I’m talking about what you’re doing to my daughter. Do you even see the way she looks at you every time you call her Pip? Or how about the way she tries to keep us together, suggesting date nights, demanding we do “family things” like puzzles and games after dinner? She’s forgetting that all this isn’t…” She sucked in a breath. “Real. And you’re encouraging her, instead of doing what I asked of you from the beginning. To keep boundaries. To keep things professional.”

I scrubbed along my scalp, hating the ass-chewing she dished out, even though she was right. Who knew when, but at some point, this family life would all come crashing down and I’d be left alone again.

Fuck me.

Didn’t I want that? To be alone again?

“Your daughter isn’t like you, Tori. I don’t think she possesses any ability to keep someone she cares about at arm’s length.”

“Then you have to be the adult here and do if for her. Keep her—and me—at a safe distance.”

My nostrils flared as I breathed through the ache in my chest. And it wasn’t just over the girl, but Tori, too.

They both fucking got to me.

Tori could push me away all she wanted, but clearly, from the very beginning I’d been her puppy dog, loyal to a fault. I’d come running back to her each and every time she pushed me away, hoping the next time would be different, the next she’d—love me.

What the hell was happening to me? I was Nate, the guy who shied form commitment. Not the family guy, or married or settling down in the small town. Yet here I was, pining away for a situation that was never mine to keep to begin with.

“Fine. You’ve made your point.” I got out and walked in, finding Porsche already in a booth. I sat across from her and couldn’t bring myself to gaze upon her at first.

“I’m having a slice of French silk pie. Are you getting your favorite apple pie ala mode?”

I only nodded. Tori crowded into the booth seat next to her and the server approached.

“Well, look who it is. Hello, Porsche.” Connor stood there with an apron on, his eyes sweet on her. As Andrew’s brother, of course I knew him. And he was a good guy with musical talent.

“I didn’t know you worked here.”

“I’m on call to help out Minnie and Jeb when they need it. My real job is at Wild Horses Music. I’m like an assistant there, doing whatever I can do to help when needed. Only someday, I want to write music and record it.”

“You’re so talented. I’m sure you will.”

The two of them talked further and shared looks as if Tori and I didn’t exist. I finally allowed myself to gaze on her, a full warning for me glared back.

“Connor, if you don’t mind. We’re in a hurry.” I interrupted whatever they were talking about, my voice gruff.

“Right. Sorry.” He noted down our slices.

“And pack them to go. We’re not staying,” I added.

Porsche’s face fell after he sauntered away. “Why can’t we stay?”

“Your mother has dinner waiting for us and I have to work tonight,” I snapped at her, and hated myself for it. My schedule had me with tonight off. But Tori was right. I needed to distance myself from them.

“Oh, I have news.” In usual fashion, she brightened right up. “There’s a Father-Daughter Cheer for a Cause Competition coming up, it’s where there are two teams, and we get the community to make donations and come to the football game in a couple of weeks to watch the fathers and daughter cheer and dance at halftime. Opal said Dillon takes this event really seriously every year, in charge of her team.”

“Uh-huh.” I barely listened, and Tori was back on her phone, like she used it as another way to block me from her life here. It was a mistake buying those.

“They needed a father to head up the other other team, so I volunteered you.”

“What?” Tori and I said at the same time.

“Why the hell would you do that?” I scowled, harsh tones in every word.

“Jeez, Mr. Grumpy Puss. Why is Dad so mean tonight?” She turned to Tori who consoled her with an arm around the back.

“He’s had a rough day as adults sometimes do.” She may have explained it away to her, but to me, she lifted a corner of her mouth, apparently satisfied that I’d done what she wanted and pushed the girl away.

If only it didn’t feel like a shitty thing to do.

“But you’ll head up the other team, right Dad? Please? It would mean the world to me.” Her pleading eyes ripped my heart and soul.

Screw being an adult here. “Of course, Pip. I’d be happy to.”

Her mom shot at me with cannons blasting from her eyes. I fired a glare back because dammit Tori, I couldn’t deal with it.

To make one happy, I’d piss off the other. How would a real father win between the two of them? Guess if we were married, I’d be in the doghouse with Tori tonight, sleeping on the couch, no sex for a week. But what did it matter? I’d gotten used to my hand by now.