Chapter Two

Cash

“Daddy’s home,” Mae squealed. The high-pitched frequency she achieved when excited skated along Cash’s nerves until a full-body shiver followed.

Tonight was Cash’s scheduled evening at home. With their busy calendars, they’d had to devise a plan so someone was always home for the girls. He’d been sitting at the kitchen table with Mae and Abi, an iPad in his hand. He read a case file while the girls did their homework. All was forgotten as the distinct sound of Dev’s motorcycle pipes grew louder as he drove up the driveway.

Cash’s own excitement had him getting to his feet.

Where Mae leaped off her seat in a dead run toward the kitchen door, a sedate Abi stayed in her chair, pretending to continue to study. The indifference was a veneer. Something she did to Dev all the time. She had mastered a way of keeping Dev on his toes, making him work for her attention.

Cash was more in line with Mae’s side of things. But before he left the table, he asked Abi quietly, “Do you need a refill?”

Abi never lifted her head as she gave an almost silent answer. “Yeah. Coconut water with watermelon.”

To Dev’s irritation, Abi had fully adopted Cash’s vegan habits. She’d most likely done it to aggravate Dev. The man was a carnivore to his core. But between Cash and Abi, they were slowly making headway with Mae. If the majority of the house was on a healthy diet, then Dev would have no choice but to follow. At least it worked that way in his head. Dev’s unpredictability left most things in question.

Cash took the steps between the kitchen table to the refrigerator, getting Abi a new drink and pulling out a Bud Light for Dev.

“Hey, Mae,” Dev said in the booming way he spoke. Since Mae’s last birthday, she was about fifty-fifty on whether Dev was to pick her up or bend down to give his greeting as a peck on the cheek. Tonight, she launched herself at him, jumping up. Dev swept out his arms, easily catching her.

“Hey, Daddy. I started my Christmas list today. You need to teach me how to ride a bike,” Mae said, absently pushing the wisps of hair off her face to see better. They’d been talking about Mae learning to ride for a while now, but she’d rejected every single opportunity to go outside and try. Tonight, she changed her tune. “Mama told me I need to ask you for a Frog Bike for Christmas. They’re four hundred dollars,” she stated proudly, then paused, looking over her shoulder to Abi. “Right?”

“Yes,” Abi answered without looking up, intuitively knowing Mae was talking to her. “And it’s too much money for a first bike. I told you that.”

Mae popped her head back around to Dev, giving a shake. Her long ponytail swished back and forth. “It’s not too much money, because it’s pink, and I can ride it in the dirt.”

“You don’t like dirt,” Abi countered with her face still down, pen moving as Cash put the new drink in front of her. “And you’re growing fast now. That bike won’t fit you next year.”

“Don’t listen to her, Daddy,” Mae said, bringing her hands to Dev’s ears, covering each one while moving his face to where they stared at each other, only inches apart.

“Can I say hello to the rest of my family?” Dev asked Mae. For about a second, she contemplated the request, then nodded happily. The smile continued as she placed a quick peck on his cheek.

“I’m glad you're home, Daddy. Do your artwork in my room tonight until I fall asleep.” Her legs went straight, ready to be put back on the floor.

Dev’s gaze searched the large kitchen until he found Cash. His guy eased any lingering tension from the busy day. Dev had an uncanny knack of leaving work at work. When home, he gave his full attention to his family. Crazy still gravitated to Dev. The tattoo parlor had grown too big, too fast. Dev could barely keep up and had hired an additional artist to help Trace with the overflow clients. The girls had Dev chasing after them all the time. He strived to be a good parent. He attended every school meeting. Made promises to the PTA and volunteered to be the parent set designer for a school play Abi was taking part in.

They’d also begun the process to have more children. It was fast, probably too soon in their less-than-a-year-old relationship, but that was how Dev handled life: full throttle.

As if that weren’t enough, Dev had added a joint venture with Keyes to his already full plate.

Cash tried to help Dev’s heavy load, but his efforts usually fell short. Every time he took a task off Dev’s list, another promptly replaced it. But at this moment, with the easing in the fine lines around Dev’s eyes and the sincere smile he gave, Cash better saw how he helped his mister. Their bond was deep and mutual. A sweet devotion to the other. Cash loved his biker beyond reason. From this minute until they left in the morning, Dev belonged to him, and he belonged to Dev.

A reformed outlaw biker made the best forever mate.

“Here,” Cash said, meeting Dev in the middle of the kitchen, handing over the can of beer before tilting for his kiss.

Their lips lingered like they always did.

“Two little lovebirds sittin’ in a tree…” Mae started a tune her mother had taught her to sing anytime he and Dev did anything remotely intimate. Tena, Dev’s ex, and the girls’ mom was back in Dallas full time, on her own. She was doing a good job at managing her responsibilities, only aggravating in these situations.

“Can you believe how annoyin’ Mae is?” Dev whispered loudly, giving the exact reaction his little one wanted. She beamed with pride while climbing back into the seat.

“She loves you,” Cash added.

“But the other one over there hasn’t said a word.” Dev zeroed in on Abi while popping the top of the can, starting toward her. “Is there any chance she doesn’t know I’m home?”

“Probably not,” Cash admitted, chuckling at the smile Abi hid from her father.

When he stood beside her, and she still didn’t respond, he grabbed a bit of her long hair and gave a gentle tug. She turned up her face, unable to hide the grin from her success. Dev smiled down at her.

“Abi has a new boyfriend,” Mae spouted.

An instant frown formed on both daughters’ and fathers’ faces. Abi kicked a foot, jolting Mae’s chair enough to tousle her in her seat.

“Shut up,” Abi said. If laser beams could shoot from her eyes, they’d most certainly singe Mae’s hair. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Yes, I do, Daddy,” Mae shot out, defending her knowledge. “She has a boyfriend.”

The energy in the room stood still from Dev’s fierce stare. “You aren’t old enough to have a boyfriend.”

“I don’t have one,” Abi answered and dismissed Dev, turning back to her homework.

“She does. His name’s Maverick and he’s so cute. They were holding hands when Mrs. Phiri picked her up. I saw it. Mrs. Phiri gave him a ride home, so he didn’t have to walk. His house is bigger than ours.”

Mae read a room about as well as Dev did.

Suddenly, Abi abruptly pushed her chair backward. With all the attitude a Fox could give, she gave an aggravated huff, or at least he chose to believe that was a huff, not the devil inside her trying to free itself on Mae, and grabbed her books.

“You’re too young to have a boyfriend,” Dev said again sternly. His tone and message bit out forcefully. This Maverick had no idea what he was in for with Dev as Abi’s father. Poor guy. “You don’t know what dudes are thinkin’. I do. You’re too young.”

“Thanks,” Abi tossed to Mae before storming out of the room.

Dev started after Abi, no doubt determined to mansplain his ways to her. He did it all the time, but she was too much like him. She’d do the exact opposite of what he wanted just to get under his skin. Cash gripped Dev’s wrist, holding him back. Abi might be the most responsible Fox in the family. She needed time and trust. She’d earned both over her short life.

“Let her go. Talk to her later,” Cash encouraged, drawing Dev to him. “Tell me about the meeting today. Was Alec impressed?”

It took a few seconds for Dev to shift to the new topic. His grim features eventually softened until he grinned broadly.

“I don’t wanna hear anything about the dumb motorcycle shop,” Mae said and stood on the seat, jumping to the floor before racing in the same direction Abi had gone.

“All the hell Keyes put me through was for nothin’,” Dev grunted. “Alec’s fundin’ the entire project, the sole investor. Keyes already knew he was dishin’ out the dough.” Dev took hold of the back of Mae’s chair, dragging it out before dropping heavily down in the seat. He kicked at the chair beside him in invitation for Cash.

“So, you didn’t have to offer any help?” Cash asked quietly, surprised.

“Not a single dime. Keyes thinks Alec should be a paid partner. He’s handlin’ the money and he’ll take care of all the marketin’. Somethin’ like that. Keyes talked to me when we left the office, but he’s started using so many words to say things that it’s hard to listen to it all,” Dev explained, wrapping his arms over his chest. “Keyes is doin’ most of the work. I can’t see where I should be an equal partner to Keyes. Maybe Alec shouldn’t either. I don’t know. We’re usin’ my name and reputation… Alec’s a smart guy…” Dev shook his head. “However it works is fine.”

“What does time management look like now?” Cash asked. He missed Dev during the nine or so hours of his workday. If the motorcycle shop really took off, he saw lots of lonely nights and weekends in his future.

“Keyes and I can manage a lot over the phone and by video calls. I can’t afford to let the ink parlor suffer any more than it has. Trace is transitionin’ my overflow well enough, but his schedule’s stacked. I figure I can shift more of my one-off customers to him, and he can shift what he can’t do to the new guy. They can also handle the walk-ins. On my evenings with the girls, we can head to Keyes’s place for a couple of hours. They like it over there. The dogs play. They love that shit.”

Cash nodded, hopefully pulling off a look of encouragement, but feeling needy inside. “I can head there after work…”

“Gonna miss me?” Dev teased, leaning forward, and getting closer to Cash, who leaned back in his seat. The deep connection he’d developed sometimes made him vulnerable and insecure.

“I…” Cash clamped his mouth shut when nothing else came. Dev read him like a book, barking out a laugh, reaching for Cash’s forearm. He was drawn forward until their fingers intertwined, linking them together.

“I was teasin’. In my head, wherever I am, you’re there too. Sometimes I forget you don’t understand that. If you don’t mind, can you come with me on the nights I’m there? I think my work can be done here at home, but I feel like I need to be supportive,” Dev explained as he began to fingerplay Cash’s hand. “The initial bikes that Keyes is buildin’ from scratch… He’s crazy talented. What he’s doin’ hasn’t been done before. We’re gonna see if it works. How he slung tires for all those years was such a waste of his time.”

“And Alec still doesn’t know that Keyes is building him a motorcycle?” Cash asked.

When Cash initially heard the plan that the first bike made would be a Christmas present to Alec, he didn’t know how Keyes could keep such a secret being married to a curious attorney. They had months to go before the holidays. It still seemed iffy to Cash that Keyes could pull it off.

“Nope,” Dev said proudly for his friend. “I brought up the blueprints by accident, but Keyes swerved and redirected like a pro. Since the bike’s bein’ stored in his uncle’s barn, I don’t think Alec has a clue.”

“How’s the new shop coming?”

Keyes and Alec had purchased acres of land many months ago and were in the process of building a massive workshop there.

“It’s almost done,” Dev said, leaning back in his seat, drawing Cash forward to keep their hands intertwined. It wasn’t a hardship.

“What else happened today?”

“Remember Ollie’s son Peck? The guy who took over the ink parlor for me when you came barrelin’ into my life. He’s got experience paintin’ bikes. He’s talented, so we hired him this afternoon. I gotta finish Alec’s art so he can start to work,” Dev explained.

It seemed like everything was coming together. Good for Keyes. He deserved all the positive things coming his way.

“Keyes got super detailed in his presentation.”

“How did Alec take it?”

“Honestly?” Dev asked, waggling his brows like it was a choice. His voice dropped an octave to keep anyone else from listening. “We were a wreck. Alec stopped Keyes about halfway through and reaffirmed his commitment. That’s how I figured out he was payin’ for it all.”

Cash chuckled. He could only imagine what the two bikers sounded like in such a professional setting. “What about the name of the shop? Has it changed again?”

“Oh yeah.” Dev laughed and placed his elbows on his knees, bending in to kiss Cash’s knuckles. “In Keyes’s text, he suggested the name Devil’s Key.”

“It’s shorter, but I like The Devil and The Key. The acronym’s TDTK. Easy to say.”

“Hmm… good point.” Dev got to his feet, letting out a long yawn, bringing Cash up with him. “I gotta draw tonight. I’m behind on my tattoos. After I get Mae to sleep, then I’ll put you to bed, and keep workin’.”

“Have you eaten?” Cash asked, liking the plan.

“I’m not hungry. I’ll grab a sandwich later.” Dev wasn’t a foodie. If he didn’t have to eat to survive, he wouldn’t. “Have the girls eaten?”

“Yeah, I saved some of Mae’s mac and cheese for you. It’s in the refrigerator.”

A grin spread across Dev’s face, and his chest bumped into Cash’s. “My favorite. I’m lucky to have you.”

“Remember you said that,” Cash teased, locking an arm around Dev’s waist, keeping him close for a kiss.

“Always.” Dev opened his mouth, meeting him halfway for a toe-curling kiss with promises of more to come.