Hollow (Heaven Hill Generations #4) - Laramie Briscoe Page 0,62
while ago. She told me if I ever needed anything, to let her know.” He scratches at his head. “I need a job, so I can get a roof over my head.”
My eyes stray to his arm as he scratches his head, there are old wounds, long ago healed on his forearm and wrist. He’s skinny, and doesn’t look like he’s had anyone to take care of him for a long time.
“My wife?” I play dumb. I need him to tell me what he knows.
“Yeah, Mandy. I met her at Magnolia.”
There weren’t many outside of the club who knew she went there, but I still need to verify before I trust everything he’s saying. Blind trust gets people hurt.
“Hang tight, my man. Let me make a phone call. Go on in there and tell Tatum you want some food and a drink. She’ll get you set up.”
“Appreciate it.” He puts his hand out for me to shake.
“No big deal.”
I watch him go into the office, knowing good and well Tatum can take care of herself, before pulling out my phone and hitting a pre-programmed button.
“Hey,” she answers.
The smile in her voice makes me smile back before I even realize what I’m doing. “Hey, babe, I have a question for you.”
“This sounds serious.”
“Could be. Maybe, maybe not. Just wanna make sure I’m not being swindled. Do you know a kid named Dakota, he’s got a scar on his cheek?”
“Yeah,” she answers. “Met him at Magnolia. Told him if he ever needed anything he could come to us. Is he there?”
My anxiety lessens slightly when I hear her confirm what he said. “Showed up today at the shop, asking for a job to keep a roof over his head.”
“He probably just got out. I’ll warn you that I don’t know a lot about him, but what I was able to see, he looked legit.”
My eyes float to where he’s at in the offices with Tatum. “I mean it’s not like we don’t have shit for him to do.”
“If you’re unsure whether to trust him, put him up at a hotel for the night, have Caelin run his background, and then make a decision. All I’m saying is what he’s told you about knowing me is true.”
“Thanks, I’ll see you tonight.”
“Don’t forget,” she warns. “We have the student-teacher conference with Walker’s teacher.”
“Shit.” I run my fingers through my hair. “I completely forgot. I’m gonna have to meet you there. We’re covered up.”
“You know when you come straight from the shop is my favorite way to get you.”
I chuckle low in my throat. “You’re the only woman I know who gets turned on by the smell of motor oil and sweat.”
“I was made for you, what can I say?”
In my chest, my heart flutters slightly, hearing those words. This wife of mine, she’s much more open with her compliments these days, and while I wish I didn’t need it, I do. Now I don’t feel like the only one in this marriage. Finally, I feel like a partner.
Like I’m getting as much as I’m giving.
“You were, Amanda, you were made for me in every single way.”
She sighs on her end of the line. “You never call me Amanda.”
“So be sure and take notice when I do.”
“Oh, I’m taking notice Dalton, more than I ever have.”
The smile creasing my face won’t be wiped off, especially when I’m talking to her. “I’ll see you tonight, babe.”
“See you then. Don’t clean up too much, huh?”
Chuckling, I feel a small amount of a flush creep up my neck. “I’ll do what I can to stay appropriately dirty for you.”
“You do that.”
“Love you, babe.”
“Love you, too.”
When I hang up, I realize this is the best conversation I’ve had with her over the phone in years. All my hopes and dreams with her treatment are coming true, and I hope to fuck they stay that way.
Glancing up, I see the bike from the outsider still parked in our lot, and I realize I’m not done with work for the day. Not even close. I still have decisions to make and jobs to assign.
Drew and Caelin haven’t checked in yet, so I’m assuming they’re still doing well, but now it’s time to go inside and see exactly what I can get this Dakota guy to do.
Lord knows we need the help, but I can’t help but wonder if we’re setting ourselves up for some shit we aren’t ready for by taking on new recruits at this point in the game.