Breaking Away [Smoky Mountain Motorcycles] (Siren Publishing Classic) (18 page)

“And you are right, you don’t need them. The inn is doing great, and I was actually going to ask you if you’d ever consider taking on a partner. I mean I’m not much of a cook or businessman, but I’m pretty good at maintenance and have money that needs investing.”

Willa swallowed visibly. “What?” Her voice cracked, and he wasn’t sure exactly what that meant.

He’d always been a simple man. All he’d ever wanted to do was be a cop. But his leg would never be 100 percent, so if he stayed on with the DEA, he’d end up riding a desk for the rest of his career. That was his idea of hell. Besides, now, all he wanted to do was spend his life taking care of Willa.

“I know this is sudden, but you have to feel it. It’s just right, us being together. Soon all the trouble with your family will be gone, and you won’t really need me anymore. Trouble is, I kind of like being around. And you know I love you.”

“Are we talking something more than a business?” She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, a gesture he’d come to recognize as a nervous one. But deep in her eyes, he saw love and hope. He took that as a good sign.

“You have more diamonds than any women could want, baby, but what I’m talking about involves only one. You know I’m not a fancy guy, and I’m not good with words. But I love you. I want to spend my life with you. I know this is sudden, but marry me, Willa. Build a life with me.” He hadn’t actually meant to propose today, though he’d been thinking about it since almost the first moment he’d met her.

“Oh, Jake, are you sure?” A tentative smile tugged at her lips, and he knew suddenly that she wanted to say yes.

He smiled broadly. “More sure than my next breath.”

“Then yes!” She threw her arms around him. “Yes!”

* * * *

They were holding hands as they entered the arbitration chamber. Gabe was already present in one of his thousand-dollar suits. Across from him sat her family. Her father-in-law wore an equally expensive suit, but where Gabe looked handsome and dashing, Jeffery Montgomery reminded her of a used-car salesman. She saw her mother in a new light as well. Jake’s love had helped her break away from the hurts of the past. Instead of the ultrapolished, chic woman she’d always aspired to be like, Willa just saw a desperate woman who was not aging gracefully.

She squeezed Jake’s big hand and smiled up at him. His idea of dressing up involved a clean pair of jeans, a polo, and his newest motorcycle boots. He would never be comfortable in a place like this, but she was okay with that. He fit with her, and that was all that mattered.

They took their seats next to Gabe, across from her family. And suddenly it occurred to her that her real family was next to her.

Everyone turned as the door to the judge’s chamber opened. The judge was dressed informally, without his robes, since this was just an arbitration session.

“Good morning. I’m Judge Phillips. The purpose of today’s meeting is to avoid court. I trust all parties are willing to make an effort?”

“We are, Your Honor,” Gabe answered calmly.

“We are certain you will find us in the right,” the lawyer opposing Gabe replied.

The judge frowned but didn’t comment. Willa could tell he wasn’t pleased with the blatantly hostile attitude.

“The question at hand is the estate of one Reginald Montgomery, deceased. Is that correct?” the judge asked.

“Yes, Your Honor.” This was supplied by the too-slick opposing attorney. In her mind, Willa had named him Mr. Sleaze.

“Well, I have the will in front of me, and I am not sure I understand the issue. Any issues should have been addressed months ago when the will was in probate. It states quite plainly that, in the event of Mr. Montgomery’s death, his entire estate should go to his wife, one Willamenia Montgomery.” The judge’s gaze landed on Willa. “That is you, correct?”

Willa nodded meekly. She hated confrontations like this. “Yes, Your Honor.”

The judge turned his gaze back to the opposition, his eyes landing on her father-in-law. “Then I don’t understand what the issue is.”

“The will can’t be right,” Jeffery Montgomery sputtered. “My son would not have neglected his family. The will’s a fake.”

Gabe appeared to have been waiting for this. “Your Honor, you will see that all the paperwork is in order. The will was filed by the law firm of Sutton and Heath, a very respectable law firm right here in Aurora Heights.”

The judge accepted the proffered paperwork with a nod. “I am familiar with them. Thank you.”

“Well…well, he wasn’t in his right mind when he filed that,” her father-in-law sputtered.

His lawyer placed a restraining hand on his client’s arm, shushing him. “Your Honor, it is a well-established fact that Reginald Montgomery was an alcoholic and drug addict. We have signed statements from several rehabilitation centers he was kicked out of.” Mr. Sleaze handed his documents to the judge as well.

The judge took several seconds to review these before turning his gaze back to the man. “So your contention is that since Mr. Montgomery was under the influence of mind-altering drugs, he wasn’t in his right mind?”

“It is, Your Honor.”

“I fail to see how this has any bearing. Even if the will is false, the law in North Carolina is very clear. In the event of a person’s death, without a will, the entire estate goes to his or her spouse, in this case that would be Mrs. Montgomery. She would have no need to fake the will,” the judge stated plainly.

“But that just can’t be! We need the money!”

This came from Willa’s mother, catching her by surprise. They needed the money? How was that possible? Her father had left her mother a small fortune, and Jeffery Montgomery was a successful businessman. But then she looked closer. The edge of her mother’s dress was ever-so-slightly frayed. The diamond-encrusted rings she usually wore were gone, as was the diamond tennis bracelet. Turning her gaze to her father-in-law, she noted that his Rolex had been replaced with a cheaper version.

“Your Honor, may I have moment with my lawyer please?” she asked suddenly.

“This is highly unusual, miss.” But he gave her a kind look and nodded. “You have five minutes, and you may use my office.”

Exactly five minutes later, Willa, Jake, and Gabe rejoined the group at the table. The men wore scowls, but Willa ignored them.

Gabe addressed the judge. “Your Honor, against my advice, my client is prepared to offer a deal to the plaintiff. She is prepared to give each a quarter of the estate in exchange for their written word they will seek financial counseling.”

Jeffery Montgomery was instantly on his feet. “Do you know who I am? How dare you even suggest such a thing!” Mr. Sleaze tried to pull him back into his seat to no avail.

“We’ll take it!” Willa’s mother readily agreed, apparently, not too proud to beg. Willa felt her heart ache. Her mother had never been much of a mother, but it was still hard seeing the proud women reduced so low.

Mr. Sleaze finally succeeded in restraining his client. “This is very unusual, Your Honor.”

“I agree. Mrs. Montgomery, you realize you are not bound by the law to give them anything?” the judge pointed out.

Willa shrugged. She’d heard all the arguments from Gabe and Jake just minutes ago. “They are family. They may not be much of a family, but there it is. Honestly, I just want to be left alone, and I know as long as I have this money, they won’t comply. So they can take it. It doesn’t really mean that much to me, but I do have some plans, so I’m keeping half.”

“What plans?” This came from her mother, and Willa sighed because she knew her mother was envisioning something like plastic surgery.

“I’m starting a charitable foundation.”

“Why?” It saddened Willa that her mother truly didn’t understand.

“Because it’s needed, Mother.” How could you explain the need to do something good to someone so shallow?

With a shake of her bleached-blonde head, her mother said, “I’ve never understood you. You’re nothing like the rest of us. Maybe I shouldn’t have left you with the nannies so much when you were little.”

“Oh, Mother, I’m glad you did. They were mostly good to me. What I’ve never understood was why you had my sister and me when you so obviously don’t want children.”

She actually shrugged a slight shoulder. “It was a stipulation of the prenup agreement your father forced me to sign. I tried to tell him I wasn’t cut out to be a mother, but he wanted heirs even if he didn’t have any money to leave them.”

Willa felt her heart twist, and a feeling of absolute despair washed over her. She’d never felt like she fit in, but to feel so unwanted… Then Jake’s arm was around her, and he was pulling her to him.

“Shh, baby,” he whispered in her ear. And a new sense of peace came over her. Jake would always want her, would always be there for her. He was her family now. That was all that mattered.

“I can’t believe I’m doing this.” Willa laughed nervously.

“You’ve been practicing. You aced the class. You’ll be fine,” Jake assured her. The pride and acceptance she saw on his face made her heart swell.

Willa slid the face shield down on her helmet and shifted her brand new motorcycle into gear. It was a gorgeous little 250cc from Backoff Bikes. Jake had surprised her with a custom paint job with airbrushed roses on the metallic black finish. She absolutely loved it!

The last few months had been the most amazing of Willa’s life, filled with much joy and a few tears.

The day Reb had come to take his daughter to their new home had been a sad one, but the look of joy on her darling face at the sight of her beloved father was heartwarming. They would start a new life in a safe home in a secret location. She would miss the child terribly but was happy for the fresh start they’d been given.

Another joyous event had taken place just a few days before. Smokey had married his Glory in a quiet but elegant ceremony. Gloria had been breathtakingly beautiful in her simple blue sundress. Gabe had stood proudly as his father’s best man. And it was no shock to anyone when Gloria had aimed the bouquet right at Willa’s head. Jake had received a lot of grief from the men, but he’d taken it in stride.

The best news of all had come from Danny and Gabe just last night. They had announced they were expecting. Willa had cried when they had asked her and Jake to be godparents.

“Ready to ride?” Jake asked, bringing her out of her thoughts and back to the present. He gave her a wide grin, and her heart swelled with the love she felt for him.

“Always!” she replied, returning his smile. She’d ride anywhere with him.

As they pulled out onto the highway, several more riders joined them. Willa felt a warmth flood her. Her life was so full, filled with laughter, companionship, and love.

She turned to the man on the bike to her right. Bo had become a quiet but constant presence. She knew Jake was worried about his cousin. According to Jake, Bo hadn’t always been so closed off, but when she’d wanted to do something about it, Jake had shut her down. He’d insisted Bo would come out of his shell when he was ready. It would no doubt earn her one hell of a spanking, but she liked Bo too much to leave it alone. And she had a plan.

THE END

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Grae McTavish has always had a very active imagination that sometimes got her into trouble growing up. As a voracious reader, the natural progression was to put that imagination into writing.

Growing up around bikers, it was impossible to resist adding some of the rowdiness into her writing as well.

She is married to her own sexy biker who inspires her wicked imagination every day. Her two wonderful children keep her rounded and grounded and make her life complete.

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