Butch by Sam Crescent Page A

Matthew in
conversation while she watched them together. Her thoughts returned to the
moment Alex entered her life. Seeing him at the fair had shocked her. Should
she let him see their son?
      You can’t push him away.
    He didn’t want to know.
    Once dinner was finished, she cleaned away the dishes
then joined Matthew and Butch for a movie. The whole time she was aware of
their need to talk. Rubbing a hand down her face, she stared down at Matthew’s
hand within her own. Whatever happened, she was going to be there for her son.
    Tucking him in bed hours later, she sat in his room,
stroking his hair. No one was going to take him away from her. Even as she
thought about keeping Matthew, she knew Alex had time and money behind him. She
had nothing other than motherly love for her son. There was no way the courts
would grant her permission to keep her son.
    ****
    Butch stayed out of the way as Cheryl put her son to
bed. Matthew was a good kid. He didn’t have the first clue as to what happened
today. From the short time he’d known Matthew, Butch loved the kid as if he was
his own. It was a strange, protective feeling that overcame him every time he
was around Matthew. Cheryl inspired so many other feelings within him.
    Running fingers through his hair, he finished making
them both a coffee. He sat on the sofa, making changes to the furnishings while
he waited. In his mind he ticked off for a new sofa along with a wooden coffee
table in pristine condition. This was going to be his place as much as hers.
    He tensed as he heard Cheryl making her way
downstairs. She entered the sitting room with her arms wrapped around her
waist. “He’s asleep.”
    “I made you a drink.”
    The conversation was stilted, and it was only making
him angry. She sat as far away from him as the sofa allowed. Alex was already
coming between them, and it was pissing him off.
    “I didn’t know Alex was part of The Skulls.”
    “I know.” He gritted his teeth at the anger building
inside him. “Alex shouldn’t have done what he did.”
    “You quit the club, right?”
    “Yeah, I quit, and I’m not going back. You’ve got me
for a long time, baby.” He smiled at her. “I’m thinking to the death.” He tried
to make a joke of it, but he saw it had fallen on death ears.
    She didn’t respond. The tears started to fall down her
face. “I’ve messed up.”
    Putting his cup down, he closed the distance between
them, tugging her into his arms. “You’ve not messed up.” She collapsed against
him. The tears started to fall harder. His gut tightened at the emotion pouring
from her.
    There was nothing he could do to stop her from feeling
like this.
    “I shouldn’t have gotten involved with you.”
    They were involved, and he didn’t give a shit what
Alex said. He wasn’t losing her. This was not Cheryl’s fault, and he wasn’t
going to hold her needs against her. She deserved a chance to let loose and
have some fun.
    “I’m not going anywhere.” He stroked her hair while
she cried. His thoughts returned to what was said in the club. There was no way
he’d let Alex get to her. If Alex even tried to lay claim to her, he’d kill the
bastard. Butch wouldn’t be against torturing the fucker first.
    “I can’t do this,” she said. “He’s your friend.”
    “Alex is Tiny’s friend, not
mine. I’m not letting anything come between us, Cheryl. I left the club because
it’s dangerous. I don’t want us to be in danger anymore.”
    She sniffled, wiping her nose with the back of her
hand. “This is messed up.”
    “Yeah, it’s messed up. I’ve fallen for a woman who is
the mother of a club member’s kid. It’s not going to be easy. Shit is going to
happen in our lives.”
    “I want to leave Fort Wills,” she said. Her cheeks
were a rosy, red hue.
    He shook his head. “We can’t leave.”
    “I want nothing to do with Alex or for Matthew to get
involved with the crew. I’ve heard all the gossip. I can’t have that for