Lyon
Chapter 53

“Now Cy-Cy, you hold on here and flip it like this.”

“I don’t know Ms. Kat, that looks mighty dangerous to me; you sure the boss lets you do this stuff?”

“Yeah I do it all the time look.” I was showing Cyrus some of my bike tricks; of course I didn’t expect him to do them, well not all of them; but it was nice to have an audience.

The guys refused to be my cheering section anymore ever since Colton threatened to skin them for encouraging me. Of course I only did this stuff when I knew he wouldn’t be in the office for a while and my work was done. I was feeling on top of the world and had way too much energy.

“Hi-ya Kat.”

“Oops… oh hi dad, you almost gave me heart failure I thought you were Colton.”

“And why would that scare you? You’re not doing something you’re not supposed to be are you?”

“We..lllll…..” I shrugged my shoulders sheepishly.

“Hey now, you told me you did this stuff all the time; you wouldn’t happen to be lying to old Cy-Cy now would you?”

“No……well technically no, I do-do it all the time but it’s just that Colt doesn’t like me to when he’s not around, but I’m good at it I promise; he’s just an old worrywart. Anyway what’re you doing here dad?”

“Nice to see you too squirt.”

“Sorry dad, so what gives?”

“I just haven’t seen you in a while that’s all. I figured since it’s my day off I’d come by and give you a shout.”

“Aww, you missed me.” I went over and gave him a hug because I knew there was some truth to those words; dad and I have always been close even when we were miles apart and it couldn’t be easy for him to finally have me all to himself for the first time only to lose me in a few short weeks.

Come to think of it I never did ask him why he’d made it so easy for Colton and I but I’d rather not poke that bear at this point if you get my drift.

“Dad I spoke to you last night.”

“Not the same thing kid; hey Cyrus what’s doing ready to lose your hard earned cash tonight?”

“Well now Drake I’m feeling mighty lucky today, woke up with a full heart and a smile; I’m thinking I might be the one filling my coffers at the end of the night.”

“Yeah that’s if that cheat doesn’t fleece us both.”

“Aw the doc ain’t that bad.

“He’s a pain in the a*s; anyway who else is around here I came to see if I could steal my favorite girl for lunch; where’s Colton anyway?”

“Sure I can have lunch with you dad, Cy-Cy can hold down the fort for an hour or so can’t you Cy-Cy?”

“Of course, besides I saw some of the guys flitting around out there we’ll be fine; Colt should be back from his run soon anyway.”

“Good then that’s settled let me get my purse and I’ll be right with you.” I grabbed my stuff from the office and met him next to his truck.

“So where’re we going?”

“That little Mexican cantina you used to like when you were a kid.”

“Ooh yum burritos.” I clapped my hands together; it’d been a while since I had one of those.

“So tell me, how are you doing really, everything okay with you?”

I couldn’t contain the huge smile that broke out across my face or the blush. This is my father after all; I couldn’t very well go into detail the way I would with Carol or one of my old friends back home.

“Things are just great dad Colt’s very good to me.” Okay please don’t ask me anything else please please-please, awkward.

“You need anything got everything you need?”

“I’m fine.”

“Listen Kat, I know this conversation is a little uncomfortable it’s not exactly a walk in the park for me either but you’ve just been through a very bad experience not that long ago and I need to know that you’re okay, it’s very important for me to know that.”

“I know dad and I promise if anything were wrong I’d tell you; you don’t have to worry, in fact Colton is more of a worrier than you are if you can believe that. He watches over me like a hawk, sometimes it’s hard to believe we’ve only known each other for a few months, it’s like I’ve known him forever.”

“What do you mean watches over you like a hawk; like one of those over possessive types; you can’t do anything unless he approves?”

I reached out to touch his hand on the wheel because he suddenly had a very worried look on his face. “No dad nothing like that; it’s just… we work you know, we’re good together. Colton’s over protective and a bit bossy sometimes but I need that; it makes me feel safe, secure, like he’s standing between me and the world.”

“That….. that’s great baby I’m glad you have that.” His voice sounded a little choked up and I was only too happy to move on.

The restaurant had a nice little crowd when we arrived and my dad was hailed like a long lost friend. “Hey chief long time no see; you keeping the streets safe out there?”

“Doing the best I can Manuel; this is my daughter Katarina, she used to love it here when your pops ran the place.”

“Well now, pleasure meeting you young lady.”

“Likewise sir.” We shook hands.

“A kid with manners, praise be.”

There was a little light banter back and forth between the two men before a young Hispanic female came over to take our orders.

“It was nice seeing you chief, now Lucy you be sure and bring the chief and his guest some of that flan for dessert on the house.”

“Thanks Manny that’s right nice of you.”

“Don’t mention it chief, Miss.”

We ordered a smorgasbord of food that I was sure we couldn’t even put half a dent in; beef burritos, fish tacos, and a jug of frozen mango juice. Not to mention the rice and beans that came on the side.

“Dad who’s supposed to eat all this?”

“It’s not that much and if I remember correctly you can inhale a burrito.”

“Dad, eighteen year old girls do not eat the same as when they were ten; we learn a whole lot of bad habits in the intervening years.”

“So you say let’s see how we do.” It turns out we didn’t do too badly; Colton called halfway through the meal because I hadn’t left a note and apparently Cyrus was not in the office when he got back to tell him where I’d gone and he freaked.

Dad just rolled his eyes through the whole exchange as he could probably hear Colton’s raised voice over the phone not to mention my attempts to get a word in edgewise. The end result was that I was never allowed to leave without either calling him first or leaving a note. I’m sure my father was even more concerned after that that Colton was a domineering tyrant but I found it hot.

We finished up with lunch and dad drove me back to the bike shop and took off. Colton was in the office on the computer when I walked in so I just went in and told him I was back. He gave me this look like I’d been gone for a very long time before his face broke out in a smile and what that smile did to me; there are no words.

“Come here baby.” I walked into his arms and that new feeling of safety and loving warmth enveloped me. “I missed you sweetheart; you had a good time with your dad?”

“Um hmm, we went to this place he used to take me to as a kid; it was fun but I think I ate too much.”

“Tummy okay?” He rubbed my tummy gently as I laid my head on his shoulder.

“Yeah I’m just stuffed I have to get to work Grimaldi has been riding my tail again.”

“Tell that old f**k I say to lay off before I plug his a*s.”

“You know I think you two secretly love this little war you have going.”

“Yeah, the old shit’s okay for a pain in the a*s; I was planning on taking you out to dinner tonight I guess now you won’t be hungry since you had such a huge lunch.”

“Ooh a date; I’d love that.”

“Good deal, well get to work so we can get shit done.” One long hot k**s; his hands on my a*s giving me that reassuring squeeze I craved and I was set to get back to work.