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For some reason, I’m feeling awkward again. “Do you want me to come with you?”
“Yes. But you probably shouldn’t. He’ll be even more difficult if he thinks he’s showing weakness in front of you.”
Sounds about right.
“Besides cheeseburgers, what does he like? I’ll stop and get some stuff to welcome him home.”
“You don’t have to do that. Trinity and the other girls got it handled.”
“Oh.” Here I go feeling useless again.
“Hope, the only person you have to worry about taking care of is me.”
A sly smile curves my lips. “I think I did a pretty good job of that last night.”
He leans over and kisses my forehead. “Yes, you did.”
“I guess I’ll go home. I haven’t really been there much in the last few days.”
His face clouds over, troubled. “I didn’t say I don’t want you to come up to the clubhouse at all. Just don’t stress out feeling like you have to do anything extra.”
“Okay.”
When I arrive, my house feels empty. Why do I even bother any more? I should sell it and move to a smaller apartment. Just thinking about getting rid of the house I shared with Clay sends me into a crying jag. Settling into my bed to let it all out, I end up falling asleep.
It’s dark when I finally wake up. After searching all over, I figure I left my cell phone in my car. I’m worried Rock may have tried to reach me, so I hurry up to grab it. I also collect my mail, because I don’t think I’ve bothered to get it in a few days now.
My phone buzzes, startling me. Tucking the mail under my arm, I smile when I see Rock’s number and pick up the call.
“Where are you, baby doll?” His smooth voice tickles my insides.
“Home.”
He makes a displeased humming noise.
“Your home should be with me.” His voice comes through clear and certain.
I’m speechless, standing in my driveway like a moron.
“Hope?”
“I’m here. Did you mean that?”
He sighs. “Yes. I’ve wanted to discuss it with you for a while now.”
“Okay.”
“Yeah?”
“Okay, we can discuss it. Face to face.”
“Fair enough. I miss you.”
“I miss you too.”
“Come up here tonight. Things are a little nuts with everyone welcoming the big baby home, so I don’t want to leave.”
“I don’t mind driving up. Do you need me to bring anything?”
Another sigh.
“Rock, I pass a grocery store on my way—it’s not a big deal.”
“If you could bring up some six packs of Coke, that would be great.” In the background I hear someone shout “beer!” and then some static. He must have covered the phone because I hear the distinct yell of “shut the fuck up!” to whoever it was.
“Sorry.”
“I can bring beer too.”
“Just whatever’s cheapest for these assholes.”
I giggle.
More static, and it sounds like someone is trying to wrestle the phone from Rock. “Let me talk to her.”
“Hi, Hope.” Sounds like Wrath. “Why aren’t you at my welcome home party yet?”
“I’m on my way.”
“Will you bring me a bottle of Jack, sweetheart, please?”
I burst out laughing when I hear the definite smack of skin on skin and Wrath yelp.
“Fuck him, Hope. Don’t you dare bring that dick anything.”
I’m still shaking with laughter when I get in my car.
The Coke is easy enough to find. I buy a bunch of twelve packs. The beer is harder. I know jack-all about beer. I grab a few different cases of cheap stuff. And then because I’m a total girl, I buy a few of the more expensive six packs because I think the bottles are pretty or the names are cute. I figure in a house full of men, someone is bound to drink the stuff. I run through produce to grab oranges, lemons, and some limes for myself.
There’s a liquor store right next to the grocery, so of course I run in. Saying I know anything more about liquor than I do about beer is laughable. It’s almost closing time, but the owner smiles big when I bring up the largest bottle of Jack Daniels they sell. On impulse, I run back and grab bottles of Crown Royal and Jameson as well.
The owner cards me. Since I’m still feeling pretty haggard from the events of the last few days, that small gesture makes me ridiculously happy.
I send Rock a text to let him know I should be there in twenty minutes.
He’s outside waiting for me when I back my car up to the front steps. He jogs over to my window. “What are you doing?”
“Someone needs to unload the trunk. I got it all in there, but I’m not taking it all out.”
He snorts and opens my door.
“What am I going to do with you?” One panty-melting kiss later, and I’m wondering why I’ve been away from this man for so long. Reaching back into the car, I grab the two paper bags from the liquor store and haul them out. I hand Rock the one with the Crown and Jameson and keep the Jack. “Where’s the invalid?”
“Inside, soaking up all the attention,” he answers with an eye roll.
Peeking in the bag, he lifts his gaze to mine. “You didn’t have to do that.”
I shrug. He slips his hand around the back of my neck and pulls me to him for another kiss. “You’re so sweet, baby doll.”
The corners of my mouth lift at the soft, sexy tone he uses.
“Prez, you need me?”
Rock pulls away. “Axel, this is my woman. Hope, our newest prospect.”
I hold out my hand, and he hesitates before giving it a quick shake. “Heidi’s boyfriend, right? She couldn’t stop talking about you when we met.”
Axel looks extremely pleased and grins at me. He’s a handsome kid. If I were sixteen and had his attention, I’d be in serious trouble.
Rock shoves my keys in Axel’s chest. “Unload her car. Get Hoot to help. Then park it over there and leave the keys on my desk.”
“Sure.”
“Thanks, Axel,” I say because it doesn’t appear Rock is going to do it.
“No problem.”
He happily gets to work.
The scene inside doesn’t shock me like it might have months ago. Someone brought in a special chair for Wrath and he’s sitting in the middle of the room, letting everyone fawn all over him. Trinity is hovering over at the bar, but she squeals and gives me a big hug when I come in.
“Hope! You’re finally here,” Wrath calls.
I’m shocked he seems so happy to see me. When I approach and he sees the bag in my hand, he looks almost giddy. “Whatcha got?”
Handing him the bottle, I giggle at his excited expression. “Oh, now that’s what I’m talking about. Fuck, you’re awesome. I didn’t expect you to get such a big-ass bottle.” He looks up at me with soft eyes. An almost guilty expression clouds his face for a moment. “Thanks, sweetheart, that was real nice of you.”
Something strange is going on. Maybe he bumped his head harder than we realize. I reach out and run my fingers over his shoulder.
“And that’s enough of that,” Rock says from behind me. Before I know what’s happening, Rock scoops me up and carries me to the couch. He settles me in his lap, keeping his arms around my waist.
“Jealous much?” I tease.
One corner of his mouth twists up in a sexy smile. I lean in and whisper against his ear, “You already know you own my p—”
“Hello, kids,” Wrath interrupts, flinging himself onto the couch. His crutches go clattering to the floor and he kicks them to the side with his good foot.
Rock sighs. “Aren’t you supposed to be using a wheelchair?”
“Fuck that shit.” He focuses his gaze on me. “What’s doin’, Cinderella?”
I snort out a laugh. “Stop calling me that. I’m no Cinderella.” Glancing at Rock, I run my fingers over his cheek. “
Although, you are definitely my Prince Charming.” A broad grin curves his lips and he kisses my fingers.
“Christ you two are going to make me hurl,” Wrath bitches.
Rock ignores his friend. “This ain’t a fairy tale, baby doll.”
“No kidding,” I agree with an exaggerated eye-roll that makes both of them laugh.
We’re interrupted by one of the girls—Swan, I think—who comes over and whispers in Wrath’s ear. Rock rubs my back and kisses my cheek. My eyes flutter shut at the feel of his lips on my face. When I open them, Wrath’s shaking his head and clearly giving Swan a look of dismissal. She shrugs and says hi to me before sauntering away.
Wrath turns on a more serious expression and aims his attention on Rock. “Anyway, since you were unreachable before—” He gives me a pointed look like it’s all my fault Rock kept me horizontal for twenty-four hours straight. “I didn’t get to tell you my big news. I got someone to maybe cover my classes down at the gym. But I need your help to oversee stuff until I can get down there.”
“You own a gym?” I ask.
Wrath quirks a smile at me. “I didn’t get this buff by sitting around on my ass, sweetheart.”
I chuckle. “You’re impressed with yourself.”
His grin widens. “Just know my strengths. All brawn. No brains.”
He says it with a smile, but it still bothers me for some reason. Many words come to mind when I think of Wrath: mean, scary, loyal, terrifying, formidable—but not dumb. “That’s not true.”
“Please. I never would have graduated from high school if this fuck hadn’t forced me to,” he says with a punch to Rock’s bicep. Rock sighs as if he’d rather talk about anything else, but I’m fascinated with their history, so I ignore him.
“Really?”
“Yup. Gave me a roof over my head on the condition that I stay in school.”
I glance at Rock. “That was nice. Your dad didn’t mind having him around? I imagine he took a lot of care and feeding.”
Wrath snorts.
“Already had my own place by then,” Rock answers slowly.
“Total shithole,” Wrath elaborates. “But better than the street or some chick’s basement.”
“How old were you?”
Wrath glances around the room before answering. “Sixteen? Seventeen? Was doing small backyard fights and shit for money.”
“He was a talented, yet angry little fucker,” Rock says without a trace of a smile.
“I doubt he was little, even back then,” I tease.
Wrath grins at me. “Very true,” he agrees. “Rock wanted me to teach him how to fight. In exchange he let me sleep on his couch. Said he’d start bringing me to the MC when I finished school. He was barely a prospect himself.”
“You two must have been something back then.”
Rock raises an eyebrow and shakes his head.
“Stayed with him until after the she-devil moved in, then I moved into the old MC.”
“She-devil?” I ask.
Rock tenses under me and sighs louder this time.
“His whore of an ex-wife,” Wrath explains with a scowl.
Wow. Okay. I’m not sure what to do with that. I’ve heard some unfavorable things about her from Z, but Wrath has some intense opinions on this subject too.
“Hmm…I guess I should be flattered when you call me Cinderella, then, huh?” I joke to ease some of the tension.
Wrath cocks his head and seems to be considering what he wants to say for a change.
“Can we save the history lessons for another day and get back to the gym?” Rock asks. “I’d like to take Hope upstairs soon,” he adds with a dirty wink at me.
Smart move, because now I’m blushing so furiously I’ve forgotten what we were even discussing.
Wrath snickers at my discomfort. “Yeah okay, you’re not going to like this, but—” He stops and glances at me, then gives Rock a look. I grit my teeth because I know what’s coming.
Rock thrusts his chin in the direction of the bar. “Babe, can you see if Trinity needs any help, and bring me back a Crown and Coke in a few minutes? Please.”
Scooting off his lap and out of his reach, I grumble at him, “You could have just said ‘club business, get lost’ you know.”
Rock’ face softens and he gives me an apologetic smile.
“You gonna pay for that later?” Wrath asks in his uniquely dickish way.
My gaze is glued to Hope’s backside as she walks through the crowd to the bar. Already I miss having her body heat against me.
Shaking it off, I turn and focus on my brother. “Speak.”
“Christ. You really ain’t tired of hittin’ that yet, are you?”
I cock an eyebrow at him. “One brush with death wasn’t enough for you this week?”
Finally, he wipes the brash grin off. “Sorry. I just never…never seen you like this. It’s fuckin’ weird.”
“Get used to it.”
He throws a quick glance at Trinity.
“How’s that working out?” I ask, because I can be a dick too.
His jaw clenches for a second before answering. “Fine. We can talk about that later.”
“Yeah, okay. The gym,” I prompt, because I wasn’t kidding about taking Hope upstairs.
“Irish visited me in the hospital.”
I rocket forward. “What the fuck?”
He holds up a hand in “calm down” gesture. “No, it’s all good. He apologized. Heard about the shit his crew pulled. Wanted me to know he had no part of it. He was really upset. They’re up at Northern Hospital, by the way.”
I grunt at that. I must be getting soft. They should be fucking dead. “You trust this little punk? How do you know he’s not trying to worm his way in for some payback?”
“That’s why I need you to oversee him. I’ll talk to Whisper and Jake too. But I could use his help. And he asked if I’d help train him when I’m better. Guess he was impressed with the way I kicked his ass.”
“Up to you, brother. It’s your place.”
“I got at least a week to think it over. He’s pretty fucked up. Not in any shape to be doin’ much,” he says with a big dose of glee.
I just shake my head.
Trinity flashes me a warm smile as I approach the bar.
“I’ve been sent away,” I grumble as lean my elbows on the shiny wood counter.
A sympathetic smile turns the corners of her mouth up. “Club business?”
“Something about Wrath’s gym.”
She seems surprised and hesitates for a second. “Always play dumb when it comes to club business, Hope.”
Startled and feeling a little foolish, I straighten up and take a step back from the bar.
Alarm crosses Trinity’s face and she reaches for me. “I’m sorry, Hope. I didn’t mean to sound like I was scolding you. Just if…you know, we were ever around any other clubs or one of our other charters—always act as if you hear nothing.”
I realize Trinity’s trying to help me—she wasn’t trying to be mean. Also, I need to acknowledge that she knows a hell of a lot more about this stuff than I do, so instead of getting offended, I might want to listen to what she has to say if I plan to stay in Rock’s life.
Anywhere else, I wouldn’t tolerate being excluded from something because I’m female. How much of myself am I willing to give up to keep Rock?
I’ll save that dilemma for another time. I realize I haven’t responded and Trinity is about to freak out because she thinks she’s offended me. “Sorry, Trinity. I know you’re just looking out for me.” I resume my position, leaning on the bar counter.
Her shoulders drop and she gives me another faint smile. “I’m used to it, but I can imagine it’s weird for you.” Her gaze sweeps over me, and her mouth twists into a playful grin. “FYI, I wouldn’t keep standing like that in a room full of bikers. You know how they say men think about sex seventy-five percent of the time? With these guys, it’s closer to ninety-nine percent.”
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I turn my head and catch a glimpse of Rock watching me intently from across the room. Very slightly I shift my weight, wiggling my ass at him. He closes his eyes and shakes his head.
“Hey, Hope. Keep standing like that and you’re just begging for a spankin’,” Z says, startling me into an upright position. I yank my shirt down.
Trinity’s giggling. “Told ya.”
“You startled me, you perv!” I say, giving him a playful smack on the arm.
I get a roguish smile in return.
“Rock’s gonna kill you,” Trinity mutters.
“Nah. Hope’s like that hot sister-in-law you got inappropriate feelings for, but wouldn’t touch on a dare.”
A confused, nervous giggle bursts out of me. “Thanks, I think.”
Z winks at me, then focuses on Trinity. “Now you—nothing about my feelings for you are brotherly. What are you doing later?”
Poor Trinity blushes and flicks her eyes at me. Suddenly, I wish I was elsewhere.
“Can I get a Crown and Coke to go, please?” I ask.
Ignoring Z, Trinity pours the drink and hands it to me.
I leave them staring at each other because it’s awkward and I want no part of it.
Rock glances up as I approach. “Everything okay?” he asks as I hand him his drink.
“Yeah, things were just getting a little too intense up there—” One glance at a tightly coiled Wrath, and I wish I’d kept my mouth shut.
Rock rolls his eyes and pulls me into his lap.
“What are you talkin’ about, Hope?” Wrath asks.
Slipping my arms around Rock, I soak in his warmth and burrow my face in his shoulder. “Nothing,” I mumble against Rock’s neck.
The couch shifts, and I pick my head up to see Wrath pulling himself up pretty gracefully for a big guy with a broken leg. “‘Scuse me,” he snarls and heads for the bar.
Rock shakes his head.
“Sorry,” I whisper.
Under me, Rock’s shaking with laughter. After a minute, he leans down and whispers in my ear, “You ready to head upstairs?”
I don’t get to answer because Z throws himself on the couch next to us. “That was fun. Thanks, Hope,” he says, patting my leg with a chuckle.
“Jerk,” I grumble at him.
