I take a minute alone to catch my breath and catch up with my thoughts of moving out and into a place of my own.
“Aww, my man is the best. He added ice cream for us.”
Smiling, I take the pizza boxes from her.
“I knew he was a good egg.”
And he is. Cale seems to be one of a kind and I am happy that my aunt gets to keep him.
CHAPTER NINE
CRASH
It is the day of the annual Summer Festival and people are every-fucking-where.
The club has three tents where we are offering club merchandise, security advice, and garage discount coupons. The guys are eating up the attention they are getting from women who come to the tents.
Savage is being the usual Savage, winking and being a fucking delight, flirting with women knowing he likes dick, but like Racer said, if it gets us a sale, then carry on. Guardian had to fight off a group of old ladies who wanted to touch his arm, to take a closer look at his tattoos.
I had to cough to hide my laugh, but it still earned me a scowl.
Next to us are Madalyn and Simone, who are promoting their event business.
When we were setting up, I clocked Stevie, her aunt, and some guy helping them. All three of them were talking andlaughing. Seeing her so carefree with them was like a punch to the chest.
After what went down at Val’s, I kept my distance. Even when both Target and Savage told me to go and speak to Stevie to clear the air, I didn’t. If she is anything like she used to be, she would have politely told me to fuck off.
“Crash, can you book this couple in for an installation, please?” I turn to Racer and nod.
“You got it.” I smile. “Okay, folks, what are we looking at?”
They jump right in, telling me they are expecting their first baby. They want everything to protect the house and their child, starting with inside and outside cameras, that can be checked via an app on their phones.
Once I am done with them, I tell Pres I am going to do a walk around, handing out some flyers to drum up some business. Not that we need any more, but you never know when someone needs their car or bike fixed or customized.
I spot her before she sees me. Her dog, a beautiful Siberian husky at her side, no leash on her, as she walks close. People pet her and she ruffles her fur at the contact. Even though I did not go and see her, I stalked her social media, but she has not accepted my friend request yet, so I need to remedy that.
Or give her my number.
Slowing my steps, I take her in. She looks fucking beautiful as she pauses at a tent, studying the cakes and cookies lined up in the display case. Her hair falls in soft waves, some of it pinned back, exposing the curve of her neck. The dress she’s wearing shows off more leg than I’m comfortable with, but she isn’t mine.
Not yet.
That three-letter word slams into my head, scattering my thoughts.
Why the hell am I thinking that?
Where did it even come from?
Sure, she’s been on my mind more than I’d like to admit. And yeah, I’ve been seeing her differently, thinking about her differently, but am I actually ready to settle down?
Is she?
And fuck… I hurt her the last time I saw her. She might hate me. She has every right to, with how I accused her of lying to me, which set Val off, adding to Stevie’s humiliation.
But watching her now, seeing the way she smiles and greets people, I can’t help the way my chest tightens. Stevie is such a sweet soul, and yeah, I want her.
I move closer. Her dog spots me first, eyes locked on every step I take. I offer her a small smile, letting her know I’m no threat to her human. She tilts her head, a soft sound slipping out, and Stevie glances down at her with a frown before lifting her gaze to me.
