“Get in okay?” I asked. He’d just gotten in the night before from San Diego. After years of trying and failing to get him to move to Bishop and become an official member of the MC, he’d been much more amenable to my recent request. Something told me there was a reason for it, but I hadn’t pressed.
“Got in fine.” He nodded. “Place looks good,” he continued as we followed him inside the garage bay. “I’ll need to do the outfitting we talked about for the paint jobs. And the office needs some updating and equipment, but it’s a good starting point. You still thinking those prospects of yours can help me out?”
“Yep. Both Sunny and Gage have some experience already, and they’re eager to make a good impression. I think they’ll work hard,” I explained. I had other responsibilities in mind for Reid and Lucas.
All four boys had made an effort to integrate themselves into the club and were gradually establishing trust with its members.
“They’d better,” he grunted. “Send ’em over tomorrow.”
“Will do.” I nodded as I took Grace’s hand, showing her around the large garage bay and inside to the small office that did, in fact, need some work.
“It’s perfect, honey.” Grace beamed, and I knew she had no idea what she was even looking at. She was happy for me because she knew it mattered—because she had a heart bigger than anyone I’d ever met.
“Come on, ladybug, I’ll drive you to work,” I coaxed, guiding her back out to the truck. “I’ll stop by later to give you a hand,” I called to Porter.
He acknowledged me with a chin lift as Grace waved in farewell, and I helped her into the passenger side.
“What’s your day looking like?” I asked her as we pulled on to the access road that would lead us into town.
“Like the last few days, much busier,” she replied happily. “Ava is a marketing genius.”
She and my sister had been working together on how to get the word out about Joanie’s now that they had a stylist that could do more than make you look like Dolly Parton. “Her talents are definitely wasted as a receptionist,” I grumbled.
“Did you invite her to Thanksgiving?” she wanted to know. It had been her idea to invite Ava to Hawthorne, not wanting her to be alone.
“I did. She appreciated the offer, but she’s planning to go to Dallas and Tank’s. It’s what we normally do.”
She reached over, placing her hand on my thigh. “Are you sad to be missing it?”
“Sad? No, baby,” I assured her, meaning every word. I was genuinely looking forward to returning to Hawthorne, especially now that when I left, I’d have my girl by my side with Bishop as her mailing address. “Linc is on for today.” I nodded toward Linc’s Tahoe as we pulled up in front of the salon.
“I’m sure he’s thrilled,” she muttered. I knew she worried about putting my men out and wasn’t happy about having to be chaperoned.
“He’s fine,” I assured her. “And this won’t last forever. Pike, being the coward he is, has gone underground, but he’ll have to resurface at some point. Then we can go shopping for that brightly colored monstrosity you keep looking at online and you can get yourself around when you want to.”
“It’s a blue Jeep.” She glared at me. “That, I might add, meets all of your requirements.” She rolled her eyes.
I threw the truck in park, turning to look at her. “Bright blue,” I amended, trying to fight back a laugh at her peeved expression. “And”—I reached across the console to cup the side of her face—“you’re right. It’s safe, has four-wheel drive, and looks like it has room for a couple of car seats.”
Her eyes popped wide, her mouth forming a little O that I wanted to bite. “We haven’t even talked about having kids,” she stuttered.
“Ladybug, you pressed to have your touch on just about every inch of the house, not that I’m complaining. But you haven’t once pushed to do anything with that empty room upstairs. We both know what it’s for,” I murmured. “Don’t we?”
She bit her lip, her cheeks suffused with color, a response I’d learned showed a wide range of her emotions. “Yes,” she agreed, her voice holding the same breathlessness as when I was inside her.
I emitted a low groan, wishing I could take her home and keep her there for the rest of the day. Instead, I forced myself to let her go. “Have a good day, baby. Linc already did a sweep, so you’re good.”
She nodded, opening the door and sliding out.
“Grace,” I called, halting her progress. “Love you, baby.”
She smiled. “Love you too.”
I watched her go, ensuring she got safely inside before, with a chin lift to Linc, pulling out of the spot and heading for the club.
When I walked in a short time later, the place was quiet due to the hour, save for Ryland, sitting at the bar staring intently at a laptop. I assumed Cason was around somewhere; the man didn’t know what to do with downtime.
“What’s the word, Adams?” I asked Ry curiously. Staring at screens had never been his thing.
