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“You’re involved in a much larger job on a grander scale.”
“Don’t blow smoke up my ass, Cut.” I lean my arms against the table. “You and I both know that Sin doesn’t need shit from me. He’s seen me build plenty of engines, and he knows how to do them himself. If he had a problem, I’d only be a fucking phone call away.”
“And now you’ll only be a fucking call away for me.” His eyes bore into mine. He drops his feet from the table and leans closer to me. “The call’s been made. You need to take this time.”
Closing my eyes, I shake my head to disagree, but stop when I feel his hand on my arm.
“I know you and I are different people, and I know we both do things in our own fucking way, but what you’ve got a chance at right now is fucking gold. You need to take a step back from this club bullshit and open your eyes to what you might have. I’d give my left nut to be able to raise and see my sister’s kids. Your sister, no matter how she went out, was still your fucking sister, and you’ll get to keep a piece of her in the form of those two kids. I’d be a shit friend and a crap president if I didn’t see it and encourage you. The club is here, it will continue to be here, and maybe, once you see those kids and feel them, this club may mean something more to you. It may become a legacy that your nephew will want to be a part of. The future isn’t just about you anymore, Lick. It’s about them.”
He slaps his hand on my arm before standing up, leaving me to my thoughts and my possible future.
It’s fucking colder than a witch’s tit.
I rub my hands over my arms as I make my way back to the house. I’m sure those two bitches have left since it took for fucking ever to get through everything Cut had to say. When I step up on the porch, I can’t help but take a moment and fucking stare. Beyond the sheerness of the curtains, I can see Jenni and my stomach drops at the sight. She’s curled up on the couch next to a roaring fire, wearing what looks like pajamas, and reading a book. Never in my life did I think I wanted this. A woman, one woman that I’d come home to. I never thought I’d let myself be that vulnerable, but then again, Jenni isn’t just some woman. She’s fucking the woman. She’s proven so much shit to me over these past months that I don’t think I’ll ever doubt her as a friend, a partner, a fucking lover.
Shaking my head, I feel like such a pansy ass bitch for even thinking that word, but fuck it. I’m beginning not to give a shit. I’m beginning to understand what Hawk meant that day in the garage…
“She’s nice to look at, huh?” Hawk comes up behind me as I’m adjusting the intake on the engine.
Jenni’s in the shop, dusting all the shit we’ve got displayed. Her hair is in a loose bun on top of her head, and she’s wearing her usual long sleeve T-shirt that’s tight as fuck across her tits. Her leggings do nothing to hide how firm her ass is. I thought I’d be happy once the weather changed and she couldn’t continue to wear her short as fuck shorts, but now I’ve got to deal with tight as hell leggings.
Since it’s never too busy in the shop, when she’s done with her school work, she usually busies herself playing cleaning lady. We’ve probably got one of the cleanest fucking motorcycle shops in town because of that woman.
“Don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.” I try to play it off.
“You don’t?” he questions me. “We may be men, but we can pick up on shit. Sin and I were talking about that the other day. You’re different with her than you are with any other bitch, and that’s totally cool.”
Leaning back on the stool, I cross my arms over my chest. I need to hear what the guys think they know. “And why the fuck do you think I treat her differently?”
“Well, for starters, you listen to what she has to say. You fucking stop whatever you’re doing when she enters the room to make sure whatever she may need is handled.”
“This is a fucking bike shop. You think I’m gonna let her tiny body move shit that may fucking hurt her?”
He fucking laughs at me. “That’s exactly my point. You care enough to actually do that. You wouldn’t be caught dead helping out any of The Fallen.”
“You’re fucking right about that shit. But Jenni isn’t one of The Fallen.”
“No.” He laughs. “She’s definitely not one of The Fallen. She’s in a league of her own, man.”
Leaning forward, I growl. “What the fuck does that mean?”
“Nothing, man.” He holds up his hands in defense. “It’s just the facts. She isn’t like any of the other women you’ve been around for the majority of your life. There’s nothing wrong with the fact that you can actually tell the difference. Fuck, The Fallen are who they are, and they serve a purpose. Jenni is who she is, and she serves a purpose too. Maybe her purpose is you.”
“You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about, kid.”
“Everyone we have in our lives is there for a reason. We keep them there because they serve a purpose in some way or fashion. You gotta figure out why Jenni’s here and what that means in your life.”
Pushing through the front door, she lifts her head and gives me a smile. “Hi.” Her voice is breathy, and her face is flushed, her eyes a little glazed.
I cock my head as I shut the door behind me. “What are you reading?”
“A book.”
Her vagueness makes me chuckle. Keeping my eyes locked on hers, I toe off my boots and take enough strides to get to where she’s sitting. I try to catch a glimpse of what’s got her so wound up, but she closes the book before I get a chance. I tilt my head towards the fire.
“You made a fire.”
“I did.” She looks up at me, biting her lip.
