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I head up into the loft where my three sisters are in the process of going to bed. They all turn when I walk up, Dottie smirking at something. I wipe my mouth, which has Kitty and Dani outright laughing. Assholes.
“Hey, got a question, and please be serious. Don’t make fun out of the inexperienced and youngest sister, okay? Presley is still here, and he doesn’t have a place to stay. Hey, don’t go there, he’s not staying with me in the bedroom. Would any of you mind if he slept on the pullout sofa downstairs? I feel bad he’s been stuck following us—no—really me, because of my stupid mistake. I don’t want him to have to sleep in his car.”
Dottie looks to Dani first, who shrugs her shoulders, then Kitty, who gives her big eyes but says nothing. Dottie stares at me for a minute then stands up.
“Hannah, it’s fine with us if you’re okay with it. But first, you’re going to stay up here while I go down and educate Mr. Presley Jones on who he’s hanging around with. No, don’t give me your attitude, missy, do you think our prez would even contemplate this scenario, and I’d hate to think what Shadow would do. So only way he stays the night is if I go have a conversation with him. You tell me what I’m doing.”
Looking at the three of them, I know they only have my best interest in mind. And if I’m being totally honest, I don’t truly know Presley. Yeah, he might be a part of the Grimm Wolves MC family eventually, but shit, look what happened to Maggie at an Intruder’s party all those years ago. And I’m the result of that nightmare. So I get where my club sisters are coming from.
“Guess you’re right, Dottie. Please go ahead, I’ll sit up here and wait. Just don’t go total bitch on him because, and don’t laugh, I do like him. A lot, he makes me feel pretty and likable.”
Kitty stands and pulls me to her.
“That’s because you are both likable and pretty, Hannah. Try not to rush through your life. Take it one day at a time, will you? Listen to someone older and wiser.”
We all smile as I kiddingly push Kitty.
“Older and wiser, huh? What are you eighteen months or so older than me?”
“Um, no, kiddo I’m over two years older than you and I’ve lived a rough life, so just take my word, will you? We got your back, always will, Hannah.”
So as Dottie heads down to give Presley the business, Kitty, Dani, and I sit around talking about everything we are going to do tomorrow until I hear Dottie walking up the stairs. She gives me a nod and moves to the bed she’s sharing with her twin. I offered them the big bed downstairs, but we are going to rotate so everyone gets the big bed, hopefully.
I make my way downstairs to see Presley with his head in his hands, elbows on his knees. He seems really deep in thought so I just look at him. Well, until he lifts his head and sees me. The look on his face is so sad.
“Hey, Itty Bitty, you didn’t have to go and do that. Though got to say I totally appreciate it. I’ll try to stay out of your way, promise. So did you come back down to give me that kiss I asked for or just to say goodnight?”
“Presley, can we talk for a little while? Well, unless you’re tired then we can go to sleep. I’m wired and have so much going through my mind. Oh, better warn you, there’s rumor that my family, which is two motorcycle clubs, is supposed to show up tomorrow to whip my ass in shape for being a total idiot. And I’m sure you’ve heard that some of the Grimm Wolves ol’ ladies are on their way with their men. So a huge family reunion, for God’s sake. All I wanted to do was get out of Montana and have some fun. I’m not going to rob a bank or kill someone.”
I walk to him, sliding down onto the sofa. He reaches for my hand and holds it.
“Talk to me, Bitty, what’s really bothering you? I’ve been told I’m a good listener.”
Taking a deep breath, I let it go, and for some reason I suddenly have diarrhea of the mouth. I tell him everything from when Maggie was raped to what happened and how Momma Diane and Pops took me in as their own. Explained how I was abducted and lived all my years with a sick asshole who was my father, but didn’t care about me, just wanted to get back at Maggie. And how Auntie Shadow found me when she was so badly injured herself. Then I was totally honest on how hard the transition has been and how at times I feel so alone, and that’s when I let my temper and attitude out to hide my real feelings.
By the time I’m done, tears are rolling down my face. He pulls me close, holding on to me as I finally let out all the tears I’ve held inside forever.
“Come on, let it out, Hannah. Only advice I have for you is if you have family who cares enough to look for you for all those years, don’t push them away. Hannah, that’s a gift, so take it for what it is. And when you see your family in the morning, try to settle them down and don’t add wood to the fire. Now, come on, let’s get you cleaned up. I don’t know about you, but I could use a water and maybe a snack, do you guys have anything? Ya know, got a better idea. You clean up, I’m going to run to my car, got a cooler full of drinks and food and bags of snack shit to eat. My contribution for letting me stay. I won’t be long, lock this door when I leave. Be back, Itty Bitty.”
Then he’s gone, but he doesn’t leave the porch until he hears me engage the lock. Awe, a real gentleman. I make my way to the bathroom and, holy shit, see the mess I am. So I wash my face, brush my teeth, then go to the bedroom. I put on my pajamas, which are shorts and a cami. Not wanting to seem easy, I look around and find a very thin Harley hoodie that Auntie Shadow bought me. It’s soft and comfortable.
I walk back to the sofa and sit down to wait. God, I hope and pray that somehow, like Presley said, I can settle everyone down, apologize for acting like a spoiled brat, and be able to enjoy the signing. When we were walking around, I saw a bunch of authors that I’ve read. Can’t wait to meet them in person, have them sign my autograph book, and even maybe buy a paperback or two, we will see.
The knock on the door jerks my attention to now. I get up and ask who it is before opening the door. Presley has a cooler in front of him and another hanging from his shoulder. In his other hand is a weekend bag and some grocery bags with chips hanging out.
“How did you carry all of that by yourself? I would have helped you, all you had to do is ask.”
“Itty Bitty, you’ll learn any man worth his salt would never ask his woman to walk outside in the middle of the night to help him carry shit.”
That right there has me swooning inside. Oh damn, it’s just like some of the books I’ve read.
TWENTY-ONE
‘PRESLEY’
Thank God I was able to control myself with Hannah. Karma tried to explain to me all the shit that’s going on with the Devil’s Handmaidens and the women in that club. I was lost before his second sentence. All I know is Hannah and the rest of the women here ran away after being told no they couldn’t go. They broke some club rule and now shit is about to fly.
Hannah is so innocent, sexy, mouthy, and pushes all my buttons. She’s also so very young. From what I can gather, she’s not even twenty. That makes me over five years older than her, with fuck, probably ten years more experience, at least. Not sure how it happened but she got my attention because she intrigues me to no end. Those emerald eyes and long blond hair. Damn, I had to get my fingers in it and not sure how, but it was so soft and smelled so good. And I liked that she didn’t have a ton of makeup on, she doesn’t need it at all. Hannah is so unlike the women I’ve been with before. Well yeah, duh, strippers, losers, and dopers have all been in my past. Well fuck, I met most of them because I was a stripper for a while. Needed to eat, for Christ’s sake. Though not many people know that bit of news.
