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“Storm?” I answered and pulled on the reins to slow Phantom. “Why are you calling so early? I just had a heart attack, thinking something might’ve happened to Shelby.”
Storm snorted into the phone. “I thought all cowboys were up at the ass crack of dawn.”
“I’m a rancher,” I hissed. He still hadn’t learned the difference. Ranchers owned the cattle ranch and cowboys herded the cattle. It wasn’t rocket science, for Christ’s sake.
“Are you sporting your Stetson and riding your horse?”
“Yes.”
“Then you’re a cowboy in my book.”
“Your book needs updating.” I steered Phantom toward the barn. “Why are you calling? Did Grizzly find Jake-ass?”
Storm’s crew returned to Minnesota two weeks ago, and his computer guy, Grizzly, had been searching for Jake. Grizz’s expertise had been pivotal in Mack’s crew rescuing Shelby. No question, Jake was going out of his mind in a luxury cave, hiding like a pathetic, narcissistic sociopath. Staying underground made it a challenge to find and dispose of him.
Storm chuckled, something he didn’t do too often. “Naw, sorry. No updates on that fucker. Angel wanted me to invite you and Shelby to Thanksgiving. She wants to meet your honey. Her words, not mine.”
“That’s real nice of her. But we’ll have to pass.”
“You haven’t even asked your woman.”
“Because I know what she’ll say. Her mama’s still recovering from her heart attack, and it’s been a couple of years since Shelby spent the holidays with her family. She’ll want to stay in Burntwood.”
“Makes sense to me.”
“Even if it didn’t make sense, we’re staying put.”
“I get it. What about for New Year’s? The old ladies are dying to meet Shelby, and Rockson keeps bugging Rocky about you giving him riding lessons. Ya know, that wouldn’t even be an issue if you hadn’t bought him those damn ponies.”
I snorted. “Still bitter about that, are you?’
“Fuck yeah, I am. You dumped them on us, then didn’t hold up to your end of the deal.”
“It’s been a busy year, and now my woman is back in my life and needs me.” Shelby would always be my number one priority, and Storm could relate. His old lady, Maddy, was his world, too. “Want me to send someone to pick them up and bring them to me?”
“No,” he grumbled. “I don’t need everyone angry at me.”
I got off Phantom and led him into the barn. Storm could be a grumpy ass, but he cared about his people, and would do anything for Maddy and his kids. He even built a small barn for the ponies. I’d ruffled his feathers, that was for sure. His little girl, Birdie, had been asking for chickens and ducks. I would turn the biker prez into a farmer in no time.
“Good call.”
“Ask your woman about New Year’s and shoot me a text?”
“Yep. And you’ll let me know when Grizz finds anything on Jake?’
“Yep,” he replied, mocking me, but I wouldn’t let him get a rise out of me.
“Cool. I gotta go wake up my woman in good, old-fashioned rancher style.” I locked up Phantom in his stall and waved to a few of my farmhands.
“Thanks for the idea. Angel’s been neglecting me.”
“You have it wrong. A rancher pleasures his woman, not the other way around.”
“Doesn’t sound fair to me. In biker style, we give and take equally. Angel needs to give a little more. Preferably on her knees. Later.” The call ended.
I went into my cabin. Couldn’t say I didn’t know what Storm was talking about. But he hadn’t been without his woman for over a decade like I had. All I wanted to do was worship Shelby day and night. She wasn’t a selfish person. She gave as good, if not better, than she received.
But today she turned thirty-three, and I wanted to be the first to wish her a happy birthday. I went into the kitchen and took out the bag I’d hidden under the kitchen sink. Then I went to pour her a cup of coffee and a glass of OJ. Shelby was a mood person. Some mornings she went straight for coffee and others she wanted juice. My woman was a complex creature, and I freaking loved that about her.
