Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 26738 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26738 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
Smokey stood up. “Do you know what Carlos has gotten you?”
Raven frowned. “Why would Carlos get me anything?”
“It’s what married couples do unless they want to have a shit relationship.” He shrugged.
“You’re wrong.”
“If you say so.” He wanted Ava’s gift to be just perfect. A necklace, that was personal. He thought of her pretty neck, and he moved toward the door.
The man behind the counter clicked a button that allowed him to enter.
Smokey had never been to this jeweler’s before, and seeing as he was wearing his leather jacket, the man looked like he was shitting himself.
Judgey.
It was a good thing he’d bought some cold hard cash with him to pay.
Raven tutted. “What’s that supposed to mean? He’s given me himself and a couple of kids, Smokey. What more of a gift is there to give?”
“You think Carlos is a gift in himself?” Smokey asked, turning toward her.
Raven shrugged. “Don’t you think it’s a gift having Ava?”
“Yeah, I do. The fact she picked me is a fucking miracle after … everything.”
“The guilt?” Raven asked.
Smokey ran a hand down his face. “I want this to be perfect, and I asked for your help because you’re a club brother, and also, you’re getting close to Ava, and you know what she likes.”
Raven rolled her eyes. “Seriously? Are you having doubts about your ability?”
He glared at her. “Now I’m starting to regret bringing you along.” He didn’t want to bring Hunter as his VP was moody of late and continued to ask him why he invited Harlow, and now Larissa to Christmas.
Speaking of Larissa, he made a note to stop by to talk to Jonah. It was only fair to invite her father around for Christmas dinner. Ava liked the two.
It would help to create the memories he wanted to be a buffer between the club brothers, and to show that people could enter the clubhouse and not be fucked up by the experience. The clubhouse was coming along really well. Admittedly, there was way too much fucking glitter for his liking, but that was Christmas.
“Sir, is there anything else I can help you with?” the salesman asked.
Raven sighed. “We’re not here to steal shit. He’s looking for something for his woman. He wants her to know that she’s one of the most important people in his life. That he loves her and wants everything to be perfect between them. He wants a long and happy life with her. Have you got something like that wrapped in one package?”
He turned to Smokey, and Raven shrugged. “That’s what you’re looking for, right?”
He couldn’t deny it.
“We have just the thing,” the salesman, Charlie, said. Smokey had finally caught sight of the nametag on his chest.
Smokey waited as he pulled a set of keys from his pocket, released the lock, and then pulled out a sleeve of necklaces. They were all delicate with jewels in them.
“Nothing says love more than diamonds. Depending on your budget, diamonds will help to deliver any message.”
Glancing over the necklaces, he kept coming to one that caught his eye. Tiny little diamonds, with a scalloped edge. It would decorate Ava’s neck to perfection. “This one.”
Charlie gave him the price, and Smokey already had the amount in cash. He wanted an expensive gift for his woman, and he made sure it was gift wrapped and finished with a nice neat bow on top.
The salesman checked each bill to make sure it wasn’t fake.
Smokey was used to this kind of behavior. It wasn’t like he could blame the kid. He wasn’t a good man, and if it wasn’t for Ava, he would have hurt the kid long before now. Maybe the festive season was finally getting to him. He wanted to do good deeds and all that shit.
Once the necklace was gift wrapped and the money was taken, he got a receipt and left the shop.
“Do you think she’ll like it?” Smokey asked.
“It’s Ava, Smokey. She’s going to like any crap you give to her.” They walked toward his parked car. He’d wanted to go on his bike, but the snow was too hazardous. He wanted to survive Christmas, not run the risk of going to war with Santiago because he might have accidentally killed his wife because of snow.
Carlos was very protective of Raven. It was why Smokey had no problem with the two being married, or for Raven to continue to be a member of the Hell’s Bastards MC. She had earned her patch. Nothing was ever going to take that shit away from her.
He climbed behind the wheel, turned over the ignition, and headed back to town.
“I’ve got to make a quick stop at Jonah’s. Do you want me to drop you off?”
“I’ll go see Jonah. He is asking about Summer and Winter all the time.”
“Motherhood has been good to you.”