Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 90721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
“Hey, I wholeheartedly agree. Snakes are not my friend. Nor are frogs. Or bugs. Or rodents.” Baylee’s laughter tinkled, causing everyone to stop their conversation and stare as we made our way down the hill towards them.
A wave of possessiveness overcame me as I took in all the men from the station, as well as my own MC members, staring at the lovely vision before me. I wanted to rip their eyes from their sockets just for staring at my woman, but refrained.
Barely.
And when the hell did she become my woman?
Hell, I didn’t know. What I did know is that I wanted her. And that I wouldn’t be letting her go. Especially since Baylee was all I could think about. I’d catch myself doing that constantly, daydreaming when I should be working.
Shit like that was dangerous. In my line of work it could easily get me killed.
My hand went out to Baylee’s, grabbing it tight as I could, while I helped her up onto the deck, and led the way down the dock towards the gazebo, and the rest of the crew. As we got closer, everyone noted Baylee’s hand grasped possessively in my large one. Eyebrows raised, but no one asked.
They didn’t need to. Baylee was mine, and it was more than obvious.
“Who’s your woman, Su...” Dad asked before I interrupted him with a curt barked retort.
“Don’t you fucking dare.” I snarled, making Baylee jump.
My father’s lips curved into an evil smile. “What’s wrong, Sue? You don’t want your lady friend knowing your name?”
My head fell back, and I contemplated the wooden beams of the gazebo’s roof while I willed my temper to take a back seat.
My father was such a dick. He knew how much I hated that middle name. Hell, every time I even thought about my middle name, I wanted to rage at someone. Sure, it wasn’t that bad. But, when you took into account my father’s obsession with Johnny Cash, and then the name, Sebastian, I never heard the end of it.
I sure felt for the man in Johnny Cash’s song, A Boy Named Sue.
Flipping my head back down and glaring at all the people giggling like little fucking girls I groaned. “Thanks, dad. Really wanted her to know that.”
“Anytime, son. Anytime. Take a seat. How’s your hand, sugar?” My father turned his probing eyes to Baylee.
Baylee smiled at my father and sat down gingerly on the bench that only allowed enough room for the both of us to sit within inches of each other.
She landed with a soft plunk, and I used the closeness of Baylee’s body to throw my arm up over her shoulders to run along her back.
Winter and Shiloh, who were sitting by my father, both with huge smiles on their faces; I glared at them to make sure they kept their shit to themselves.
“It’s okay. I’m a clumsy person. This happens a lot.” She told my nosy father.
Torren, the comedian of all The Dixie Wardens’ brothers, watched the interaction with a smile on his lips. Then, as if on cue, he stood and faced Baylee.
“Baylee, my dear. I’m Torren. It’s very nice to meet you.” He said as he held his hand out for Baylee to shake.
I knew where this was going even before Torren stood up, and couldn’t help the groan that slipped from my lips before Torren’s mouth even started to move.
“Nice to meet you, too.” Baylee said soberly.
“I want to ask you a serious question, and you have to promise to be truthful. This is an ongoing debate at the firehouse,” Torren was interrupted by groans by everyone within hearing distance. We’d all seen and heard this particular argument before. Many times.
He glared, but continued with the question. He asked every single woman that ever gets close to the club or firehouse. Why would Baylee be any different? “...do you watch The Bachelor?”
Baylee stayed silent for a few moments before shaking her head. “No. I think that’s the most ridiculous show on the face of the planet.”
Cheers rose throughout the men, and most of the women groaned. I found myself smiling, despite the ridiculousness of the entire debate.
“Thank you, Jesus!” Torren said, pumping his fist before taking his seat.
“What’s the big deal?” Baylee asked, pulling her feet up onto the bench, effectively getting closer to my own body without realizing it.
My hand came to a rest on her up raised knee, and she instinctively curled into my body, leaning her head on my chest.
I turned my head slightly, letting my chin rub against the top of her head. The smell of her shampoo rose up, and I took a deep breath, smelling the clean smell of her.
“You just screwed us, that’s what.” Shiloh whined.
“How?” She shouted.
My silent laughter shook my body. “The men think that’s the dumbest show on the planet. The women think it’s romantic. It’s just something that’s been a contention around here.”
“I hate that show. I don’t see how twenty women can become friends when they’re all vying for the same freakin’ man. I mean, who in the hell would want to share her man with that many women? Then again, the same goes for The Bachelorette. That shit wouldn’t fly with a man that really wanted you.” Baylee informed the group.
“That’s what the men think. The women disagree.” I agreed.
“You’re supposed to agree with the women, no matter what.” Allison pouted.
Allison was a cute little thing. She was older, as was Dave, her husband. Dave didn’t belong to the MC, but he did come to many of the parties. He and his wife married when they were young, seventeen. From there, he went on to join the fire department, and was the longest standing member. Allison stayed home with the children, and even now, eight years after the children moved out of their house to start lives of their own, she stayed home. They were there even before his own father was. Before the club’s particular chapter was, too.
“I’m sorry, I just can’t. There’s no way I could kiss a man that’d just kissed another woman. Let alone respect him. Seems to me that a man, a real man, wouldn’t want to share his woman. My best friend from college and I came up with an idea to patent a show called ‘The Alphas’ that had a bunch of alpha males on a show vying for a woman’s attention. It’d play out just about how the Bachelorette would play out, only instead of trying to be pansies; they’d just beat the ever-loving shit out of each other. They’d host the show on The Outdoor Channel. Ya know, so real men would actually watch it.” Baylee exclaimed.