Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 142728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
My mouth opens and closes a few times. “I’d never do that.”
“She’s well aware of things that happened in the past.”
“Understood.” Time to pivot away from this topic. “I’m bringing Emily up Friday night. I think we’ll stay over, let her get the full effect of family breakfast.”
“Good.” He turns toward the open war room door and a wry smile turns his mouth up. “At least there’s a fifty-fifty chance she won’t walk in on an orgy in the champagne room these days.”
The reminder of Inga spending an afternoon running a train in our clubhouse is the last thing I needed. Not that she’s the only woman who’s come up here and tried to fuck every single brother in one night. That event was one I was involved in, and I’d rather forget it ever happened.
“You can always visit the new clubhouse if you want to give her that MC experience,” he adds.
“Thanks, I’ll pass.” I cock my head and dare to ask my next question. “Did all that shit bother Hope? She handled it so well in front of us.”
He puts his hands on his hips and takes a deep breath. After his earlier warning, I’m flirting with death by asking. But he seems to be carefully considering the answer. “Yes and no. She already had an inkling from doing some legal work at Crystal Ball.” He coughs and glares at me. “She’d met Inga too. Got an idea of what she was all about.”
He pauses, regret flashing across his face. “The girls who hassled her up here, though…I should’ve warned her better.”
“Trinity was always quick to look out for her.”
“She was,” Rock agrees. “By the way, if you want to transition away from Crystal Ball, that’s fine.”
How’d he get there from what I was asking? “I ain’t gonna let my woman run my life, Prez.”
He doesn’t laugh at my stereotypical biker response. “I’m serious. I did it. Z did it.”
“Priest moved Z downstate,” I argue, as if he needs the reminder.
“I just want you to know, you’re not tied to managing Crystal Ball forever.” He lifts his chin toward the door. “You’ve been a big help to Rooster getting the security company off the ground. You can—”
“That’s only for the summer concert season, though.” As much as I love being on the road with Rooster and Shelby when she’s touring, traveling somewhere new every day, visiting our brother charters across the country, and partying with the popular country singer Dawson Roads, I’m not sure it’s enough of a contribution to the club to make that my full-time thing.
“We have the funeral home now, too,” he suggests.
“That’s Teller’s action. Besides, on a day-to-day basis, I think Jigsaw has made it clear he plans to park his ass there so he can drool over Margot.”
“I don’t have enough work to bring you on full-time at the shop—”
“Rock, I’m a decent mechanic, but I don’t have the skill for that detailed custom work.”
He nods. “Well, there’s always our lovely porn production company. Z has more work there than his guys can handle.” He glances down and shakes his head. “Although, I doubt Emily will think that’s an improvement.”
Spending my days playing bodyguard for amateur porn stars or monitoring their websites sounds like a circle of hell I’d like to avoid. “No thanks.”
“What did she think of Crystal Ball?” Rock asks.
He’s not asking for her assessment of our business plan. “Uh, she was impressed with the girls’ pole tricks and disgusted by the tip collecting part.”
He rumbles with laughter. “I think she’ll do fine here.”
I’m praying to the universe that he’s right.
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
Emily
I’m giddy but anxious about accompanying Dex to his MC’s clubhouse this weekend. Even though I’m hesitant to bother Serena with something so insignificant while she’s adjusting to motherhood, I can’t think of anyone else who can offer advice.
After she details all the cute things baby Lincoln has done today, I share my dilemma.
“So, be honest with me.” I take a breath. “How big of a deal is this, Serena?”
“For Dex? Pretty big,” she answers without hesitation. “They have two clubhouses now. So, if he’s taking you to the one out in the woods, he’s serious. It’s more like family and friends of the club only these days.”
“So, I won’t encounter any wild biker orgies?”
“I wouldn’t go that far.” She chuckles. “You may still see things you can’t unsee.”
“Are you and Gray going to be there this weekend?” I’d feel a hell of a lot better with Serena there to stop me from embarrassing myself.
She lets out a loud yawn. “I don’t think so. I’m not ready to take Lincoln around that many people yet. Gray might be up there for church, but I’m staying home.”
Damn. “Okay.”
“You’ll be fine. The girls are all really nice.” She’s quiet for a few seconds. “Trinity is the wife of the SAA. Don’t tell her I said this,” she lowers her voice as if the club might have her phone bugged, “but I kind of think of her as the enforcer for all the ol’ ladies. She might grill you a little.”