Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78237 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78237 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
“No shit?” Jordi perks up for the first time this morning, and I nod vaguely.
“It’s true.” Until we know who we can trust, I need to be careful what I say around prospects and other non-patched members.
“Yeah, he seems like an all-right dude. Considering all the shit happening, we could use an extra set of hands, especially with Coop on daddy duty,” Joaquin adds with a shake of his head. “How the fuck is he gonna handle that and his MC duties?”
“It can be done,” I assure him. “Reckless Souls are a lifetime commitment. You telling me you don’t plan on making babies?”
“Sure, but not for many years to come. Too many babes to plow through first.” He smiles with all the mischief of a newly patched biker. “Not like you,” he jokes. “Sharing a bed with Maven and all that,” he teases and wiggles his brows.
“It’s not like that,” I assure him, mostly to protect Maven’s honor. She seems like the type who might care about shit like that.
“So, you’re saying you don’t want a piece of the sexy baker? Because if you don’t, I will.”
Jordi frowns. “She’s too old for you, man.”
“Haven’t you heard, man? Forty is a woman’s sexual peak, and I’m trying to climb that peak again and again. And again,” he howls with laughter just as Maven pushes through the swinging door.
“I’m fifty,” she tells Joaquin with a teasing smile. “And I made you guys some food for sacrificing sleep to come here this morning. Thank you.”
“And she cooks,” Joaquin adds as he steps down the ladder to inspect the tray in Maven’s hands. “If Wilder isn’t gonna make a move, I am.”
“Didn’t you hear the fifty part? Nobody’s making a move on me, young man.”
Joaquin chuckles. “Young man? Are you trying to make me fall in love with you, woman?”
She laughs, and the sound is melodic and beautiful. “I have breakfast sandwiches on two types of bread, with bacon and ham and three types of cheese. All I ask for is feedback.”
Willow pushes through the door next with a frown on her face. “Having a party without me? That’s fucking rude.” Her teasing smile appears, and her gaze lands on Joaquin with wide eyes.
“Damn, how many beautiful women are back there?” He makes a show of peeking behind Maven and Willow, and both women laugh at his antics. “I changed my mind. Totally worth getting up this early.”
Willow’s gaze lingers even as she walks over to me. “All done?”
“Just about. A few more cameras need to go up, and Gia is in the office setting up the local server. Few more minutes.”
She looks around and smiles. “You can’t even see the cameras. How sneaky.”
“That’s the point. Act like a decent human being, and they’ll be fine.”
“And if not?” Willow asks with wide, excited eyes.
I shrug. “Pay the price. Whatever that may be.”
“Hot,” she whispers and turns back to Maven. “Keeper,” she stage whispers loud enough for everyone to hear.
“Willow,” Maven chastises and shakes her head before her gaze lands on me. “We open in twenty minutes. Will you have everything set up by then?”
“Sooner,” I assure her. “Need to make sure you understand how it all works.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s your shop, and you want to be involved. Right?”
Maven nods. “Right. Thanks. I’ll get back to it, then.” She sets the tray down and looks around the room before her gaze darts to the ground, and she shuffles back to the kitchen.
“Get your head out of your ass,” Joaquin suggests. “A woman like Maven won’t stay single forever.”
“She’s not my type.” I shrug and lean back against the wall.
“Liar,” he counters.
“Whatever. I don’t have time for this. I need to get back to work.”
Joaquin chuckles. “All women are your type, Wilder. You just haven’t found the right one yet.”
I shake my head. “Not all women, Joaquin. Not all.”
Joaquin studies me for a minute before he nods and goes back to work. I watch him for a moment before my gaze strays to Maven.
She’s laughing at something Willow said, and the sound fills the room. I can’t help but smile. Maybe Joaquin is right.
Maybe I should give Maven a real chance.
Chapter Fifteen
Maven
“Come on,” Wilder says back at the club. “Let’s stop in my office first to double-check that I can see everything going on at the shop.” After another long day at the bakery, I’m almost ready to go back to my prison, but the idea of seeing something other than that barren room is too enticing to reject.
“Fine. You have an office?”
Wilder smiles like a kid in a candy store. “Sure do. Brand spankin’ new. You’ll love it.”
“Meh, honestly, I’m not big on computers. They are a necessary evil for the most part.” Beyond software to run my business, I don’t do much social media and definitely no online dating.