Her eyes were wide when she glanced back at me.
“Thanks for the coffee,” she said, sounding a little out of breath.
“Thank you for the visit. And the pie,” I added. “Stop by anytime.”
She shook her head, looking a little dazed. I leaned in the doorframe watching that glorious behind walk away from me.
Once again, I was reminded of the old saying. I hated for her to leave, but I sure loved watching her go.
Chapter Twelve
Kelly
I walked into the kitchen and froze, watching my husband tenderly caring for our kids. He patiently cut up food for our toddler and then slowly spoon fed a few bites of mushy baby food to our daughter in the highchair.
A smile lit up my face. It was such a beautiful sight. My man and my babes, all looking happy and healthy. I felt so blessed. And then I looked closer, seeing the tension in Cain’s handsome face. His jaw was clenched, and I could see the tightness in his massive broad shoulders.
I stepped behind him and squeezed his shoulders the way I knew he liked it. He sighed and reached back to rest his hand over mine. I stood on my tip toes and kissed the top of his head. Even with him sitting, it was a reach. My man was just that big and tall.
And I was just that tiny.
“You let me sleep.”
“You need the rest,” he said gruffly. But he squeezed my hand. He was never mean. Matter of fact, clinical and authoritarian, yes, but mean? Never. Not to me. Not to anyone.
I was pretty sure he was polite even when he was stomping someone in the dirt for breaking club rules.
“You need sleep, too.”
“No, I don’t,” he said in that voice that brooked no argument. He was more than a bit bossy sometimes, but I didn’t mind. The truth was, I liked it. Especially in the bedroom where he was over-the-top dominant. I felt a shiver go down my spine when I thought about what we’d done last night. And this morning . . .
It was hard with two little ones, but my husband always made time for us. Dirty, filthy time. He was incredibly skilled when it came to making me feel good. Especially when it came to holding me on that razor’s edge for hours. And when he finally let me find my release, it was always mind bending.
I was a lucky woman. I knew it. My husband loved the heck out of me. And I trusted him implicitly.
But he was tired. He had a lot on his plate. On top of being an amazing dad and husband, he had a successful security firm and ran one of the biggest motorcycle clubs on the West Coast.
“The Raisers again?”
He sighed and nodded.
“They are getting more out of control. They need a leader.”
“Anything new?”
He glanced at the kids and nodded.
“Complaints from the town. Local police are getting fed up with them.”
“Why not wash your hands of them?”
“There are some good guys there. Doc, for one. Preacher started out there, too. They deserve better.”
“And Hunter is still saying no?” I asked with a knowing smile as I slid into a seat across from him. Almost immediately, he scowled at me. He didn’t like it when I sat so far away from him.
“Lap. Now,” my husband growled. I laughed and nodded happily before hurrying to sit on his lap. I was rewarded with a soft grunt and a whole lot of heat. I felt him rise beneath me almost immediately. I wiggled a little bit just to tease him.
“Be still, woman.”
I stopped wiggling and took over feeding the baby. My husband’s large hands gently stroked up and down my back before giving my shoulders a good knead. We were always touching each other. Massages were a regular part of our day. It helped to relieve the stress of our busy lives and jobs, never mind that it usually led to . . . other things.
But not today. The kids had appointments and classes and so did I. And my husband had to get to work. He had his own business to run, even though I knew he trusted Trace, Vice, and Hunter to manage if he couldn’t be there himself.
I couldn’t be prouder.
“Why don’t you take over? Run them both?”
He sighed and rested his forehead against mine.
“I just might have to.”
“But it’s not what you want.”
“No.”
He didn’t say more but he didn’t have to. The Untouchables had been cleaning up their act for years. Cain wanted them out of the criminal enterprises that had been the hallmark of any outlaw biker club for decades. And the Raisers were as far from that as he could get. Merging the two clubs would put him back at square one in terms of cleaning up the illegal activities.
“Well, I’m here for you either way. And so are the guys, even if none of them want the job.”
He squeezed me tightly and whispered something about a reward for being a good girl. I got all tingly just from his naughty words. But I had a class and errands to run. I gave him a quick peck, but he wasn’t having it. He kissed me long and slow before taking the spoon out of my hand.
“Go on, get dressed. Nothing too sexy,” he warned with a serious look before slapping my ass. I knew lots of girls who might not like that. It was objectifying. But God help me, I loved it when my husband got all authoritarian on me. And I loved it when he spanked me.
I shivered, wondering if I should disobey him. I knew he didn’t like it when I looked too sexy. He wouldn’t say much, but he’d make sure I learned my lesson later, and then some.
I was humming as I threw on a cute spring dress and put on my makeup. I even threw on a pair of sexy scrappy sandals. Just enough to get a warning look from my husband as I collected the kids and headed out the door into the spring sunshine.
It was going to be a very good day.
I couldn’t wait for it to be over so I could be alone with my husband again.
Chapter Thirteen
Claire
I rubbed my shoulder with one hand and turned pages with the other. Thankfully, I'd taken copious notes throughout the years at nursing school, knowing that this day would come. Two weeks from tomorrow, in fact.
My NCLEX test. Once I passed, I would be a licensed RN. The real deal. I could work in a hospital anywhere in the state, saving people. Helping. Being useful.
Taking care of Gran so she wouldn’t have to pinch pennies anymore. She could treat herself to something nice once in a while. We both could.
I stared at the page, letting my mind wander. People would take me seriously as a nurse. And better yet, I'd be able to financially look after myself and Gran.
I blinked and the world went dark. Really, really dark. I held up my hand inches from my face and couldn't see even a trace of it.
"What the?"
I took a deep breath and remained calm.
Don't panic, Claire, it's just a blackout. This used to happen at least twice every summer. The timing definitely sucks, though.
Just then, a loud sound came from the kitchen. It sounded like someone falling. The whimper that followed set my heart racing.
"Gran!"
I was on my feet and running unerringly through the dark house. A soft blue light flashed from the living room. The ancient VCR must have some sort of battery in it. It was literally the only thing I could see in the whole place. Even the streetlights outside were out. The county had changed them from incandescent to LED lights a few years ago, and the pale blue tone was not only ugly, but now it was gone entirely.