“I won’t do that to you.”
“Smokey, you’ve always said the club comes first. It will always come first. I’m not going to compete with that. We’ll share this baby and maybe friendship with time, but I don’t think we should even consider having anything else between us. It would hurt way too much.”
He wanted to deny it. To tell her she was making a big mistake, but she wasn’t.
He’d done this.
Slowly, he eased out of her, but he didn’t run off. Smokey picked her up in his arms and carried her toward the bathroom. From there, he ran a bath. He had no intention of joining her. All he wanted to do was give her some pleasure and to show her what she meant to him.
With Ava, he was going to have to prove he’d be there always. Ugly Beast was able to prove it with Abriana. He didn’t see why he couldn’t have the same thing with Ava. Time. It was all he needed.
Helping her into the bath, he grabbed soap and a sponge, lathering it up.
“Smokey, you don’t need to do this.”
He put the sponge to her body and began to wash her. “I do. It’s what I want to do.” He ran the sponge all over her body, taking care of her the best way he knew how. After her body was clean, he took care of her hair, rubbing the shampoo in, washing it all out, then the conditioner.
This was why Ava was different. He wanted to do this with her. To take care of her. To love her. He’d never taken the time to truly care for any other woman, but Ava was different. She would always be so to him.
One day, he hoped she realized how much.
Chapter Eighteen
“Man, this storm is freaky,” Harlow said.
Ava agreed, walking from behind the counter to see about eight inches of snow already on the ground, and it was getting thicker fast. “I didn’t even know a storm was forecast.”
“Yep.” Harlow folded her arms. “I’m not going to lie to you, but I really want to go and build a snowman.”
She chuckled. “When you get home?”
“Totally.” She sighed. “My brothers all say I’m a big kid at heart. It’s true. I don’t see the reason to completely grow up just yet.”
“Of course not. Growing up is for losers.” Ava offered her friend a smile. Over the past several weeks, she’d gotten close to Harlow. The other woman was such a sweetheart. She’d even had a couple of sleepovers with Harlow. The woman could talk, and it was nice to have the company. Of course, Smokey still stayed outside for as long as he could. The nights were getting colder, and she wasn’t a bitch. The need to make him suffer lessened when he was in real danger, liking dying of the intense cold.
She had no choice but to open her door and let him in. She’d given him extra blankets and a pillow.
Ava never stuck around to hear him making up the bed downstairs. Ever since their … one sexual encounter, they hadn’t spoken about it, nor had there been a repeat. The furniture for the baby had arrived and was waiting to be assembled. Smokey had been too busy with club stuff to have the time to do it.
She’d taken out the instructions, but even she’d struggled to make sense of them. All of that would be saved for Smokey.
“Not that I think you’re a loser.”
Ava laughed. “I know I’m a loser, but I’m proud of it.”
“See, nothing wrong with being proud of your loserness.” Harlow groaned. “One of my brothers is going to turn up. Mom will moan incessantly until they do what she wants.”
“And that’s a bad thing?”
“I don’t want you to see me as a little girl having to be escorted home by her brother. It will probably be Big Dick. Asshole that he is.”
Ava walked away from the window. The snow was starting to cause her some concern. “You adore your brothers. Each unbearable one.”
“Now that is completely true,” Harlow said. “I wouldn’t want anything to happen to them. I don’t know if they like me.”
“You’re family. Of course they do.”
“You never talk about your family,” Harlow said. “Do you have a close relative nearby?”
“My parents died some time ago, actually. No other relatives. I know they wanted more kids, but it never happened.”
“Oh, crap, I’m so sorry.”
Ava smiled at the woman, knowing deep in her heart Harlow would never hurt her, at least not intentionally.
“I know. That’s life. It’s hard to get used to. There are times I wish they were still alive.” She put a hand on her ever-increasing bump. “Like with this one. I wish Mom could give me advice. I have no idea what I’m doing, and I’m terrified I’m going to raise a serial killer.”
“I wouldn’t worry about that. You’re going to be an incredible mom. If he turns out to be a serial killer, blame his dad.”
Rather than be offended, Ava found herself laughing. “That’s a good one.”
“It’s what I’m here for.” Harlow looked out of the window and made a yuck sound. “What did I tell you. Big Dick. I don’t even know why she bothers to phone him.”
“He’s still her son.”
“Yeah, but he’s also club. I don’t think Mom wanted him to join. He did so anyway. I can’t remember the rest, but there was a big fight between them all.”
“He’s here.”
“Come on, Harlow, I’ve got to take you home. Mom’s orders.”
“Oh, so the big, bad biker gets to take me home.”
Big Dick rolled his eyes. “You’re going home, baby.”
“No. I happen to be working.”
He turned toward her. “I know you don’t want me in here, but I’ve got to do what my mom said.”
“I removed the sign,” Ava said.
“You did?”
Ava nodded. “Yes, you can stop sending in your prospects without their leather cuts.” She turned away, refusing to meet his eyes.
“I’ll let everyone know.”
She’d stared at the sign one morning and rather than leave it up, she’d torn it down. This was a business, and she had to treat it like one. Not allowing any MC men or women, well, it was bad for business. She wished for her shop to thrive, and that was exactly what she did.
“You know about that, huh?” Big Dick asked.
Ava shrugged. She hadn’t suspected until one of the prospects had walked across the street and before leaving, put on his leather cut, showing who he was. At first, she’d been pissed, and then she’d found it funny.
Clearly, her baked goods were popular.
“You can go,” Ava said, looking toward Harlow.
“I don’t feel comfortable leaving you.”
“I’m fine. I’m going to close up and head on home. We haven’t had many customers today. I’m all set.”
“I don’t like the thought of you driving in the snow,” Big Dick said.
“You don’t have to worry about me. I’ll be perfectly fine. Go and take Harlow home. I wouldn’t want anything bad to happen to her.”
Harlow sighed. “I’ll grab my stuff.”
She left them alone.