Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 74122 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74122 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
As he passed Dawg, he grumbled, “Will let you know.”
Dawg nodded. “Thanks.”
D grunted again and quickly ate up the real estate to the exit.
“Emma,” Jewel began as she came around the bar, heading in the direction of her ol’ man. “We’re all here if you need anything. It could be the smallest, most stupid thing ever, but if you need it, need us, we’ll help. I promise you that. We’re all here for you and Lily. We all do for each other. And you’re one of us now.”
“What Jewelee’s saying is one hundred percent true, Emma. Don’t hesitate to ask any one of us for anything. And not just the three of us. Kiki, Sophie, Jayde, Bella and even Kelsea. Any of us. We love Dawg, he’s family. And even though this MC is made up of men, they might not say it out loud, but us women are just as important. We’re the glue,” Diamond said.
“What the fuck,” Diesel muttered from across the room.
“He knows it’s true,” Jewel added with a smile. “He’ll just never admit it.”
“Whatever, woman. Let’s go!” D bellowed.
Jewel snorted. “He’s really a loveable teddy bear.”
D pushed outside with a grumble and once Jewel followed him out, he slammed the door shut.
Ivy and Diamond looked at each other and burst out laughing.
“Somebody’s going to get one of her favorite ‘lessons,’” Diamond snickered.
“All right, I’ve got to get back to the pawn shop,” Ivy announced.
“Hold up,” Dawg said, lifting a palm. “Gotta know, Ivy, should I be putting a Benjamin down on you as next up?”
Ivy’s gaze landed pointedly on Diamond and then on Emma. “I don’t know. Should you?” She wiggled her eyebrows.
“Are you two at least tryin’?”
Ivy’s face fell flat at his question.
Oh fuck. He just stuck his boot in his fucking mouth.
“I gotta go,” she mumbled as she pushed past him and Emma to rush out of the door.
“Stay here,” he ordered Emma, then followed Ivy out into the early afternoon heat, making sure the back door was secure behind him. He caught up with her before she got into her Dodge.
“Hey,” he grabbed her arm and swung her to face him.
Damn. She was crying.
“Ivy,” he murmured. “Sorry. I fucked up. Was just teasin’.”
Ivy swiped at her face. “I know.”
He opened his arms and Ivy melted against him, shoving her damp face into his chest. “Didn’t mean to upset you.”
“It’s not your fault.”
“Wanna talk ‘bout it?”
A muffled, “No,” came from between the flaps of his cut. She sniffled, then said, “We’ve been trying. Believe me. Jag didn’t buy a four-bedroom house for nothing. Yeah, we wanted an art studio for him to do his drawings, but we didn’t need a house that big for only that. I’m not sure why I’m not getting pregnant. Doctor said there’s nothing wrong with me or Jag. But I don’t want to disappoint him since he wants kids. Hell, I want kids with him.”
“Ain’t gonna disappoint him. He loves you, baby. So fuckin’ much. He wanted you forever. Fought for you. Even if you two never have any babies, he’d love you ‘til the day you die. Even after that. He’ll haunt your ass.”
Ivy did a combination sniffle-snort. “I know, but I want to give him this. He loves Zeke. He’s thrilled for D. And I know we’re not supposed to know yet, but Hawk and Kiki... It’s hard to watch everyone around getting knocked up but not us.”
Dawg brushed a tear off her cheek. “You’ve got time, baby. Just enjoy the process.”
Ivy pulled back and looked up at him, red nose and red eyes to match her red hair. “I’m happy for you, Dawg. I’m glad you finally have someone. Emma’s great, and, even though she’s not from our world, I think she’s perfect for you.”
Dawg pressed his face into Ivy’s hair and nodded. “Love ‘er, Ivy. Know it’s crazy. Fell fast an’ hard. Never loved a woman before. But she smacked me right between the eyes.”
She patted his chest then curled her fingers into his T-shirt. “All you guys go down hard. But you only do it when you find the right one. Going down fast and hard just means Emma’s the right one.”
“Yeah,” he grunted.
“Heard what you’re doing. Giving up everything for her.”
He grimaced. “Not everything an’ not just for her...”
“Yeah, I know. Word’s out about your daughter.”
“Figured it wouldn’t take long.”
“Everybody loves you, Dawg. Seriously. Everybody’s rooting for you, too. If anyone will make it happen, it’s Kiki. She loves this club like she was born into it. She’ll fight long and hard for you. For your daughter.”
“Know it, Ivy. Diamond was right. You women are the glue to this club. D will deny it, though he knows it’s true. I won’t. Caitlin’s mother may not like me bein’ in an MC, but I want Caitlin to be ‘round all of you women. Know why? ‘Cause you’re all strong, capable women who have backbone an’ determination. You take shit from us an’ then turn ‘round an’ hand us our fuckin’ asses on a plate. You teach us to respect women. We might be hard on you all an’ bossy but it’s ‘cause we care an’ wanna protect you. You’re ours. All of you. An’ you know we’d lay down our fuckin’ lives for any of you.”