Total pages in book: 13
Estimated words: 12073 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 60(@200wpm)___ 48(@250wpm)___ 40(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 12073 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 60(@200wpm)___ 48(@250wpm)___ 40(@300wpm)
She walks over to the table and sets a plate of bacon, eggs and toast down in front of me. She takes the seat across from me. “I asked Keeper and he didn’t know if you ate or not, so I fixed you a plate.”
I smile at her. “Thanks, honey. Nice shirt.”
She rolls her eyes. “Beggars can’t be choosers, right?”
“I was going to take you shopping but I have to take a trip. I’ll only be gone a day – two max – but if you order some stuff online just overnight it.”
“I’ll just wash my clothes. I’m fine. Where are you going?”
I shake my head at her. “That’s not how this works, honey. I tell you to do something and you do it.”
She laughs. Literally laughs at me. Fuck, I’m going to have to get used to this. So she doesn’t like to be told what to do. Okay.
I open my laptop and carry it around the table. I sit down next to her, opening a website to a shopping site. “I have to get on the road soon. Pick out some damn clothes.”
She eats a piece of bacon, then wipes her hands off before going through and picking a few things. Once she’s done, I add a few different styles of what she picked out and add quantity to the jeans. “What about shoes? You can’t live in flip flops.”
She punches a few buttons and adds a pair to the cart. I go in after her and add a few more.
“Okay, what about underwear, bathroom stuff, anything like that?”
She adds a few things and then I look at the cart, adding some more before hitting buy it now.
“Sniper, no, I’ll never be able to repay you,” she complains at the price.
I grip her chin softly and turn her face toward me and away from the computer. “What happened to calling me Jeremy?” I like her calling me by my given name.
“Sorry, everyone was calling you Sniper all morning. It just came out.”
I nod. “Okay, well, you don’t owe me a thing. I told you I was going to take care of things and I am. But while I’m gone I need you to stay at the clubhouse. I have everything laid out in my office, and if you feel like it, I would appreciate you filing and cleaning up a little in there.” I thought about it all night and I know she’s the type that has to stay busy. That’s the only way I’m going to keep her here at this point… at least until I get back. I locked up all the files that didn’t need to be seen; everything else she can sort and go through.
She takes another bite of her food. “Sure, no problem. But you never answered me.”
I finish eating mine and push the plate away from me. “It’s club business,” I tell her. Which is the truth: after church this morning, it became club business.
“So does club business mean you can’t tell me about it?”
I shake my head. This one is going to test me for sure. “Club business means I can’t talk about it. It means the less you know the better.”
In a small voice, she asks me, “Does it mean it’s dangerous? Are you coming back?”
I slide her chair around so she’s facing me. She looks at me briefly then looks away. I can see the fear on her face and I wish I could wipe it away. “It’s not dangerous. Not this time. And yes, I’m coming back.”
Her shoulders drop and she takes a deep breath. “Okay, can you tell me if this has anything to do with me?”
I cup her cheek with my hand. Her bruises are already fading, but I still can’t get the image of her bloodied lip and bruised eyes out of my head. “I’m not playing the guessing game with you. All you need to know is that I’m taking care of things. I will be safe while doing it and I am always going to come back to you.”
“Always?” she asks as her eyes fly up to mine.
I lean my forehead against hers. “Always. When I get back, we have some things to talk about. But I need to know you’re safe. No running off. And I want you in my bed at night. Tats is going to keep an eye on you until I’m back.”
A knock sounds on the door, and I hear Brick holler, “Ready, Pres?”
I pull away from Avery and stand up. “Be right there,” I tell him. “Be good while I’m gone,” I say to Avery and stride over to the door.
“Wait,” she says and runs across the room to me. Her arms go around my waist and she squeezes me tight. “Will you kiss me before you go, Jeremy?”