Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 132321 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 529(@250wpm)___ 441(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132321 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 529(@250wpm)___ 441(@300wpm)
“You’re kidding!” I squeal. “I’m so jealous. When I was growing up, I thought this house was like that.” I wave my hands around. “Because it seemed like every time I went exploring, I found something new. And it was part business, part private home, you know?”
“Yeah, that must’ve been weird.”
With disappointment, I notice he’s put his shorts and shirt back on. “I was hoping to study your eight-pack abs one of these lessons, you know.”
His lips curl in a tight smile. “I don’t want to distract you from getting some sleep.”
“Does that mean you’re staying?”
“Yeah. That all right?”
“Sure.” I turn my head and give him a sly smile. “I hope you like cold pizza for breakfast.”
“Love it.” He chuckles.
“Let me go do my rounds.”
“Rounds?”
“Check on Gretel. Make sure the door is locked. That kind of stuff.”
“Have at it.” He picks up his phone. “Going to set my alarm.”
My rounds are quick tonight. Gretel’s curled up on top of her cat perch in the next room and barely glances at me as I pop in to check on her. I put the rest of the food in the fridge, and the dishes in the sink.
Jigsaw’s tucked into the side closest to the door when I return. His big frame looks awfully good taking up so much space in my bed. I close the bedroom door and turn off the lights.
“How do you know that’s not my side?” I tease as I walk around to the other edge of the bed.
“Maybe I wanted you to crawl over me.” He flips the covers back and I climb in, kneeling beside him.
His gaze travels over me, lingering on my chest then skips lower. He reaches over and slides his hand along my thigh. “This is cute.” His hand travels higher, under the leg of my shorts. “Like these a lot.”
“Well, I’m glad I found them, then.” I stretch out beside him and pull the covers up.
“Come here.” He holds out his arm and I eagerly scoot closer, resting my head on his chest.
For a while, I bask in the happiness of having him actually stay. Listening to his breathing and the slow, steady rhythm of his heart.
“You still awake?” Jigsaw’s low rumble pulls me from the well of contentment I’d been drifting toward.
“Sort of.”
He hugs me to his chest. “I gotta tell you something.”
I knew it. I knew something would ruin this moment. Fully awake now, I press my hand to his chest and sit up. “What?”
“Nothing bad. Well, that depends on your perspective, I guess.”
“We’re done with our lessons?”
A sharp frown creases his brow and he almost seems…disappointed?
“No.” He pulls me down next to him again but I keep some distance so I can see his face. “I’m going to be away for a week or two. The whole club’s going to be away, actually. Well, except Teller. So if you need something, call him. He’s sticking around because his wife’s going to give birth to those twins any day now.”
“Awww.” My stomach flutters. “How sweet. Are they excited?”
“Yeah, I think so. Teller’s more…anxious. Constantly fussing over Charlotte.”
“I can understand that. She must be so uncomfortable. Then when they get here, twins will be a handful. Do they have help?”
He snorts, his lips curling into an affectionate smile. “Yeah, whole club will be helping them out. Probably won’t leave them alone. Grinder and Serena have had Lilly at their house practically every day since baby Lincoln got here.”
“That’s really sweet.”
He lifts one shoulder.
I bite my lip, hesitating before I tentatively rub my hand over his chest. “So, what’s this big club trip for?”
“Uh, the old president of another charter passed away.” He shifts his gaze, as if the topic weighs heavily on him. “He’d been a member for a long time.”
Working in the death business hasn’t made me immune to grief yet and sympathy tugs on me. “I’m so sorry.”
Jigsaw doesn’t offer any stories about the man, or even his name. The silence that follows suggests this visit is more about club protocol than true mourning.
My concern grows and my hand rubs faster against his shirt. “Will you be safe?”
He studies me with an intensity that quickens my pulse. “Yeah. Dex and I mapped out our route. It’ll be a couple of days of long, hard riding but it’ll be good for the club to be out on the road together. We’re meeting up with our Virginia charter, so we’ll get to catch up with those guys too.”
Just how many charters of his club are there? All the googling in the world wouldn’t provide those kinds of details about the Lost Kings MC. “Are your…the ol’ ladies of the club going too?”
“No.” He shakes his head, his expression turning serious. “Lot of different clubs and some tension in that area. Everyone thought it was safer to have them stay home.”