Chapter 23 BEAR
BEAR
Idropped Lexie back in my room, a repeat of a week ago. She reached her arms around me. “Do you have to go back?”
I sighed. So fucking sweet. “I do, baby girl. But I won’t be long.”
“Yeah, okay. Let me know if you decide to disappear for a week.”
“I promise I’ll never do that again. But answer me one thing. I get why you stretched the truth on being a legit caterer, and to be honest, I’m proud of you. That took some balls and you clearly know what the fuck you’re doing in the kitchen. But why didn’t you tell me who your dad was?”
Her eyes lowered and she nibbled on her bottom lip.
“I didn’t think it mattered. I haven’t spoken to him since I was five.
I know his name because it’s on my birth certificate.
My grandparents had told me he was a president of a motorcycle club and my mom was one of his club girls.
” She sighed. “They weren’t fond of either of them, so I didn’t bring them up.
He’s been in jail for ages, so I didn’t think anyone would remember him, let alone that he’d still be president.
Whatever. If he’d been at the cookout, I probably would have walked right past him.
The only picture I have of him is a mug shot. ”
Damn. I’d never once thought about going against my prez, but in this moment, my loyalty was wavering. How could he leave his little girl alone like that?
“The foster homes you went to—they were okay? Safe?” I hated to ask, but I had to know what my woman had been through.
“Yeah, they were safe. Nobody touched me or hit me. But honestly, ‘not being molested’ is like the minimum standard of care. Kids also need things like security, acceptance, inclusion, and a family who loves them no matter what.”
My heart ached for Lexie. What she’d described was exactly what drew me to this club.
We were a found family, coming together by choice and not by blood.
Sinner, my president and her fucking father, knew all about those things, and he’d denied them for his little girl.
If the club had known, we could have protected her. Looked out for her.
I pulled her into my arms for one last kiss before I left.
“I can’t change the past, but I sure as hell can change your future.
You’ve got a family now. A whole fucking clubhouse full.
Even if your—” I paused, not wanting to call him her father since he’d hardly been that.
But also not willing to disrespect my prez enough to echo her sperm donor comment, even if he did deserve it.
“Even if you weren’t related to Sinner, you’d still be family here because of our relationship. ”
“What relationship?” she asked. There was a curve to her lips, as if she was trying to be playful, but I saw the hope in her eyes. I’d need to go slow, because she’d not been cherished in a long time and was afraid to trust it. But she would.
I pulled her into me and kissed her fiercely. “That relationship.”
“And Michael?”
I shook my head, thinking of the moody teenager.
“If he’s important to you, he’s important to me.
But I meant what I said. I’m not letting you live with a teenage boy you barely know.
I didn’t pick up any bad vibes from him, but that doesn’t mean his horny ass won’t try to hook up with his hot new guardian. ”
“Eww!” she said, shaking her head. “Don’t be gross. He’s like my little brother.”
I kept my mouth shut, not willing to waste my limited time arguing about the kid. But I had a sister, and I sure as hell didn’t look at her tits the way Michael stared at Lexie’s.
“You both can move in tomorrow.”
Lexie shook her head. “No way. I am not moving in with you. That is just…” She trailed off, and I noted the panic in her eyes.
“Slow down, baby girl.” I cupped her face in my hands, forcing her to look into my eyes so she could see the truth. “My house has four bedrooms. No pressure.”
“Four? That’s an awful lot of rooms for one guy.” She crossed her arms over her chest. Hmm, was she jealous?
“It is, but my parents sold it to me at a deep discount when they downsized into their beach front condo. I figured I would need the room one day in the future. When I met the right woman and filled her up with my babies.” I winked.
“Oh,” she said, a blush creeping into her cheeks. “I guess that was, uh… You say I barely know Michael, but I barely know you. And now that I’m responsible for a teenager, I need to do what’s best for him, too. I haven’t even had a chance to ask him what he thinks about living with you.”
I smiled, knowing she’d given me the opening I’d been waiting for.
“What school district do you live in, Lexie?”
Her eyes narrowed. “Why do you ask?”
“If we’re thinking about what’s best for Michael, I live in Belmont.”
Her eyes widened as I revealed my trump card.
My parents had intentionally chosen their neighborhood so my sister and I would attend the best schools.
Not that it did me any good, but I did graduate from Angier Adams High School, which I doubt would have happened anywhere else.
And it had helped my sister land a full ride to App State.
She sighed. “Fine, you win. But if we’re moving into a house with a yard, I want a dog.”
I grinned, unable to hide the joy of my woman moving in with me. I kissed her on the forehead. “Dog, cat, emu, whatever you want, baby girl. It’s all yours.”