CHAPTER SIXTEEN
-:- CORK -:-
I couldn’t think of any reason to go to the clubhouse this morning without Dallas, and to be honest, I’m happy about it.
I don’t want to go anywhere without her.
That’s strange considering it’s only been a couple of weeks and I was blind to the fact that she was throwing herself at me. I was so dumb.
I’ve been putting off going back to work, and Stitch knows it.
I think the entire world knows it, and Lincoln has hinted more than once that Dallas needs to be back on shift, too.
I wanted to move into her place and get away from work at the end of the day, but she rightly pointed out that with our joint savings and the rent we would save, we’d be getting our own place much faster.
I’m all for getting some land purchased so we can start building as soon as possible, but the voice of reason that is Dallas has pointed out that we may get somewhere with a decent house already on it.
She’s shown me a couple of places that are at the top of our budget that we could move into, and rough it for a while until we can do our own thing.
“I’m not going to push it, but I know when my man is hiding something,” Dallas states.
“Why would I be hiding something?” I know how unconvincing that sounds even as I utter the words.
“Oh, come on, Cork.” Dallas looks at me and laughs openly. “I can read you like a book. Like one of those kids’ books, too. You might as well be The Very Hungry Caterpillar, for God’s sake.”
“I can’t help being transparent. I’ve never had the need to hide anything before. Without a partner, everything was much simpler, less complicated,” Oh, fuck! Realizing that could be misconstrued, I quickly rack my brains to explain that better. Too late!
“Really? I’m a complication already? Wow, I didn’t see that coming so early in our relationship. Or is it a partnership?”
Stammering words that make no sense and don’t even make a sentence, I glance across at Dallas. The look on her face says she’s enjoying giving me a hard time.
“One of these days you’re going to find yourself across my knee getting a thorough ass-slapping.”
“Promises, promises.” Dallas winks at me and I think we both know at the same instant that it is going to happen.
My phone is pinging with a message which ends that train of thought.
Star: Hi there. When you next at clubhouse?
Me: On way there now. What’s up?
Star: Need to speak. Meet me in the kitchen, at club not mine.
Me: OK
Oh, hell. Now what? I bet this has something to do with the other night and me dropping Meat in it.
Telling Dallas about the text, she wonders if she should go with me, as it was her who started that ball rolling in the first place.
“Nope, I’ll face the music. Though I’d rather face a team of angry Navy SEALs than a pissed-off Star!”
“That’s my man. Go get her, tough guy!”
Pulling up in the compound, we stroll into the clubhouse together, hand in hand. Seeing Star already in the kitchen, Dallas gives me a peck on the lips and whispers, “Go get ‘em, cowboy!”
Walking into the kitchen, I see Meat is there, too. I wasn’t expecting that, so I brace myself for whatever is coming next.
“Stand down, Cork. Everything is good here.” Star must have seen me steeling myself for an onslaught.
“Meat’s never going to say it, but he is sorry for involving you in his half-baked idea.
There are no hard feelings, and all is fine and dandy in the sandbox again.
Play nicely, Meat, and shake Cork’s hand. ”
Expecting my hand to be crushed and all my fingers broken, I prepare as mentally as I can when I take Meat’s hand. There's a good firm grip, a chin lift from both of us, and it’s all over. Turning to leave the kitchen I walk straight into Mia.
“Ah, Cork. Just the man.”
Grabbing her in a hug, I say loudly, “Of course I’ll check the nursery door for you. No time like the present.” Spinning her around, I march her to the nursery. It hasn’t been a nursery for some time, but until it gets repurposed, we’ll still call it that.
“Mia, if this is about the motor show, Dallas is in the common room. It’s still a secret, and no, I haven’t got anything for prizes yet, either.” I don’t know why I’m whispering, but she follows my lead and whispers back.
“Everyone is excited to take part, and they are all polishing their vehicles like you wouldn’t believe. They keep muttering about ‘concourse’ and I had to Google it to find out what they were all talking about!”
“That’s great as long as they don’t say anything in front of Dallas. I’ll get the prizes sometime during the week when I can get into town on my own.”
“If you’re thinking of trophies, I have a better idea.
Almost to a woman they have all said they want one of those fancy dust covers that the serious collectors have.
Keeps moisture out and keeps the vehicle super comfy or some such.
I’ll price them out, and if they’re too expensive, I’ll push Axel into paying for them out of club funds, and then you can get the trophies anyway.
How’s that?” Mia is all excited, and if everyone else is as wound up as she is, it will be a miracle if Dallas doesn’t find out before the day.
As we pass Pres’s office on the way back to the common room, the door opens and a hand grabs my collar dragging me backwards into the office. “Just the man,” Wings says. “Sit down while I grab Meat.”
Looking around the room, I see Target, Chaos and Pres all looking at me. I think the game’s up, Pres knows!
Moments later and Wings is back with Meat. Wings commands Meat to sit, and Meat’s look says, ‘make me.’ He stands where he is until Pres nods at an empty chair, and Meat looks at it, then to Pres before deciding to sit.
“We need to do something about the still at the ranch. Lincoln has been digging into the thugs that attacked Cork and the wine shop. Seems they are bigger than we first thought in the city. That being said, I’m not prepared to let it go.
They started it, we’re going to finish it.
Anybody got any thoughts on that?” There are affirmatives all round and a grunt from Meat.
“Good. After talking with Wings, Chaos and Target, we don’t think we need to take them out, just disrupt their operation, and let them know they need to move on, and stay moved on. ”
“Cork, we thought you should be offered the chance to be a part of the mission as it was you and your business they targeted. Meat, it was your property they were planning on copying, so you’re in if you want to be.” Target watches us for our reaction and, as he’d expect we both want in.
We thrash out various ideas and scenarios for the mission, and Target is not happy with the idea of leaving the thugs alive.
“It’s a mistake to let them go back to the city, Pres. You said it yourself, they are bigger than we first thought. If that’s the case, they will believe they are untouchable.” Target is sitting forward in his chair, and I voice my agreement with him.
“I think Target has a point, Pres. I don’t see them taking it lying down if we put them out of business here. They’ll probably just see us as some hick town biker club, and come back at us someday in the future.” The more I think about it, the more I believe Target is on point with his thoughts.
Axel asks Meat, Wings and Chaos for their thoughts, and they all agree with Target.
“I know better than to ignore your advice and especially when it’s unanimous.
We’re not a democracy, but I’ll go with your gut instincts.
Come up with a plan, I’ll look it over, and then I’ll decide from there what happens and when.
This goes no further than those in this room.
I don’t want the whole club descending on that ranch and running amok.
Got it?” We all nod or grunt and we’re told to get lost.
Leaving Pres’s office, I find Stitch waiting for me. Walking into his office rather than the medical room, I know my time is up. I have to go back to work.
“I can’t put this off any longer, Cork. We all know why you want more time and, honestly, we’re all happy for you to have it, but it needs to be vacation time.
You’re clear to drive from now, and you’re also officially off my books.
If you do feel you have any issues, don’t wait to let me know.
These things have a habit of showing up unexpectedly.
Keep your wits about you and tell someone if for any reason you don’t feel well.
” Stitch stands up, and that’s my cue to get my butt out of his office.
Back in the common room Dallas is sitting with Jo, reading one of her books.
Walking up, I see her face is flushed, and I bet she is reading one of Jo’s sex scenes she is so famous for at the club.
Hell, I don’t mind that. It just means I can save the spanking idea for another time.
Sitting opposite, I see Dallas wiggle her eyebrows at me and the big round eyes tell me I was right.
We stay for the evening meal at the clubhouse, mainly because Dallas still has her head in that book.
Some of the brothers keep looking over and grinning at me.
Target and Chaos get up to leave, and as he passes Target whispers, “You’re in for a hell of a night, brother.
That is probably the hottest book Jo has written to date.
Winter and I drove Chaos out of the apartment when we acted out all four scenes from that storyline. ”
“Stop at the store on the way home. You’ll need baby oil. Lots and lots of baby oil,” Chaos mutters. “The apartment smelled of it for weeks and it took ages to get it all off the kitchen countertops.” Chaos shudders, and it makes me laugh how he grimaces.
It doesn’t take Dallas as long as I thought to finish the book, but I suspect that she skipped a few pages. Leaving the clubhouse, there are more than a few ribald comments from the brothers, and they don’t faze Dallas one bit. She just grins, curtsies and we head home.
I get to drive officially now that Stitch has given me the all clear, and halfway home Dallas grins as I go off route.
“Are you stopping at the store on the way home?” She asks coyly.
“Oh yes. I wouldn’t waste all that book reading you’ve been doing.”
“Oh, don’t worry about that. We’re taking the long way home anyway. There was a bit in there where the hero was driving, and she, well, you’ll see.”