Cowboy
We’d sat here with Preston’s partner for almost two hours.
I hadn’t met him when he covered for Saranya when War was here.
I knew she said he’d done a good job. It was clear from his expression when I accompanied Preston to see who had arrived in his driveway that the other vet was stunned by my presence.
I was used to that. I didn’t take it personally.
But as the minutes ticked by as we socialized in the backyard, it was clear to me that he disapproved of their association with a biker club.
His comments were veiled in civility, but I saw behind them.
And based on the way Saranya kept tensing and squeezing my hand, she did too.
As for her parents, I don’t think her mom did, but her dad kept casting puzzled glances his way.
The vet was nice to the ladies, but I swore I detected an undertone of chauvinism.
Maybe I was just imagining it because of the way he would smile at Saranya.
I disliked any unattached male paying attention to her.
Through our conversation, I learned that he was single and not currently dating anyone.
“It was incredible, and you’ll have to come to the compound again soon,” I added.
As she hugged and kissed her dad, I hugged and kissed her mom, then we switched off.
As I shook Preston’s hand, he surprised me with an embrace, which I returned.
When we let go, I faced Jordan. Manners had me extend my hand to him.
As we shook, he tried to pull the bullshit move of oversqueezing my hand.
I retaliated, and it was he who tore his hand away first. I sent him a smirk.
I placed my arm possessively around Saranya as she bid him goodbye. Her handshake was brief.
“Well, Pres, Malai, I should be leaving, too. Thank you for the company. I hadn’t realized how late it was,” Jordan stated.
Walking out to the car, we were trailed by her parents and Jordan. I got my woman into the car and then removed my cut before sliding behind the wheel. Waving cheerfully at them, we got out of there. Based on the headlights behind us, Jordan did, too.
“I can’t believe him,” Saranya muttered.
“Who?” but I knew who she meant.
“Don’t act oblivious, hon. I mean Jordan. He was barely covering his disdain for you, the club, and our relationship. Where does he get off acting that way? Dad has always liked him, and I admit, he has never acted this way before around me.”
“Truthfully, a lot of people dislike bikers based on false perceptions, you know that.”
“I do. Whatever, let’s forget him. Let’s get to my place so we can be on our way to St. Augustine. I can’t wait to see your house.”
Hearing her enthusiasm, I winked at her. The drive was mostly filled with silence or light conversation, but it was comfortable. As I drove, I kept an eye on our six. The headlights followed us for a while before they turned off. I relaxed when they did.
At this time of night, we arrived in Ormond Beach faster than usual. Saranya had already packed, and her bag was in the car, so it literally was a five-minute stop to get my bike, and then we were off. This leg of the journey was fast, too.
Pulling through the gate of the compound, I turned left, passing Diablo’s house, then turned right onto the road that ran between two columns of houses.
There were four on each side at present, and mine was the last one on the left, behind Crash’s and across from Swerve and Electra’s.
Each house had outdoor lighting that helped everyone to see.
We’d been telling Diablo that we should run streetlights, like the ones you have in neighborhoods down the roads on either side of the houses.
He wasn’t opposed to it, and the vote had been cast. All we had to do was wait for them to be installed and for the electrical lines to be run.
As I brought my bike into my driveway, I pressed the button on my bike to open the garage door.
I rode inside, making sure to go to the far bay, leaving the center one for her car.
My house had a three-car garage. In the third bay, along with a work area and my bike, there was room for an ATV or side-by-side. I’d been debating whether to get one.
Shutting down, then swinging off my bike, I hurried to open her door.
I snagged up her bag from the backseat while I was at it.
Moving inside, I shut the garage door. I had a few lights on those programmable outlet plugs, so they turned the lights on and off at specified times. I hated to walk into a dark house.
I knew Saranya would want to see the house before we settled for the night.
And since I wasn’t tired, and she looked wide awake, I didn’t mind.
I was proud of my home. I prayed that she’d like it.
I’d built it with the future in mind, one that included an old lady and kids.
I could do a lot to make it feel more like home for her, short of tearing it down.
I hoped she didn’t want us to build a new one.
True, a brother without one would likely take this one, but I wanted to stay here.
She was eagerly scanning the area before us.
From the garage, we entered the mudroom, which also served as a laundry room, featuring a coat closet, a deep sink, and ample counter and cabinet space.
I removed my boots, cut, and hat. She took off hers.
Just outside the laundry was a pantry on the right, which made it convenient when bringing in groceries.
To the left were the primary bedroom, an en suite bathroom, and a walk-in closet.
It was more than big enough for two adults.
After a hard day, soaking in the spa tub did wonders for aches and pains.
Passing the entrances to my bedroom and the pantry brought us into the U-shaped kitchen with its two islands, which overlooked the hearth room, another word for the family room.
The hearth room contained a double-sided fireplace that it shared with the great room.
The great room was the first thing you saw when entering the front foyer.
On either end of the hearth room was a breakfast nook and the formal dining room.
The nook had French doors that led out to the back covered porch to one of the things I loved: the built-in barbecue.
Beyond the great room and the half bath next to the entrance was the small hallway that led to three bedrooms and two full bathrooms. Two of the bedrooms shared one bathroom in the Jack-and-Jill style. The other bedroom had an ensuite bathroom. They all had small walk-in closets.
The house was a single-story Craftsman-style home, measuring almost thirty-three hundred square feet.
The exterior featured a gabled roofline, with exposed wood and stone elements visible throughout.
I’d used high-end materials and made it large, with as many upgrades as I wanted.
I splurged, but I planned to live here for the rest of my life.
When we ended up back in the hearth room, I had to ask. “What do you think?”
“What do I think? I think I’m totally jealous. Your house is fantastic, Zander. I love it. Are the other houses like this?”
Pleasure filled me at her compliment. “They’re all great houses with different materials and styles.
We do tend to go big. No two are exactly alike.
You won’t find the same houses duplicated over and over, as you often do in planned communities.
Sometimes, we do see things in each other’s homes that we steal for our own.
I can’t tell you what a relief it is that you love it. ”
“What if I didn’t?” she asked.
“Then we would’ve had to move and build a new one.”
“Move? Build new? What are you talking about?”
“If my woman hates the house, then she won’t want to live here. I don’t want you hating where you live. We’re doing incredible, Anya. I want forever with you. That means you’re moving in here.”
I hoped I wasn’t dumping too much on her too soon. But I knew I was totally into her and wanted her for the rest of my life.
“Z-Zander, are you sure? We’ve only been together a couple of weeks.”
“I’m sure. If you need more time, I understand. Before you say you can’t because of your clinic, I have some thoughts about that. But those need to wait. Right now, I want to take a shower with you and then make love to you in our bed,” I growled.
Saranya raised her arms. I lifted her, allowing her to wrap them around my neck. “Then what are you waiting for? Take me to that amazing bathroom. You know, I could be convinced to move in based on that bathroom.”
“Done,” I said. I held her in my arms as I retraced our steps to my bedroom. I was already hardening in anticipation.