Chapter 4
Jules
S he stares at me waiting for me to ask her something. I stare back wanting to know everything about her and nothing at all. I may have to share my space with her while she looks after Juno, but that doesn’t mean we have to be friends. Or anything other than employer and employee. Even if my dick is interested in seeing more of her. I ignore him. That’s just a physical reaction to a beautiful woman, and fuck me if she isn’t beautiful. I’m actually shocked that Moss Davies has a sister this hot. I mean, I knew they were attractive, but fuck me. It’s like sitting across from Salma Hayek, but the Salma in From Dusk Til Dawn.
“The role is 7am til 6 pm. If I have to work late I will prearrange hours with you. Sometimes I go away for work and you will be expected to stay on the Tombs property for those days. Will that cause any problems with your significant other?” Out of the corner of my eye Tav’s head slowly turns in my direction, but I choose to ignore him. Everything I have laid out is what I need. What I don’t need is a husband or boyfriend kicking up a stink or staying at my house while I’m away.
Her dark brows furrow for a moment as she thinks through what I’ve said. She must come to a conclusion because her face relaxes and she nods my way. “Sounds reasonable. My boyfriend Josh is a sweetheart so he’ll understand, there won’t be a problem there.”
“I will need Josh’s surname so I can run a background check. I don’t want any weirdos near my kid.”
“Fair enough. It’s Baker. He works at Milton and Co accounting firm. He’s a great guy so I’m sure you’ll find nothing alarming. Other than his love for Lego figurines.” She smiles at her joke and I quickly raise my hand to my left, stopping Cove in her tracks. The kid is obsessed with Lego, and I have no time to open that can of worms.
I need to finish this interview and according to plan, ask her to hang around for a drink and to meet the rest of the family and the club. That way we can observe what she’s like with everyone and if she smells satisfactory for Dayz’s sake. Also, having the women interrogate her will be the make or break on whether this whole thing is a good idea or a huge fucking mistake.
She sits looking at me and my family, seemingly relaxed despite the circumstances.
“Does your mama know you’re here interviewing to become a nanny?” Pops asks, his bushy brow raised.
“Yes, sir. She’s the one who’s pushing me to give this a try. She fired me from the shop so I could find my ‘passion’,” she says in finger quotes as she rolls her eyes.
“Do you think cleaning up puke and shit could be your passion?” Pops’ face scrunches up.
“Ah, yeah. I used to do a lot of that when I was a nurse. Unfortunately, being let go means it’s a little hard getting another nursing role in this town.” He squints at her, then nods, tagging in Gus to ask a follow up question.
“Why were you let go, exactly?” Gus asks, face impassive, knowing full well why she was let go. The question is, will she tell the truth?
“Look, I’m sure you’ve done your research. I threatened, not assaulted, threatened, Homer Gaskin’s wife. But in my defence she was her mother’s main carer and she was neglecting her something fierce. Bed sores, infections, you name it. I, um, may have offered to chain her to the bed and let her scrawny, rotten ass fester until she felt what her mother feels on a daily basis.”
Chuckles can be heard around the common room, causing Violet’s tense look to soften into a smirk.
“Good on you, girl. I would have done the same. Or worse.” Pops smirks, Violet grinning back at him.
“What’s something that makes you happy?” Tav butts in. He always asks these types of questions in interviews. Apparently what brings people joy says a lot about them.
“My family,” Violet answers, without blinking.
“Your biggest weakness?”
Again, without hesitation, she answers, “My family.”
Pops squints at her, rubbing a hand down his stubble. “Alright girl, biggest fear?”
I lean back, crossing my arms, I’m sure I can guess it’ll be something like ‘losing her family’.
Her face screws up a moment, before she pulls her shoulders back, and stares at me, then my family. “Getting into a street fight and whoever I’m fighting rips my top and I have to fight with my titties out. ”
I blink once, twice at her answer, the whole common room silent until Pops throws his head back and laughs like a hyena. The Ol Ladies start yelling out their agreement and my gaze meets Violet’s, a small smile on her lips.
The laughter dies down and my sister stands abruptly, “Well, that’s all we need to know. Stay for a drink.” She wanders off to the bar, where Rhodie kisses her face off, poor Chomper squished between them.
Violet’s wide eyes follow before looking back at me for permission. Well, that’s a pleasant surprise. I nod, and she offers a small smile, getting up and making her way to the bar with Ana and Blanche flanking her.
“Well, brother. What do you think?” Tav asks, his eyes following his Ol Lady.
“I think in terms of care she will be good. She’s a trained nurse, will be good under pressure and from a large family so good with feelings and shit.” I answer, watching her chatting away.
“So, a thousand times better than you?” Tav smirks.
“Exactly.”
Before I can get up and get a well earned drink, I’m surrounded by half of my sister’s girl gang. Mira plops down in front of me, Nat on one side and Remy and Lovely on the other.
“You know what this is like?” Mira starts, and I know that there’s no point in stopping whatever she’s going to say, “this is the classic nanny trope. She’ll be in your home, raising your child, you’ll notice how good she is with Juno, she’ll notice you’re distant and need encouragement. Over time you’ll come to find that the brightest parts of your day are when you arrive home and your little girl calls your name, Violet setting the dinner table with food she’s made by her own hand.” My brows raise higher and higher as she sighs, “You’ll ruin what you’re building of course, because you’ll try and put space between the both of you, you’re her boss! You can’t fall in love with her! She’ll leave your home and you’ll smell her scent on your things, it’ll cause you to go on a bender until your brothers, both biological and MC hit you with some home truths where you’ll hunt her down and in a public display declare your love.” She slumps after her monologue, as if exhausted by her creative imaginings.
“She has a boyfriend,” I deadpan.
“Oh, in THAT case I bet he’s a terrible boyfriend, and over time she will come to see that you will treat her so much better and -”
I abruptly stand and leg it from the table, the women cackling at me rushing away. I have no problem with the Ol Ladies, but there is no way I can fall for Violet. I’m her employer and there’s a huge power imbalance and shit! Isn’t that exactly what Mira just word vomited at me?
A hand lands on my shoulder, grounding me and chasing away the seeds that Mira planted.
“If you’re interested we’re having a little party later this evening. Just us and some girls, what do you say?” Nitro smirks at me, knowing that this is the shit I live for.
Or was. “Not tonight. I have Juno and I don’t need another one.”
Fox snickers, “What? Do you think you have super sperm or something?”
I shrug. “Who knows? All I know was one night of debauchery and I have a kid that I have to hire a nanny for. I don’t need anymore coming out of the woodwork.”
They share a nervous look, as if they never once figured that our activities could come back to bite them on the ass. I know I never did. I was more concerned with how many girls we could fuck in an evening.
“Jules, little miss wanted her dad,” Mama Debs says, drawing my attention to her with Juno in her arms.
The little girl not only has a frown, but her little lip is pushed out, as if she got the raw deal by being in Mama Debs’ arms. Any other kid would kill to be there, all safe and warm and loved. Instead Juno wants to come to me, the guy who is stiff and uncomfortable with contact of any kind. Well, other than fucking.
Mama Debs hands her over and Juno hides her face under my chin, letting out a sigh. My chest tightens and as I do every time, I ignore it.
Mama Debs rubs her back, smiling, before her gaze finds mine. “I’m proud of you, tama , you stepped up when I know how easy it would have been for you to walk away.” She gives me a soft smile and runs her hand over my hair, like she’s done a thousand times before.
The first time she did it freaked me out a little. But since then I’ve come to enjoy the warmth. I give her a tight smile and look toward Violet, at the bar laughing with some of the MC brothers.
“You’ll be making a good call hiring her. She’ll be a good influence on you both.” Mama Debs’ gaze moves from me to Juno. “It’d be nice to have a granddaughter that smiles, rather than frowns.”
“I don’t think she’s a miracle worker,” I reply drily, making Mama Debs laugh.
“You never know, Jules , she may be just what you need. ”
Violet
I’m surrounded by women and I like it. It reminds me of when my sisters and I get together, which lets face it, is all the time. You’ve heard of helicopter parents? Well, we’re a whole damn helicopter family. Always up in each other’s business.
They all speed talk over each other, and I would be worried about not knowing all their names, but they have those leather vest things on with their names on the front, although, I’m pretty sure some of them are nicknames, given that Tuesday’s says “Chewy”.
“How come your vest thing says Chewy?” I ask. I’m not sure if it’s polite to ask, but you never learn anything if you don’t ask so I go ahead anyway. The worst that can happen is they call me a nosey bitch.
Tuesday looks down at the leather patch over her breast before looking up at me. Or, moreso, over my shoulder. “It’s called a cut. You get them when you become an Ol Lady. And the guys nicknamed me ‘Chewy’ like ‘Chewsday’. Rider came up with it.” She beams at the big, blonde biker that seems to be in the thick of annoying some of his MC brothers.
“Oh, Oh! As the newest recruit let me do the introductions!” A statuesque blonde says. She’s dressed head to toe in color, her curly blonde hair in a ponytail.
The women share glances, and try to hold in their laughter. It’s clear that these women are good friends, and they know that whatever is coming my way will be a lot.
“Have at it,” Tuesday, or, um, Chewy gestures.
The blonde pumps her fist, hissing “yusssss” under her breath. “OK, I know it’s a lot. It was a lot when I first got here. So I’ll give you the cliff notes version. Chewy you met, and fingers crossed you’ll be working for her brother, these two-” She points two fingers to two dark haired women, one I recognise as Tav Tombs’ woman, “are sisters, Blanche and Lovely. Blanche belongs to Tav and she’s preggo with a little Tombs. Lovely belongs to herself,” her eyes dart to Marx before darting back, “and has a little girl named Bee.” The one named Lovely smiles and waves. “This is Nat; her man is that hottie over there,” Mira looks around the common room before pointing out the tall, dark-haired bearded man with bright blue eyes. “Remy here is Wire’s woman, they’re hackers and computer dweebs and he’s that tall, dark, drink of water over there,” indicates another good looking man. “And Ana you would have seen next to Gus. They have a giant son named after Sidney Tombs but they call him Jr. Oh, and my man is the big, blonde, biker hottie. We met in jail.” She beams and turns toward said big, blonde biker, who even from across the room must feel her eyes on him because he turns and gives her a dazzling smile that transforms his whole face, taking him from menacing to golden retriever.
“I feel like I’m going to struggle here,” I sigh.
“Because there’s so many people?” Remy asks with a worried look on her face.
“Nah, too many people is fine. I’ll struggle because everyone is so hot,” I lament.
“Wait, is that a problem?” Remy’s nose screws up.
“Yeah, because in my experience hot people are assholes.”
The women throw their heads back and cackle, “Well, we never said they weren’t assholes,” Nat says between guffaws.
Chewy frowns at me for a moment, a puzzled look on her face. “You’re really hot. Are you an asshole? ”
I take a sip of the beer the prospect handed me. He looks really young and a lot like Blanche and Lovely. I’m not overly sure he’s even old enough to be serving alcohol, but that’s not my problem. “Um, thanks for the compliment, and in answer to your question, that would depend on who you ask.”
Chewy narrows her eyes, as if trying to figure me out, but is interrupted by the rest of the women laughing at my sentiment.
A big man wanders over, nodding at everyone, “Ladies,” he booms, before knocking twice on the bar top then turning his head to me. “I’ve worked with you before, haven’t I?”
I take him in, my eyes widening in recognition. Usually he’s in scrubs with crocs, today he’s in boots, jeans, a black tee showing off his sleeve tattoos, and his cut. “Dr. Hansen?”
He nods, brow furrowed. “There’s two Davies nurses. Are you the one that cries or the angry one?”
My hand flies to my chest, “How dare you accuse me of being the crying one! That’s Fiona Davies. She’s the blonde that shagged Dr. Carter in the supply room. Sheesh.”
He nods again, this time with a smirk. “Ah, so the angry one then. You’re the one that restrained that drunk in the ER waiting room that time, yeah?”
My eyes dart, hoping no one else heard that. Of course everyone, including Jules Tombs is looking this way, because Dr. Hansen has the voice of a fog horn. “Yeah, that was me,” I mumble and then avoid eye contact.
A booming laugh shakes the loud ginger’s body as he throws his head back, “I saw it go down, that shit was magnificent! The way you twisted his arm and frogmarched him through the ER was chef’s kiss!” He chuckles, wiping his watering eye. “Tombs better give you the damn job, that way you can keep that lot in check and we can relax around here for once. ”
“What the hell are you on about? We’re fucking delightful!” Sidney Tombs yells across the room, looking set to kick some ass.
“Ignore them. They get jealous of our sweet skills,” Chewy says.
I smile politely because I have no idea what type of sweet skills she’s packing, but I know from the spicy MC books I’ve read, the Icer is the person who takes care of things. In a permanent sense. Before I can do a Flora Davies and ask a bunch of personal or inappropriate questions, Jules Tombs walks over, with a little girl plastered to his chest. If I thought he was hot before, then he’s a supernova of hotness now. But still a little assholey so I know I’m safe from the hotness. Oh, and I have Josh. Mustn’t forget Josh. We’ve been dating for six months and it’s been the best relationship I’ve ever been in. He’s yet to meet my family but I just know that with the love they show, and how thoughtful and kind Josh is, that they’ll get on like a house on fire.
“Violet, this is Juno. If you’re employed she will be your charge.” He leans back slightly, looking down at his daughter, gently maneuvering her in his arms so she’s facing me.
With them both looking at me with their blank faces it’s remarkable how strong this family’s genes are.
“Holy crap! I’m going to have to call my brother, a crime has been committed!” I blurt out, without thinking.
Silence descends and the tension in the clubhouse ratchets right up. The only sound is the stomping of Johnny, I mean, Marx’s boots coming directly for me.
“Mind informing us what crime has been committed?” Marx growls down at me,
“Yeah.” I point to Juno, “That baby is a thief. ”
Marx’s brows pinch trying to figure me out.
“She stole his face.” I gesture back to Juno and everyone in the clubhouse starts to relax.
Well, everyone except Marx. The Pres. Johnny Paxton. He glares down at me, then frowns a little, shaking his head. “I was hoping you weren’t going to take after Flora too much, but I’m shit outta luck, aren’t I?”
I smile up at him, “Yeah, sorry buddy. Flora’s genes are strong. But I can assure you, I’d never snitch without a damn good reason. I don’t work like that. You respect me, I’ll respect you and you can maim as many people for the greater good as you like.”
He rolls his eyes and gives me a nod, heading toward the bar.
“Phew! That was intense!” I say to no one in particular, before turning back to Jules. “But seriously, man, that kid is you all over. You copy and pasted your exact resting bitch face. It’s uncanny.”
Jules looks down at his daughter in his arms, and she looks up at him as if having a very grumpy, silent conversation. They must come to an agreement because Jules’ gaze moves to his family, all leaning against the bar. They give small nods, before he looks toward Marx and Rhodie, who repeat the gesture.
“When can you start?”