Chapter 7 – Everly #2
I may have told Mason I thought they were to blame, but I’m not even sure I believe that anymore. I certainly won’t allow anyone else to blame them or believe that they would harm me or Kaylie.
“And is that why the two of you spent several days with them over the holidays? Because they watch over your business’s security system?” Mrs. Pennington asks with a hint of sarcasm in her voice.
“We were there for a wedding,” I reply, scrutinizing the woman in front of me who seems hell-bent on making assumptions.
“I was hired to do the bride and her wedding party’s hair for the occasion.
The Kings were gracious enough to give us a room when the snowstorm hit, giving us shelter for a few days until it was safe enough for us to drive back home. ”
The lock on the front door turns, and the handle jiggles.
Mrs. Pennington turns from where she sits on the couch.
I hop up, moving toward the door. The only person who has a key to the front door is Mason, and although I thought it would’ve been him coming in this morning with breakfast, now is not the time for him to be here.
I catch the handle and push the door against Mason’s booted foot. His brow furrows. “What the hell, babe? Let me in.”
Shit.
“Mason, honey. I didn’t expect you so early,” I say, giving him a pointed look, hoping he plays along. I swing the door open just as Kaylie comes running up to us.
“Mason!” she squeals. “Did you bring me pancakes?”
Mason squats down to her level, handing her the bag in his hands. “Nope. But I did bring you a banana muffin and some chocolate milk. Will that do?”
Kaylie taps her chin as if deep in thought. “Yes!” She snags the bag and runs for the table.
“No running!” We both shout at the same time.
“Who’s your friend, Miss Greene?” Mrs. Pennington asks, standing up, with her arms crossed and her brow raised. The look on her face is disapproving, as if she caught me in a lie. But it’s the judgement I see glaring back at Mason that causes something in me to snap.
“This is Mason, my fiancé.” Miss Pennington’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise. Though she doesn’t look half as shocked or confused as Mason. “I was about to tell you about him, but, well, now here he is in the flesh.”
“Your fiancé? I didn’t know you were engaged to a biker,” she replies. Her disparaging tone grates on my every nerve.
“Makes two of us,” Mason mumbles quietly beside me where only I can hear. I cut him a glare, begging him to shut up and go with it. His wicked smirk tells me he’s with me, but I’m going to pay for this later. I have no doubt.
Mrs. Pennington assesses Mason, taking in his leather cut and patches with a condemning frown.
“And is he part of the gang the report spoke of? The ones who destroyed your shop and put you and Kaylie in danger?” Her voice is full of condemnation, and I find myself overcome with the need to protect Mason.
“Is this some kind of fraud scheme for the insurance?”
“I told you,” I grind out, fighting desperately not to lose my shit.
“The Kings are not a gang, and to presume the damage to my shop is intentional or is in any way connected to the Kings without physical evidence is both rude and presumptuous.” I cross my arms over my chest. “All the cops found was a man with a tattoo. Now, I don’t know what your experience is, but I know several people who have tattoos and, believe it or not, they’re not all bikers.
Just regular everyday Joes with ink on their skin. ”
Mason wraps his arm around my waist, pulling my back to his chest and whispers loud enough for her to hear, “It’s okay, baby. She doesn’t know me. I would be concerned if she didn’t question the type of man I am, especially since we’re getting married and I’ll be responsible for you girls.”
He kisses my temple softly, and damn if I don’t shudder. Mason notices, and the asshole chuckles.
“How long have you two been dating?” Mrs. Pennington asks, still sounding unconvinced.
“Our engagement is rather new, but we’ve been friends since we were kids. Dated a bit in high school until our paths took us in different directions for a while. But when Ever came back into town, it was like nothing had changed between us. We picked up where we left off,” Mason answers smoothly.
“And when is the wedding?”
“Well, we were waiting until I had full guardianship over Kaylie—” I start to reply, but Mason jumps in, cutting me off.
“Originally,” Mason says, turning me to face him.
“But things have changed.” My stomach does that flipping thing it does whenever he gets too close.
I silently mouth the words, “What are you doing?” Mason smiles wide.
“We will be getting married today at the courthouse.” He arches a brow, daring me to contradict him.
“That’s why I came by so early. I wanted to surprise you with the good news. I was able to get everything set up.”
“What the fuck, Mason?” I mouth. His eyes sparkle with mischief, and that devilish smirk I both love and hate graces his lips.
He shrugs. “We would’ve had to tell Mrs. Pennington eventually. Especially since I’ll be moving in with my girls right away.”
Oh fuck.