Chapter 6 #2
“Cool. Like that name.” I nodded just as something slipped by Torch’s legs. I cried, “Puppy.” I quickly placed my plate to the counter before I went to the floor and opened my arms.
“No!” Tech yelled.
“Harley,” Torch barked.
And before the puppy could reach me, I was picked up off the floor with an arm around my waist. I glanced over my shoulder and patted the big guy’s arm. “I’m good, Quake. He’s just a puppy.”
I could feel how fast he was breathing. “That dog only likes two people. Torch and his old lady, Wrenley. He sometimes tolerates Tech and Death, since they on occasion look after him. But the beast doesn’t like anyone else.”
I snorted and rolled my eyes as I tapped his arm. “Animals love me.” I wiggled against Quake who grunted. “Any other time we can play, but I wanna see the puppy.”
Next, I was dropped like a sack of hot potatoes, and Quake moved away with burning cheeks.
Aww, he was too cute. Would he blush if I got naked?
Not that I’d do that. At least not with this many people around and especially if there were brothers who had old ladies. Getting naked in front of taken men would be disrespectful, and I’d never do that.
“What are you thinkin’?” Tech asked.
“That I wouldn’t get naked in front of anyone who’s in a relationship.” I dropped down to my knees again and looked up at Torch. “Can he come closer?”
Torch glanced down to Harley, who was sitting at his side. He tipped his chin my way and then Harley placed his attention on me.
“Come on, cutie. Who’s such a good boy? Yes, you are,” I cooed, holding out my hands.
He drew closer and sniffed at my hands. “You’re such a handsome boy, Harley.
I bet your mum and dad take good care of such a sweet boy.
” His tail started wagging. Then he got the bum wiggle going before jumping at me to lick my face.
Laughing, I patted him all over. “Yes, I knew you were a nice boy.”
Tech sighed. “Fuckin’ women and animals. You’d probably try and pet a bear, too, right?”
Grinning, I shrugged as I rubbed my hands over Harley, who now sat in front of me. “Probably.”
“When the guys found Harley, he wasn’t in a good place. He went to attack Death, but Torch got him to the ground first, and since then they’ve had this bond,” Dusty explained.
I nodded. “Torch is the alpha, isn’t he, Harley?” He licked up my nose, making me giggle. I kissed him right back on the snout before I stood. “I’ve got to finish my brekkie. I’ll play later,” I told Harley with one final pat.
“Brekkie?” Quake asked.
“Yeah, short for breakfast. Us Aussies like to shorten any word we can.” I walked over to the sink to wash my hands with soap.
Usually, I wouldn’t give two hoots if I had dog all over my hands, I’d still eat with them, but I didn’t want to give off a bad image.
Not yet. They were still getting to know me.
After I dried them, I went to pick up my plate again to finish off the blueberry muffin.
A moan slipped out. I waited until I finished chewing for once before I said, “I forgot how good food tasted. Well, I’m gonna go sit down.
My mum always said it’s better to sit and eat than stand.
Don’t ask me why, though. She never told me when I asked.
” I glanced to Dusty. “Are you coming back out?”
With a smile, she nodded.
“Later, guys,” I called before leaving.
When I sat at a table, Dusty introduced me to Saint, Gun, Lucas, Wreck, Death, and Raya.
“Damn, the fairy Godmother blessed all these bikers with the good-looking stick too.”
Lucas waved his hand. “I’m not a biker.” Wreck’s palm slid to the back of Lucas’s neck, under all his blond curls.
“Ah, you just belong to a biker.”
Lucas smiled and nodded.
“I’m also his blood brother,” Saint said. “Now, after you finish eatin’, I’d like to pick your brain about your mechanical skills.”
I squinted at him with my fork full of scrambled eggs halfway to my mouth. “You don’t have anyone in the club working on your babies?”
“We did, but he left the club a while ago. We take them to a place close by.”
“That sucks. We have a garage connected to the compound, and a lot of the brothers work there.”
Wreck grunted. “We know how to fix some things, but not every detail.”
I pointed my fork his way. “Gotcha. Look, I’m happy to answer any questions about anything. I’m not really shy—”
“You’re kiddin’,” Saint teased.
He and Gun chuckled when I gave him the middle finger with a smile. “As you can probably tell, I’m not shy, but I can put my foot in my mouth a lot of the time. So, tell me if I’m overstepping in any way.”
“I heard you warn Dusty about yourself before,” Gun said. “Don’t worry about what anyone thinks of you, Rommy. If they don’t like you, that’s a them problem, not you.”
My heart swelled, as I grinned big. “Thanks heaps. That means a lot. Like a lot.”
Dusty rested her hand on my arm. “Honestly, Rommy, just make yourself at home here, and don’t worry about anyone, okay?”
I gave her a watery smile. “I’ll try.”
She returned my smile with her own and nodded. “Good.”
She said to make myself at home here, but even when I walked through the door last night, the place had the same feeling the compound did at home.
So, I could already tell I was going to love my stay.
Now, if only I could talk my parents into taking a holiday so we could stick around for a while to get to know everyone.