CHAPTER ELEVEN
-:- PENNY -:-
Saturday morning and I’m out of bed before Ruger. He’s quietly snoring, and as I watched him for a few minutes before I left the bedroom I have to admit I like the look of him in my bed, and I can feel my heart starting to beat for him.
After feeding and dressing Arabella, I’ve placed her in her playpen, which I have in the living room.
She’s blabbering away about something, and now and again I hear her say dada, which is annoying.
Ruger spends a lot of time with Arabella, and he’s forever telling her Dada so I suppose it was bound to happen.
Now I’ve found myself saying Mama to her more than ever.
While cleaning up the kitchen I take a moment looking out of the kitchen window. I’ve got to finish packing our stuff, which won’t take long, and move out to Lincoln’s house. I feel bad about him moving to Jo’s place although he is her brother.
A pair of arms wrap around my waist and pull me back onto a hard body. I look at Ruger’s reflection in the window and smile. “Morning, Babe.”
“Morning,” I reply, and you know I’m not sure if I have an endearment I can call him as yet! “I’m going to take these things to the Swap Shop this morning. Then I need to finish packing what I need ready for the move.”
Ruger kisses the side of my neck, and I find myself moving my head to the side to give him more room.
I can feel the smile that appears on his face as he continues, and I think it’s time to commit to this relationship or move on without him.
I cannot imagine him not being in our lives, and I turn in his arms, kissing him first, for the first time.
Arabella starts to cry, and that ends this moment of closeness, but neither of us cares as we break apart and walk into the living room. Arabella, the little traitor sees Ruger, and crawls to the side of the playpen mumbling dada all the way.
Ruger chuckles as he leans over and picks her up. Of course, Arabella smiles brightly while grabbing hold of Ruger’s beard. He doesn’t care and smiles right back at her.
“Well, it seems I’m not needed here, so I’ll grab these things for the Swap Shop. Are you staying here while I nip over and drop them off?”
Ruger continues blowing raspberries at Arabella but stops long enough to reply. “Yeah, I’ll stay with Punkin and get her changed, and I’ll take her into the garden for a short while so she can have some fresh air. You won’t be long, will you?”
“No, I shouldn’t be too long. If she’s still awake when I come back I’ll take her for a walk as that should help settle her.
” I quickly get the bags for the Swap Shop and put them into the SUV.
I kiss Arabella on the cheek and peck Ruger, who looks like he’d much rather I had kissed him harder.
But he has my daughter in his arms, so he can suffer for the Dada issue.
Walking into the Swap Shop, I smile at the man behind the counter.
He has a leather jacket on, which tells me he is part of the club.
The front gives his name as Sentry. “Good morning, Sentry.” I smile and point to the door.
“I have a few bags of things for you. I don’t need a swap but hope you can use what I have? ”
Sentry replies while giving me a small smile in return, “Morning. We are always happy to have anything that is in good condition. If you don’t want a swap, then we can do a freebie pack for anyone who is down on their luck.”
As I’m helping Sentry carry things into the shop, Hannah, who I’ve seen previously when I’ve been into the shop appears from the back. “Hi, Penny. You have some more to drop off?”
“I do, because Arabella is growing up fast.”
“Sentry, this is Ruger’s woman. Penny has brought things in before, and they never need to go to Nina for laundry.
Let’s look.” Hannah steps forward and opens one of the bags, taking out the onesies that are folded neatly.
“See what I mean, Sentry? Beautifully clean and folded. How many times did you use them because they look like new?”
“Oh, Arabella wore them often as I didn’t have very much.
” I cringe at how that sounds, but it is being truthful.
I had little spare cash to buy things just on a whim.
I got what was needed, and nothing more than that.
“I look after what we have, Hannah. I’m moving soon, so I may have a few more things. ”
“Well, we appreciate what you bring to the shop.” Sentry takes the bags through to the back of the shop, and I give a wave to Hannah as I leave. I’m going out tonight with Ruger and Arabella, so I need to get my weekly chores done.
Ruger heads back to bed for a few hours while I take Arabella for a walk, and then quietly clean throughout downstairs, get the laundry done and in the dryer. I feed Arabella, who is getting much better at taking food off the spoon. She still likes her formula before she settles to sleep.
I lay Arabella in her stroller, and she watches me wiping counters and cabinets before falling asleep. Now that I have a minute I make a mint tea and sit for a while at the kitchen table.
Do I want to take the next step with Ruger?
Yes, I do. I’m ready, and I’m sure he isn’t playing any type of game with us.
You only have to see him with Arabella to know that.
After my past, I’ve been leery to commit, but I know in my heart I’m falling hard for Ruger, and he could be, and I think he is, my forever man.
****
Taking a seat in Club Whisky that evening, I can’t help but smile at Ruger as he carefully settles Arabella into a highchair that has appeared.
The server is getting on my nerves somewhat as she has ignored the fact that I am sitting here.
She coos at Arabella who scrunches up her nose and looks at Ruger clearly babbling something before loudly stating Dada.
Ruger gives the woman a harsh look but keeps quiet, for now anyway. “We need the meal I ordered from Tony,” Ruger states, and it’s not in a friendly manner. I’ve never heard him speak harshly, so it has taken me by surprise, and has Arabella sticking her bottom lip out ready to cry.
“It’s okay, Punkin,” Ruger calms Arabella down. Turning to me he speaks clearly. “She is flirting with the wrong man. I’m not interested, and I’ll never be interested. You and Punkin are my family, and that is all I’m interested in. Got me?”
“Got you,” I reply, and look up when the woman comes back with our food. I remain calm and look her in the eye. “Thank you.”
“No problem,” she replies, but she has a touch of sarcasm in her tone.
“Everything okay, Ruger?” She has the nerve to ask in an interested tone. Now, I wouldn’t say she is a skank. I think she just likes Ruger. Taken a fancy to him. But what she is doing is rude.
“Everything looks fine to me, Audrey.” I look at the man and woman who have appeared behind her, and they take a seat at the table with us.
“This is Silver, the manager of Club Whisky, and this is Eden his ol lady,” Ruger introduces us. “Where’s Harrison?”
Eden smiles, “He’s with Hammer and Tilly. We do swaps babysitting. Quinn loves Harrison, and they cuddle together to go to sleep. We have Quinn once a month, and Tilly has Harrison. That way we get an evening a month just to ourselves.”
Silver waggles his eyebrows, earning himself an elbow to his ribs, which has him chuckling. But you can see Eden doesn’t care, really. It’s all for show.
We talk about various things, and the security of Club Whisky and the new security company. It’s a nice relaxed atmosphere, and as I’d expected it to be just the three of us I’m a little disappointed it isn’t, but on the other hand it’s nice to have new acquaintances.
With the meal over and dessert here, I grin when Eden claps her hands at the enormous piece of cheesecake she has in front of her.
Silver is smiling indulgently at her, and the love shining from him toward her is very obvious.
I look at Ruger, and my heart beats hard because I notice he has the same look in his eyes.
My face lights up with that knowledge, and my heart flip-flops.
Ruger must see a change in my face or aura as he slowly lifts one of his finely shaped eyebrows, and I try to portray the love I am feeling for him.
I don’t know if he sees it right before Arabella must be annoyed the attention is not on her.
A piece of slop, because that’s what she eats, let’s be honest, lands on Ruger’s arm.
He looks at Arabella who scrunches her face up, babbles angrily and ends with Dada, right before bursting into tears.
Ruger doesn’t waste a moment as he picks Arabella out of the highchair and excuses himself to the baby changing room.
“Don’t worry, she’ll be fine. We had a baby changing room added after I had Harrison, and now that we have the family hours it’s been a boon for anyone with babies.
” Eden finishes her cheesecake and rubs her stomach.
“So, you're going to be Ruger’s woman. You’ll be another Ol Lady for the club.
It’s growing now, and you’ll be in the girl gang.
You’ll have a great time, and Arabella will have Carter, Hunter, Summer, Harrison, and Quinn to grow up with. ”
Silver is looking at me as though to say, just run with it. I, however, do not know what she is talking about. “What is an Ol Lady? Who are all those children, and what is a girl gang?”