CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
-:- PENNY -:-
Carrying Arabella downstairs to have her breakfast and formula, I’m shocked when I walk into the common room and in front of me are Ruger, Wings and Chaos walking in the door stark naked.
I quickly place my hand over Arabella’s eyes when she shouts, ‘Dada’.
Why I don’t know? Because she’ll not care they are in their birthday suits.
I can’t help my eyes raking down Ruger, stopping at his hands covering his junk. Honestly, he’s a good-looking man, and I’m very happy to say he’s mine.
Wings is also covering his man parts, and looks anything but embarrassed. In fact, from the smirk on his face I’d say he’s finding all this highly amusing.
Last, looking at Chaos I feel myself blushing, because he’s standing not covering anything.
He is standing with his hands on his hips, looking around as though this is perfectly normal.
But Mamma Mia he is built, and I mean in all departments.
A hand slaps over my eyes, and I hear chuckling.
Shit, I was caught staring at Chaos’ dick…
oh my, am I ever going to hear the last of this?
“You can’t look at his dick, Penny,” Ruger murmurs next to my ear.
“Well, it was there to be seen, and honestly Ruger, he wasn’t hiding anything.”
Sighing, Ruger slowly removes his hand, and I can’t help looking where Chaos was standing, but he’s moved, so I look at Ruger, who is giving me a look I’m not sure of.
Shrugging, I bluff my way through the embarrassment of being caught again.
I strut into the kitchen, but stop and turn in the doorway to snap, “Put some clothes on…”
As he turns I notice he still has his socks and boots on. He looks ridiculous. I’m not even going to ask where he has been and where his clothes are. He’s bound to tell me eventually.
Lee Harris, one of the new team members for the security company, is my companion, or rather protection detail for the day. Nyx takes Arabella with her to work, and I climb into the SUV with Lee.
“This is a downgrade for you isn’t it, Lee?” I state as I get comfortable in the passenger seat.
“Why do you think that?”
“Well, it’s hardly the sort of thing a veteran would do to keep his mind busy.” I grin because, honestly, I’m about as boring as it could get for a job.
“If it’s keeping someone alive, then how can that be a downgrade?
You’ve been targeted by some asshole, and they already took a potshot at you.
I’ll do everything I can to keep you safe while you’re under my watch.
” Lee only glanced at me once, but I noticed his eyes are not only on the road but are scanning everywhere we are passing.
After parking in the assigned lot at work, Lee has me wait in the SUV until he has made sure the area is secure.
Once he is happy he guides me inside. “If you need me you have a pager in your office. Use that, and I’ll be with you.
I’m going to check in with the office and you can find me in there for the next few hours. ”
“Okay, Lee. Thank you, and I’m sorry if I made it sound like you were not doing something worthwhile.” Tipping his fingers to his temple Lee grins as he walks away, leaving me outside my office.
Sitting behind my desk and working on the orders I have to make I look up when Scarlett knocks on the door frame. The door is open, and Scarlett looks like she’s not sure she should have just walked inside or waited as she is.
“Come on in, Scarlett. You didn’t need to knock when the door is open.”
“I wasn’t sure what you would like me to do in that situation.
But I’ll know now, thanks.” Scarlett quickly walks over to my desk and hands me a sheet of paper.
“This is the list of things I need to have ordered. I’m using quite a bit at the moment as I’m getting the grime out of places.
I’ll be able to keep everything spotless once I’m finished deep cleaning. ”
Nodding, I take the list, and it’s just cleaning essentials, so nothing here that I can’t get ordered today. “I can get all this ordered today, Scarlett, but it’ll probably be late in the week before it is delivered.”
“That’s okay, I have enough to use for now.”
“Did you have a good weekend?” I ask while placing the order on the system. I’m lucky that Delta set up a reorder option on the computer system, so I just click and it does the order automatically with the seller.
Scarlett moves from one foot to the other while answering, which catches my attention. “Yeah, it was good. I had my first session at the Shooting Range.”
“Did you? Was it good? I’m going for archery lessons.” I quickly turn to look at Scarlett, and I must show my excitement as she giggles.
“It was good, and my trainer took me through the basics.”
“Why do you look like something is wrong?” I can’t help but see she looks nervous.
“I told my friend I’d been, and she was horrid. She said I was encouraging violence, and she didn’t want to be friends with someone like me.”
Now, I can’t help the laugh that bursts out of my mouth, but looking at Scarlett I can see she is truly upset about what has been said.
“Scarlett, if the friend has said that, she is no friend at all. You are better off without her in your life. I would say she is opinionated and probably up her own ass.”
Scarlett surprises me when she laughs, placing her hand over her mouth. “That is exactly what my brother said.”
“Your brother is Holt?” I question. “I like him. He’s down to earth, and from what brief contact I have had with him I like him. Do you want to grab us both a coffee and we’ll have a break in here where it’s peaceful?”
“I can do that.” Scarlett quickly leaves the office, and I grin to myself because she does not know how I take my coffee.
Fifteen minutes later I’m sipping my coffee, which is perfectly made to my taste, and Scarlett explained she asked Magnus for it. “So, the old ladies have weapons now?”
Yeah, I’ve been telling her all about Nyx’s old ladies getting weaponed up, as they like to call it. “But it was the gleam in their eyes that worried me,” I continued telling Scarlett.
“Oh, I would have loved to have been there. My small excursion to the range was nothing compared to your morning.” Scarlett is leaning forward, and I can see she’s enjoying our exchange.
“We will have to keep a close eye on them I’m sure.
Nyx seems to be able to control them to a degree at least. But I’m not sure if that is them actually following what she’s telling them, or they are just placating her.
” I giggle because honestly the four of them are so naughty you would think they were teenagers.
“I’m going to the Rolling Thunder Tattoo shop this coming weekend. I’m booked in with ReUse to have a rose with a hummingbird on my hip.”
Now, I’m the one sitting up and taking notice. “Are you really? I would love to have one, but I’m scared of the needles.”
“I think it depends on the person. Some say it’s nothing, others scream like a banshee.
I have a small one on the top of my thigh from when Holt went into the service.
It was a rebellion thing, and I don’t like it anymore.
ReUse and Hashtag have designed me the rose and bird so it’ll drop low enough to cover it.
” Scarlett looks happy about having this done, and it has me thinking maybe I should have something too.
“Will you show me when it’s done? Maybe they’ll take a photograph of it?”
“I’ll ask them to take one so I can show you,” Scarlett replies as she gets to her feet. “I’ll take the mugs back and get back to work. Thanks for the break, Penny. It was nice.”
“You’re welcome, and we need to have breaks together on a more regular basis.”
Back at the computer and ordering items the time passes quickly. When my phone rings I pick it up and smile.
“Hello, Penny speaking.”
“Hi Penny, this is Beulah from the Bridal Shop. We have everything we need now and can proceed with the dresses. I wanted to fill you in on the time-span. We estimate we will have the order ready in four to five weeks. If we say six weeks would that be in your timeline, as you never mentioned the date for the wedding?”
“Oh yes, that will be good. We haven’t set a solid date, but I’ll do that now.
” I look at the calendar on my PC desktop and nod to myself.
“Eight weeks I think will be fine for the wedding itself.” I give her the date, and I’ll need to check with Ruger that date is okay.
“I’ll confirm in the next couple of days. ”
“That’s great. It gives us the time we need. I’ll call you in for a fitting when Spell has the dress at that stage.”
“Thank you. Just drop me a text anytime.” We cut the call, and I send a text to Ruger. I know he’s gone somewhere with Colton this morning, but they were keeping whatever they are up to close to their chests.
Penny: Wedding 8 weeks on Saturday. Is that okay with you?
I’m surprised when I get a reply straightaway. I expected he’d be too busy with whatever he’s doing to be checking his cell phone.
Ruger: Yeah, can’t be fast enough for me. I’ll get Pres primed as he’s ordained to marry us, and I’m sure everyone will get the clubhouse ready.
Penny: OK. I’ll see you later. Love you xx
Ruger: Love you too, babe xx
Three hours later, I’ve completed all orders.
Paid all outstanding invoices, and sent out invoices for payment to be made to the business.
I’m watching one client as he was late paying last month, and I have a feeling he’s going to be trouble.
I flag his account and send a message to Bones about him and my thoughts.
I can leave it to the bosses to collect if there is an issue.
Walking out of my office, I’m heading to the canteen.
I’m wondering if Magnus will make me a parcel of salt and pepper chicken I can take home.
I’m happy to pay for it, because time to cook our meals is getting less and less.
The meals in the freezers are getting lower, and I’m not going to be cheeky and ask Meat or the ladies to make more to fill them both up again.
Seeing Bones leaning on the wall watching something down the side corridor, I stop and peek around.
Scarlett is up a ladder cleaning the top of a door frame.
Nothing unusual there! I look at Bones, and I can see he’s studying Scarlett closely.
I nudge him, and he turns his head toward me but his eyes stay on Scarlett.
“What’s up?” he asks but again never stops looking with interest at what Scarlett is doing.
“Are you being a creep?” I ask with more than a little amusement in my voice. “Or are you worried an employee will fall off the steps?”
Bones turns to look at me fully, grunts and walks away. Now, I’m thinking I really have to learn grunt because it’s getting annoying that this language seems to be universal and I’ve not learned it yet.
Home time thankfully, and armed with salt and pepper chicken and a side salad I feel rather smug. Lee is driving, and we are heading to the ladies to pick up Arabella.
“That smells good,” Lee looks at the carton in my hands.
“Salt and pepper chicken Magnus has made for me. I paid the company for it, and you know it would be worth asking if you want to get some. Or you could order it and eat in the canteen.” I’m happy that the canteen is being used, but I think Magnus needs to do more than he is.
He is so efficient that he cleans the canteen just for something to do when it’s already spotless.
“Yeah, I may just do that. He’s easygoing, and I’ve noticed he does things for Delta as she isn’t too keen on meat.
She likes fruit and veg, and I only know this because she was in the canteen speaking with Magnus about some vegetarian meal she hoped he would make.
” Lee wrinkles his nose at the vegetarian comment, and I smile because it’s funny when people see vegetarian meals as sad, when, in fact, I order some of those meals when I’m eating out.
I place the food on my seat when I climb out of the SUV on Lee’s order of course. I rolled my eyes at him, but he just smirked and continued checking the area before he opened the passenger door.
Walking into the kitchen Lee and I come to a sudden stop because in front of us are four ladies all holding a weapon of one kind or another toward us.
“Hey, stop, stop, it’s Penny,” Nyx near enough shouts, which has the ladies huff and turn walking away.
“What the hell?” I ask as I look at Nyx.
“Oh, girl, you do not know. Since yesterday and that damn lesson with Meat, they’ve done nothing but pretend they are on a mission with the FBI or something. Every time Arabella is mentioned they pull a freaking weapon from somewhere.” Nyx looks exasperated.
Lee chortles, and I am smiling like a fool, but when Carol walks in and takes a seat at the kitchen table, she beckons me over. I take a seat and give her the attention she is asking for.
Carol leans forward at the same time, placing a Bowie knife on the table in front of her.
I flick my eyes to Lee who is holding a hand over his mouth as he leans on the wall watching.
Carol however is oblivious and starts to speak, gaining my attention immediately.
“I’ve been to see the nutjob, and girl she is totally crazy.
She needs to be put out of her misery, and if I ever get dementia, I want someone to shoot me or put a bag over my head to finish me.
She definitely sent someone to kill you.
She sees you as a threat to her happiness.
All she can talk about is Ruger, and them being happy with a house and a parcel of kids.
Tell you, she is a can short of a six-pack. ”
“But how did she get someone to shoot me when she’s in that place?” I know it’s an odd question, but she has to have someone helping her.
“Oh, the male nurse she is having sex with did the hiring. He needs watching, and I’ve told Nyx who is telling our President.” Carol looks over at Nyx with such a proud look. I have to smirk at her ‘Our President,’ comment.
Lee is looking serious again, and I know he’ll report this to the security team. Tomorrow I can imagine questions will be asked. I’m going to leave it with Ruger, and everyone else concerned to deal with it. I’ve got enough to do with this wedding, work, learning grunt, and Arabella.