Chapter 11 – Linzie
LINZIE
It’s still dark out this morning as I head down to the kitchen to make myself a cup of coffee.
I feel silly wearing my son’s hoodie and sweatpants, but in my rush to grab my clothes from the house I forgot my pajamas and had to borrow some again.
At least this time I don’t have to worry about running into Gabe when I return them.
Trevor will come home and get them later if need be.
“What do you think is going to happen if this snow doesn’t let up soon?” I hear a male voice ask. Slowing my pace, I tiptoe the last few feet so I can hear and not get caught.
“We’ll just have to keep everyone here until it does. The clubhouse has plenty of rooms and supplies to last us.” I recognize Gabe’s deep voice saying.
“Yeah, but what about the kids, Pres?” When I get to the corner, I spot Mason sitting across from Gabe at the table with a cup of coffee in his hand.
“They can’t go without presents and a visit from Santa Claus.
Kaylie’s only six, Pres. I can’t allow her to be let down by Santa. It would crush her little heart.”
“Yeah, I know. We’ll figure something out.
I know Mom and Dad have some of the gifts up at the house.
If we can at least get up the hill to grab that stuff, there will be something to put under the tree.
But I can’t guarantee we have anything up there that’s on that little girl’s wish list. Did you see how many pages she wrote in her letter? ” Gabe chuckles.
“Yeah, I did. I planned to get most of it too, if this weather ever lets me get out of here.” Mason sounds so frustrated. It’s sweet how much he cares.
I make my way into the room and quietly head for the coffee machine. I find the box of coffee pods Andi brought with her, and rummage through until I find a blonde roast.
“Here, Linzie. You make coffee all the time for everybody else. Let me do this for you. Would you like anything to eat? I can whip up some eggs, bacon, and toast if you’d like?” Mason offers, taking my cup from my hand.
“No, thank you. Coffee will be fine.”
“Blonde roast, huh?” Mason smiles.
“It’s the best.” I wink, and he chuckles.
“Go have a seat. I’ll bring it over to you. Would you like cream or sugar?”
“She takes cream and a teaspoon of sugar,” Gabe answers from his spot at the table.
“Got it, Pres.” Mason goes behind the bar and grabs what he needs from the main fridge and tips his chin in the direction of the table, urging me to go have a seat. Not wanting to be difficult, I walk over and sit down in Mason’s abandoned seat.
“Good morning,” Gabe greets, sipping from his cup. “Sleep well?”
“As well as to be expected with all the excitement about the wedding and Christmas. Not to mention the grumblings of a disgruntled teenager who had to share a bed with a six-year-old starfish.”
“I’ll see if there’s another air mattress in the basement one of the guys can bring up and put in the room. Maybe Kaylie would like to have her own bed,” Gabe offers.
“I don’t know about Kaylie, but I’m certain Lilah would appreciate it.” Gabe nods, his lips curving at the corners in a soft smile. Mason comes over, setting my fresh cup of coffee down on the table. “Thank you.” He nods and shuffles off.
“You ready for the wedding?” It’s awkward sitting here, making small talk, when what I really want is to ask him about yesterday and why he spent the entire time avoiding me.
“I think we have everything under control. Avery and Jake seemed happy when they went to bed last night. I don’t know what they’ve done about the guys’ tuxedos since they were supposed to have been picked up yesterday at five o’clock.”
“Oh, no. Do the guys have something decent to wear?” The words are out of my mouth, and I realize after the fact how shitty that sounded.
Gabe laughs. “Believe it or not, we all own a few nice shirts. Some even come with long sleeves on them.”
My face plants into my hands, and I know my cheeks are red. I can feel the heat coming off them. When I look back up, it’s to find Gabe smirking over the top of his cup with one raised brow.
“I’m sorry. That didn’t come out the way I meant it to. I only meant, do they have something that will look nice and match for the wedding? I know you all own more than T-shirts and tank tops. I was just thinking…”
Gabe’s hands reach over, gripping mine, pulling them away from my face. “Calm down, Vixen. It’s okay. I knew what you meant. I was just fucking with you.”
“Hmm, seems to be a pattern,” I tease, pulling my hands back, and taking a sip of my coffee to hide my smile.
“Morning!” Hawk announces his presence, breaking the moment. I’m certain from the heated glare on Gabe’s face he had something he wanted to say in response to my retort.
“Anyone need a refill while I’m back here?” Hawk asks as he makes himself a cup of coffee. We both wave Hawk off.
“No, thank you. I’m good.”
“I meant to thank you,” Gabe starts. His eyes sparkle with mischief, and I’m worried about where this conversation may be going.
“Um, what for?” I ask hesitantly.
“My gift.” Gabe smiles, and I swear I hear Hawk cough to cover his laughter.
Knowing exactly what he’s talking about but wanting to see where this conversation is going, and just how much he’s said to his men, I push back. “I’m not sure I know which gift you’re referring to.”
Gabe smiles. “The Christmas tree you left in my office.”
“Oh, that was nothing. Just something I saw that made me think of you.” I smile over my cup, attempting to use it as a shield and failing. “Do you like it? I thought the ornaments were especially fitting and unique, you know. It seemed like it would be a nice addition to your small space.”
He sets his cup down, leaning forward, taking up every bit of oxygen in the room and speaking softly where only I can hear, he says, “I don’t think it was my small space you were thinking about when you bought that tree. I think maybe you were trying to tell me I’m a pain in your ass.”
It’s my turn to cough over my laugh. “Hmm. That is an option. But I think I was pretty clear in the card when I said it was the perfect gift for an asshole.”
“Mm-hmm. Well, again, thank you for the gift. I can see it’s going to come in quite handy in the near future.”
“Oh, so you are planning an attitude adjustment then? That’s good to know.” This time, Hawk can’t keep his laughter to himself. Nosy bastard.
“Hawk!” Gabe shouts.
“Sorry, Pres. I was just remembering something Sadie said this morning.”
“Do tell,” Gabe growls, but his eyes are still locked on mine.
“Nah. You don’t … it’s nothing. You two go on with your conversation. I’m going to take this cup of coffee back to my woman and help prevent any murderous activities she may consider this morning.” He turns to me, smiling. “Sadie’s not much of a morning person.”
“Oh, I know. I’ve seen her when she comes into the café early looking for her espresso shot to start her day,” I joke.
“Hawk.” Gabe looks up at him then back to me. “What was so funny that you couldn’t help but laugh and interrupt our conversation? Please share with the rest of us.”
“Shit,” Hawk grumbles. “All right, but remember this came from your niece—not me, your brother, who always has your back.” Hawk looks up at the ceiling as if scolding himself, and mumbles, “That’s not going to make this sound any better.”
“Out with it.”
Hawk sighs, “Sadie mentioned how she thought Linzie’s gift was a perfect fit for you since you seem to need something to loosen your ass up and get your brain working again.”
I burst into a fit of laughter, then quickly cover my mouth with my hand and pinch my lips shut when I see Gabe’s eyes are narrowed and glaring like lasers at me. Hawk quickly tosses his hands in the air, his coffee cup left abandoned on the counter.
“I tried to warn you. But you insisted, Pres. And again, it was your niece who said it, not me. But if you feel Sadie needs to be reprimanded and punished for her disrespectful words,” Hawk says disrespectful in a mocking tone, and I giggle again.
“I’d be more than happy to see to her punishment.
” Hawk grins wide, and his eyes light up with mischief.
He drops his hands and nods with conviction.
“As a matter of fact, I’m going to go handle that for you right now.
” He rubs his hands together, then grabs his cup in hand and stalks off toward his room.
“You think that’s funny?” Gabe growls, reaching for my hand, but I’m quick to jump up from my seat.
I know that look. But he hasn’t apologized or said he wants anything more than sex.
Hell, this is the first conversation we’ve had since he ignored me all day yesterday, and I think I’m feeling a little petty about it now.
“I wouldn’t say it’s funny, but maybe Sadie has a point,” I state. Then, I pick up my cup and take it to the sink behind the counter and rinse it out. Gabe leans back in his chair, rubbing his thumb along his bottom lip.
Damn, why is that so sexy?
No—fight the pull, Linzie. Make him earn this. He chose to be an ass. Make him come clean about how he feels. If this isn’t just sex to him, he needs to prove it to me.
“What point would that be, exactly?” Gabe asks, watching me with a hunger in his eyes that makes me feel like the lamb being stalked by a wolf.
I don’t know why, but my instincts are telling me to put some distance between us, because he looks about ready to pounce.
I have no doubt that if he catches me, he’d mount me right here against this counter and wouldn’t give two shits about who saw us.
But I’m no exhibitionist, and my son lives here.
I won’t ruin the sanctity of the clubhouse for him by seeing his mother getting railed by the president of his club.
“Maybe you do need something to loosen you up and help you think straight, since you seem to be undecided as of late.”
“Undecided?” He looks at me puzzled. “What is it you seem to think I’m undecided about?”