Chapter 13 Give a Little Here #2
“That may be true, but if you want the club to handle this debt in any way, it might be good to give a little here… She’s the reason Platinum’s has seen such an uptick in revenue. Patch is definitely gonna focus on that, and it won’t win you much support if you insist she quit.”
“I’ll keep it in mind, but none of the brothers would want their women dancing.”
Volt gave a low chuckle. “Which is exactly why there’s a no-fraternization policy.”
Punc felt like he’d betrayed the brothers. “Sorry, it wasn’t—”
“Stop. I’m not blaming you. I’ll let you know when we’re having church.”
“Thanks, Volt. Later.”
He put his cell on the coffee table, tugged on his t-shirt and jeans, then folded up the sheets. In the kitchen, he opened the refrigerator and cursed. There wasn’t much in the fridge, and he had no doubt the heavy debt to Frank Darren had everything to do with it.
“Turn on the coffee maker,” Savannah grumbled.
He shut the fridge and watched her trudge into the kitchen.
Her eyes looked like they were half-open, the pajamas he’d ignored last night were tight in all the right places, leaving little to his imagination, and her hair was a disheveled mess of shiny, light brown waves that made him imagine her with sex hair.
She was so fuckin’ pretty.
He closed his eyes and deep breathed to control his threatening hard-on.
She grunted and he opened his eyes at the same time he heard the click of the switch on the coffee maker.
“Good morning,” he said.
She stood staring at the coffee maker. “Mmm, it’s morning,” she said, her voice dull, almost like a zombie.
“I take it you don’t do mornings,” he said.
Finally, she glanced at him. “I’m just tired.”
He stepped closer to her. “Babe, you don’t have any food around here.”
“No time to shop,” she muttered.
To hide his grin at her zombie-like state, he pulled her to him, and she landed her forehead on his sternum.
He liked this. A lot. She was grumpy, but not grumpy at him like Alanis was when they were growing up.
Savannah’s defenses weren’t up (probably due to the absence of coffee), and he especially liked holding her close this way.
“We’ll get you some java, then I’m taking you to breakfast.”
She tipped her head back. “You don’t have to, Ted. I’m good with a Pop-Tart.”
Staring into her gorgeous, sleepy eyes, he wanted to kiss her, but that felt too much like taking advantage.
“Got the day off, woman. I’m taking you to Panera, and then we’ll hit the grocery store.”
Her lips twisted to the side, and he realized her eyes were more alert. “Okay, but I’m paying for my breakfast.”
Volt’s words about ‘give a little here’ played in his head, and Punc smiled. “I’m good with that, but I’m buying the groceries.”
“What?” Savannah asked, and the gargling sound of the coffee maker was almost as loud as her question.
He dragged his index finger along her jawline. “You heard me. Option two is that I buy groceries and breakfast. Your choice, babe.”
“Grab both flavors,” he said, leaning on the grocery cart.
Savannah leveled a dry look at him. “They aren’t on BOGO, Punc. I’m only getting one.”
He leaned over, grabbed the hazelnut coffee creamer, and put it in the cart. “You also aren’t paying, so you’re getting both. Noticed how you woke up in a zombie-trance because I’m almost the same way. You need your coffee, and you’re getting variety this way.”
After a cute growl, she grabbed the amaretto flavored creamer and put it in the cart.
She walked ahead of him a few paces, glanced at the cheeses and kept walking.
“Do you need cheese?” he asked.
“No,” she said, her voice almost like a chirp.
He snagged a pack of sharp cheddar slices, provolone slices, a package of swiss, and tossed them in the cart.
She whirled around. “Punc, I don’t want to take advantage, and we don’t need all that.”
He leaned on the cart. “I’m gonna be at your house today - all day - and I can put a dent in some food, woman. You aren’t taking advantage. I’m stocking you up because I’ll be eating a fair amount of this.”
Her eyes darted to the cart and back to his. “This is like two weeks’ worth of food, Ted.”
He shook his head. “Not really. The drinks don’t count.”
A bag of bagels resting in the cart caught his eye, and he grabbed a package of cream cheese.
She shot him some side-eye, and he smirked.
“I won’t put that on my bagels. It just goes straight to my thighs, Punc,” she declared, her voice haughty.
He chuckled. “Then it’s good I’m eating bagels, too.”
“Yeah. Are we ready to check out?”
With a smirk, he nodded. “Yep, right after we swing by the flowers.”
Her eyes widened. “You’re joking.”
“Nope. I’m getting you flowers.”
She put her hand on her hip. “Punc, I appreciate that—”
He stepped out from behind the cart and slid his arm around her waist. “I said I want you to be mine… and any woman of mine is going to have flowers.”
Her lips twisted like she was trying to bite back a smile. “Are you always this… way with your women?”
He tipped his head back and laughed, then caught Savannah’s gaze again.
“No. The last time I bought anyone flowers was at Mother’s Day for my mom.
I’m guessing the last flowers you had in the house were from the funeral.
It’s high time you start making some good memories, and at the very least, this is a start. ”