Chapter 24
Worley
Today has been great. Usually, I hate shopping.
However, I’ve discovered that after two tips, when it’s your woman shopping, you don’t mind tagging along.
No, I haven’t officially claimed Nina…yet.
I want her, though. Watching Mack and Nanny’s relationship since high school has taught me a few things.
Women are emotional, sentimental, and they want memories. Mine will get one tonight.
After nearly two hours at Angie’s, we pack up the leftovers. Once all the ladies got an extra piece of cake to carry home, Nina told Emily to send the rest to the clubhouse. With those guys, it’ll be gone in thirty minutes.
I place my hand on Nina’s back. “Are you ready to go, or do you ladies have more shopping to do?”
“I’m done if you are,” she tells Lauren.
“Yeah, let’s go home.” Lauren, once again, loops her arm around Nina’s.
Do I complain? Absolutely not. They’ve missed birthdays, Christmases, and even phone calls sisters should have for twelve years. Nina missed seeing all of her nephews graduate. One is even married now.
I hold the door open and follow them across the parking lot to the truck.
Jay’s truck has a full back seat, so Nina and I rode with him and Lauren.
I thought the ladies would sit together in the back.
Surprisingly, Nina sits behind Jay, and I sit behind Lauren.
They talk like Jay and I aren’t even in the truck.
They stop halfway across the parking lot.
“Uh, Jay.” Lauren points toward the truck. “Why is there a soda can on the hood?”
Jay walks past his mom and aunt. I step in front of them and extend my arm, blocking their movement. Jay and I look around the parking lot. Nothing appears to be out of place. Not taking any chances, Jay opens the back door and pulls out a baseball bat.
“Jason, why do you have a bat in your truck?” his mom asks.
“You never know when you might need one.” He nudges the can with the bat. It falls easily to the ground. He picks it up and squeezes it in his hand. “It’s empty.”
“Were you expecting it to explode?” Nina asks.
“The Mavericks were throwing paint and smoke bombs around town a few months ago.” Jay tosses the soda can into the trash outside the restaurant's front door.
“Really?” Nina looks between Lauren and me.
“Oh, yes. It was ridiculous,” Lauren replies. “Be glad you missed that nonsense.”
“Why would they do that?” Nina takes my head and lets me help her into the truck.
“They’re idiots.” Jay helps his mom into the front passenger seat.
“Well, this was probably just teens being stupid.” Lauren fastens her seatbelt.
My eyes meet Jay's. Hopefully, she’s right, but something feels off. Nina remains silent. My phone dings before we pull out of the parking lot.
Ross: Bunnies fighting. Need Mack and Nana.
I groan and send a text back.
Me: On the way. I’ll tell Mack.
I send another text to our President. Tonight, he can deal with the club madness.
“What?” Jay glances at me over his shoulder.
“Nothing important. Just bunnies fighting.”
“Nana will handle them.” Jay doesn’t rush to get to the clubhouse. He has zero tolerance for the bunnies.
Nina and Lauren shake their heads and stare out the windows. They’re a lot alike. Leave it to the bunnies to ruin tonight’s mood. I reach across the seat and take Nina’s hand. I wink at her when she looks at me. Like every other time today, her cheeks turn pink. It’s a beautiful sight.
It’s total chaos when we pull through the gate. Apparently, the bunnies have been thrown out of the clubhouse and are now fighting in the parking lot. A few of our brothers stand near the door laughing.
Lauren turns her nose up. “Take me home, please.”
“Me too,” Nina adds.
Mack and Nana walk up to the bunnies and demand they leave. The three women glare at us as we drive by. What’s that about? Never mind. I don’t want to know or care what they do. Mack has things handled.
“Jay, take me home, too.” I’m not on duty tonight. I have other plans.
“No problem.” Jay takes the private drive to our houses behind the clubhouse. None of them can be seen from here.
My house sits about five acres behind Mack and Nanny’s house. He pulls up next to my truck. I hop out and hurry around to Nina’s door.
I hold my hand out. “Come on, lil lady.”
She cautiously places her hand in mine. “What are we doing?”
“Don’t ask questions. Go,” Lauren orders, lovingly, of course.
The moment her feet are on the ground, I close the door. Jay grins and drives away.
“Y’all planned this.” She walks up the steps with me without letting go of my hand.
“It’s your birthday. I told your sister I’d like some time alone with you.” I unlock the door and motion for her to enter first. She’s always first.
She steps inside and freezes. “Darin.” She lets go of my hand and spins around to take in everything. “You did this for me.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Flowers sit on every table in the room. A Happy Birthday banner hangs on the wall. The candles aren’t lit yet. I didn’t want to burn the house down while we were in town. Presents sit on the coffee table. One is a pair of leather boots that her sister said she wanted.
“Thank you,” she whispers.
“Thank you.” I step in front of her.
Her soft brown eyes lift to mine. It still bothers me that she’s almost fifteen years younger than I am. Relationships scare me. I don’t know what a real one feels like, but I want to try with her. That is, if she’ll have an old man like me. Honestly, I don’t feel my age.
“For what?” Her voice lowers even more.
I place my hands on her hips. “For wearing these today.” She’s wearing the jeans she tried on when we went shopping.
“It’s just jeans.”
I slowly move my head from side to side. “You know it’s not.”
“What is it, Darin?”
My eyes search hers. I see no signs of hesitation, no fear. She wants to be here.
“A memory,” I whisper. I’ll never forget that day. Her lips slightly part. An invitation I’m not letting slip by. “So’s this.”
Before she can speak, and losing the last string of my self-control, I crash my lips to hers.