Chapter Twenty-Eight
“I’d like you to think about something,” Spider said as Jordon took a bite of biscuit smothered in sausage gravy.
She lifted her brows and hoped he understood she wanted him to keep going.
“I’m not asking for an answer now, just that you consider it.”
“What is it?” she asked after swallowing. She lifted her coffee cup and took a sip, watching him over the rim.
“Well, I was hoping you might move in with me. Not here, not yet. Because I won’t be here. But in Bozeman.”
“With you, Fletch, and Dax? I’m not sure that’s the best idea.
” Daddy would shit a brick if she moved into a house with three men.
Not because of what everyone would think.
Daddy didn’t care about that, but because he would worry about her safety.
She wasn’t worried, not with Spider, Fletch, or Dax, but he wouldn’t be so easily convinced.
“No. Fletch isn’t going back. He’s been away from his practice too long already and I’m doing better now.”
“Oh? So it’s just going to be you and Dax?
” She wondered how her father might take that.
Would he have a complete fit or just give her a stern talking to about safety and making sure she was always in control?
It wouldn’t be the first time he’d given her that talk, though he hadn’t done it in a couple of years.
“I’m not sure.” He turned and looked across the room. “It might be Dax or it might be another prospect. Would it matter?”
“I’d be more comfortable with Dax. I know him better. I feel like I can trust him more.”
His head whipped back to look at her. “So you’ll think about it?”
“I’ll think about it. I need to let Daddy and Mama know I won’t be around to help as much and if I’m not living at home, helping with the ranch, I should get some kind of job. I can’t expect you to support me. I don’t know how long that will take.”
“Don’t rush into anything on the job front. If you’re working, we won’t be able to go to Alaska, and I’m really looking forward to that trip. Besides, I’m asking you so we can have more time together, not less. And money’s not an issue.”
Jordon shook her head. “You’re not working, someone has to pay the rent.”
“Wildcat, the club is paying the rent on the house in Bozeman. We’ve got the money.
Here? There is no rent. As for money? I’ve got plenty.
I mean, I’m no billionaire, but I’ve been with the Angels for more than ten years.
I work, I draw a salary, and I’m still working now.
Not as much as I used to but I’m still doing designs and stuff, and I’ve got a few things working on the side so that even though I’m not here for custom paint jobs, I still have money coming in.
My biggest expense over the last ten years has been my bike, and, yeah, I’m sure I’ll need to get a new one. I have more than enough.”
She stared at him, trying to decide if he was messing with her or being honest, but she didn’t see the glint in his eye that meant he was teasing.
Spider was serious. He wanted her to move in with him just so they would have more time together, and he didn’t want her to get a job and help with expenses.
“Let’s see how the rest of the weekend goes before I make any big decisions, okay?”
“I can live with that.” He scanned the room, watching as the men he called his brothers talked and visited.
Jordon watched him. It was clear he was happy to be home, even if only for a couple of days.
As she finished eating, she found herself looking around the room.
Could she be happy here? Could she find her place like it seemed the other women here had?
What would she do all day long if she agreed to move in with him?
Especially once he was able to come home.
“You done?” Spider’s words brought her back to the present. She blinked and looked at him.
“I’m sorry. I was thinking.”
“I asked if you’re done eating?”
Jordon glanced at the plate in front of her then back to Spider. “Yeah. I’m done. What should I do with our plates?”
“Nothing.” He lifted an arm and waved, a moment later a man about her age, maybe a little younger appeared beside their table.
“What can I do for you, Spider?”
“Jordon, this is David. He’s one of the prospects. David, this is my woman, Jordon. Treat her like you would treat Taylynn, Delilah, or any of the other old ladies, got me?”
“Yes, sir.” David nodded in her direction but didn’t say anything to her, instead he turned his gaze back to Spider, as if waiting to be told what to do.
“Clear up the table and is there a golf cart out front?”
“Yes, sir. There’s one just to the left of the door, backed in, to make it easier for you to get in. Raven said there should be one for you wherever you are and we’re in charge of making sure there’s always one available for you.”
“Thanks.” Spider turned to Jordon. “You up for a little ride? I want to show you something.”
“How far? Will we be warmer in the Jeep?”
“Probably, but we’re not going far. It won’t take more than a minute or two on the golf cart.”
“Then let’s go.” Jordon wondered what he wanted her to see, but kept her mouth shut. If he hadn’t already told her, then he probably wanted to surprise her. Normally she wasn’t huge on surprises, but she knew he’d never do anything to hurt her, so she went along.
In the cart, he gave her directions and he was right—it wasn’t more than a minute or two, and they could easily have walked, but considering his crutches, since he’d insisted on taking those instead of the wheelchair when they’d left the house this morning, she understood using the cart.
She frowned as she parked the little cart in front of another big building, this one with a couple of overhead drive through doors. They were closed but she couldn’t help but wonder what he wanted to show her here.
Inside, Jordon found it was warmer than she’d expected and found herself taking off her jacket.
“Over here.” he led her to a closed in space on one end of the building, then through a door.
“This is where I work.” He opened the door and motioned her inside.
“This is Banshee.” He introduced her to a man seated to one side of the room, bent over what looked like some kind of fender held in the air from underneath.
“He’s been working on some of the bikes while I’ve been out. ”
The large man looked up, and his eyes went wide.
“Give me a minute. I’m almost done here, then I can talk more while I clean up.”
“No problem. I’ll show her some of the stuff over here while you do that.
” Spider pivoted and led her further along the wall with the door they’d just come in.
“These are some of the bikes we’ve done.
I painted most of these. The ones Banshee did are on the other side of the door.
And the ones on that wall are collaborations.
I’ve been doing some designs while I’m in Bozeman and sending them out to clients.
They’re willing to wait until I get back here to do the artwork. ”
Jordon took in the photos. There were a lot of flams, a few skulls, and a lot of nature scenes, A lot of trees, a few deserts with cactus.
“These are beautiful.” She turned to look at Spider. “I didn’t know you could draw like this. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because telling you I do artwork is nothing to showing you. I wanted to get an idea of your true reaction. I wanted to see your face and be able to read your reaction for myself.”
She went to him, wrapping her arms around his middle and tilting her head back so she could look up at his face.
“These are amazing. Thank you for sharing them with me.” She stretched up to kiss him, as he bent and met her halfway, teasing her into a kiss that was both more involved than she’d planned and still tame enough she wasn’t embarrassed when she remembered they weren’t alone.
****
Andy approached Jordon almost as soon as she and Spider stepped into the clubhouse. Spider said he’d been called into a meeting, one she couldn’t go to, but he’d insisted she come along anyway, because the old ladies would spend the time together and she could get to know them a little better.
“We were hoping you’d come,” Andy said, taking her hand and tugging her toward the corner where Taylynn, Delilah, and Tania sat.
Jordon turned to Spider to make sure he was okay with it.
At his nod, she let Andy take her arm and tug her toward the others.
Butterflies fluttered in her belly. She didn’t have many girlfriends.
She’d found that too often the girls she’d met were more worried about things she didn’t care about than anything she thought was important, so few friendships had lasted.
Marci was an exception—the two of them had been besties since second grade.
Jordon joined them at the table.
“What’s your drink of choice?” Taylynn asked.
“Um, iced tea?”
“No, I mean alcohol, or do you not drink?”
“I do once in a while, but I’m not sure if I should.” She glanced toward the hallway where Spider had just disappeared.
“It’s up to you. You’re perfectly safe here, but I understand if you’re not comfortable enough to cut loose without your man right here.
It’s a new situation.” Taylynn rubbed one hand over a belly that looked bigger than it had last night, lifted her other, and waved.
A moment later, David appeared next to the table.
“What can I get for you ladies?” he asked.
“I want a daiquiri,” Taylynn said, then pointed one finger at Delilah next to her. Jordon didn’t say anything, but she couldn’t help but wonder if the woman was really drinking while pregnant.
“I’ll have a margarita,” Delilah said.
“Frozen right? For both of you?” David asked. Both women nodded, Taylynn’s head turning to look at Andy.
“I’ll have a Hell’s Half Acre,” Andy said, then turned to look at Tania. Tania turned to look at the toddler playing with wooden blocks in a play yard a few feet away.