Chapter 9
Angel
Giggles drives me to the garden centre. For the first time in my life, I’m resentful of my job taking my time. Not that it makes a difference as Garret had to work anyway.
The girls have been busy while I’ve been reconnecting with the man who held my heart for years. That he’s never forgotten me means the world to me, and that he doesn’t blame me for giving up Honor …well that goes a long way to alleviating the guilt I feel for decisions I made when I was eighteen.
Not wanting to be dragged back into bad memories, instead I take note of the new gravel on the parking lot. Tru has the compactor out and is working it. There are large pots dotted around, ready for us to add plants. Winter is coming, so we’ll wait until spring to give them time to put down roots.
We replaced the rotted wood siding on the front of the low-slung building.
Janis did this to match our original centre.
The way Jake and Stone did the original made it look like a rustic cabin.
It’s the way we liked things. We preferred the rustic, easy living look.
We found customers felt comfortable coming into a store that seemed timeless.
Janis was painting the outside of the building when we drove up.
I’d been so busy looking at the changes that when Giggles spoke, I jumped with surprise. He’d been silent as a nun the whole ride in. There was admiration in his voice when he said, “This looks good.”
Turning my head to him, I really look at him.
He’s young, probably not much older than Tru and Janis.
Longish, tightly curled light brown hair on the top and cropped close to his head on the sides, unusual grey eyes with a ring of blue around the edges, scruff on his face.
He’s still got that lanky build of the young, but I can see he’s filling out.
His face is serious as he looks over the work we’ve done.
“It does, doesn’t it?” I agree, turning back to perusing the work that’s been done. “They’ve worked their butts off the last few days.”
Janis waves her paintbrush at me as the door to the centre opens and Siera comes out, carrying bottles of water that she puts on the trestle set up near Janis.
Hands on hips, she waits for me to get out. “Thanks for the ride, Giggles.”
“No problem,” he says, giving me a blinding smile that lights up his entire face. It changes him from a good-looking young man to an extremely handsome young man in the blink of an eye.
“Holy shit,” I snigger, opening my door, “no wonder you don’t smile. They’d be opening a strip club next and having you shake your ass.”
He belts out a loud surprised laugh. I’m grinning as I get out of the vehicle and turn to him before closing the door. “Don’t worry, Giggles, your secret is safe with me.”
He shakes his head, but the smile stays on his face. “Appreciate it. It was nice to meet you, ma’am.”
“Angel’s just fine, Giggles. I’m sure I’ll see you again. Thanks for the ride.”
He nods. I turn back to my family, waiting until he drives away before I speak.
“Well?” Siera demands as soon as it’s just us four. “Is everything okay? Actually, scratch that. I can see by your face that you’re fine and from the limp that you’ve been fucked within an inch of your life.”
“Mom,” Janis groans. “I don’t need to know about my aunt's sex life.”
“Then don’t listen,” Siera informs her. Grabbing my hand, she drags me inside the centre. “Come on, let's get away from sensitive ears.”
We snigger when we hear Janis’s heartfelt, “Thank fuck.”
Siera links her arm through mine. “Let’s grab a coffee, and you can tell me all about it. Although I have to say, the way he held you, took care of you, I already know he’s a good one.”
“He never stopped looking for me,” I whisper. I halt and turn to look at Siera. “That’s how Lala at the diner knew to contact him. Twenty-eight years later, Siera, he never gave up. Asked all over the country if anyone had seen me.”
“Jesus,” she mutters incredulously. “That’s a soul mate for you. I’m thrilled for you Ang, maybe now you can be happy.”
“Yeah,” I bump my shoulder to hers and get us moving again. I head straight to the coffee machine when I get to the makeshift kitchen we’ve set up in the staffroom. Filling two cups, I set them on the table, sitting in a chair opposite Siera.
We doctor our coffee. When she’s settled, she lifts serious brown eyes to mine, reaches over and grips my hand. “Tell me.”
Love for my sister fills my heart. Yes we joke, give each other shit and argue but when push comes to shove, she’s there for me. She has been from the minute I landed on their doorstep.
Squeezing her hand, I think of where to start. “It was amazing, terrifying and heart-breaking all in one go,” I begin. I fill her in on everything that has happened since the diner. I don’t hold anything back, finally ending with me going back tonight, and Garret wanting me to move in.
“And are you okay with that? You don’t have to move so fast if you don’t want,” Siera reminds me.
Taking my time, I mull it over. But like I’d known from the first moment I saw him; Garret was the one for me. Always had been, always would be.
“I’m sure,” I smile tearfully at Siera. “He’s always been the one for me. That he’s looked for me for so long means the world. He’s still the same person, just a bit older but underneath, where it matters, he’s the same Garret he always was. Protective, loving and deep down good.”
“I’m glad, sweetie,” Siera smiles, and I can see she truly is. “What about the motorcycle club? Are you okay with that?”
I shrug. “Honestly for me, that’s secondary. Those years on the run changed my perspective of things and as your dad always says, even bad men can be good for the right person.”
“Yeah,” Siera shakes her head, “dad really is one of a kind. But then he grew up with men like your Garret, so he should know. It always surprised me when I found out. The man was a fantastic Marshal, but I guess it helped him see both sides of his job.”
She’s not wrong. Jake isn’t like any man I’ve ever known. He’s the best of the best, and a hard act to follow.
“Your dad is one in a million Siera. I’ll always be grateful that he took me under his wing.”
“Me too, Ang, me too. He gave me a best friend and sister. One that I couldn’t have done without over the last few years.”
We both get a little teary and laugh as we wipe our tears away.
Finishing our coffee, we change the subject to something lighter before moving onto business and what still needs to be done.
We’re moving down the list at a rapid pace, so I think we’ll be good to do a soft opening in two months on November first and get things in for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
We spend the rest of the morning putting together a to-do list and ordering stock for delivery a week before opening. Excitement fills me. I’m looking forward to what the future is going to bring.
Done for the day, I’m closing down my laptop and gathering my things, getting ready to leave for the day when I get a call from Jake.
“Hey, Jake.”
“Hello girlie, everything okay?”
Hearing the concern in his voice, I smile. Siera said she’d let him and Fern know about me reconnecting with Garret.
“Yeah, Jake, everything is fine.”
“I’ve looked into him,” he admits.
Chuckling, I sit back down. “I’m not surprised,” I say. “Kind of figured you would when you checked out the MC.”
“Was worried you’d be angry with me.”
Running my fingers through my hair, I think before replying.
He’s right. I probably should be, but my situation has always been different.
“Maybe I would have been if I’d had a different background to what I do but I know you’d never do anything to hurt me, only protect me.
” I hesitate before asking. “Did you find anything I should be concerned about?”
Jake lets out a surprised and relieved breath.
“Thank you for telling me that sweetheart, and no I didn’t.
He’s surprisingly clean for being in an MC.
There’s a drunk and disorderly from when he was in his twenties, but that’s about it.
Like I said, they’re good at keeping their more illicit deals away from prying eyes.
They should be though, considering they have an ex-CIA operative as a member. ”
“They do?” I ask, surprised.
“Yep, they caught me snooping. I had to explain who I was, and why I was looking. I had a long conversation with the president and assured them I had no issue with them as long as my girls were kept safe. We came to an understanding.”
Laughing under my breath I reply, “Of course you did. Love you, Jake.”
“Ah, sweet girl. I love you too. Hated what brought you into my life, but I’m also grateful. You completed mine and Fern’s family. All I want for you is to be happy.”
Emotion fills me, and I blink back tears. Seems all I’ve done for days is bawl my eyes out. I’m so over it.
“I think I can be now,” I whisper. “He looked for me Jake, twenty-eight years and he never stopped looking for me. Makes me feel so guilty. If it wasn’t for us moving here, then we’d never have re-connected because I’m a coward.”
Jake lets out an unhappy rumble. “Enough of that. You’re not a coward. You made a tough decision and in the process, you made two people very happy. You gave them a gift they hadn’t expected. You need to stop punishing yourself, sweetheart. Does your man blame you?”
Hearing the ire in Jake's voice, I hurry to ease his worry, “No, he said I did the right thing.”
“Huh, I’m liking him more and more.”
“I think you will. You’ll meet him soon. At least you will if you and Fern are still coming this way for the opening.”
“Of course we are,” he says. There’s a slight note of disbelief in his voice when he says it, as if he can’t believe I’d think any differently.
“Good, give us a few days’ heads up, and we’ll get everything ready for you.”
“Okay girlie, love you. Give my other girls hugs and kisses.”
“I will Jake,” I assure him. I’m about to end the call when his next question stops me cold.
“Do you want me to check on her?”
My breath hitches, and then wooshes out of me. I don’t know. Garret and I haven’t had a conversation about it.
“I don’t know,” I admit. “Maybe. Yes, maybe. I don’t know.”
Jake chuckles. “It’s okay girlie, take your time. Text me when you decide. She was fine the last time I checked on her. I heard that both Hannah and Fred had passed away through the grapevine and wanted to make sure she was handling it okay.”
“Oh,” I whisper, my heart aching for the lovely couple that had loved my daughter and hurting for my daughter.
No… their daughter. She was alone in the world, and I didn’t like that.
“Yeah Jake, find her. I don’t know if they told her about us, but she should know she’s not alone.
It will be up to her though. She may not want to have contact with us. ”
“Okay, sweetheart. I’ll put out feelers. Love you, don’t over think this. Speak to your man, and we’ll see you in a few weeks.”
“Love you Jake, thank you. Speak soon.”
Ending the call, I take a deep breath and try to put a dampener on the little twist of excitement in my belly at the thought of seeing Honor.
I wasn’t going to say anything, not yet. I’d wait to see what Jake found out first.
Gathering my things, I walked out to the house and to my van. I let Siera and the girls know at lunch that I’d be over at the clubhouse and Garret’s house for the foreseeable future. I’d have to see about getting a vehicle. I didn’t want to have to drive my van back and forth every day.
It didn’t take me long to get packed and unplugged from the electricity. Before long I was driving down the road and past the centre, waving at the girls who were still working on the outside with Siera watching them. They waved back.
Turning, I take the main road towards the clubhouse, wondering how easy it would be to cut a road between the two properties instead. I’d have to do some costings.
I get waved through the gate by another prospect, and I drive slowly past the clubhouse. There are a few brothers milling about. Those that see me raise a hand in greeting that I return.
Parking on the side of the driveway, I leave a place for Garret to park his bike when he gets back from work.
I take my time to look at his house. It honestly surprises me when I get a good look at it because while it was mostly empty of furniture with only the bare minimum filling it, it was a family home.
Not huge, but big enough. With a wide porch that had a table and chairs on it.
Next door was a twin to Garret's house that I know belonged to his best friend Roman.
A bit further down was another house. A double story, also with a porch and toys in the front yard. In the distance I could see what could have been the original farmhouse. I knew that’s where Maverick, Garret’s president lived.
There were plots marked out along the road, like a small biker suburbia. Why that amused me, I had no idea.
Getting up from the driver’s seat, I walked into the living area of my van and found clothes and toiletries for the night.
Placing them in a bag, I sling it over my shoulder, leaving the van before I let myself into Garret’s house.
I headed straight for the bedroom and a shower.
I’d just finished and was wondering what to do about supper, because the man had nothing in his fridge.
I made a mental note of going to the store tomorrow and stocking up when I heard his bike stopping in the drive.
Anticipation filled me. I felt like a teenager again, like the first day he’d picked me up to go to the movies all those years ago.
Opening the front door, I admired the way he looked on this bike. Dressed in jeans and a jacket with his cut over the top, his long blonde hair pulled back from his face. Garret had been good-looking when we were kids, but he’d matured into a truly spectacular hot looking man.
Our eyes met and I smiled at him. He wasted no time in getting me in his arms, kissing me like he was starving for me. Not sure what it said about me that his order to strip made me wet and then I was riding him, and everything else fell away.
It was enough for now. Just the two of us reconnecting, spending time with each other.
All we could do was take this a day at a time and build on what we’d once had because if our feelings hadn’t died the years we were apart, then they were strong enough to hold for whatever was coming our way. And this time I wouldn’t be alone.