Chapter Ten
Carl
I hadn’t been completely honest with Gwyn about the process, but it wouldn’t matter in the end. There was usually a deductible before the insurance covered anything, and the paperwork would show she’d paid it. Technically, it wouldn’t even be lying, since she would be paying me for all the work I would be doing.
Eventually.
And what I chose to do with that money was my business, not the insurance company’s. They had no reason to care if I turned around and used it to help her. I would be investing in a local, up-and-coming business.
I shoved away my concerns as I climbed back into the truck, telling my bear we were doing what we could. It was a struggle not to demand she stay somewhere else until I could do a full inspection of the house, but I knew that wouldn’t go down well. She’d brick up the hole I’d made in her defenses and lock me out for good if I treated her like I could control her.
Even if I only wanted to do it for her own good.
I snorted quietly, well aware that plenty of alphas used the excuse that the things they did were for the omega’s welfare. Yes, we were driven to protect, which sometimes meant dominating and forcing them to do things they didn’t want to, but a good alpha knew when the situation called for a softer touch. I might not have liked the state of her roof, but she wasn’t in imminent danger from it, no matter what my bear wanted to claim. He just wanted an excuse to drag her back to our den.
I tried to focus on driving but was hyperaware of the female beside me. Her gentle scent was stronger trapped in an enclosed space, which gave it more effect, my cock throbbing despite the other emotions fighting inside me.
“Tell me about yourself. Are you from here?”
I wasn’t sure I hid my wince at the question. I didn’t like talking about my past any more than she seemed to, but she’d given me little bits, so it was only fair to do the same.
“Not originally. I grew up in the mountains but came to Penford after I left the Army.”
I didn’t feel up to talking about either of those times, so I tried to distract her with things that were easier.
“I bought a motorcycle on a whim after I’d discharged, and rode it until it broke down shortly after I hit the city limits. Sebastian, the alpha you saw at the bar Friday, owns a garage that specializes in motorcycles, and that was how we met. He told me the one I had was trash, but he had one he was rebuilding and was willing to sell.”
I shrugged as I turned a corner, shooting her a grin.
“I didn’t have anything better to do, so I stuck around and helped with the rebuild, and by the time it was finished, I didn’t want to leave. I bought a house not too far away, and in the process of fixing it up I got requests from my neighbors to help with things they needed repaired. By the time I worked my way through those, I’d gotten my licenses and started a contracting company, although it’s really just me and whoever I rope in to help on projects too big for one person.”
The worry I’d seen in her gaze earlier was gone, the soft smile on her face making my chest grow warm. I had to look away before I let myself get too entranced.
“That was back when the Hell’s Knights were just a few of us screwing around at the garage or The Hangout. We’ve grown over the years, made a pack of our own, and are known for helping those who need it. I know motorcycle clubs have bad reputations, but we’re not like most of them.”
It felt important that she realized we were a good group of guys, even if we sometimes did some not-good things. I didn’t think there was an alpha alive who could completely repress his instincts and be perfect, and most of us didn’t bother to try. We were what we were.
Dominant.
Protective.
Sometimes that protectiveness made us possessive, but we tried not to let the darker side leak out. We protected the area and the people we thought of as ours , no matter what that took.
“I think I’ve seen that, with the way everyone who comes into The Hangout is comfortable with your group being there. If you were a problem, people would avoid the bar.”
The tightness that had grown in my chest loosened, letting me suck in a full breath after anxiety had constricted my lungs.
I wanted to get to know her better too, but I was scared to ask anything about her past, worried I’d lose the easiness between us. I was saved from the paralysis when I spotted the hardware store and pulled into a spot near the loading doors.
“Ready?”
Gwyn looked a little grim at the prospect of going inside for the supplies, but she nodded before opening her door to slide out.
I knew exactly what we needed since I’d done a fair share of roofs, so I didn’t bother heading down any of the aisles. Gwyn gave me a questioning look as I directed her towards a long desk just inside the big doors, and I grinned as I leaned on the counter.
“Benefits of running a legit business for this.”
I winked as the employee behind the desk headed our way, greeting me by name. I was in a few times a week and they all knew me. I also got a discount on materials, and since the roof was going to be covered under her insurance, I wasn’t making her cover the supplies.
“I need two separate invoices, but you can load everything together.”
I rattled off the materials and amounts I needed for the café, and then added what I’d need for her duplex.
“Put them both on the account?”
The beta behind the counter briefly glanced at Gwyn, the urge to growl at him almost overwhelming me, but he turned his attention back to the screen in front of him before I lost the fight.
“Yes.”
Gwyn’s brow arched as she looked at me.
“I know I said you’d have to cover supplies, but this is different with insurance being involved. You’ll get your chance next time.”
Her lips pursed, head tipping to the side.
“So, if I’m not paying, why did I come?”
Mouth hanging open, I froze. There was really no reason for her to have come with me since she wasn’t paying for the materials, but I hadn’t mentioned it because I’d wanted to spend time with her. I hadn’t measured the interior where she wanted the wall yet, so I couldn’t use buying those supplies as an excuse, and I didn’t have any other.
“So you know what was ordered and what the totals are. And so you could pick up anything else you need?”
Eyes narrowed, her expression said she saw right through me, but she didn’t call me on it. The little sigh she released and the way she shook her head was exactly like I was a troublesome little boy, which only made me chuckle.
“I supposed I can pick out the paint for the dining room, so I don’t have to carry it on the bus.”
The reminder that she frequently used public transportation had my hackles rising and my bear focusing on the omega. The hardware store was within the boundaries of Hell, but I still didn’t like the thought of her riding the bus alone with the possibility of anyone being on it. Some of the lines passed through Hell out into the Slums.
“If you need a ride to get anything, just give me a call. We’ll be back here a few more times, so you shouldn’t need to take the bus anymore.”
I wanted to say more but managed to bite my tongue before it got away from me. She wouldn’t like feeling restricted, and I couldn’t blame her, but it was hard with the way my bear wanted to curl around her and keep her captive on my knot until she never wanted to leave.
We were back in the truck with the bed loaded down before long, and the silence fell again. Gwyn seemed content to sit and stare out the window, but the quiet music filling the cab wasn’t enough to hold my attention.
“So, you put up with my shit pretty well. Do you have kids, or siblings?”
Her huffed laugh and the smile on her face as she turned to look at me spread warmth through my chest.
“Kids. Two. Both alphas, so yes, I have experience with shenanigans.”
I chuckled at the way she eyed me but tried to make myself watch the road instead of staring at her. It was hard when everything about her called to me.
“That duplex is on the small side, and I haven’t seen any rugrats tagging along, so I’m guessing they’re grown.”
“Oh, yes. Thankfully! I’m too old to chase littles anymore.”
Scoffing, I shot her a glance from the corner of my eye.
“Old, my ass. Women your age are still having babies.”
It was her turn to make a rude noise.
“First, you have no idea how old I am, and you’d better not ask. Second, there’s no way I could have a baby at this age. Other women may be able to, but I’ve done my time. I’m too tired for all the sleepless nights and worrying.”
I nodded as I slowed for a turn.
“I get that. I don’t have any of my own, partially because I’d probably rip my beard out from the anxiety. Male or female, alpha or omega, even a beta, I don’t think I could handle it in this world.”
My remark was a little too real and killed the playful mood. I cursed myself for being stupid and letting out the truth, but Gwyn’s presence was soothing, and it had slipped out before I could censor it.
“Yeah, it’s hard. One of my boys is quiet, got good grades, and went to college this year, but my older boy…”
She shook her head before looking out the window again.
“I wish he could see what he’s getting into, but he’s still got blinders on. I don’t want to push him away fighting with him, but I wish he’d make better decisions.”
She sighed again, and I scrambled to reassure her without letting out the purr building in my chest.
“Boys are stupid when they’re young. And some of us hold onto our young and stupid for far longer than we should. It usually turns out okay, though. Especially with good examples to follow.”
While her lips tipped up, her eyes remained sad.
“Yeah, I hope so.”
I put the truck in park in front of the café, searching for something more to say, but failing without knowing what her son was involved in. It was hard to reassure someone without the details of the situation, especially with a past like mine where I knew how bad it could be. If her youngest was in college, that meant the other had to at least be the age I’d been when I’d joined the Army, thinking anything had to be better than the shitty community I’d grown up in, not realizing there was a dark side to almost everything.
Eyebrow quirking, her smile grew as she stared at me before letting out a laugh that made me smile despite not knowing why.
“You wouldn’t have to worry about ripping your own beard out, though. A baby would do that for you the first time you got close enough for those little fingers to get a fistful. They don’t let go.”
Glad she’d lightened the mood, I chuckled as I hopped out of the truck.
“Oh, I know! I’ve had a chunk ripped out by a chubby little demon. If I had to be exposed to that every day, I might have had to shave.”
The way she tipped her head had me shaking mine and holding up my hands to block her view.
“Don’t even think about it! Me without a beard is not a pretty picture. I look like I have a butt on my face, and not in the fun way where it belongs to someone else.”
Cheeks flushing bright red, Gwyn bit her lips to keep from laughing as she turned away to unlock the door. I couldn’t help thinking that if I could manage to keep her laughing, maybe I’d have a chance to see her flushed for another reason.