Chapter 17
There wasa shift change at the bakery and Jazz and Brielle grabbed two cups of coffee and joined me and Willa.
“You guys were talking about getting another dog when I came in,” I said.
“We found this rescue,” Brielle explained. “And we kind of time share him with my brother Homer who lives in the same building. But with the hours we work, I don’t think Fluffernutter should be home by himself. It just seems mean.”
“He’s never alone longer than four hours,” Jazz said. “Another dog is a lot of responsibility. Can’t we get a cat?”
“No,” Brielle stated. “No cats. Kittens are cute, but they turn into cats eventually, and cats jump up on counters and you have to spray them with a spray bottle.”
“And they claw up furniture,” Willa added.
“Fine, no cat. But we need to discuss why you want another dog,” Jazz said.
“I told you. Our dog needs a dog,” Brielle said.
Jazz raised her brows. “I think we need to dig a little deeper here.”
Brielle rolled her eyes. “We don’t have to dig deeper. I’m shallow. There’s nothing to this.”
“A puppy is not a substitute for a romantic relationship,” Jazz said.
“I know that.” Brielle sighed. “Although I would very much like a boyfriend…”
“Are there any single bikers?” I asked.
“A few,” Willa said. “Raze, Kelp, Crow, Acid, and Savage. But don’t go there with Savage. I love him, but I love you too. So don’t do that.”
“Plus, he’s kind of hooking up with Charlie—or something. Not sure exactly what’s going on there, but…yeah…” I said.
“I will not be going there with any of them,” Brielle said, looking from me to Willa. “No offense.”
“None taken,” Willa said lightly.
“Why did you look at me?” I asked.
“Because you’re with Bones,” Brielle stated. “And before you say you’re not, you so are, so let’s just move on, okay?”
“Brielle has this thing against bikers,” Jazz added.
“Not a thing against them per se, but my brothers don’t want me getting involved with the club,” she said. “Which is stupid since they tattoo all the Tarnished Angels anyway. Okay for me but not for thee kind of thing.”
“Willa says a bad boy is the way to go,” I said with a smirk at her.
Brielle groaned. “Don’t tell me that. I’m already trying to talk myself out of the idea.”
“Why talk yourself out of the idea?” Jazz asked. “They’re both clearly satisfied with their bad boys. You should get one of those for yourself.”
“Whoa.” I held up a hand. “I’m not satisfied. We haven’t even slept together yet.”
The table fell silent.
“Damn it,” I muttered. “You baited me on purpose, didn’t you?”
Jazz had the grace to look sheepish. “I really wanted to know.”
“We’re taking it slow,” I muttered.
“We?” Brielle asked.
I glanced at Willa who was sipping on the remainder of her coffee. “Feel free to jump in here?”
She shook her head. “I’m just part of the peanut gallery.”
“The peanut gallery always has something to say,” I pointed out.
“So, he slept over,” Jazz said. “And nothing happened?”
“Do you really think I’m going to have this conversation out in the open?” I asked.
“Bones taking it slow,” Brielle said quietly. “Didn’t think he had it in him.”
“Yeah, he seems kinda…” Jazz trailed off. “What’s the word I’m looking for?”
“Hungry?” Brielle supplied.
“Yeah, hungry.” Jazz nodded. “Definitely hungry.”
“Hungry for a Hayden snack. Yup.” Brielle finished off the last bite of her fig galette.
“Are your coffees spiked?” I inquired, feeling my cheeks heat.
Maybe I was a frigid prude after all.
“Don’t get embarrassed,” Jazz said.
“This is what they do,” Willa said. “Call it initiation.”
“Initiation into what?” I asked warily.
“Our friend group,” Brielle said.
The cold feeling in my chest suddenly morphed into warmth. I sighed. “Initiation, huh?”
Brielle nodded.
“You’re in the club,” Jazz said. “Might as well go with it.”
My throat constricted and I wanted to focus on something else. “Show me a picture of your dog.”
Willa’s words chased me all the way home.
But it didn’t matter what she’d said.
I had to listen to my own gut instinct.
And my gut instinct was telling me that Bones was showing me exactly who he was. He’d brought me tea to help me sleep. He’d stayed the night because I asked, and he hadn’t taken advantage of me even though this morning he absolutely could have.
But he’d been right. I hadn’t been ready.
I hadn’t been ready in three years, but I was ready now. I wanted him. I wanted to feel the weight of him on top of me. I wanted to feel him slide into me and make me moan.
No longer concerned about how it would come across, I pressed a button on my steering wheel, enabling the Bluetooth call function on my car.
“Call Bad to the Bones.”
I snorted.
“Calling Bad to the Bones,” the automated voice chimed.
It rang twice and went to voicemail.
“Bones, hey. It’s—uh—Hayden. Hi. Yep. Said that already. Okay, well, call me.”
I hung up.
“Seriously?” I muttered to myself.
I pulled into my driveway and pressed a button to open my garage door. As I was parking, my phone rang.
It was Bones.
My heart immediately tripped with nerves. Which was stupid. I needed to get out of my head.
“What kind of coffee do you drink?” I asked in way of greeting.
He paused. “Anything dark and bold. You okay, Duchess? You sound a little…”
“A little what?”
“Frazzled.”
“I’m not frazzled. I was just wondering if…”
“Wondering if…what?”
“Wondering if you were coming over tonight?” The words felt stilted and stuck in my throat.
He paused again. “Are you asking me to come over tonight?”
“Can’t you answer a simple question?” I demanded.
“Can’t you?”
“Are you smiling? I can hear you smiling.”
He chuckled. “I can come over, but it’ll be late. I’ve got some business to handle tonight.”
I thought of his pistol on the nightstand.
“What time will you be done?” I asked.
“Not sure. Late. After midnight.”
I bit my lip. “Then maybe I’ll just see you tomorrow night. For dinner.”
“All right,” he said easily.
“Bones,” I muttered.
“What? I’m being agreeable. What is it you want? Ask, Duchess.”
“Bring a toothbrush tomorrow.” I hung up quickly, my heart pounding hard enough I felt it in my neck.
I waited to see if he’d call back.
He didn’t.
I backed out of the garage and went to buy a coffee maker.