CHAPTER 1 #2
In a few minutes I’m going to see Playboy. He’s going to sneer at me. He’ll make some sort of snide comment which might as well have come straight from Lola.
Maybe that’s why Vanessa and I are two peas in a pod—I had Lola as a sister and Vanessa was grown by her. But I’m her mom; always.
I’m waved through the gate by Bolt with a small wave and a nod. Vanessa rolls down the window as we drive through the gate and shouts, her voice bright, “Hi, Bolt. We brought cookies! I’ll save you one.”
I hear his chuckle through the window as I pull into a spot in the parking lot of what used to be a warehouse of some kind. I’m barely out of the van before Vanessa is there, tugging at me with her tote on her shoulder and shaking with the same impatience written all over her face.
“Come on, Mama,” she implores me.
“I’m moving as fast as I can. Jeez,” I huff.
She pulls me along, not stopping until we’ve stepped inside the main doors of the clubhouse as if she’s afraid that if she slows down then I’ll run in the other direction. It’s possible that her fear isn’t completely unfounded.
Before I can take a breath, I’m engulfed in a hug and Graycie’s excited voice wraps around me, “You’re here.” She pulls back and holds me at arm’s length for a moment with a bright, infectious smile on her face. Vanessa gets the same treatment while she gushes, “I’m so glad you two could come.”
“Don’t think I don’t know what you did,” I tease her with narrowed eyes. My glare is all bluster though, and she knows it.
Graycie shrugs one shoulder casually, not at all worried. She shouldn’t be. I’d never really be mad at her.
When she showed up in Dogwood Ridge, she was jumping at her own shadow. Her eyes were haunted; I didn’t need her to bare herself to me to know there are scars. Before she wore them like shame, but now she wears them as armor.
Her past no longer haunts her, and she’s found a love worth a lot more than her past. Snake adores her and has a protective streak I think most of the bikers in the club share. Most haven’t found an Old Lady though. Not yet at least.
“How are you feeling?” I can’t help but ask while my eyes flick down her body. She’s just starting to show, and I already know she’s going to be an adorable pregnant woman. “You’re glowing,” I chirp with a smile.
Graycie hugs me again, quickly, before pulling us deeper into the large common room. Honestly, the room feels both cavernous and grounded. Areas are carved out with furniture and pony walls along with lighting. It’s masculine to an annoying level.
I understand why; I can read the room. It’s still annoying.
The moment I pull the first box of cookies out of my oversized tote, Graycie is making gimmie-hands at me. I hand over the first box with a chuckle.
“Didn’t you have enough yesterday?”
“Never,” she gasps and clutches the box against her chest. She does it with care and clear possession.
Vanessa grabs another one and gives it a little shake like she’s tempting Graycie. I have to cover my mouth to stop myself from laughing. She’s inviting trouble by taunting a pregnant woman with cookies.
“You don’t even know which ones are in this box. Mama promised she made my favorite. If she made mine then she made yours,” Vanessa’s voice is pure sugar.
“The double chocolate chunk ones?” Graycie drools around the question, her lips smacking together. “Let’s stop in the kitchen and have a little on-the-way-to-the-party treat. It’s a very grueling trek,” she insists matter-of-factly.
“We’ll need sustenance,” I agree with a straight face.
When Graycie leads us into the kitchen, Opal, Ezra, and Vera, Ryker’s mom and the former Old Lady in charge, walk in from the back of the building. We put the cookies on the large island and catch the tail end of their conversation.
Vera’s eyes are alight as she crows, “Did you see him out there surveying the spot where he insists a new playground must go? He’s not just doing it for Snake and Graycie’s little one.”
I narrow my eyes and scan Ezra, something in Vera’s voice making me wonder if our little history teacher has something to share. An especially important something. Ezra looks over and her eyes widen; her hands shoot out in front of her while waving them madly.
“Titus is just getting prepared. And there are a few kids around. He should have put a playground in years ago,” she tries to sound put out, as if the president of the SOMC surveying for a playground is just a regular day.
I doubt it is and there’s no doubt in my mind the look I shoot her leaves no doubt in my ability to see through her. Everyone is looking at her the exact same way.
Ezra huffs out a breath and her shoulders slump.
“The man has been dreaming of baby bumps, okay?” She throws her hands up in exasperation.
“He’s a man possessed. I’m not complaining, per say, but I am but one mere mortal woman.
I don’t do nearly enough stretching or yoga or conditioning or whatever for his kind of focus. ”
There’s a beat of silence before we start laughing. Hard. Except for Ezra who is glaring at us and crossing her arms across her chest.
When her eyes fall on Vanessa, they widen before she gasps and covers her mouth with her hands. She didn’t say anything scandalous; the man’s mother is standing in the kitchen with us.
Vanessa peeks up from pulling a second red velvet cookie out of the box with a grin. “Did you say there are a few kids?” When Ezra nods and points toward the back door, Vanessa shoots me a look like I need to seriously reevaluate my level of knowledge about such things. All I can do is look away.
“If you step out the back door, Snake will be there. He’ll introduce you. Is that okay?” Graycie offers, her voice soft even though her cheeks are still pink from laughing.
“Great,” Vanessa tosses out while eyeing the cookie box one more time. Then she’s out the door.
I move to follow her, but Graycie is there with a gentle hand on my arm.
“She really will be okay,” she assures me.
“I know Snake will be right outside the door because he’ll be there ready to pounce on me the moment I step back outside.
The man has perfected the art of hovering.
Still, when he sees Vanessa, he’ll take care of her. ”
“Don’t pretend like you don’t like his hovering,” I tease her.
Graycie’s cheeks turn a deeper shade of pink before she turns her attention back on Ezra.
“So, what you’re saying is that our kids will grow up together,” her voice is filled with excitement.
She does a little belly shimmy that might be an offering.
“Wanna rub my belly for some good ovulation luck?”