5. Chapter Five
Chapter Five
Sophia had opened the clinic, but her appointment wasn’t due for ten minutes.
Lake would have already fed the animals and let them into their areas, but this morning, Sophia could use a nudge from Pudding.
He might be an asshole to men, but he was a sweetie to women.
He’d rub his head against her hip and let her pet his forehead and neck, which soothed her.
Taking her coffee outside, she spotted Shield standing under one of the trees, scrutinizing the house, not having any idea Pudding was running toward him.
“Shield, you need to hurry. Pudding’s heading your way. He’s a little obnoxious sometimes,” she yelled, motioning for him to hurry.
“I’m good with animals,” he called back, turning toward the donkey. “Who’s a good boy?” followed quickly by, “Motherfucker!” when Pudding headbutted Shield’s crotch. Shield grabbed his junk, dropping to his knees.
“That had to sting,” she murmured, feeling incredibly sorry she hadn’t been more specific.
“More like extreme pain, followed by nausea,” Tack commented from behind her. She hadn’t realized she wasn’t alone. Way to be observant.
Tack’s chuckles had her wondering if she’d said that out loud again, or if he was laughing at Shield trying to stand up while protecting his crotch from Pudding.
“I have to head in for a shift,” Tack mentioned, sighing. “Will you be okay alone or would you like me to leave a couple of the guys on guard duty?”
She turned, staring at Tack’s face. She’d fought long and hard to be independent again after Rufus.
It would be entirely too easy to cede control over her life again to Tack.
He was a SWAT officer, the Sgt at Arms of his club, and oh so delicious, so she might be willing to accept some of his help.
But she was still going to be in control over her life.
“I think we’ll be fine. It’s light out, and besides the ridiculous abduction call yesterday, neither Jolene nor Rufus has done anything more than yell from across the street.
I appreciate your offer, but we’re good.
Now, if you have a line on a good security company to install cameras and some extra floodlights, I would love some help. ”
She hoped he was okay with her standing up for herself, but if he wasn’t, then she’d be disappointed because she was hoping he might be someone special in her life.
“I do. I’ll get the information for you. I don’t think I asked last night, but how big is this property?” he questioned.
She heard a car in the driveway and turned back toward her office.
“It’s eleven acres, with the two acres that are fenced containing the main barns, fields, and house.
I hear a vehicle, which is probably my first patient.
Thank you for your help,” she stared at him then told herself, ‘What the hell,’ leaning up to kiss his cheek above his beard.
The smile on his face warmed her belly, making her wish with all her heart that the clinic wasn’t open today.
“I’ve got to leave, but I’ll get you that information,” Tack promised.
She waved and went in the side door to her office. Freedom walked out of exam room one.
“Room is ready, and your first patient is here. I’ll bring them back and get started,” Freedom informed her in a professional voice while fanning her face and pointing out the door Sophia had just entered.
Her actions left no doubt that Freedom had been listening to their conversation.
Her friends were nosy, but the women always had her back.
She shook her head and walked into her office to look at her schedule and familiarize herself with her first patient of the day, but her thoughts kept drifting to the last twenty-four hours.
Why was Jolene pushing for Sophia to get back with Rufus and why now?
They’d been divorced for eighteen months, and Rufus had pretty much left her alone other than being a jerk about the cameras in the last month.
If she didn’t know better, she’d think something had changed in their family.
As far as she knew, Rufus and Jolene were it in their family.
His dad had passed before she and Rufus met.
In fact, she’d met Rufus’ mom first when Jolene bought the house across from her parents.
Sophia had been newly out of veterinary school and joining her dad’s practice.
Her parents had invited Jolene over for dinner since she was new to the area.
When her parents had passed a year later, she’d been grieving.
Jolene’s son had moved in with her because he’d gotten a job in Kansas City.
Before that, he’d been in Denver. He’d brought her chicken noodle soup and cookies about a month after her parents had been gone.
She’d been adrift and one thing led to another.
She brushed the thoughts away because she had a cat in her office that had been eating the plant leaves again and was throwing up. Poor baby.
Tack walked into the clubhouse’s main area. He’d showered, contacted his guy who did security for homes and businesses, and notified Sophia that someone would be out today for her. He also sent the information about the company to her so she would know who was coming.
He had an hour before he needed to leave for work, and he was hoping someone was around to talk to.
The sweet smell of cookies led him toward the kitchen where his Vice President’s wife, Adley, was pulling two trays out of the oven.
“Morning, Adley,” Tack breathed deep of the cinnamon and sugar scent, hoping it would help him forget how fresh and clean Sophia smelled.
“Good morning. Would you like a couple cookies?”
“You know that I’ll never turn down your cookies. Hmm, a strong scent of sugar and cinnamon, I believe. Are these snickerdoodles?” He reached for one of the ones already cooling on the aluminum foil-covered tray on the island.
She nodded. “They are, but I made them a little different. Justice was complaining about having to work out more because of the high sugar content. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love watching the man work out, but I also want him happy. Let me know what you think.”
He stared at her. “What did you change?” He loved snickerdoodles, and he’d probably pout if it didn’t taste like he was used to.
“I’m not telling you until you taste them.”
He tentatively sniffed the cookie, then nibbled the edge until Adley threw up her hands.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, eat the cookie,” she muttered, rolling her eyes.
He chuckled and took a big bite. He loved teasing his sister-in-law. The chewiness he loved about snickerdoodles and the cinnamon-sugary taste were still there. He couldn’t really tell a difference.
“These are really good,” he congratulated her, taking a couple more cookies.
His mom, Ruthy, walked in and snatched one of the cookies from his hand. He shook his head and smiled. His mom had taught him and Justice to share by making them share toys and treats with her, his dad, and each other.
“Oh, these are yummy, Adley. Where’s my little buddy?” she asked.
“He’s playing with Teddy over at Pit and Ariel’s this morning. I wanted to bake some cookies, and then I need to be at the courthouse for a little bit,” Adley shared.
“Tack, are you heading into work?” Ruthy asked.
“Yeah, Mom, but for the first time, I don’t want to,” he admitted.
“Why not? Does this have something to do with where you were last night?”
He nodded. “Yes, I’m sure you heard about the call we got yesterday afternoon.
Last night, something was off, and I told myself I’d just ride by and check on her, but someone was leaving dead squirrels on her porch.
I hated leaving her this morning, even though I offered to have Shield stay, she turned me down.
She’s strong, fierce, and I hate being gone from her,” he conceded, staring at his mom, hoping she had some insight into what he was feeling.
Ruthy leaned close, slipping her arm through his. “Oh, Tack, I’ve always known when you fell that you’d fall hard. You and your brother, when he met Adley, remind me so much of your dad. You’re protective, badass men who get knocked off your feet by the one meant for you.”
Tack scrutinized his mom’s face. Was she teasing him? She thought he was in love with Sophia.
“Oh my gosh, the look on his face,” Adley cackled, snapping a quick picture.
“Don’t you think it’s too soon to consider love when Macy and I were dating?” Tack wondered.
“Do you want to tell him or should I?” Adley giggled, shaking her head.
“Oh, honey,” Ruthy soothed, holding her palm against his cheek.
“Why would it be too soon when you didn’t love Macy?
You both were dating because it was convenient, and you both wanted what Justice and Adley were building.
Everyone but you two could see that it would never last,” Ruthy informed him.
Tack gaped at his mom. What the hell was she saying? He’d loved Macy. He’d been considering buying a ring.
“That’s not true. I did too,” he protested.
“Let’s play a little game of twenty questions, though I honestly doubt we’ll need them all.” Ruthy rolled her eyes again.
Tack wondered if it would be considered rude to walk out on his mom and sister-in-law because of how annoying they were.
“Question one: When you thought of Macy, where did you imagine you’d be in ten years?” Ruthy questioned.
Tack thought about it. He’d known he enjoyed being with Macy, and the next step was marriage, which is why he’d considered a ring.
“I figured we’d talk through our hopes and dreams and plan what was next,” Tack disclosed, crossing his arms because he felt a little under attack.
“Now, question two: Close your eyes…”
Tack huffed but closed his eyes.
“Now, imagine ten years down the road with Sophia. What’s going on, and what are you doing?” she questioned softly.
A movie flashed behind his eyelids. He and Sophia walking hand in hand on the farm, a little boy running toward the barn, and a little girl in his arms. He and Sophia dancing in the clubhouse with his brothers hanging around.
Sophia on the back of his bike, riding in the Kansas countryside, her arms around his waist.
He opened his eyes and stared at his mom, realizing the truth had been in front of him from the first, though he hadn’t recognized it. “She’s my forever.”
His mom grinned at him, patting his cheek. “I didn’t raise a stupid man. Now, since you have to work, would you like me to drop by and check on her? She has a rescue and the clinic. I’d be happy to.”
He chuckled at the innocent look his mom was trying to pull off but failing miserably.
“You are incorrigible, but I love you so much,” he whispered, kissing her cheek.
“I do not behave badly,” she refuted.
“No, but you are willful and uncontrollable when you want something,” he replied, chuckling at the blush on her cheeks.
“Is that a yes or a no?” she questioned.
“It’s a ‘how about you deliver a large bouquet of flowers from your flower shop with a card that asks if I can either bring her breakfast when I get off work or take her out to breakfast, depending on her schedule,’” he suggested.
“Oh, that sounds absolutely perfect. Should I sign the card ‘Tack’ or do you want it mushier, like, ‘I’m counting the minutes until I can see you again?’” she giggled, waggling her eyebrows.
He shook his head, staring at her.
“Okay, got it—only your name. Love you, Tack,” she chuckled, kissing his cheek and walking out of the kitchen.
“Mom,” he chided.
“Sometimes you ruin all my fun. I’ll put only your name, though sometimes it’s hard being your mom,” she huffed, grinning at him.
Tack kissed his mom’s cheek and said goodbye to Adley, grabbing another cookie before heading to his bike to ride to work. For now, he needed to concentrate on work. He’d table his thoughts on how he felt about Sophia until he was off work. He needed to be sharp.