19. Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Nineteen
Cecilia couldn’t keep in her laughter. Willow was not letting up on Maverick. She’d brought out a plate of gummies, asking Maverick if he wanted some or twenty.
“You know, you were my favorite sister, but I’m seriously reconsidering it now,” Maverick grumbled.
“I’m your only sister,” Willow replied.
“Nope. With Cecilia and Torrent getting married, I have another option. I think she’ll be my favorite,” Maverick said, winking at Cecilia.
Willow sat down at the table, leaned closer to Maverick, and grabbed his plate. She took a bite of his sandwich and then licked the cookie on his plate.
“Oh, come on,” Maverick whined.
“Oh, does the big, bad Vice President not like sharing his food?” Willow replied, handing his plate back.
“Mom,” Maverick whined, dragging out the syllable like a frustrated toddler.
Sally was laughing so hard, she snorted.
“Son, you’re so pretty, but sometimes I wonder about you,” Sally teased.
Maverick grabbed a new sandwich from the tray and took a bite. Cecilia tried to keep from laughing, but the sibling teasing was cracking her up. Watching Calliope giggle was a joy to see after what they’d dealt with recently.
“Okay. You’re my favorite sister, and Cecilia’s my favorite sister-in-law, happy?” Maverick asked, scowling at Willow.
“Yep,” she said, grabbing the cookie she’d licked off his plate and taking a big bite.
“Did you find some stuff with Willow?” Torrent asked Calliope.
Cecilia turned toward her sister, who was sitting between her and Torrent.
“Yes, I got some cut flowers for a vase, but Willow also helped me plant an aloe vera plant that we can use if anyone gets a burn. I thought a couple other plants were pretty, but Willow said they were poisonous to cats. I don’t want Reaper getting sick,” Calliope said, her fingers gesturing excitedly.
Seeing Torrent nod and listen intently to Calliope relaxed Cecilia. Here at the farm, she realized she was still so on edge at the clubhouse. Hanging out here for lunch and looking at the farm had her breathing deeper.
“When am I going back to school?” Calliope asked.
Cecilia stared at Calliope, trying to figure out if she was asking because she wanted to return or wanted to know the answer.
“Right now, I’m not sure. Do you want to go back to school? We live in a different town now,” Cecilia admitted, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
“You could always transfer to the school in town,” Harley suggested.
“I don’t want to go back to school if it means going back to my old school. I’d rather learn from home or go to a new school,” Calliope said softly.
“Would you miss your friend?” Sally asked.
“No, I don’t think she’s really my friend. If she was my friend, she wouldn’t have left me alone with him,” Calliope confided, looking down at her lap.
Torrent patted Calliope’s back. “You’re right. How about you, Cecilia, and I talk about a plan tonight? You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. I want you to be safe, but also, I want you to feel safe.”
“Anybody else love that Torrent actually talks in full sentences now?” Maverick teased, grinning around the table.
Torrent picked up a squeeze bottle of ketchup, flipped open the cap, and squeezed it—shooting ketchup across the table and all over Maverick’s face.
“What the?” Maverick sputtered, blinking through the red mess.
“You’re so pretty,” Torrent deadpanned, setting the bottle down without breaking eye contact.
Cecilia joined in the laughter as everyone had a laugh at Maverick’s expense.
Maverick wiped the ketchup off his face. “At least you didn’t hit my cut,” he muttered.
Cecilia finished her food and then helped Willow clean up while the guys did some work that Willow needed. As Sally and Willow loaded the dishwasher, Cecilia put the leftovers away.
“If you think Calliope would have fun, she could stay overnight here, and I could bring her back for breakfast tomorrow,” Willow offered.
Cecilia paused to think. Would Calliope be safe?
“Willow has a state-of-the-art alarm system, but Dragon still likes having a little extra protection. Two of our Prospects are always on duty at night—one at the back gate and one at the front. She’ll be as safe here as she would be at the compound, but if you’re not comfortable with it, then don’t do it,” Sally reassured her, her tone full of understanding.
“Can I let you know later? I want to discuss it with Torrent, and then I’d need to ask Calliope. I don’t want to tell her she has to do anything,” Cecilia said.
“Oh, of course. Text me or call me later and let me know,” Willow agreed warmly.
Cecilia wanted to be comfortable letting Calliope stay with Willow, but there were times that she wanted a little confirmation for her decision.
Torrent had said he wanted to take her on a little longer ride on the way back if she wanted it and she did.
The ride here had been freeing. The wind in her face and Torrent taking care of her. She didn’t understand how she could be starting to feel something for him after what had happened, but she just knew she could trust Torrent.
Torrent might not say much but he said what he meant and meant what he said. There wasn’t any double talk. If he couldn’t tell her, he told her it was club business. He didn’t try to couch it in a lie.
She stood at the screen door in Willow’s kitchen watching the men.
Dragon was leaning on a fence, pointing at where he wanted the guys to put something.
Maverick had taken off his shirt and had a baseball cap on his head backward, but Torrent was the one she couldn’t take her eyes off of.
He’d taken off his cut and shirt. His back had a huge tattoo of the club’s logo.
The dark black of the tattoo accented his muscles.
She’d seen the tattoo on the front of his chest. The gold chain he wore around his neck that she’d never seen him take off glinted in the sun.
She felt a faint stirring in her lower belly. After what had happened, she had wondered if she’d ever feel anything again, but watching him work, with the light sheen of sweat on his olive skin, mesmerized her.
She stood in the quiet kitchen thinking through what she wanted for herself and for Calliope. It was too soon for big decisions, but she had some to make whether she was ready or not.
She was leaning toward Calliope moving schools to Hazard.
Although Harley was older and in a different building, the elementary, middle, and high schools were all on the same campus.
The school Calliope would be attending was close enough for Cecilia with Torrent or Monster to walk her there or for Torrent to drop her off on his bike.
A wet nose nudged her hand.
“Hey, buddy,” she cooed, scratching Monster’s ears.
Sally had said that Monster had jumped in her SUV and refused to get out when she tried to tell him that he was staying home.
“I’m glad you came,” Cecilia whispered, leaning down to wrap her arms around Monster’s neck.
The comfort of knowing the big dog would do anything for her or Calliope settled Cecilia’s nerves.
Torrent would protect them, but he had a couple runs that he’d have to go on.
Knowing Monster would be in their suite with them would help her not worry too much.
She wasn’t sure if Torrent was going to stop or had felt her eyes on him, but he said something to Dragon, then walked toward her. Rivulets of sweat ran down his chest, and the trail of hair right above his waistline kept drawing her eyes.
“Doing okay?” he asked, stepping onto the porch.
“Yes,” she breathed.
“Fifteen more minutes, then we can ride,” Torrent noted.
“Okay. Umm, Willow asked about Calliope staying tonight,” she said.
Torrent’s gray eyes stared at her. “How’s that make you feel?” he countered, opening the screen door until he was inches from her. The smell of the hot sun and wind clung to him.
“I think it would be okay. Calliope loves Willow,” Cecilia replied.
“Whatever you want is what we’ll do,” Torrent promised.
“Can we ask Calliope?” she asked.
“Of course,” he assured her as he leaned closer. “Want you to feel safe,” he added softly.
She nodded, swallowing, her throat full at him thinking of her.
“Let’s ask her after we get back to the clubhouse,” she suggested.
Torrent nodded. “Fifteen minutes,” he repeated, sliding her hair behind her ear before dropping a kiss on her forehead, heading back to help the guys.