by L. Wilder
Bishop gave him a threatening look, and when he noticed the big brute behind him, he knew he was no match for them. “This isn’t over.”
Ignoring him, Bishop turned and headed back to the bar with Goliath. He knew there was no sense in arguing with Drew’s father. There was nothing he could say that would make him give up on finding his son—which meant that they needed a plan. When they got back to the bar, things were starting to die down. After he let Gavin and Sunny know that he’d handled things with Cartwright, he sat down at the bar next to Tessa and the girls. Without looking in his direction, Tessa leaned into him, nestling into the crook of his arm. From the start, they’d always been in sync. She always knew whenever he was close, and he was the same with her. He listened as they discussed what each of them were bringing to Thanksgiving Dinner, and when Courtney mentioned that she was going to bring a coconut pie instead of her traditional chess, Bishop spoke up.
“No, you can’t bring that,” Bishop told her, sounding bossier than he’d meant to.
Courtney leaned forward and with a puzzled look asked, “What? You don’t like coconut pie?”
“The holidays aren’t the time to try new recipes, Court. Your chess pie has always been incredible. Why would you want to mess with that?”
“I don’t know. I just wanted to try something different.”
“Have you ever made a coconut pie?” he pushed.
“No, but I’m pretty sure that I can make one without gagging anyone.”
“Not worth the chance. Bring the chess… and some of those cream cheese do-dobbers you make. And have Bobby make that nacho dip stuff he makes for the ball game. I’ll get the chips.”
“Okay. I’ll bring the chess, the pinwheels, and the dip,” she conceded. “But I’m bringing the coconut pie, too.”
“I’m good with that,” Bishop chuckled as he looked over at Tessa. “You about ready?”
It was getting late. Tessa knew Izzie and Sadie would be sound asleep by now, but Myles and Drake were a different story. She had no doubt they’d still be up playing some video game or texting. They’d just hit those wonderful teenage years, and their world was wrapped up in their phones. Thankfully, Izzie was only ten and Sadie was just a few months away from turning two, so they still had a little while before they’d have to worry about teenage girls in the house.
After taking one last sip of her drink, Tessa stood up and gathered her things. “If you think of anything else we might need, just give me a call.”
“Just don’t get in a frenzy about making everything perfect like you did last year. If we don’t have something, we’ll send the boys after it or we’ll do without. But either way, it won’t be a big deal,” Courtney fussed.
“I didn’t get in a frenzy!”
Courtney rolled her eyes and then looked over to Bishop. “Did she or did she not have a meltdown over the stupid butter?”
Bishop shrugged. “It wasn’t all that bad,” he lied. “I don’t even remember there being a problem with butter.”
“Cole Bishop! You know damn well that your wife had a total come-apart over the freaking butter. She thought Thanksgiving was ruined because we didn’t have enough. Which we did, by the way.”
Tessa elbowed her friend in the side. “I did not have a come-apart, Courtney. I was a little worried, that’s all. Now, drop it.”
“I’ll bring the extra butter,” Taylor laughed. “Don’t want to take any chances.”
Tessa looked at her husband with a feigned pout. “Thanks for having my back there, Prez.”
He leaned towards her, placing his mouth close to her ear. The heat of his breath sent chills down her spine as he whispered, “I’m sure I can find a way to make it up to you.”
“I’m sure you can,” she purred. “Bye, girls.”
After Bishop and Tessa were gone, the party quickly dwindled. Lily turned the bar over to Doc so she and Goliath could follow Maverick and Henley back to their house. Soon after, the other couples followed suit. It was just the tides of change within the club. Their families were growing, and while they still enjoyed coming together to have a few drinks, the all-night partying had become almost nonexistent. They enjoyed the parties, but the brothers knew there was a time for play and a time for work.
Unlike some, Gavin’s mind wasn’t on the work he had to do the following morning or the run he had to make at the first of the week. His mind was set on one thing and one thing only: Sunny.
Sunny’s eyes were wide with worry when she said, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have gone outside like that. I should’ve listened to you.”
“No, you shouldn’t have gone outside alone.”
“I was just feeling good about things. I thought I could handle it myself.”
“I’m glad you are feeling better. That’s all I’ve wanted, but that’s not the point. I told you to stay put. Things could’ve turned out very differently back there. He could’ve really hurt you.”
Her eyes dropped to the ground. “I know. I screwed up.”
Gavin reached for her hand as he said, “It’s my job to keep you safe. Not just because of the club, but because I take care of what’s mine. I’ll do whatever it takes, but I need you to do your part.”
She looked up at him. “Okay. I’ll listen next time. Promise.”
“Good. Now let’s get a drink,” he told her as he took her hand and led her over to the bar.
They’d been sitting in the bar for almost an hour talking and laughing when Sunny decided it was time to find a song to play. He watched as she stood over the old jukebox and searched for the next perfect song. She bit her bottom lip as she strummed her fingernails along the glass. Eventually, there were a few clicks followed by the low rumble of an old country song. Gavin smiled when he realized it was one of his favorites. With a satisfied smile on her face, Sunny started back towards the table.
Before she reached him, Gavin stood up and headed towards her. “Can’t play a song like this and not dance to it.”
“You like this one?”
“One of my favorites.”
“Hmmm. Lucky pick, I guess.”
“Reckon so, lucky girl,” he told her as he pulled her close.
He’d never been one for dancing. He could remember goofing around the living room with his mother as a kid, but since then, he’d had no interest in ever doing it again—until tonight. He’d use any excuse to be close to Sunny, even dancing with his two left feet. A low, soft melody filled the room as they curled into each other’s arms and started to sway to the rhythm of the music. Sunny rested her head against his chest as he wrapped his arms around her waist. She was intoxicated by the scent of his cologne and the touch of his cheek against hers. She could feel the desire building inside her as one song rolled into the next. The sun was just a few hours from rising when Gavin finally said, “I wish I could do this all night, but it’s getting late. I’ve gotta leave first thing in the morning to head out to Montana, and then over to Oregon for parts. As much as I hate the idea, I better get you back to your room.”
“Okay.”
He took her hand and led her down the hall. Once they were standing at her door, Sunny became extremely anxious. Gavin’s perfectly toned body and striking good looks suddenly made her feel intimidated. When she thought about them making love and being naked in front of the sexy man of steel, her insecurities took over. She started doubting her looks and her abilities, especially since she didn’t have much experience with sex. In fact, she’d only been with two men—one being an experiment with Katelyn’s older brother when she was a sophomore in high school, which ended up being a very awkward mistake for them both, and then there was Drew. She’d been with him several times, but often referred to him as the two-pump chump. He was quick on the draw, and there were definitely no bells and whistles where he was concerned.
She didn’t know Gavin’s history with women, but she figured he had more experience than her. He did have a son, and even though she’d never actually seen
him with any of the club’s girls, she assumed he’d been with them. Her eyes widened with embarrassment when she realized she’d been standing there staring at him without saying a word. She inhaled quickly, trying to gather her nerve, and then said, “You wanna come inside?”
“When I come in that room for the first time, there won’t be a single doubt left in your mind. All those fucked-up thoughts you just had running through your head will be gone, and you’ll know without a doubt that I want that sexy little body of yours. You’ll know just how bad I want to taste you… feel you… have my cock buried deep inside you.” The warmth of his breath caressed her neck as he lowered his head close to her ear. “When the time is right, you won’t be thinking of anything except how much you want me, and you’ll be begging for it. Then and only then, I’ll come into this room. For now, I’ll wait.” He dropped his lips to her, kissing her softly. “I’ll wait as long as it takes.”
Sunny watched as Gavin turned and started down the hall towards his room. “Goodnight, Gavin.”
“Night, lucky girl.”
She kicked off her boots as she closed the door behind her, then crawled into bed. Without taking off her clothes, she laid her head down on the pillow and pulled the comforter over her legs. She curled to her side, closed her eyes, and spent the next hour replaying everything that had happened that night with Gavin. For the first time in months, Sunny fell asleep with a smile on her face and the nightmares didn’t come.
She was still in a deep sleep when Katelyn snuggled up in the bed next to her. When she rolled over, Katelyn raised her eyebrow and said, “Don’t ask.”
“How can I not ask, Kat? Seriously. You’ve gotta tell me something here. Are you okay? Did you have fun? Did you fall for one of them?”
She rolled her eyes and laughed as she answered, “I’m fine. I’m a tad overstimulated, but fine.”
“So, you did it. You actually went through with it?”
“Yeah, I guess I did. Probably wasn’t the smartest thing I’ve ever done, but damn… hmm.”
Feeling curious, Sunny asked, “Would you do it again?”
“With them? I doubt it. Besides, both of them disappeared on me. I woke up this morning in an empty bed. Not exactly good for the old self-esteem, but it wasn’t about that anyway. It was just one night with a couple of hot guys… nothing more than that. It’s best to just leave it in the past and forget it ever happened.”
“I’m beyond curious, but I think you’re right. It’s best for everyone to just forget it ever happened, especially when it comes to me. There are some things a friend just doesn’t need to know.” Sunny laughed. “Get some rest.”
Katelyn was quiet for several minutes, and Sunny thought she’d fallen asleep. Just as she closed her eyes, she heard Katelyn whisper, “I think I liked them more than I was supposed to.”
Sunny looked at her friend, seeing the heartbreak in her eyes, and asked, “What do you mean?”
“It’s hard to explain. It wasn’t just about the sex. Really. It was something else. I felt this odd pull to them. It was different for each of them. Conner was so attentive and sweet. Every move he made was about me, making sure that I was taken care of, while Levi was strong and demanding. He pushed me to my limits and left me wanting more. It was the things he’d whisper in my ear… like every fantasy I’d ever had was right there in my reach. I’d never felt anything like that before.”
“And what about them? Do you think they’ve done this sort of thing before?”
“I don’t know. I don’t think so, but they seemed to be into it. But if either of them wanted to make more out of it, they wouldn’t have left me alone in the bed. End of story.”
“I’m sure they didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. I’m sure they thought it would make it easier. You know how guys are.”
“Well, it didn’t make me feel better. It made me feel like an idiot for thinking there was some kind of connection between us.” She let out a frustrated sigh, then continued, “It doesn’t matter. I’m being silly, and I know it. I think it’s from the lack of sleep. It’s messing with my head.”
“It’s going to be okay, sweetie. Just forget about it and get some rest.”
“It could never work, right? I mean, you read about stuff like that in those smutty romance books, but it never works, does it?”
“Only the three of you can answer that.”
Spending the holidays at Bishop’s had become a longtime tradition for Sunny and her mother. When her father died ten years earlier, Bishop opened his doors and welcomed them into his home and into his family. If it hadn’t been for him, times like these would’ve been very different for Sunny and her family, but as always, Bishop was always there for the people he cared about. Over the years, he’d become like a second father to Sunny and Tyler, and Glenda would always feel indebted to him for keeping her family safe. They all loved him and looked forward to spending the holidays with his family, but this year was even more special for Sunny. While they’d talked and texted, she hadn’t seen Gavin since the night of the party. He and Otis had been gone on a run to Montana for some special parts the garage needed, and it had taken him longer to get back than he’d anticipated. Sunny found herself missing him even more than she’d expected.
She knew she’d see him later that night, so after she’d spent the morning helping her mother prepare the food, she called Katelyn to come over and help her get ready. They were sitting in her room sorting through all the different outfits she’d brought to wear.
“What is going on with you? You’ve never been one to worry about what you’re wearing.”
Sunny stood in front of her full-length mirror and grimaced when she saw her reflection. She pulled off her sweater and tossed it on the bed. “I just want to look nice, that’s all.”
“What was wrong with that? It looked great on you.”
“It looked stupid,” she answered as she searched her closet for another option.
“Okay… stop.” Katelyn stood up and walked over to Sunny, placing her hands on her shoulders as she looked her friend in the eye. “What is going on?”
“I’m just a little nervous.”
“There’s nothing to be nervous about. You could wear a brown paper sack and he’d think you looked amazing. Now stop acting like a complete psycho and pick something already. I’m starving. By the time we get there, they will have eaten all the good snacks.”
“Okay, fine.” She slipped on her black hoodie. After one last glimpse in the mirror, she said, “I’m ready.”
“Finally.”
When the girls made it over to Bishop’s house at last, the driveway was full of cars and motorcycles. Other than the addition of a few guys with leather jackets and tattoos, being there was no different than being in any home in the south on Thanksgiving afternoon. The kids were playing outside, fishing at the pond or playing basketball, while the women were huddled around in the kitchen talking and getting things ready for dinner. When the girls walked in, the entire house smelled like cooked turkey and homemade sweet rolls. As soon as they took off their jackets, Sunny and Katelyn jumped in to help get everything prepared. As she set the table with Ana, she tried to ignore her urge to go find Gavin. All the women seemed perfectly content doing their own thing and paid no mind to their men in the living room. Like the others, Sunny was well aware of what the guys were doing. Without looking, Sunny knew Bishop had finished frying the turkey and was sprawled out in his big leather recliner with his daughter Sadie sitting in his lap. Goliath, Sheppard, and Bobby were all gathered around him watching SportsCenter. They were talking and munching on Bobby’s famous nacho cheese dip while the other brothers were probably outside building a bonfire for the kids.
Once they’d gotten everything ready, Tessa turned to Sunny and asked, “Do you mind getting the kids for me?”
“Sure, no problem.”
Sunny was just about to walk out the door when Tessa shouted, “Tell the guys out back too, please. They are wor
king on tonight’s bonfire.”
“Okay.”
After she’d gotten the kids inside, Sunny headed around back to get Gavin and the others. Otis and Levi were throwing wood into the fire pit while Gavin and Conner restocked the wood pile behind them. Sunny was filled with a mix of nerves and excitement as she walked over to the guys. She was all set to tell the guys to come inside when Gavin noticed her approaching. He stopped what he was doing and watched as she continued towards them.
“Hey, guys. Tessa said dinner’s ready.”
“Cool,” Levi shouted.
Within seconds, the guys had rushed inside, leaving Gavin outside alone with Sunny.
Sunny stared at him with wonder. It just didn’t seem possible that she could be as happy as she was at that moment. It seemed so easy for others. She’d seen her friends smiling and laughing with ease or talking excitedly about a new movie they’d seen or a new boyfriend. It just came naturally to them, but since the attack, it hadn’t been that way for Sunny. She wanted to be like them, to live without worry and fear, but she couldn’t find the peace within her heart. Drew had stolen that joy from her, and she had yet to find it again—until now. She was finding her way back. She’d taken the hard times that were thrown at her and faced them head on. Each day she was getting stronger, and there was nothing that could stand in her way. She was finally starting to see herself through Gavin’s eyes, and she liked what she saw.
After several seconds, she finally smiled and said, “Hey.”
His tone was soft and inviting. “Come here, Lucky.”
She took a step towards him with no worry of her past, and once he’d wrapped his arms around her waist, there was no worry of her future. With him, she found peace, and that was all that mattered. All her nerves and apprehension melted away as he held her tightly against his chest. She was falling for him, and it felt good—really good.
