Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 88736 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88736 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
I let out a sigh and tilted my face to the sun as Curt backed the bike out of the garage a couple of minutes later. The weather was actually nice for once, not sweltering hot and muggy like it had been for the past few weeks. I loved the heat, and I was used to it, but even with the air conditioning in the house, sometimes our bedrooms upstairs got really warm. Surprisingly, I was kind of looking forward to the rainy weather that everyone promised me was coming.
“You’re so fuckin’ beautiful,” Curt said, making me tip my head back down. “Jesus.”
I glanced down at myself. I was wearing an old pair of black cut-off jeans, a gray T-shirt, and, since we were riding the Harley, a pair of scuffed black Dr. Martens Chelsea boots. Nothing especially enticing.
“You just think that because I sucked your dick last night,” I joked as I walked toward him.
“Didn’t hurt,” he conceded as he handed me his helmet. “You ready for this?”
I nodded and put the helmet on before climbing on behind him.
This was a barbecue at the club for just the brothers and their old ladies. Most of the gatherings were for families, and we’d gone to them with the kids as a buffer, but this time we were told to leave them home. Curtis said he didn’t think that it would get rowdy, just that it was a time set apart where the adults could gather without a bunch of kids underfoot.
I was actually kind of looking forward to it. We’d spent enough time around Curtis’s family by then that I didn’t feel uncomfortable or nervous around them anymore. His parents had been unfailingly nice to me, asking me questions and making an effort to get to know me and the kids. Plus, we saw Draco and Kara and the girls a couple of times a week, and I was pretty sure if Dylan wasn’t a factor, Finn would’ve said that his two best friends were their girls, Mia and Kenzie. The rest of the people at the barbecues were introducing themselves and getting to know us a little slower, which I appreciated, and Curtis was surprised by. He said normally they were a lot more overwhelming.
Straightening as far as I could, I watched over Curtis’s shoulder as we pulled onto our street and waved to Kara as she and Draco pulled up beside us. My fear was completely gone now. We didn’t get to ride as often as we hoped because I didn’t like to leave the kids alone more than we had to, but without fail, if we headed to the compound, we were on the bike. It was enough of a reason for me to look forward to whatever club events were happening. Curtis’s sister-in-law and I had even started discussing trips we could take on the bikes. The idea felt like a pipe dream, but I hoped someday we would be in a place where that was a possibility.
When we parked in front of the club, I gave Curt a squeeze and climbed down, automatically reaching for the buckle on my helmet.
“You two planned that, didn’t you?” I asked with a laugh, nodding at Draco.
“Just good timing,” Curt countered with a smile.
“They share a brain,” Kara called out to me. “Just wait. Once you notice it, you won’t be able to unnotice it.”
“That’s so sweet,” I teased as Curtis threw his arm over my shoulders.
“Baby, I think you’ve got a fucked impression of me,” he replied, leaning down to bite playfully at my neck. “Can’t remember anyone else ever callin’ me sweet.”
“Mom does,” Draco argued.
“Anyone outside my mom,” Curtis corrected. “And that’s ’cause she has to.”
People were coming in and out of the building, sitting at the picnic tables, and visiting in groups here and there, but it was far less crowded without everyone’s families present. Curtis led me to a table filled with older women, and I grinned as his grandma, Farrah, hopped up and looked me over.
“Gorgeous,” she said firmly, looking between me and Kara. “Hell, these boys hit the jackpot. Don’t ever let them convince you otherwise.”
“Like that would ever happen,” Kara replied, moving in for a hug. “Draco knows exactly how lucky he is.”
“That’s right,” Farrah said, winking at me over Kara’s shoulder. When she let go, she moved straight for me. Instead of trying for a hug, she cupped my cheek and smoothed her hand down my hair. “Good to see you, Teddy.”
“You too.”
Farrah was loud and opinionated and seemed to thrive on pissing her husband off, but she’d also been one of the first people to instigate a relationship with me and the kids.
“Hey, girls,” Callie called.
“Hey, Gram,” Kara replied, rounding the table to kiss her on the cheek. “What are you guys playing?”