Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 76203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
But it wasn’t until something very fluffy was put into my lap and it moved that I had any clue of just how much I would love it.
My eyes shot open.
And there it was.
A little ball of tan fur with a smushed black face.
A Pekingese puppy.
I couldn’t explain the sound that escaped me then. All I can say was that it was loud and embarrassing. As were the tears that filled my eyes.
“Oh, my God!” I squeaked, hand moving over its soft fur. “You’re so cute! How? Where?” I asked, looking between Detroit and Colter.
“Lucked out and found one just a couple hours away,” Colter said. “Detroit kinda made a throwaway comment about how you’d love a Pekingese puppy. I… made it happen.”
I wanted to tell him that, one day, he would make a woman so incredibly happy. I felt like maybe that would seem insensitive, given that he’d already had a woman and she’d betrayed him.
In time, I was sure he would heal from that. Then find a woman who would appreciate him and all he had to offer.
Until then, I guess I—and all the other club women—got to enjoy his kindness and generosity.
“Is it a boy or girl?” I asked as it sniffed and licked my hand.
“Girl,” Colter said. “Ten weeks,” he explained, smiling at my enjoyment.
I reached out my good arm, grabbing his hand, and giving it a squeeze.
“Thank you. Really.”
“Don’t thank me. I was just her transportation. This was your man’s idea,” Colter said, giving the puppy a little pet, then moving away.
“Don’t thank me,” Detroit demanded when I turned to him as the puppy hopped over into his lap, looking comically small against his tree-trunk thighs. “I think we’re gonna need to have Coach build her some steps for the furniture,” he added as she almost fell off his leg.
“Oh, wait,” I gasped as Detroit let her down onto the floor, and she made a beeline for Cat. “Oh,” I said, surprised when Cat let her walk all over him, then turned and started licking her. “I guess she kind of is the size of a kitten,” I mused.
“You have to think of a name for her,” he told me.
“Betty,” I said automatically.
“Let me guess,” Detroit said, shooting a smirk in my direction. “It’s from a song.”
“It is,” I agreed, beaming at him.
“Is Everleigh awa—“ Slash’s voice started. “Christ, how did a dust bunny come alive?” he asked as he looked down at Betty as she ran toward him, jumping all over his feet.
“Probably should have asked first,” Detroit said, looking guilty.
“Right. Because this thing is taking up so much space,” Slash said with a head shake. “How you feeling, babe?” he asked, looking at me.
In love.
Over the moon.
So full of joy that I was going to burst.
“I’m good,” I told him with a nod. “Is everything okay?”
“I just… the news this morning,” he said, waving toward the TV. “It’s all over. You might want to call your mom and sister. I dunno how far this will spread, but I figure you want it coming from you, not the media.”
“Oh,” I said, some of that joy slipping away.
“How about we take Betty upstairs and you call your mom while you play with her on the bed?” Detroit asked. “Make it a little easier.”
“Right,” I agreed. “Thanks, Slash,” I said as I stood.
Then I got to watch the hulking Detroit chase after the lightning-fast Betty across the lower level, trying to catch her.
By the time we made it back upstairs, I had a smile on my face again as I dialed my mom’s number.
I won’t lie.
It wasn’t easy.
First, because I’d been keeping a lot from her for a long time.
Second, because of the whole drug angle and the county jail parts.
Detroit had given me privacy to talk to her, which I was glad for. Because I segued from the talk about being framed for drug distribution and into what was happening with Detroit.
“He got you a puppy?” my mom asked, her voice tight.
“He did. She’s asleep on my lap,” I told her.
“And he sat with you all day at the doctor?”
“He did,” I confirmed.
“Oh, honey. He sounds amazing,” she said.
“He’s, ah, he’s a biker,” I told her, not sure how to explain this part to her, or how much information to give her about what that meant.
“I dated a biker once!” she said, making my brows shoot up.
“Really?”
“Really. I was young. My girlfriend dragged me to a party at a biker clubhouse. There was a guy there… oh, those were some fun few months,” she said, lost in the memory. “I’m so happy you found your person, honey. Can I meet him when I come to town?”
“Definitely,” I agreed. “Bayleigh already knows him. Not well, but she’s met him a few times.”
“I can’t wait to pester her for details,” she said. “If you want, I can tell your sister about this. I can ease her into it, so she doesn’t get too upset.”