Soaking up his southern charm, I folded my hands and smiled. “That’s sweet of you, Bull.” It felt weird to call him by his strange road name, but if that’s what he wanted, I’d respect his wishes. As long as he respected mine. “But I’m not just some lady. I go head to head with hardened criminals every day. Trust me when I tell you I can handle sex talk, swear words, and club talk. I’m not going to melt or wither away, or whatever the people who made those rules believe. The one thing I can’t handle is liars or people who aren’t real with themselves or with me. So, I need you to know you can always be yourself around me. Swear words and all. Say what you mean, and I’ll let you know if you cross any lines. Trust me, I’ve put bigger men than you in their place.”
He stared at me. “I… I believe you, ma’am.”
“Good, because I mean every word.” I stood, collecting the platter of cookie crumbs. “Are you full yet?”
He chuckled again, rubbing his stomach. “Yes ma’am. Thank you.”
* * *
Bull and I spent Saturday morning at the gym, and then we hit the grocery store, ran errands, and arrived home in the early afternoon to clean house. I put on Pink’s latest album, handed him a broom, and directed him toward the hardwood floors.
He shook his head, chuckling, but didn’t mutter one word of protest before getting to work. As he swept and steam mopped, I scrubbed down the bathrooms, did laundry, and cleaned the kitchen. Dinner time rolled around, and we were starving and exhausted, but the house was spotless. I called for a pizza, which we ate in front of the television. Then we stayed up way too late to binge watch the rest of Jessica Jones.
And I decided, unwanted babysitter or not, I kind of liked having the kid around.
Grandma and I had brunch together every Sunday morning. I was ninety-nine percent sure Bull wasn’t the type to snap and go all ax murderer, but I’d only known him for a few days and I didn’t take chances when it came to my grandma. Before my grandpa had died, he’d made me promise to look after her. I’d never ever broken a promise to my grandpa, and I wasn’t about to start now. Still, Grandma would worry if I bailed on brunch, so I called Jayson and asked him to pick her up and join us at her favorite greasy spoon restaurant.
As Bull and I were getting ready to head out, a knock sounded on my front door.
Curious, I glanced at Bull. “You expecting someone?”
The kid couldn’t even hold my gaze. He immediately looked away.
Link. I didn’t even have to answer the door to know it was him. With the way my skin caught fire, my heart sped up, and all my private places tingled, it couldn’t be anyone else. My body was excited to see him again, but my brain wasn’t so sure.
Feeling more than a little betrayed, I snapped, “You could have at least warned me.”
Bull ducked. “I know. I’m sorry. He asked me not to.”
Link knocked again.
I glanced at my reflection in the hallway mirror, straightening my hair and wiping away any smudged mascara like I was some self-conscious teenager, before rolling my eyes at myself and hurrying to answer the door.
A beautiful bouquet of Gerber daisies, tiger lilies, and sunflowers greeted me. The flowers lowered and extended, revealing Link’s sexy face.
“Hey, these are for you,” he said somewhat awkwardly. “You don’t have allergies, do you?”
The big, bad biker had brought me flowers, and he was concerned about my reaction to them.
“No. They’re beautiful. Thank you.” Butterflies danced in my stomach as I accepted the bouquet. He followed me in the house, joining Bull in the living room as I continued on to the kitchen to find a vase and set them on the table.
The guys were talking quietly, and when I returned, they stopped. Both stared at me, as if waiting for something.
“Thanks again for the flowers, but what are you doing here?” I asked Link.
“I’m relieving Bull for the day.” He turned toward Bull and added, “There’s a poker tournament going down at the club, and it’ll be a good opportunity for you to meet some of the other brothers. Have a good time.”
“Thank you.” Bull started toward the door, then hesitated, looking to me.
Was he asking my permission to leave me with Link? For that matter, did I want to be alone with Link? Last time I’d been fucked soundly, and although the experience was incredible, it would be a bad idea to repeat it. Bull was my bodyguard, and although I’m sure Link could guard my body just fine, I felt immensely safer with the kid.
Link tensed, and I realized he’d see Bull’s hesitation as a blow to his authority. As much as I’d rather have Bull stick around, I didn’t want to get him in trouble. I smiled encouragingly.
“See you later,” he said, heading out the door.
Link’s expression turned from annoyed to thoughtful as he studied me. Wondering what was going on in his mind, but too afraid to ask, I reached for my coat.
“We were about to head out for brunch with my grandma, but I’m sure you already know that.”
