Another four had walls up with a roof but open to the elements and two further houses were at foundation level. It was noisy on the site, but the men all turned to watch as we pulled up, near one of the almost completed houses. It was set back from the others, backing on to the wooded area behind the homes.
Hudson slowed to a stop and held his hand out to the side to help me. I took it without thinking and climbed off the bike, feeling a little wobbly being back on solid ground.
It had been a long time since I’d ridden a bike. Hudson got off and scowled at something over my shoulder. I turned around to see a couple of guys looking our way and my cheeks flushed at the direction of their looks. I smoothed the back of my dress, checking I wasn’t flashing anyone. I wasn’t, but dismounting might not have been that discrete. They hurried away when they realised the giant biker looked on the verge of ripping their heads off.
I turned away from Hudson and glanced around. The club hadn’t owned this land when I was here, so it was weird being on it, seeing what King was building.
“This is for the brothers?” I asked.
“Yeah. Everyone had the option to buy one at a reduced rate. There is more land if we want to expand, so more people can buy. Couple of the guys with families, a few are moving in together, sharing the cost. It’s far enough from the compound that it can be sectioned off if King ever wanted to sell.”
“He wouldn’t do that though, right?”
“No, but he also made sure those who purchased a property knew if they wanted to sell they could,” he pocketed his keys and came to standnext to me, looking over at the construction site. “Another family would just buy. I can’t see anyone wanting to leave once they’ve moved in.”
The club was for life after all.
“I never thought he would build something like this,” I said, sweeping hair back behind my ear to stop it blowing across my face.
“He’s a lot more family orientated these days,” Hudson hooked his thumbs into the belt loops on his jeans. “A lot of guys have kids. It made sense to build them places to stay that are safe for their kids, close to the clubhouse but near enough to the school.”
“I feel like I’ve walked into the twilight zone,” I said with a shake of my head. “It’s all so… suburban.”
“You know that is the furthest thing from the truth,” he scoffed. “The clubhouse is within stumbling distance, if anything, it just makes it easier to work for the club, be on call whenever we’re needed.”
I glanced at him. “What about you?”
“What about me?” he looked down at me, his tone a little too defensive.
“You have a place here?” I asked.
He ran a hand through his hair. I wasn’t sure why he was hesitating. Did he have plans to move in with someone? And why did that thought make me feel uncomfortable?
He turned away and strode towards the house where his bike was parked. When he looked back to see me in the same place, he rolled his eyes. “Come on.”
“Where?” I smiled realising why he had picked this house to show me, small and away from the others, private despite being part of the development.
“Just come on,” he stomped ahead of me.
I scurried after him. The house was a small craftsman style. It had a covered porch with five steps leading up to the front door, which was off to the left-hand side, leaving what was the living area to the right. The roof was low pitched with columns supporting where it overhung on the ground floor. It had large windows and was clad with horizontal wooden siding that was painted a dove grey color. The floor of the porch was dusty, and the door wasn’t a real front door, but he pushed inside and held it open for me to follow him.
The beams in the ceiling were exposed and parts of it hadn’t been dry walled yet, there were wires hanging out where electrical outlets would be placed. The space was fully open with a kitchen in the back right-hand side separated from the rest of the space by a large island, breaking up the room.
There was another door that must have led to a yard area, although there was no landscaping. A large open fireplace was at what I presumed would be the heart of the living area. There was no fire installed, but it was going to be impressive.
Nothing was painted, and the floors were rough and uncovered, but the stairs were built up to the first floor, they were wide, open tread risers with a beautifully carved railing. Hudson’s boots echoed around the space as he stopped near the kitchen counter and turned to look at me.
“This is yours?” I asked.
“Yeah. Two bedrooms figured one could be a gym,” he said, looking more self-conscious than I’d seen him… ever. “Living at the clubhouse was fine when I was officially patched in, but it gets loud and irritating. Figured while they were on offer,” he trailed off.
I walked past him and ran my hand over the kitchen counter, which was solid wood. Seemed like no expense was spared, then went to the windows to look out back. It was close to the woods but there was enough space to make a small rear yard, somewhere to grill, or sit out and enjoy a warm quiet evening.
“Let me show you upstairs,” he cleared his throat and stomped up the stairs.
I followed, coming out on a short landing with three doors off a light and airy hallway. Hudson pointed out the bathroom, spare bedroom and then headed to the last door at the back to the master.
He opened the door, and I breathed out when I walked in past him. The windows were more or less floor to ceiling at the back. There were built-in closets and a small ensuite bathroom which I peeked into, but it was just an empty shell with a few pipes and wires coming out of the walls, where the plumbing would go.
