“Oh, you don’t have to do that. I can drive myself,” she instantly offered. Wiping my hands on a dishtowel, I walked over to her and gently grabbed her shoulders.
“I’d like to take you myself. I’d like to see you again before my family does something to make you run away.”
“I like your family. Plus, something tells me Charlie would track me down somehow,” she muttered, looking anywhere but at me.
“She’s not the only one,” I whispered, taking a step closer to her. With a finger under her chin, I tilted her face up so I could press a soft kiss to her lips.
“So? I’ll call you tomorrow when I’m on my way to pick you up?” I asked, sliding my thumb over her bottom lip.
Her eyes fluttered open, and eventually, she nodded. Smiling, I kissed her again before pulling myself away.
“Alright, come lock up behind me. I don’t have much control around you, so I better leave while I still can,” I joked, but didn’t miss the flash of heat in her gaze.
I grabbed her hand, gently pulling her with me to the door. Unable to resist, I kissed her one last time before ripping myself away. Enjoying the dazed look on her face, I finally opened the door.
“Baby, lock up behind me, okay?” I said, and she gave a jerky nod.
I closed the door behind me, waiting outside until I heard every lock, bolt, and chain slide into place. Only then was I able to drag myself away from the woman standing on the other side.
Chapter 8
Fiona
In those hazy moments between sleep and awake, I remembered Bash’s lips on mine. I allowed myself to indulge in the memory, recalling the taste and feel of him, unsure of whether it would happen again. It was a situation I had no way of navigating.
I wasn’t trying to play hard to get, but I also knew enough about life not to overthink a few kisses. Sex was clearly far more frequent and casual in the MC world, and I didn’t want to make a big deal out of something that could have simply happened out of habit for a guy like Bash.
Even though I had never been to the clubhouse, I could only imagine the type of women Bash was surrounded by on a regular basis. At that point, we were basically strangers. I was nothing more than his little sister’s new friend.There is no point in making it a big deal and risking the one relationship I know is real—my friendship with Charlie.
With that thought in mind, I hopped out of bed and got the coffee machine going. As I stood in front of the machine, the methodic drips acted as a metronome for my racing mindset. I decided to push all thoughts of Bash out of my mind for the moment and focused instead on dinner at Guard and Cece’s.
I wasn’t exactly taught manners or proper guest etiquette, growing up, but I knew I would feel strange showing up empty-handed. I didn’t care or know enough about wines to pick out agood one, so I decided I would bake a dessert to bring. Looking at the clock, I started planning in my head. If I went to the store soon, I would have enough time to make my famous cheesecake.
The coffee pot beeped, and I filled my favorite mug, topping it off with vanilla creamer. Hypnotized by the first taste, I stood in my kitchen, unseeing as I gulped down that first cup. My phone started beeping with message notifications, breaking me out of my reverie just in time for a refill. Grabbing it, I saw a text from Match asking me if I wanted to swing by the comic book shop with him.
I replied quickly, letting him know I couldn’t make it because I needed to go to the store, and within a minute, he replied that he would take me. I smiled, genuinely enjoying my time with Match. I also wanted to make sure he was okay with me blowing up his spot the night before. I knew it was private, but I was just so freaking proud of him. I couldn’t keep it to myself. He really was incredibly talented.
After a quick shower, I was dressed and making a list before triple-checking my cabinets to make sure I didn’t miss anything. I got a text that Match was downstairs, and when I left the building, I was surprised to see him in a pickup truck rather than on his bike. I assumed we would have taken my car, so that was a pleasant surprise.
“So what are we getting? More stuff for lasagna?” he asked, looking hopeful. I laughed at his childlike grin before responding.
“I was going to make a cheesecake to bring to Guard and Cece’s tonight, but since you’re helping me, why don’t you pick a meal, and I’ll make you a casserole so you have food for the whole weekend.”
“Aw, you don’t have to do that,” he said, his cheeks turning pink.
“It’s not a problem. Once I’m in the kitchen, it is easy to multitask. You can stay and keep me company while I cook.”
“Do you know how to make mac and cheese? Like the homemade kind in the oven, not from the mix?” he asked me, his voice hesitant.
“Yeah, I can handle that. Alright, c’mon. We’ve got a shit ton of cheese to buy!” I cheered as he parked in the supermarket lot.
He shook his head at me before hopping down and slowly following me into the market. He grabbed a cart and trailed behind me as I tossed different items into it. When it was time to check out, I was shocked when Match pushed me away so he could pay for everything.
“It’s on the club. Bash’s orders,” he said, which confused me even more. But I kept silent, not wanting to insult anyone and knowing that, technically, Bash was Match’s boss—at least, within the club hierarchy.
We made it back to my apartment, and Match carried all of the groceries up himself, ignoring my offers to help. Once we unloaded all the ingredients, he planted himself at the kitchen table, eyeing the pile of food.
“So, dinner with the parents. That’s a big step,” he said, causing me to whip around with a speed I didn’t know I was capable of.
