I fisted my hands in his shirt. “I want you glued to me all night.”
Austin chuckled. “’Cause that’s gonna be so hard for me.”
I couldn’t help but smile. “Okay.”
“Okay?”
I nodded and he grinned before he kissed me.
“But,” I continued. “I want to stop off at Freddie’s and grab something to contribute.”
“You don’t need to do that, babe,” he countered.
“I was raised that when you are invited to someone’s party, home, get together, whatever, you bring something.” I patted his chest. “So, we’re going to bring something.”
He shook his head. “Okay, baby, we’ll stop.”
“Thank you. Now, seriously. What should I wear?”
“Whatever you want, Dani.”
“Jeans it is... but not as tight as you might require.”
He laughed and patted my bottom. “Five minutes.”
“What? No! I can’t dry my hair in five minutes.”
“Then pull it back,” he said.
“Hell, no,” I snapped. “If I’m meeting your family, then I’m meeting them looking my best.”
“Baby, you’re gorgeous, doesn’t matter what you wear.”
“Flattery will get you nowhere today, now go and let me do my thing.”
“It gets me nowhereeveryday,” he grumbled, and walked out the door.
I blow dried my hair with a stupid grin on my face, and the grin stayed put as Austin ushered me out the door forty minutes later and into his truck. I chose jeans, knee-high black leather boots, a black cardigan and red lace camisole. Casual, but still nice, and Austin’s response after seeing me was to pull me in for another of his mind-blowing kisses, so I felt confident with what I was wearing.
After a quick stop at the supermarket for wine, beer, and a few snack items, we headed into Portland. Austin drove to another sketchy area in North Portland and I was glad we were in his truck. “Where are we?”
“Cully.”
“Are all the businesses in bad areas of town?”
“The ones we don’t want noticed are,” he revealed, and reached over to link his fingers with mine. “I got you.”
“I know,” I said quickly. “I’ve just never been here.”
He chuckled. “That doesn’t surprise me.”
Austin pulled into the large lot of Big Ernie’s Body Shop and parked. I couldn’t help but wonder who Big Ernie was, considering he had two businesses named after him. Austin opened my door and helped me out of the truck before grabbing the bag of groceries from the back. I looped my purse over my shoulder, took Austin’s free hand, and followed him through an unmarked door to the left of what looked like the actual shop.
A dimly lit hallway led to another unmarked door and Austin raised his face to the camera mounted on the ceiling and the door was pulled open. A small foyer with a few easy chairs and a desk with television sat in the space. A couple of bikers sat in the chairs, but they paused their conversation to eye me and Austin.
Austin released me long enough to greet the “brother” who’d granted entry. A man by the name of Cookie.
“Cookie, Dani,” Austin said. “Dani, Cookie.”
