“That doesn’t sound so bad.”
“For the rest of the summer.It was the middle of June.I had to mow his grass once a week until mid-September.”If he could smile about it now, she figured it must not have been too bad.Or, maybe it was a long time ago.
“It’s December.What do you think he’ll have you do this time?”Maybe if it wasn’t too outlandish, she could help him with it so it felt like she did her part to pay back Bacon.
“Hard to tell.”He set his mug down and turned toward the stove.“I was waiting for you to wake up before I made your pancakes.How many do you want?”
“Thanks, but I don’t want any.I think I just want toast and butter this morning.I don’t have time to eat if I want to have Oliver at school on time, and I have an appointment this morning.I should get dressed.”She got to her feet, needing to get her butt in gear.
“What kind of appointment and what time do you need to be there?”Jed topped off his coffee and watched her over the rim.
“I have a doctor's appointment this morning.”She held up a hand when he would have asked more.“It’s been scheduled for a week.I’m just getting,” she checked the hall to see where Oliver was at, “birth control,” she whispered so the nosey boy didn’t overhear and start asking questions.
“Oh, really?”Jed sauntered his way to her, settling his hands on her hips.He pulled her in close, so she was forced to tip her head back to see him.
“Yes.Really.”She let her hands roam over his firm chest, then up and over his shoulders, ending behind his neck.Her fingers absently played with the silky strands of his hair.
“When is your appointment?”he asked.“And where is it?”
“It’s at 8:30, and it’s in the doctors' complex across town.”
Jed frowned.“You’ll never make it there on time.I’ll drop Oliver off at school on my way to church.That way you won’t have to rush.Traffic this time of the morning will be bad.”
“Are you sure you want to take him?If I hurry and dress, I can drop him off and still make my appointment.”
“It’s not a problem.”He leaned down and kissed her.“I’m going to have Miles or Cutter drive you.”
“Do you really think it’s necessary?”She wasn’t sure she liked the idea of one of the prospects tagging along.
“Yes.After last night, we can’t take any chances.”He brushed his finger along her cheek, his eyes intent on hers.“I’ll tell them to wait downstairs while you see the doctor.”
She agreed.After last night, she was a little leery of going anywhere by herself.It just proved to her how easy it was for Tinker or his friend to get their hands on her.“Okay.That I can do.”
“Seeing you on the ground last night and finding all that blood on you scared the hell out of me.The thought of Tinker getting his hands on you,” he couldn’t finish the sentence.His eyes drifted to her mouth as he lowered his head, his intention clear.
“Sadie!Where’s my present for the party?”Oliver shouted from his room.
She bit into her bottom lip and snickered at Jed’s deep frown.“That boy is a cock blocker.”
She couldn’t help it.Her head dropped back, and she laughed because she completely agreed.“I need to go help him get his stuff together.”
“Go ahead.I’ll call Cutter and have him take you to the doctor.”He kissed her quickly, then steered her toward the hall and swatted her butt as she walked away.
She hurried to get Oliver organized so that Jed was able to head out the door with him by 7:35.It was pushing it to have him there by 7:45, but he would still have plenty of time before the bell rang.She kissed them both goodbye, then hurried to get dressed.She needed to be at her appointment early in order to fill out paperwork.Although she didn’t have insurance, she’d made sure to ask them how much it would be out of pocket and transferred that amount from her savings account to cover it.There was no way she could have afforded an E.R.visit last night, and there was no way she was going to let Jed pay for it.
A knock at the door told her Cutter had arrived.Time to go.
* * *
Jed
Chance and his crew were leaving the Sons' clubhouse as Jed was pulling in.He waved at the three black Chevy Suburbans with their heavily tinted windows as they passed him by.Chance had his window down, smiling like an idiot and giving him a two-finger salute.He shook his head and laughed as he watched them pull off the lot from his rearview mirror.He liked most of Chance’s men; they were fun to hang with and great to have at your back during a fight.Except Reaper.He couldn’t quite figure that guy out.
He jumped out of his truck and hurried inside, wanting to get out of the cold, cutting wind.He stopped by the bar and got a cup of coffee from Miles, then carried on to church.Everyone was already seated, and it looked like they were waiting for him.
“All right.Let’s get this shit going.”Race dropped the gavel, calling the meeting to order.“First thing I want to know is if anyone has gotten eyes on Tinker?”
A lot of no’s and grumbled fuckers, but that was about it for responses.
