Nash ignored them, heading straight for me. “Come outside?”
I was bent over the glass-washer, fixing the loose pipe at the back. I straightened, wiping my hands. “Want me to grab you a beer first?”
Nash waved the offer away. “No rest for the wicked.”
He was one of the least wicked men I knew.
I followed him outside.
Nash took a seat on my favourite step and gestured for me to do the same. “Sorry you got pulled into that earlier. If it all caved in, every brother in that room would swear blind you weren’t there.”
“I know that.”
“Good.” Nash lit a smoke and exhaled roughly. “I’m on my way to see Cam, but I already know he’s going to double down on security, so I’m making the decision now to put Folk on your house when Ivy’s with you.”
“Onmy house?”
“Or in it. Whatever. He’s an agreeable dude. If you’d rather he stood outside all night, he’ll do it.”
“I don’t want that.” Fuck no. “I mean, I don’t want anyone standing outside all night.”
Nash nodded. “However you want to work it is fine by me, but the principle is non-negotiable. I can’t have anyone living alone right now.”
Mixed emotions churned me up. Apprehension.Anxiety. But the thrill in my heart was the loudest. If Folk wasn’t outside my house, he’d be in it. All night long. However terrible the circumstances, there was no avoiding how much that appealed to me. “Uh. We’ll figure it out.”
Nash clapped my shoulder. “Thanks, man. One less thing to worry about, eh? You can kip here when Ivy’s at her mum’s. In fact, can you stay here tonight? You’re on the rig first thing anyway, right?”
“Leaving at six. I can catch a few hours in the bunkhouse—”
“Nah. That shithole isn’t for you. Take my bed. I’ll be gone all night anyway.”
It rankled me that Nash was perfectly happy for Folk to sleep in a place he deemed a shithole. Then I remembered that he’d tried everything to convince Folk to take Embry’s room in the residence, and Folk had refused.
Maybe he didn’t want to sleep in another man’s bed.
I didn’t fancy sleeping in Nash’s, but I kept that to myself. Nash looked tired and stressed. I wasn’t going to add to that by telling him I’d be fine kipping in the bar.
“For what it’s worth,” he said after a protracted pause, “I’m sorry this is fucking up your life. You could live in Cam’s rooms upstairs, but I figured Lauren wouldn’t have it.”
He wasn’t wrong. “It’s not fucking up my life.”
“I’m making you move a virtual stranger into your house.”
“It’s not my house, and Folk’s not a stranger. I like him. Ivy likes him. Of anyone you could’ve forced on me, I’m glad it’s him.”
As I spoke the words, Bear appeared in the yard, weaving his way to his bike, five pints deep.
Nash rumbled a growl. “If he swings a leg over that hog, I’m putting him down.”
I kept my mouth shut. My dislike for Bear was based on nothing but a feeling. An instinct. Anyone else could make their own mind up.
Bear didn’t get on his bike. He took a seat on the bench next to it and fell asleep.
Nash sighed. “I can’t berate a man for getting bladdered and knocking out. I’m just glad he’s not a brother.”
“That likely to happen? He’s pretty tight with River, isn’t he?”
“It’s more that River’s shit at doing people dirty. Didn’t want to see him out of work when the garage went up. Orla thinks he’s a creep.”
