“No problem. I’m getting the thermal things for if you want them later today or tomorrow. After we get them and some of the chocolate, you’regoing home to relax on the couch with a heating pad, either to read or watch TV, got it?” Gunner asked.
“Yes, sir,” Rachel smarted back.
“Hmmm, I like the sound of that, but let’s table that discussion until you’re feeling one hundred percent,” Gunner quipped.
Oh my! She may feel like crap, but Gunner’s words had her wondering if, just maybe, he was the perfect man for her.
Chapter Eleven
Gunner pulled the apple tarts out of the oven. He and Rachel had spent the last week working through how everything would be set up and how to situate the make-your-own bookmark station. Yesterday, they’d decided to ask for volunteers to run through some of the options before their opening next month.
Rachel had set up two craft stations. Some of the books she’d ordered were on the shelf but not all. A large delivery was coming next week, and there were at least ten boxes sitting in their office that needed to be added to inventory and put on the shelf.
He’d had to chuckle a little at the mulish face Rachel had given him after they’d picked up the thermal packs, and he’d taken her back home.He’d gone into the house with her, then dug through the van until he found her heating pad.
He’d left her with the admonishment to rest and to text him what she’d like for lunch. Just to be a smart-ass, she’d texted pizza with mushrooms, beef and black olives. He’d gone to the clubhouse kitchen and whipped up a homemade pizza along with some garlic bread. The shock on her face when he brought her the homemade meal had him wondering if her husband had ever done anything nice.
Rachel had felt better by Tuesday, and they’d accomplished a lot this week, including him calling the Saint’s Outlaws MC for help. He and Rachel had talked through what had happened with Justice’s wife, Adley, who was a criminal lawyer but said she had some colleagues she would check with for availability. Gunner had also requested aGet Welldelivery from Ruthy’s Flower Shop if the Saint’s Outlaws MC could find her husband. He might not have explained to Rachel that aGet Welldelivery wasn’t actually flowers, but a beatdown delivered by one of the Saint’sOutlaws MC members. He didn’t lie because she didn’t ask any questions about it.
He plated the tarts and brought them out to the counter. Instead of checking people out, all the food was laid on top of the cases for them to help themselves.
Two little people who’d burrowed into his heart more with each interaction ran over.
“Those smell good,” Marcus said. Chelle nodded beside him.
“You can have some as soon as the filling cools a little. It would burn your mouth if you bit into them right now,” Gunner cautioned.
“Okay, I’m going to…”
“It is I, Prospect Finn, tasked with fighting for the rights of majestic unicorns. How may I be of service to the realm?” Finn asked.
Gunner laughed along with everyone else. Finn had his pink unicorn and rainbow backpack slung over his shoulder and was waiting for his instructions.
Phoebe walked over to Finn and whispered something. He knelt down on the floor by her,putting his hand over his heart and whispering something back. What Gunner wouldn’t give to know what Phoebe had said.
Gunner tested the heat of the tarts.
“Okay, they’re good if you want to take them to share with everyone,” Gunner said. Marcus grinned and picked up the tray.
Finn walked over, laying his backpack down. “I’m at your disposal for whatever you need done.”
“First, I’m going to need to know what Phoebe said and who added the penalty of having to announce yourself like that,” Gunner asked, motioning Finn to follow him into the kitchen.
“Phoebe said that I should learn from my mistakes and never disrespect one of her friends,” Finn said, walking over and washing his hands.
“You mean, Phoebe came up with that for you to say and convinced someone to add it to the penalty?” Gunner asked, handing Finn a bowl of chocolate cookies to roll in powdered sugar.
“Yep. I guess she gave her idea to Bear and he called War. Since it came from the kids, War tackedit on to the penalty. You can guarantee I’m going to watch my words from now on,” Finn muttered.
Gunner chuckled. “Good idea. Finish those, bake them for 12 minutes, then remove. After that, you can be in charge of drinks tonight.”
Gunner headed out to the front and found Phoebe. “High-five, Pheebs. I’m proud of you for standing up for your friends.”
Phoebe grinned that mischievous smile that he rarely saw her without. Man, with Chelle having friends like Phoebe, maybe he needed to propose a bigger fence at the compound. Who knows who Phoebe might irritate by the time she was in high school?
Rachel waved goodbye to Roam, Sprite, and her children. It was late. Sprite said she would takeMarcus and Chelle to Rachel’s house to get them started on baths.
Rachel and Gunner had a few things to pick up before they closed for the night. The kids had adored their craft area. The build-your-own bookshelf area and decorate-your-own bookmark were a success.
