If Flick would have described the warm feeling washing over him from holding his woman, Gunner would have not believed him. But today with Rachel, he was experiencing it for himself.
Why did having her by his side make him feel he could accomplish anything?
Rachel listened to the kids pepper Gunner with so many questions. After finishing at the farm, they’d headed to the diner. Since they’d sat down, her kids hadn’t given him a break.
He didn’t get irritated or shush them, which they’d experienced before. He took them one by one and answered them. A couple times when he hadn’t known the answer, he’d admitted he hadn’t been here long enough. Instead of ignoring what he didn’t know, he’d called Flick, which had Flick and Beth joining them. He’d also asked Slice a question. Ten minutes later, Slice’s wife, Faith, with their kids had shown up.
The look on her kids’ faces when Isaiah, Micah, and Deborah had sat down was priceless. Of course, Faith had asked Rachel if she wanted to hold their one-year-old, and Rachel had jumped at the chance. He was sitting on her lap, picking up the little pieces of food Faithhad cut up for him.
She was in a diner with her kids and people she’d met a couple weeks ago. She was closer to them than she’d ever been with her family. This feeling for the family she’d found was something she’d always dreamed of.
There was that one niggling issue that was keeping her from giving Gunner the green light and opening up her heart fully.
“Having deep thoughts?” Beth asked.
Rachel nodded. She didn’t want to share in front of everyone, especially the kids, but she did need some advice.
“How about after we all finish lunch, you, Faith, and I can go chat? Flick, Slice, and Gunner could take the kids to the park while we talk,” Beth offered.
“I think that would be a good idea,” Rachel said. She had an idea, but it would help if she had some other opinions. Sometimes when she was in a situation, she couldn’t see all the moving pieces.
“Trust me. Whatever your issue, we can figure it out. If I think it’s more involved, we’ll enlist some of the others. I consider you a friend, Rachel. You,Gunner, and the kids look happy together. I’ll do anything that’s needed to make that be permanent for you. If that’s what you want,” Beth said.
Rachel nodded because her throat was too full to speak. Meeting Clara online must have been fate because since coming to Bluff Creek, Rachel had been welcomed, accepted, and given the chance to think of what she truly wanted.
She glanced over at Gunner. He must have felt her eyes on him because he turned toward her and winked. How the heck could his wink convey so much to her?
She was going to meet with Beth, and they were going to get her situation figured out. She had a beautiful life that she deserved to experience with Gunner.
Chapter Thirteen
Gunner had fun hanging with the kids and then working with Rachel. He’d discussed his idea with Rachel, and she’d adored it.
Now he was waiting for his victims—well brothers in the brotherhood—to show up and help him out.
“Okay, I’m here. The party can start,” Dex called as he and Halligan walked in.
“You didn’t say it was a council meeting, so Dex said I could tag along,” Halligan said.
“Hey, the more the merrier,” Gunner said. He wondered if they’d all be so excited when they heard what he had planned. He had gotten his President on board because it never hurt to have an ace in the hole.
War,Roam, Flick, Brody, Scoop, and Stone walked in together. The line of bikes parked out front was growing.
“Cannon said he’d be here but had to fish something out of the toilet that Hank had dropped,” War said.
“While we’re waiting, I’ve got ice-cold beers here and snacks if you want to eat,” Gunner said.
Roam walked over and snagged a beer. “I feel like you’re trying to bribe us,” he said.
War chuckled, grabbing a couple and passing them out.
Baron, Rascal, and Locks walked in together.
“Did we miss it?” Locks asked.
“Miss what?” Stone asked.
“I haven’t got to see Finn riding the motorbike or announcing himself when he comes in. I didn’t want to miss it,” Locks said.
