“If you want a private bathroom, Marcus, the coffee shop has the restrooms done. You’d need shoes because I didn’t sweep after the workmen left yesterday,” Gunner offered.
“Can I, Mom?” Marcus said, bouncing on his toes.
“Sure,” she said, handing him his shoes to slip on.
Gunner led Marcus through the kitchen and left him in the bathroom after making sure the stalls had toilet paper.
Gunner spent his time staring out at the van where the woman who had knocked him off-kilter was getting ready. The visceral reaction he had to her had never happened before with anyone. He’d been attracted to women, but this was different. He rubbed at the strange ache in his chest and down his abdomen.
“I’m done,” Marcus said.
Gunner turned around and grinned. “It’s nice to have some privacy, isn’t it?”
Marcus rolled his eyes. “Everybody poops but every time, Michelle has to comment how it smells or about any fart sounds. She’s annoying.”
Gunner chuckled. “Yep, I get you. I have an older brother and a younger brother. My older brother was perfect. And my younger brother could make friends with anyone. It’s hard having siblings sometimes. But when you need them, they’ve got your back.”
Marcus seemed to be considering his words but was stopped from replying when Rachel and Michelle came into the kitchen.
“Is it pancake time? I’m Michelle, but Mom and Marcus call me Chelle. Are you nice? If you are, you can call me Chelle too,” she said, grinning at Gunner, with a gap where she was missing a front tooth. Both kids resembled their mom in looks.
Did it make him weird that he wanted to protect both of them from ever being hurt?
“I think I’m nice, but maybe you should ask Clara. I know she’d tell the truth,” Gunner replied. He wasn’t taking her question lightly. Her question, coupled with Marcus’ behavior, hadGunner worrying about what had happened to them before they came to Bluff Creek.
“Who is ready for pancakes? I’m starving,” Rachel said, smiling and making faces at her kids. The joy radiating from this woman made him want to soak it all in.
Gunner led them through the front of the shop, with Rachel oohing and aahing about how she couldn’t wait to get started. Seeing her excitement increased his own. This shop was going to be such a fun space when they were done. They reached the quiet street out front; Rachel grabbed both kids’ hands and skipped across the street, the little kids’ giggles bringing a smile to his face.
“Skip with me, Gunner,” Michelle called, and darned if he could tell her no.
He grasped her hand and skipped across the street with the kids. He stepped ahead to open the door for them to the diner, waiting for all three to go in before following. He stifled his groan at the look of Rachel’s butt cupped in her jeans. She was a tiny thing, only coming to his shoulders. Gunnerwas six foot three, and she made him think of a pixie when she stood beside him.
“We can sit at the table with the reserved sign. It’s for anyone connected with the MC,” Gunner said, leading the family over to the table and helping Michelle move her chair closer.
Chapter Three
Rachel breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed like she could relax now that they were here and had been welcomed by so many people. Right as their pancakes were delivered, Clara walked in with Beth and Flick.
Michelle and Marcus immediately ran into her arms for hugs. After the hugs, Clara introduced Gunner’s brother and his wife, Beth, who had come up with the idea for Broken Hearts Brewing.
The kids had eaten and chatted with the adults, soaking up the attention from someone besides their mom. Rachel agreed that Clara was right. The fluffy pancakes, crispy bacon, and scrambled eggs had been perfect.
“Well, who do we have here?” a man in one of the Bluff Creek vest thingies said. His vest said his name was Dex. She wondered if it stood for anything.
“Hey, Dex, this is Rachel and her children, Marcus and Michelle. Rachel is going to be helping out at Broken Hearts,” Beth said.
“It’s nice to meet you all. I need to grab the take-out for the gun range. Welcome to Bluff Creek,” Dex said, walking away.
He wasn’t unfriendly but him almost running away was a little strange.
“Now that everyone’s almost done with breakfast, do you want to explore the town, or would you like to get your stuff moved into your house?” Clara asked.
“Our house, please, Mom,” Michelle and Marcus said.
She grinned at their excitement. “I think that sounds perfect.”
“How about Flick, Beth, and I take the kids with us? Gunner, can you drive Rachel to the compound?” Clara said.
