When I noticed Willow had the alligator Rev had given her in the crook of her arm, I nudged him. “Looks like someone really likes her present.”
Rev grinned. He then went over and bestowed a kiss on Willow’s cheek. “You like that ugly old alligator, huh?”
Willow nodded and then craned her neck to stare up at Rev. “You cut off your beard.”
“I did. Do you like it?”
“Oh yes. It tickled too much when you kissed me.”
Rev laughed. “Then I’m glad I shaved it off.”
Once Bishop returned in a shirt and jeans, Beth asked Rev to say grace. When he finished, I happily dug in. Beth had made pancakes, which were a favorite of mine. I had to wonder if Rev had somehow managed to tell her.
As I sat around the table with them, listening to their conversation and laughter, I tried to imagine myself a partof their world. While everything felt comfortable and familiar between them, I couldn’t help wondering how they handled the danger that being a part of the biker world held. As unsure as I was about my future, I didn’t know how I could ever fit in here.
When I was so full I thought I might pop, I placed my napkin on the table. “Did you get enough to eat, Annabel?” Beth asked.
“Oh yes. More than enough. Everything was delicious.”
Beth beamed at my compliment. “I’m so glad you enjoyed it.”
“Do you feel up for a walk?” Rev asked.
“Sure. What did you have in mind?”
“There’s somewhere I’d really like to show you,” he replied, with a shy smile.
I returned his smile. “Okay.”
Like the true gentleman he was, Rev held out his hand for me. I slipped mine into his and let him pull me up from my chair. “Wait, shouldn’t we help clean up?” I asked.
Beth shook her head. “You two go on. The fresh air will be good for you, and there’s a storm supposed to move in later today.”
“Okay. If you’re sure.”
“I’m positive,” Beth replied, with a smile.
With a nod to his brothers and mother, Rev then pulled me out the back door. We headed down the porch steps and then into the thick woods.
Rev pushed slightly ahead me, and a rush of warmth flooded my chest when I realized it was so he could keep branches from hitting me. I fought the urge to reach out to pinch him to see if he was real. He was certainly unlike any man I had ever known, and that included the ones in my family.
“Where is this place you want to show me?” I asked, breaking the silence between us.
Glancing at me over his shoulder, he replied, “About a mile into the woods. Give or take.”
“We’re going hiking?” Since I was supposed to be taking it easy and Rev was still healing from his gunshot wound, I certainly hoped we weren’t about to do anything intense.
“No. Not really.”
“Then what is it that’s hidden away a mile into these woods?”
He cut his gaze over to mine. “It’s a surprise.”
I cocked my brows at him. “Seriously?”
“What? Don’t you like surprises?”
With a shrug, I replied, “I guess so. It’s just…”
