Violet gave me a nod, and a bright smile.“Hey.”
“Hi,” I said.“Please.Sit down.Both of you.”
“So,” Ada began, handing me a paper plate for my food, “Oktober told us you were over here being stoic and independent, and the women collectively decided that wouldn’t stand.”
I huffed a laugh.“He said that?Stoic?”
“His exact words involved something German that I think translates to ‘stubborn little mountain goat,’ but I might be paraphrasing.”Ada’s grin held genuine mischief.“He meant it as a compliment.I think.”
Despite everything, despite my bruised heart and my instinct to keep the world at arm’s length, I felt the tight thing in my chest loosen a fraction.“Mountain goat.That’s a new one.”We laughed as we ate, and I found I enjoyed myself more than I had in a very long time.They put me at ease, and I found I really wanted to know more about them.
“Do you mind if I ask a personal question?”I smiled, trying to be polite.
“Absolutely.”Ada’s smile didn’t falter.
“Is your club really associated with Haven in Nashville?”
Ada nodded.“Yes.It’s our most important project.”
“I’ve heard nothing but good things from everyone I know who’s had to use your services.One of my kindergartners.Her mother told me it saved their lives.”
Violet’s gaze softened and she looked a little haunted.“They’re the best people, Mia.I know firsthand because my son, Caleb, and I had to stay with them for a while.So did Penny and her girls before Tiny took them on.”
“Isn’t Haven for abused women and children?”
“It is.”Violet looked at me serenely.“The guys in the club saved more than one of us.All of them are so protective and, to be honest, we have them all wrapped around our little fingers.”
I raised my eyebrows.“That surprises me.”
“Really?”Ada gave me a confused look.“Why?”
“I mean, I know it’s a stereotype and I shouldn’t make assumptions, but I never really thought of bikers as the type of people to let women wrap them up.”
Both women laughed merrily.Obviously, they adored their men and the rest of the club.I envied their happiness.“The thing about this bunch of guys,” Violet explained, “is, yeah, they’ve all done some serious prison time.Some of them have killed.But there were altruistic reasons in most cases.Well, the violent cases anyway.They’re good guys.And they love women.”They both giggled again.I found myself smiling with them.
“And the bikers don’t scare the women?”I asked, then immediately wished I could snatch the question back.It sounded presumptuous.
But Ada just shrugged.“Some, at first.The fear never lasts long, though, because they have a way of charming their way into your heart.That and they’re protective to a fault.Also, with the guys visible, it tends to deter anyone stupid enough to come looking for a resident.”
“They’re exactly who they appear to be,” Violet said.“No pretense.No performance.Just exactly what you see.”
Ada stretched her legs out, crossing her ankles.“So.We’re doing a bonfire tonight.Down by the water.”She delivered this information with studied casualness, examining her fingernails as though the invitation carried no weight at all.“Oktober may have strongly suggested -- and by strongly suggested I mean borderline begged -- that we invite you.”
Heat climbed my neck and flooded my cheeks before I could stop it.I felt it spreading like a visible confession, turning my skin pink from collarbone to hairline.
Ada caught it and her lips curved into a knowing smile, the amusement of a woman who recognized and understood attraction and its inconvenient timing.
Violet’s mouth twitched at the corner.The barest hint of a smile.“Oktober’s not subtle.”
“I don’t want to intrude on your vacation,” I started, deploying the same deflection I’d used on Oktober.It sounded even weaker the second time around.
“Honey, there’ll be so many people coming and going while we’re here, one more person, especially if they’re as sweet and kind as you, won’t be an intrusion.If anything, we’re the ones intruding on your peace and quiet.The guys and their old ladies are taking turns coming out so they always have someone at Haven.A few of us will be here the entire time, but mostly, everyone will be filtering in as they can.”Ada leaned forward, elbows on her knees.“You’re sitting alone on a porch not reading a book and eating a picnic brought to you by strangers.You want to come.Just say yes.”
I found a smile tugging at my lips and threw caution to the wind.“What time?”I asked.
Ada’s grin spread wide and genuine.“The second you’re ready.Come as you are.Nobody dresses up.”
I watched them as they left, following the path through the wooded divider.Their voices drifted back to me, too low to make out words but happy and friendly all the same.
