Fuck, I love this woman.
Is it too soon to tell her? I have a feeling she’ll run if I do, but for me, it’s a foregone conclusion. There won’t be another woman for me. She’s everything I never knew I needed. She understands me in a way that nobody but my family does.
We’re drying off when someone bangs on the side of the home.
“Bee says to put her friend down and hurry up!” Copper shouts. “She’ll meet you in the office.”
I roll my eyes and look at Nora, expecting her to be upset, but she’s laughing.
“God, I’ve missed this,” she admits when she sees me looking at her. “The feeling of brotherhood, the teasing, and the comfort of family. I haven’t had this since I left the army, and until this minute, I didn’t realise how much I’ve missed it.”
I snort, tugging a shirt over my head. “No chance of missing it here.” I stalk towards her from our bedroom. “They’re a fucking nosy bunch, and as you’ve seen, they don’t care who they tease.”
“I like it.” Nora smiles up at me and rests her hands on my abs.
Lowering my head, I give her a quick kiss and back away. “I’m leaving because if I stay, we'll end up back in bed. And I can’t lie, I'm a little afraid of Bee. She seems the type to find me and drag me away.”
Nora chuckles, pulling her long hair over her shoulder. She deftly braids it, tying the end and throwing it back over her shoulder. “She definitely is. Come on. Let’s get some food. Then you can do some work, make some money, and maybe take me for a ride on your bike.”
“Sled,” I say, opening the front door and walking down the steps.
“What?” she asks as she jumps down the last two steps, landing next to me with a grunt.
Shaking my head, I take her hand. How she still has energy after this morning's PT and our fast-and-furious session, I have no idea.
“Nickel.” She shakes my hand. “What sled?”
“Our bikes. We call them sleds. No idea why. It’s something we’ve always done.”
“Huh, okay. Sleds.” Nora rolls the word around on her tongue as if experimenting. “Ilike it.” She nods. “So, will you take me for a ride on your sled this afternoon?”
“I’ll take you for a ride whenever you want, darlin’.” I smirk down at her, then grunt when she drives her fist into my stomach. “On my sled, on my sled!” I laugh. “You’ve got a dirty mind.” I tease.
“I do not,” she grumbles. “Although I’m not opposed to the other kind of ride, if you’re offering.”
“Oh, darlin’, for you? I’m always offering. Just let me know when and where.”
“You’re on,” Nora agrees. “First breakfast, you work, we ride on your sled, then I ride on you.”
“Jesus, would you two stop?” Bolt groans from behind us. “I can’t take it.”
I look over my shoulder. “Not my fault you can’t hold your liquor, brother,” I say unsympathetically,
“Fuck you, Nickel. I think the O’Sheas poisoned me at Christmas. Beer is the only thing I can cope with.”
“Don’t you go blaming my family for your weak stomach, Bolt Tin,” Jeanie scolds from the clubhouse’s open doorway. “Get your arse in here and get some food in you. Swear to God, next time you pick up a glass of whiskey, I’m confiscating it.”
“Sorry, baby,” Bolt murmurs, pushing past us and kissing his Old Lady’s cheek. “Love you.”
She rolls her eyes and pushes him towards the common room. “Love you too. Now go and eat and get some water in you.”
Jeanie turns to us and grins. “Morning, you two. Don’t you look chipper this morning? Food’s in the kitchen.”
“Thanks, Jeanie,” I say, bussing a kiss to her cheek on the way past. “Happy that Bolt found you.”
“Ah, get on with you.” She blushes, pushing me away. “Nora, control your man.”
“There’s no controlling a Tin man.” Nora shakes her head. “I’ve known them for five minutes, and I already know that.”
