“Fine, make the arrangements, but somewhere neutral and somewhere relatively close as well. I don’t want to leave Gypsy for too long on her own.”
“Consider it done.” The smallest smirk picked up the corners of Hansel’s mouth. I knew that look. He had already made the arrangements. Sometimes he really overstepped, but I couldn't bring myself to be mad. The sooner I got things squared away with The Family, the quicker I could start a new life with Gypsy by my side.
“Hansel, find her damn dog,” I said as I heaved myself upwards. “I don’t care what it costs, just get that animal back to her.”
Hansel’s eyes crinkled. “You got it, Prez.”
“I’m going to grab a few hours of sleep. Handle anything that comes up, will you?”
30
Gypsy
“What doyou mean he just left you? After you opened your heart to him? Sounds like a dickish move to me.” Melanie leant heavily on the bar. She had said she had wanted to help me clean up but so far she hadn’t done anything but sit on a barstool and watch me wipe everything down.
In the corner, Pope, my babysitter for the day, lifted his head, a scowl on his face.
He could scowl all he wanted. He wasn’t helping either.
Fang had wanted me to stay safe and protected within the confines of the clubhouse compound, but I had never done well with being idle. I needed to stay busy to keep my mind off everything that was happening.
If he had been around, I could have kept busy in other ways. Namely getting naked and sweaty with him all day, every day, but I understood why he had to go out of town. He had things to do, a business to run. Even if it was illegal business.
Still, Melanie’s words made me pause. It was a little suspicious. The timing of his sudden trip. A trip he wouldn’t tell me anything about.
“Don’t go putting ideas in her head,” Pope growled from his place in the corner. There was genuine anger in his voice which surprised me. He had always seemed so laid back in stark contrast to his gruffer outer shell. But maybe that’s just how he was with Sylvia. “Fang didn’t leave because he wanted to but because he had to. It’s club business.” His voice softened. “Gypsy, he will be back before you know it.”
I gave him a watery smile. “Yeah, I know, I’m just worried about everything right now.”
That was the truth of it. My whole life was imploding, and I was desperately trying to keep the pieces together.
“Well, you know your biker best.” Melanie shrugged, and her voice dripped with sarcasm. “Personally I wouldn’t be ok with it. I mean everyone knows what they get up to on their business trips.” She air quoted theatrically.
I frowned. I knew what she meant. But did I honestly think Fang would play away so soon into our sort-of relationship, and could I be mad if he did? He had said I was his, but that didn’t mean he wanted to be mine. I knew he didn’t want to share, but would he expect me to?
I tossed the cloth onto the bar. “I need to get out for a few hours.”
That’s what I needed, some fresh air and a change of scenery.
“Gypsy, that isn’t a good idea. Wait until Fang comes back tonight and get him to take you out somewhere tomorrow, it just isn’t...”
Melanie didn’t let him finish. “Oh stop it, Fang isn’t her keeper.” She waved her hand dismissively. “How about lunch? I could bring you up to date with everything that is happening back home.”
Back home. It was funny because I hadn’t thought of it that way since I had arrived in town. I had a new home. It was tempting though. If only to live vicariously through my dad's personal assistant.
“A girly lunch sounds great actually.” I flicked my eyes toward Pope who was literally glowering in the corner. “Or just lunch, you are welcome to join us.”
“We stay in town though, where I can get back up to us if need be.” He didn't sound too thrilled by the idea, but at least he was going along with it.
Melanie clapped her hands. “If the bodyguard is truly necessary then fine, but I doubt anything is going to happen to her with the whole of the Savage Sons looking out for her.” She slipped from her stool. Grimacing, she ran her hand down her pant leg to smooth out the wrinkles sitting for so long had put in them.
I smiled. Only a few short years ago, that had been me. Image above everything else. How things had changed that I would take happiness over aesthetics.
“I just need to run upstairs and grab my purse. Do you want to take my hire car or your little van Gypsy?”
Pope answered before I could even open my mouth. “Gypsy's van.”
Melanie grinned. “That’s fine by me, it’s so cute.”
