Chapter Nine
Trevor watched Jedidiahas much as he did Jared during the boy’s initiation. She must have felt his gaze on her because she looked straight at him. Then she smiled and he felt like a sledgehammer had hit him in the head. Damn, he needed to get over his reaction to her. It was futile since he had no intention of acting on it.
Standing between two club members, both men, Jared looked tiny. But he also looked happy. He was presented with a jacket in his size and then his mentors, a man and a woman, came forward. One of the two, if not both, would be available to Jared whenever he needed them. They were on call 24/7 if the boy was scared, or sad, or simply lonely. Each of them handed him a card that bore their phone numbers. Then one of the mentors gave him a child-sized helmet and took him on a short ride around the neighborhood.
“His mother gave permission,” Trevor told Jedidiah later, when she asked. “The neighborhood is quiet and they’re accustomed to Bikers For Kids and their ceremonies.”
After the short ceremony there was more food and more games and finally the cookies were distributed. He saw Jedidiah talking to Mandy, pleased that the two seemed to be getting along. In fact, she’d been a lot more outgoing and friendly than he’d ever seen her. Clearly she was more at home in the casual setting than she was in a more formal one. Or maybe it wasn’t a matter of being more at home. She certainly hadn’t seemed out of place at her sister’s wedding. More like you could tell it wasn’t her thing. Maybe she just liked this setting better.
It was evening by the time they rode home. The sky was clear, the stars bright away from the city. It was very peaceful tonight. There was little traffic and he could feel that Jedidiah was relaxed against his back. He wished they were simply friends rather than also boss and employee. He could imagine kissing her, feeling her heat up in his arms. She had a beautiful mouth to go along with the rest of her. Sometimes he couldn’t help looking at it and wondering what she’d taste like. Imagining her lips parting and her tongue reaching for his. He should have kissed her that day.
Shit! Stop thinking about sex, you fool.
He parked the bike in the garage and went in through the garage door, Jedidiah following.
“What did you think?” Trevor asked her.
“I enjoyed it very much. Thanks for taking me.”
“Still think we’re like other motorcycle gangs?” he asked, making air quotes around the wordgangs.
She laughed. “No. You knew I wouldn’t. I think you’re doing a good thing.”
“That’s why we do it.”
“Were all the kids there members?”
“Yes. Some of them are now grown and have joined as adult members. They understand these kids in a way few others can.”
“It seems like a great organization.”
“It is.”
“Thanks for taking me,” she said again. “I guess I should get my computer and head home. It’s getting late.”
He wasn’t ready for her to leave. “I have ice cream. Blue Bell, of course. Cookies and Cream.” The flavor she’d said was her favorite.
“You actually went to the store?”
“Yes, smart-ass. And I bought ice cream, among other things. Which I’ll share if you’re nice.”
“I’m always nice.”
Remembering how aloof she’d been the first time he met her, he laughed. She narrowed her eyes at him but didn’t say anything. After pulling the ice cream out of the freezer—both the Cookies and Cream and one he hadn’t tried before: Moo-llennium Crunch—he set out bowls and got out the ice cream scoop. “One or two scoops?” he asked her.
“Two, please.”
After he served them, they took their bowls to the kitchen table. “What is that you’re eating?” she asked after eating some of her own.
He told her, adding, “I thought the name was funny. Plus it looked good. Want a bite?”
“Sure.”
He offered her his bowl. After taking a spoonful, she ate it and closed her eyes. “Oh, my God, that’s good.”
Damn. How could watching her eat ice cream turn him on? Ridiculous, but there it was. He needed to do something about his reaction to her. Like go out on a date with another woman. Will and Mel had been trying to set him up with a friend of theirs for a while now. Maybe he should take them up on it.
He had a feeling no woman was going to compare to Jedidiah Walker. But he had to at least try.
