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She’s not wrong. I have no idea what they put in the Rose Grove MC water, but all the men are hot. Like, do a double take type of hot when they ride down the main street.
“As I was saying,” Jazz says, glaring at her sister, “It’s our job to look pretty because the men are too dumb to realize what an asset we are.”
I grin at her, knowing exactly what she means. “We look pretty and then gossip with all the other women to get information?”
“Why Willa, how did you guess?” Kaia says, pretend shock written all over her face.
“Men are such simple creatures.” Pops adds from his position in the recliner. He has pedi socks on too and cucumbers over his eyes.
“Pops is part of the girl gang,” Joy whispers. “So is Mad Dog usually, but he said he had things to do.”
“If he’s taken my advice he’ll be waxing,” Pops mutters.
“Waxing what?” I ask, appalled. Surely the man wouldn’t?
Mad Dog has what has to be the most perfect chest hair I’ve had the pleasure of running my hands through. Not too much, not too little. Silky soft, sits right in all the dips of his muscles, really making them stand out. God I can feel myself drooling at the thought of Mad Dog’s chest.
“Well, at least we all know how Willa feels about Mad Dog,” Blanche snorts.
“Wait, what? Did I say something out loud?” I ask, horrified.
“No need, sweetheart, not when it was written all over your face,” Pops says, his head still laid back, cucumbers still in place.
“How the-”
“He’s all seeing and all knowing,” Remy says mysteriously.
We sit in silence but I know that Mira has something to say. How do I know? Probably because she’s wriggling in her seat, muttering to herself.
“Just say it,” I tell her, waving a hand in her direction.
“Thank you!” she bursts out. “Are you sure you only want to be friends with Mad Dog? Like I get you’re a super strong, independent woman who doesn't need a man. You’re like the blueprint for all those badass girl songs. So cool,” she whispers that last part.
All the Ol Ladies have their eyes on me, well all except Chewy who is looking in my direction but not at me. It should feel uncomfortable, them all waiting on an answer. An answer that I can’t give them because I’m too damn confused myself. I mean, I could just lie and tell them I’m sure that all Mad Dog and I will have together is friendship, but then I think about all he’s done in the last week or so. After fixing my door and wall he also fixed my pantry drawer that kept sticking and loaded some yard trash into a truck to take away for me. He arranged for his brothers to watch my back after Diesel threatened me and every decision about my life or safety since then he’s asked me for my input. He and Niko set up cameras around my home and new security and all the while I’ve gotten to know little things about Mad Dog. How he doesn’t like tea but he’ll drink it if I offer it to him. How he says he prefers heavy metal but I’ve heard him singing my favorite Fleetwood Mac songs under his breath.
I look at the women around me, the ones who have somehow wriggled their way past my defences and I answer them truthfully.
“I don’t know.”
“What don’t you know?” Chewy asks. “I can help. I know lots of things.”
“Probably not this one, Chewy. I fear this one is about feelings,” Mama Debs says, patting Chewy’s shoulder.
“Oh, yeah, I’m not really bothered to know about that.”
“Me neither, Chewy.” I give her a tight smile, before moving my gaze to look at the rest of the women in the room. “I think I need help?”
Pops flicks the recliner to a sitting position, swiping at the cucumbers on his eyes and flinging them into the kitchen with a flourish.
“Say no more.”
Chapter 13
Mad Dog
Ishake out my hands as I wait on Willa’s doorstep. I have no idea why the fuck I’m nervous. I’m almost 60. I’ve been on dates before and yet here I am, with damn butterflies in my gut like a teenager. I take a few deep breaths and try to look cool. I don’t want Willa to think I’m uncool. Can I be uncool at my age? Shit, maybe this was a bad idea. I jump at the sound of Willa’s door locks engaging and it swings open before I can spiral anymore.
“Holy fuck.” Slips from my lips before I can stop it. “I mean,” I clear my throat and try again, “What I meant to say is you look breathtaking.” I smile for a little too long before thrusting a bouquet of wildflowers at her.
