“It means I’m going to bed, and you’re not sleeping here for the rest of the night,” I find myself saying.
He stands there unmoving. “You know what, fine. I tried to do the right thing with you. I haven’t been with anyone else, I haven’t even looked at anyone else! I was going to get the hell away from Renee before I got in deep with you, then commit to you. If that’s not good enough then I don’t know what else I can do,” he says, walking out and closing the door behind him. It doesn’t slam, but the sound of it closing still makes me flinch.
I climb back in bed and think over everything. I hate the fact he was married to that woman. Is that his type? I try not to be judgmental and fail. At least they had separated before the night I spent with him. Am I still the ‘other woman’? I’m way too young for all this shit. I take a deep breath and put my hand on my tummy.
“It’s going to be okay little one,” I whisper.
I try my hardest but sleep doesn’t come.
Chapter Sixteen
All conversation stops as I enter the kitchen. Tracker, who is sporting a black eye and a cut lip, stares at me intently. Arrow scowls, and Rake grins. Trace, Irish, and Jim stare at me impassively. I pour myself some juice and take a seat. It’s then I realize something.
“Ummm where are the women?” I ask, looking around.
“The women who know their place leave when the men are having a discussion,” Jim says, looking less than impressed with me.
I want to say something smart but instead I keep my mouth shut. Even I know pissing off Jim will not go down well. I bite my lip and sip on my juice.
“Well. I’ll just be going then…” I say into the awkward silence.
Jim sighs. He looks tired. “Are you okay?” I can’t help but ask.
“Give us a moment,” he says, and all the men stand up. Tracker is the last to leave, his eyes never leaving me until they have to.
“I’m getting old,” he says.
“You’re what, in your late thirties?” I ask, staring at his ripped biceps.
His laugh sounds like it’s been honed by years of smoking. “Add a decade onto that little girl.”
“Awkward,” I mutter. He’s old enough to be my dad.
“It’s Sin’s turn to take the gavel, except he’s a little preoccupied right now,” he says, raising his eyebrow at me.
“You’re not going to kill me, are you?” I ask, laughing a little nervously.
Jim grins. “I can see why he’s so taken with you.”
“Yeah because I’m a trophy compared to his ex-wife,” I blurt out. My hands cover my mouth as Jim laughs harder.
“You remind me of Cindy at her age,” he muses, smiling fondly. “Woman was full of sass.”
She still is from what I’d heard from Jessica.
“Look, Faye, the truth is my health isn’t what it used to be,” he says, looking unhappy to admit it.
“And you need Sin to be on his game,” I surmise.
“Right.”
“It is possible to be a family man and the president of an MC?” I ask him, looking right into his eyes.
“It’s not easy, and it’s not always safe, but yes. It is possible. And no man will take better care of his family than Sin.”
“That I believe,” I reply. “Any idea where he is?”
“He went for a ride,” he replies. “We’ll be joining him. Be back in two days.”
“What’s the deal with the wife?” I can’t stop myself from asking.
“She cheated on him, they broke up when he found out,” he says, casually lighting a cigarette. “They were only married a year.”
I hate that he loved someone else enough to marry her. I realize I’d said that out loud when Jim replies, “She’s got nothing on you darlin’. I’ve seen how he looks at you.”
“Like how?” I ask.
“Fishing for compliments, eh? Like he’s dying of thirst and you’re an ice cold beer.”
I’m pretty sure that’s not how the saying goes, but I appreciate the sentiment all the same.
“So,” I ask. “What’s the deal with the other MC you’re having issues with?”
His mouth tightens around his cigarette. “Negotiations with another MC.” He pauses. “Women don’t get involved with club business Faye. You seem like a girl who thinks she’s the exception to every rule, but not this time.”
I hate that he has me pegged.
“What if in the future I become the club’s lawyer?” I blurt out. Holy shit where did that idea come from? Was Dex even serious when he mentioned this idea? Is this something I want in my future?
He studies me under a new light. “Then that’s different, I guess. But you’d still be on a need to know basis.”
“So I guess I’ll never be getting my own cut then,” I sigh, thinking about my conversation with Vinnie. Jim laughs again then starts coughing.
I cringe. “Anything I can get you?”
“A new set of lungs?” he replies, smirking at me.
“How about some water,” I offer instead. He nods so I pour him a glass of iced water. Placing it in front of him he takes a sip then resumes smoking. I want to point out he should probably quit, but instead I stand up.
“I’m going to do some assignments,” I tell him. “Hope you feel better Jimbo.”