The Davenport Christmas Chronicles - Piper Davenport Page 0,32
a counselor whenever you need me, but it’s time for you to lead this club. I know it in my bones the same way Cutter knew it was Minus’s time.
Hatch looked at me, but his facial expression gave nothing away.
He turned back to Crow. “What about you?”
“It’s time for me and Suzy to get knee deep in moonshine and alpaca shit.”
“What?”
“A few months ago, an old friend of mine in Georgia let me know about an alpaca farm that went up for sale next to his ranch.”
“Duke?” I asked in shock.
“Oh, that’s right. You used to work that ranch didn’t you, Minus?” Crow asked with a wink. He knew damned well that when I was sent away to Savannah, that it was to Duke’s farm. Fortunately for me, life on that farm was exactly what I needed, and Duke and his wife, Pearl, treated me like a son.
“You’re gonna move to Georgia and become a farmer?” Hatch asked.
“Alpacas mostly and some goats,” Crow smiled. “Hatch, you are the right man to lead this club, and more importantly, your old lady is strong enough to handle the position.”
Hatch’s facial expression changed from shock to terror. “Oh, shit. Maisie.”
“You afraid of how she’s gonna take the news?” Booker asked.
“Close,” Hatch said, “I’m afraid we don’t have enough red wine.”
The group laughed, then Crow hit the gavel on the table and the meeting was dismissed.
* * *
Maisie
“Darling, why do you look like you swallowed vinegar?” I asked as Hatch guided me back to his office, closing the door behind us.
“I just got promoted.”
“You did?”
He nodded, looking stunned. “To president.”
“What?” I rasped.
“Crow’s retirin’.”
“Holy shit on a cracker.”
Hatch dragged his hands through his hair. “Yeah.”
“Is this a good thing?”
“I have no fuckin’ clue, Sunshine,” he admitted. “I can’t wrap my mind around it yet.”
I closed the distance between us, reaching up to stroke his beard. “I’m so bloody proud of you.”
His eyes softened and he smiled. “Yeah?”
I nodded. “You are the perfect choice, darling. You must see that.”
“It should be Booker.”
“No, it shouldn’t. He’s the perfect VP, but you’re the one everyone, and I mean everyone, looks to for advice and guidance. He’s not. You have far more life and club experience than he does. It could really only be you.”
“Which means I need to pick a new Sergeant.”
“Flea.”
He grinned. “Yeah, baby. Flea.”
“But that means you’ll have to finesse Ace and Knight.”
“Ace doesn’t want it, but I’ll talk to him about it anyway.”
“And Knight?”
“He’s too busy with the clinic, but I’ll talk to him as well.”
I patted his chest. “This is why you’re perfect for the job. You know your brothers inside and out, but still give them the chance to change their mind. You really are the best human I’ve ever known.”
“You think so?”
“I know so.” I slid my hands to his neck. “I may have raised Poppy for twelve years before I met you, but I really think she would have been a complete basket case if you’d never come along, so...”
He chuckled. “She was a fully formed badass before I came along, Sunshine, so I can’t take any credit for that.”
“Well you should, because she’s more you than me.”
“You think so?”
“I do,” I said. “And our boys, love. They’re mini yous and I am so fortunate to be their mum.”
“Probably because you’re my man and you bring out the best in me.”
He laughed. “God damn, you’re good for my ego.”
“I know. It’s my favorite part of being your ol’ lady.”
“I was given this honor in part because of you, too, baby.”
“How so?” I whispered.
“Crow said he knew you could handle it, which sealed the deal.”
“Well, that’s quite lovely,” I said, my heart racing. “But maybe let’s not bring that up until I’ve had a bottle of wine. It’s an awful lot of responsibility.”
Hatch chuckled, leaning down to kiss me. “Love you, Sunshine.”
“I love you, too, darling. Congratulations.”
“Thanks.”
“Let’s go eat, hmm?”
“One more second,” he said, and wrapped his arms around me.
I gave that to him, knowing he needed a little time to wrap his mind around everything. I loved that I was his safe haven, treasured that he looked to me for peace.
We stood like this for several minutes before Jamie came looking for us, breaking the moment. I kissed my man again, then we joined our family.
* * *
Hatch
Maisie directed everyone to the tables set up in the middle of the great room, and she and I took our seats near Crow at the head of