The Davenport Christmas Chronicles - Piper Davenport Page 0,49
time, Minus. I’m all in with you and her...for the moment. My brothers think you’re a good guy...blood and club, so I’m gonna trust their judgement. Unless I’m shown otherwise. Fair?”
“Yeah, brother. Fair.”
“Minus!” Doozer called, walking toward us.
Hatch reached his hand out and I took it. “Bring that beer your buddy brews to Sunday dinner.”
Sunday dinner was a sacred Wallace tradition and I was surprised the invitation was coming from Hatch directly. Usually, Cricket had to convince me that I was welcome. Now I knew I officially was.
I grinned. “I can do that.”
Hatch gave me a chin lift and walked away just as Doozer reached me. “You got a minute, Prez?”
“Yeah, sure,” I said, leading Doozer to one of the private offices. “What’s up?”
“Ah, so, I was wonderin’ if I could ride with the BFK for a week or two.”
I’d noticed he and Trouble had been all over each other, so this request didn’t come out of the blue. “What does Sweet Pea say?”
“He said it’s cool with him if I clear it with you. He said it would probably be a good idea for me to keep an eye on the truck anyway, in case it has any issues with the transmission.”
I smiled. “Yeah, brother. You’re clear. But, let’s wait until after Christmas. Ride out with them after the party.”
“Thanks, Minus.”
I squeezed his shoulder. “No problem. Now, let’s get a beer.”
“Don’t have to ask me twice.”
Hatch
I walked into the house, my conversation with Minus still playing in my head. I had to give him props for talking to me so openly, and I’d discovered a new-found respect for my someday-to-be brother-in-law. I got a glimpse of the man my sister fell in love with and I knew he felt just as strongly about her. And, really, that was all I wanted.
As I stepped into the kitchen, my phone buzzed, and I saw that it was Booker, so I answered it. “Hey, brother.”
“Hey,” Booker said. “You feel good about the meetin’?”
“As much as I can. You?”
“Agreed. I’m gonna watch a few of ’em behind the scenes, though.”
“Do it carefully,” I warned. “You gotta remember Kitty’s probably doin’ the same.”
“Yeah, I hear you,” Booker said. “You finally put your shit with Minus behind you?”
I sighed. “Workin’ on it.”
“Glad to hear it.” Booker chuckled. “Gonna go fuck my wife now.”
I chuckled, glancing at Maisie who strolled in and gave me a quick kiss. “I’ll give you at least seven minutes before buggin’ you again.”
“Make it eight,” he retorted and hung up.
Maisie shook her head. “Why do you feel the need to share so much with each other?”
I laughed. “We’re brothers, Sunshine.”
“Exactly how much do you tell them?”
“I’m not the sharin’ type, baby, you already know that.”
“Well, thank God for small favors.”
I grinned and grabbed a beer. “Since we’ve got a few hours before the boys get home, I’m thinkin’ I need to take a shower, but I’d like to do that and fuck my woman at the same time.”
She bit her lip and I was instantly hard. “I should get dinner prepped.”
“We’ll order pizza.”
Grinning slowly, she closed the distance between us and slid her hand under the waistband of my jeans. “Pizza it is.”
* * *
Maisie
Christmas Eve
We pulled into the compound parking lot and I let out a little cry of glee. “It looks so pretty.”
Hatch grinned. “We’ve had recruits on it all day.”
“It’s so cool,” Flash said.
“Yeah,” Jamie agreed. “Can we do that to our house, Dad?”
Hatch chuckled. “Since it’s already Christmas Eve, probably not. But maybe next year.”
The outside of Big Ernie’s had been transformed to look like a giant gingerbread house, complete with blinking lights in the form of gumdrops, and fake snow on the ground.
“The kids are going to love it.”
We had close to fifty kids, along with their families, we’d be feeding and handing gifts out to, and the club had outdone themselves. Hatch pulled my car around the back and we unloaded gifts and food, hauling everything inside with Flash and Jamie’s help.
Hatch wrapped an arm around me and handed me a glass of wine. “You’re off duty tonight, Sunshine.”
“I thought tonight was going to be dry.”
He grinned. “Are the kids here yet?”
“Well, no,” I said, taking the glass.
“So, enjoy your glass of wine while we do everything.”
“Do you know how much I love you?”
“Pretty sure you showed me this morning.”
“Okay, you two, get a room,” Poppy ordered, walking into the kitchen.
I chuckled, pulling her in for a hug. “Hello, Poppet.”