The Davenport Christmas Chronicles - Piper Davenport Page 0,55
while Doc wrapped a zip tie around it and anchored it to the wall.
“Hi, honey,” Olivia said. “I thought you weren’t coming until later.”
I glanced up to see Kennedy walking in, her hands full of groceries. She was baking all manner of desserts for the kids, and us, and I couldn’t fuckin’ wait to put whatever she created in my mouth. We had a few days, but she always planned ahead, which was something I admired about her.
“You good, Doc?” My president nodded, and I rushed to help Kennedy. “Hey, baby. Did you get off early?” I asked, easing her load.
“You could say that,” she evaded. “And don’t call me baby.”
“Not gonna happen.” I frowned. “What happened?”
“I got laid off.”
“What the fuck?” I growled setting the bags on the kitchen island. “Right before Christmas?”
“Yeah. Right before Christmas.” She sighed. “It’s fine. It’s not like I had time for a job right now anyway.”
“Baby, we’ll figure it out.”
“I’ll figure it out,” she countered. “You’ll stay out of it.”
I took her hand and tugged her toward the bunk room.
“Mouse, what are you doing?” she squeaked.
I didn’t enlighten her as I pulled her into the room and closed the door. “When, Kennedy?”
“When, what?”
“When are you gonna stop lyin’ to yourself?”
She dropped her head and I sighed.
“I’m here, Lace. You know that, right?”
“I wish you’d just walk away, Mouse. I wish you’d release me from whatever this is.”
“When you tell me the truth, just fuckin’ once, Kennedy, I’ll consider walking away.”
“Sunday after the party,” she breathed out.
“Sunday, what?”
“Come to my place for dinner. I’ll tell you everything, but then you need to promise you’ll walk out my door and leave me alone.”
I studied her. I didn’t give a shit what she planned on telling me. I would never leave her to navigate this world alone.
“Sunday,” I said.
She nodded, and I helped her put everything away.
Kennedy
Sunday rolled around and I was panicking. Why the hell did I suggest this? Gah! The party for the kids had been a huge success—no surprise, it usually was—and I’d been riding high on the love shown to my cupcakes. The kids all got to take one home, along with eating as many as they wanted at the party. It solidified my desire to do something with my gift, I just didn’t know what.
My doorbell pealed and I took a few steadying breaths before pulling the door open. I forced myself not to jump into Mouse’s arms and hold onto him like one of those stuffed animals you won at the fair. “Hi.”
“Hey, baby. Love the apron.”
“Thanks.” I currently wore my black apron with the body of Princess Leia on it. It had been a gag gift from my brother last Christmas, but since it was my only apron, I wore it proudly.
“We might need to take that into the bedroom.”
“Stop.” I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from sighing, rolling my eyes instead as I forced myself to control a shiver. Lord he was gorgeous. Dark hair with a red hue, long at the top and swept back out of his face, that I loved to slide my fingers through when he fucked me. He was tall and lean and his beard was full and long, although, he’d obviously just trimmed it, because he looked a little more Jax right now than his normal Opie.
“Come in,” I said.
He stepped inside and leaned down to kiss me, and even though I tried not to, I reared back, terrified he’d hit me. Irrational as it might be, I couldn’t bear his touch. Fucking was fine, but gentle touch was off the table.
“Lacey,” he breathed out.
“Don’t, okay?” I whispered.
“Yeah, sweetheart, whatever you need.”
“I made ribs,” I said as I led him to the kitchen.
“I love ribs.”
I smiled. “I heard that somewhere.”
He chuckled. I’d made ribs for one of the club family nights and he’d bugged me ever since to make them again. They took a while, so it was rare I had enough time to do them justice. I decided today would be a good day to make the time. I was never going to see him naked again, so he needed something good to remember me by.
“We gonna talk before or after we eat?”
“Food’s ready, so after,” I said. “Beer?”
“Yeah, thanks.”
I grabbed a bottle and opened it, then handed it to him.
“You bought my favorite beer?” he asked with a cheeky smirk as he lifted the bottle to his mouth.
“Don’t read anything into it. Colm and Tadhg like it,