Guilty Bastard (Grim Bastards MC) - Shelley Springfield Page 0,25
You crept into my heart, and that’s where you will always stay. I fucked up with Lauren, didn’t give her what she needed. I was afraid I’d fuck up with you, too.”
His words shock me to the core. How could Round think that? He wasn’t the one that fucked up; he wasn’t the one sleeping around with someone else. Well, at least not until long after his wife did.
“You’re wrong about that, honey,” I reply with a shake of my head. “You didn’t fuck up. She did.”
He leans down and places a kiss on the top of my head. “You don’t know everything, baby. I wasn’t the perfect husband.”
I can’t hold back my snort. “No shit. You’re not exactly the perfect boyfriend either.”
My heart skips a beat when I realize what I said. Never before have I called him my boyfriend or my man. I’ve never laid a claim to him in any way, and other than telling me that I’m his, he’s never claimed me either. That just isn’t how our relationship works. Plus, it seems odd to call a forty-seven-year-old man a boyfriend.
He lets out another chuckle. “Considering I’m a man, I think you should pick your words more carefully.”
“Well, then, what should I call you?” I ask, letting my anger and all my plans of running off fade away.
He stays still for a long time, not moving a damn muscle. Finally, he pulls back and looks into my eyes again. Still, he doesn’t say anything, just stares at me as if he is looking at me for the very first time.
Finally, a smile crosses his face, and he says, “How about we try old man, and I can call you old lady?”
Epilogue
Round
My son shoves another bite of lasagna into his mouth. “This shit is so fucking good. You’re gonna have to make it more often.”
I know what’s coming next, and know what Smoke’s reaction is gonna be, so I just look over at Lisa and wait for her reply. She doesn’t disappoint me, never does, and I’m starting to doubt she ever will.
“I make it at least once a month. It’s your dad’s favorite,” she replies, reaching across the table for a piece of garlic bread. “He just doesn’t like to share.”
“Once a month?” Smoke asks, his eyes cutting to me. “You’ve been holding out on me, Dad?”
A laugh slips past my lips as I look at Lisa. “If I told you everything she cooked, I’d never get any time alone with my old lady.”
Her beautiful brown eyes light up, just as they always do when I lay claim to her. It’s only been two weeks since she officially became mine, but already my life has changed. Lisa doesn’t hold back anymore; she’s all in. Her all in is like nothing I’ve ever seen before. Damn, it’s a fucking beautiful life.
She slings her dark hair over her shoulder and gives him a sweet smile. “I’ll make sure I let you know next time I make it.”
“Don’t tell me in front of the brothers,” he says, serious as hell. “They’ll beat me over here to get some.”
She laughs, shaking her head at him. “Now, you’re the one that’s holding out on your brothers.”
“Damn right, I am. Those fuckers don’t deserve to eat your cooking. I earned that right by putting up with my father for the last thirty years,” he says with a smile, as his phone dings with a text.
He pulls it out and reads it quickly, then looks over to me. “Gotta head to the clubhouse. Boz wants me to ride out with him.”
By the look on his face, I can tell that something’s off. My eyes go to Lisa, and I motion for her to give us a little space. Proving she was born to be an old lady, she simply smiles and stands up. She sends me a wink before walking over to Smoke and placing a kiss on his cheek.
“Ride safe, Smoke,” she says as she walks out of the room.
“Always do,” he replies, still smiling at her, then adds, “Thanks for dinner, Lisa. It was damn good.”
“Any time,” she shouts from the hallway.
I wait until I hear her go into the bedroom and shut the door before asking, “What’s going on?”
“Boz wants all of the officers to ride with him tonight,” he says, not giving me any more information.
Sometimes, it’s hard as hell to remember I gave up my VP patch, knowing my son was a better fit to sit at Boz’s