Patriot (Hades Abyss MC 6) - Harley Wylde Page 0,16
they’ll love anything you want to send over.”
“Have you…” She stopped and drew back a little. “Did you talk to the club about claiming me? Is that where you were?”
Shit. I hadn’t thought to tell her I was going to the mall. I hadn’t exactly wanted her to know I was buying presents for her. In the past, I’d never told her where I was going. Only that I’d be gone for a bit. But things had changed between us. She wasn’t just staying in my house anymore.
“No, the club hasn’t had Church yet. I went shopping for some presents.” I kissed her forehead.
“Presents?” Her eyes went wide. “But I haven’t gotten you anything!”
I cupped her cheek. “You’re my gift, MaryAnne. But if you want to go shopping, you could always ask Phoebe or Delilah, or maybe check with your cousin. I don’t want you going out alone.”
“No worries. I don’t want to leave unless either you or about four other Hades Abyss guys are with me. Even then, I’ll be looking over my shoulder the entire time.” Her lips twisted. “Guess I’m not that brave yet. The kitten seems to have more courage than me.”
The floof in question was pouncing on Archimedes and biting at his ears. The coon mix gave an aggrieved sigh, but didn’t try to retaliate. One swat with a paw, the kitten would go sailing. It wasn’t more than eight weeks old and barely weighed two pounds.
“Little Bit, after all you’ve been through, you have every right to be overly cautious. Not a single person here will blame you for wanting extra protection when you leave the compound.”
She pointed to the counter. “I have two tins of brownies and two of cookies ready to go. I also have a cake I was about to put into the oven, and there’s another batch of brownies cooking too.”
When she’d moved in, I’d been in the process of renovating my kitchen. With the thought of a family in the future, I’d put in a double oven. Of course, I’d have to tell her about my issue and inability to get her pregnant the normal way, but we’d cross that bridge when the time came. I’d only thought of the double oven because Phoebe had asked Kraken for one, and I’d figured my woman might enjoy having the same thing. I’d also purchased more appliances the last year than ever before. There was a toaster oven on the counter and a crock pot in the pantry, as well as anything else MaryAnne had mentioned would be nice to have.
“I have a live tree being delivered in the next hour. Think you’ll be done baking in time to help me string lights and decorate?” I asked.
Her face lit up and she smiled so wide her cheeks had to hurt. “I can’t wait!”
I kissed her again, then left her to her baking. While she finished up in the kitchen, I organized the ornaments and lights in the living room and shot off a text to Riley.
Pick up some wrapping paper and drop it by Titan’s house.
I saw he’d read my message and knew it would get done. Riley had proven himself to be reliable, so far. I had a feeling both him and Morgan would be patching in before long. I didn’t see the vote going any other way.
I hadn’t thought to pick up any other decorations, or lights for the outside. I wondered if MaryAnne would want those things. As into the Christmas spirit as she seemed to be, I should have thought to bring home more stuff. Pulling my phone back out, I shot off another message to Riley.
Bring outside Christmas lights to my house, and clips to hang them.
I got a thumbs-up emoji which had me shaking my head. It bugged the shit out of me when they didn’t respond with actual sentences, and everyone in the club knew it. I sometimes thought they sent some mix of emojis and broken sentences to aggravate me.
There was a knock at the door, and I opened it right as MaryAnne came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel. Morgan and Cache stood on the other side, my tree on the ground behind them.
“Where do you want this, Patriot?” Cache asked.
“Living room. There’s an empty corner where I think it will fit.”
They hauled it inside and I grabbed the base from my Bronco. I hadn’t thought to bring it in yet. While they got the tree into the