but it was still damn good.
“He’s a widower with a grown son.” Teri took a sip of wine. “I already spoke to the owner of the salon. She’s being real decent about the change. Says Brodie’s a good man. Honest and fair. I can’t ask for much more than that.”
The server came with their meals. Steak for Gunner and Teri, and salmon for Katrina. Their discussion slowed as they each dug in. After a few minutes, Katrina lifted her head.
“I have some news. Or rather, Gunner does.”
Teri’s brows lifted. “What is it?”
Setting down his fork, Gunner swallowed down a bite of steak with beer. “This is confidential, Teri, although I’ve been given the go-ahead to speak with Kat. Janie is selling the nursery and the Brethren are buying it.”
“What? I thought Janie wanted to keep it in the family.”
“She doesn’t have much, Mom. Val Zoeller is her niece, but beyond her, I don’t recall her mentioning anyone else.”
Val was Tessa Walker’s assistant at the pediatric clinic. She loved her work and often took over when Tessa’s husband, Rock, wanted to whisk his wife off for a few days.
“So she’s selling it to a bunch of bikers?”
Teri’s stringent tone wasn’t quite the reply Gunner expected. There was censure in her voice, and a good deal of judgment.
“Mom! You’re being rude.”
“Well, who’s going to buy plants from a business run by an MC, Kat?”
“We own several businesses around town, ma’am. For instance, we own Hawthorne’s. Tracker is the manager.”
Eyes wide, Teri glanced around, seeing no one except Gunner wearing a cut. “You own this place?”
“Plus a strip mall, auto shop, motorcycle shop, storage facilities. We also sponsor a good number of community events each year. We’re like any other business owners.”
Sitting back, Teri took a longer swallow of wine. She’d never heard of an outlaw MC doing more than taking from a community.
“I guess it will take time to wrap my head around it.”
“I’m sure a lot of people feel the same. The way it will work is I’ve been tasked with handling operations and Kat will be promoted to nursery manager. Everything else is expected to remain the same.” He looked at Katrina. “Although, I do have some ideas.”
Biting her lower lip, Teri shook her head. “I suppose we all have some changes coming up.”
“Good ones, Mom.”
Taking a serious look between her daughter and Gunner, Teri’s stomach lurched. If she wasn’t mistaken, the two would soon be more than employer and employee. Maybe they already were. The insight brought no comfort.
They continued talking of Teri’s new job and the change at the nursery through dessert. Paying the check, Gunner pulled out the chairs, escorting them toward the front.
Several paces away, his gaze lit on a table in a corner. A large man, wearing a ball cap, pretended to be tapping something into his phone. Gunner’s throat tightened. It was the same man who’d been parked down the street from Katrina’s.
Chapter Eleven
Gunner rolled through town after spotting the man, then his car, at Hawthorn’s. It could be a coincidence.
“Not likely,” he muttered, making one turn, then another toward the house.
“Excuse me?”
He glanced at Katrina, seeing her watching him. “Nothing important.”
Parking at the curb, he hurried around the truck, opening the door before Teri got out. “Thank you for dinner, Gunner. It was wonderful.”
“My pleasure. Congratulations again on the new job.” Gunner walked beside Katrina toward the front door, grasping her arm when she started to follow her mother inside. Letting the door close, he turned her around to face him.
Sliding his fingers into her hair, he lowered his mouth, taking a small amount of what he wanted. When her arms circled his neck, he plunged inside, tilting his head for better access.
Aligning her to him, his hands splayed across her back, holding her still to continue plundering her mouth. He’d become intoxicated with her unique taste, her sweet scent of vanilla combined with a hint of peaches.
Dragging his lips along her jaw and down her neck, he placed several kisses on her chest before capturing her lips again. He ached for her, knowing this wasn’t the time or place.
Lifting his head, he allowed his forehead to rest against hers for several moments before taking a small step away. “Come to my house tomorrow night. I’ll cook dinner.”
“I…” Her voice trailed off as she shot a look over her shoulder at the front door.
“Don’t say no, Kat.”
Staring up at him, she searched his face, pursing her lips. From the little she knew, he