Page 31 of Sweet Pea

“Shit,” Sweet Pea muttered before spinning around to the approaching biker.

“Everything’s cool. We were just saying goodbye,” Sweet Pea said.

“Were we?” I asked.

“Seems like there’s a little confusion with Mrs...”

“Clutch, this is Callie Ames, the attorney I told you about. Callie, this is Clutch, the Burning Saints’ Sergeant at Arms.”

“Pleased to meet you,” Clutch said curtly. “We’re just thrilled that Sweet Pea spends so much of his free time hanging out with Lady Justice.”

Sweet Pea remained silent, but the looks he was exchanging with his superior officer said it all.

“What brings you to the Sanctuary this morning, Mrs. Ames?” Clutch asked, his charm barely masking the irritation in his voice.

“It’s Ms. Ames, and I’m here because Sweet Pea invited me. An invitation I’d happily accept if he’d let me in.”

“Did he? Sweet Pea invited you?” Clutch asked in an exaggerated tone. “Dear brother, why are you being so rude to an invited guest by making her wait outside? Look, she comes bearing gifts.”

Sweet Pea glared at Clutch for a few moments before motioning up to Socks. The electronically controlled gate rolled open just wide enough for me and the pastries to gain passage and I slipped through.

“There, that’s better,” Clutch said with a huge smile as the gate closed behind me.

“Thank you for your help. I’ve got this handled,” Sweet Pea said to Clutch through his tight sneer. “Why don’t you take these refreshments back to church and I’ll join you in a minute?” he said practically shoving the box into Clutch’s chest.

“Be sure you do, brother,” Clutch said before turning on his heels and walking away.

“Well, that sure was pleasant,” I said, addressing the obvious tension between the two men.

“Yeah, he’s a little pissed off at me right now.”

“Couldn’t tell,” I said dryly.

“Clutch is a good guy, he’s just got a lot going on,” he said, in a tone of ‘brotherly defensiveness.’

“Hopefully, the goodies help,” I said, trying to lighten the mood a little.

“Look, Callie. Shit’s pretty tense around here right now and inviting a total stranger to come around probably wasn’t my smartest move.”

“No offense taken,” I said.

“I meant you’re a stranger to the club, not to me,” he said, taking my hand, his voice softening. “I meant it when I asked you to come here, but this is—”

I pulled my hand away. “A bad time,” I finished, unable to bear hearing Sweet Pea reject me for a fourth time this morning. “I get it. I guess I’ll see you around the courthouse some time.” I turned to walk back to the gate, but Sweet Pea stopped me, gently turning me to face him.

“Hold on, can we please start over?”

“I’m not sure,” I said. “Believe it or not, it took a lot for me to come here today and—”

Before I could finish, Sweet Pea interrupted me with a kiss, and as much as I didn’t want to, I pretty much melted into Sweet Pea’s arms.

“That’s not fair,” I said.

“Come with me,” he said, and walked me toward the building at the center of the compound.

“Clutch walked that way,” I said. “Isn’t church over there?”

Sweet Pea chuckled. “Church is about the last place on earth I’d take you. I’m taking you back to my room. You can hang out there while I finish up and then I’ll come and get you.”

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