Page 74 of Minus

“Yeah, check it out.” He pointed to the root end of the tree, which was unearthed, and on display for all to see. “See how the gnarled roots look like a baby elephant, sitting down, with it’s trunk in the air?”

Without needing to squint or use my imagination, I instantly saw the seated figure of the baby elephant, as if it was skillfully carved from the tree trunk. “Oh! I totally see it. It’s so cute.”

“Duke’s grandfather planted this tree about 120 years ago, back when this was all farmland. Apparently, the soil wasn’t particularly good for growing and sustaining crops, so when he died, and his father took it over, he turned it into a ranch and raised cattle. Within a few years, this place was one of the most profitable family owned cattle ranches in the state.”

“Where are all the cows now?” I asked.

“As you may imagine, Duke was sort of the black sheep of the family. His father was a real hard-ass, who expected his only son to follow in his footsteps. But Duke was far more interested in riding bikes than ropin’ steer, so when his father died, so did the cattle business. Duke never had any intention of being a cattle baron and sold off the remaining heads and most of the equipment days after his father’s funeral. He probably would have sold the whole ranch, if not for the horses; he’s always had a soft spot for horses.”

“I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but I can sort of see why,” I said, looking over at Hank and Boston. “I just can’t imagine walking away from such a successful business.”

“Can’t you?” Jase asked. “Isn’t that exactly what you’re thinking of doing? Leaving Mann and going into businesswith the Saints?”

“Not really. Mann Industries isn’t my company, and my position there isn’t what I want to be doing two years from now. With the money Cutter is offering me to work with the club, I could start a business of my own, and be running my own empire in five years.”

“So, youhavethought about the money?” he asked smirking.

“It’s a million dollars, Jase. Of course, I have,” I exclaimed.

“We never really talked about it, and I didn’t really want to get into it while we were at the hotel.”

“Why not?” I asked.

“Let’s just say I thought it wise to avoid discussing payment for services rendered with a woman, while having sex in a hotel room.”

“Youaresmarter than you look.” I smiled.

“Cutter would disagree with you.” He chuckled. “It’s actually one of the reasons he wants us together on this.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

Jase took my hands. “The baby elephant tree fell over ten years ago. Its environment couldn’t give it what it needed to grow and flourish, so when the strong Savannah winds came, down it went. It stood in one spot for over a hundred years, and then one day, it didn’t. Normally you’d cut a tree like that up for anything from firewood to furniture.”

“Why hasn’t Duke done that?”

“It’s too special. Duke’s grandfather planted this tree for his grandmother, his father proposed to his mother underneath it, and he proposed to Pearl—”

“Jesus, Minus,” I said, leaping to my feet. “If you’re—”

He laughed, taking my hands, and sitting me back down. “No, no, I’m not proposing. That’s not what I’m saying.”

“Whatareyou saying?”

“I’m saying Cutter is right. Wearegreat together. And, I’m saying your brother is right, we’re dangerous together. Either way, we have something special and undeniable between us. Cricket, I love you. I think I always have, and Iknow I always will. I don’t know if you feel the same, but I told you I would be honest with you, so there it is. I love you, and I want you to be a part of my future.”

My breath left my body as he leaned in to kiss me. A flood of warmth washed over me, and I felt more connected to him than I ever had to anyone before.

“I love you, too,” I said, and he held me tighter as he deepened his kiss.

“Before you say anything more, know that I’m going to accept Cutter’s offer. I’m going to be the next president of the Burning Saints, and I’m going to run the club my way. I want you by my side, but I understand if you—”

I stopped his lips from moving with my own. I kissed him with more passion than I’d ever felt in my life. I loved Jase “Minus” Vincent freely, and with abandon. I wanted all of him, to be part of every facet of his life. If he was going to lead a motorcycle club into a new era, I wanted to do it with him, as partners.

“I’m in. Now, less talking and more kissing, you idiot.”

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