Page 26 of Hell & Back

“No. I’m not lucky because they’re older. I’m lucky Amelia got a job working here so she can spend it all over there.” He hitched his thumb in the direction of Bling, just a couple of buildings down from where they were. “And their tastes get more expensive as they get older, too.”

“Yeah, they do.” Race nodded in commiseration, having two girls of his own. One a teenager and the other a tween.

“I don’t know what you’re complaining about, all the money you spend on your girls goes right back into your and Bellamy’s pockets.” Dagger hitched a brow at him, daring him to argue.

Race chuckled. “In a roundabout way, I guess.”

“She still thinking about opening a store for bikers?” Dagger asked.

“Yeah. It’s not gonna happen before the baby gets here. She’s got too much going on already.”

“What kind of stuff would she have?” Chris asked. “Is it going to be manly man biker stuff or girly foo-foo stuff?”

“Leather, Harley stuff,” he shrugged. “You know, the usual stuff.”

“I guess she’ll have stuff for women, too?” Dagger asked.

“Yeah, I think so.”

“Biker slut stuff?” Dagger’s eyes lit up.

“I imagine.”

“You get that new guy hired yet, Chris?” Jackson pulled one of the chairs lining the wall over to take a seat. Sounded like a good idea to Race, so he got one for him and Dagger.

“Yeah. Boz says he can start in three weeks.” Chris took a drink.

“What kind of name is Boz? He a biker?” Dagger scratched his chin.

“He rides a bike, but I don’t think he’s part of a club. And I don’t know where Boz came from. Might’ve been the name he was born with. It’s what was on the application I had Kylie check into.” Chris shrugged. “As long as he isn’t involved in anything shady and can take some of the load off me, I’ll call him anything he wants.”

Race laughed and finished his coffee, while Jackson tried not to choke on his when he laughed.

“Where’s Lettie?” Dagger asked.

“She’s on vacation this week and next. Went back to Seattle to visit her parents.”

“Oh, I’m supposed to let you know that Amelia won’t be in after school today because Ginny’s doing her hair.” Chris raised his chin in acknowledgment.

They fell into a companionable silence for a moment then, Race said, “I got a call from Jed this morning.” He couldn’t keep the smile from his face as he started to relate what Jed told him. “He’s made contact with Sadie,” was as far as he got before he was interrupted by Dagger.

“Does she swallow?” He thought it was hilarious the woman’s last name was actually Swallow.

“He doesn’t know yet,” Race responded. “They’re going on their first date tomorrow night.”

“A date? Jed’s going on a date?” Jackson was shocked at the news.

Jed was a major player in their club and Race wasn’t even sure if he’ddatedin high school. Women came easy to him, so he doubted he ever had to work for pussy in his life.

“Yeah. That’s what he said.”

“How did he manage to meet her?” Chris brought a sketch pad from the back counter with a box of colored pencils then took a seat next to Race. He started absently sketching something out.

“He bumped into her at a coffee shop then apologized for running into her. She said she was good. Then he told her he was new in town and wanted to know where he could get a good steak. She suggested some place and he asked if she would go with him so he didn’t have to eat alone. Some bullshit about not wanting people to stare at the poor, pitiful man eating all by himself.” Race shook his head.

“She bought that?” Jackson couldn’t believe it.

“Yeah. I guess so. They’re going out tomorrow night,” Race said again. Chris’s drawing was starting to take shape. It was beginning to look like a gas tank for a motorcycle. “Whatcha drawing?”

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