Turning to face the newcomers, I released a huge groan. Of course the neighbor would come investigate the commotion erupting within hearing distance. And naturally he’d bring along the vet who had made a house call and the sexy receptionist who had assisted him. Another frustrated groan slipped from my lips.
“Some trespassers were using this abandoned house, but we’ll be taking them into custody. Everything is okay now.” Chief Wolfe’s tone had returned to his customary polite police voice reassuring civilians there wasn’t any danger.
The farmer shifted his brown gaze to me. “Thank you guys for taking care of things here.” Then he ran his hand over his messy brown hair. “Out here it is easy for bad stuff to go unnoticed.”
The other man’s white lab coat gave away the fact he was the veterinarian. He was older than the farmer gauging by the graying of his brown hair at the temples. His shrewd blue eyes traveled over the group as he scrutinized the club members. “Thankfully, your gunfire didn’t spook the horse we had in labor. That would have made for a precarious situation. But both horse and fawn are doing fine.”
“I’m glad to hear things went well.” Then the chief eyed his daughter. “And you shouldn’t be up here. See, hanging around these corrupt club members drags you into danger.”
Throwing her hands on her hips, she shot a fiery look at her father. “As was just mentioned, the danger is under control. And . . . ” She drew out the word as her voice grew more annoyed. “I came up with the vet I’m working with to check out things not because I was hanging around a club member. So you can’t go blaming anything – ” Her eyes widened when her gaze drifted over the red stains on my arm before she rushed over to stand before me. “Oh my God. Are you okay, Grayson? They’re here giving you shit when you’re injured.” Lifting her hand, she reached up to lightly trace around the outer ring of the bullet graze. Her gentle touch lessened the anger that had been boiling through me ever since the cops had shown up.
So despite my irritation with her father, my lips curled into a smile. “I’m okay, Princess. I’ll get our Doc to take a look at it and get it cleaned and probably a couple stitches, but it’s no big deal. Thank you for being worried about me.” Leaning down, I pressed a quick kiss to her forehead.Might as well earn his wrath.
“Brooke, I think you should be heading back to work. I don’t believe the good doctor pays you to stand around hanging out with your . . . ” When his voice trailed off, Brooke filled in the missing noun.
“Boyfriend, Dad. Boyfriend. And when he and the farmer head back, I’ll follow.”
The vet gave her dad an interesting look that I could only suspect was mild curiosity over his intense reaction to who Brooke was dating mixed with something else I couldn’t identify.
I schooled my features to stop the cocky grin that wanted to spread across my face.Yeah my girlfriend is a beautiful girl who is out of my league and it irritates the hell out of her cop father because I’m a club member. Life’s funny that way.
“Thanks again for taking care of things. We really should get someone to tear down the building. It’s only going to cause more harm than good. I’ll talk to some of the other neighbors and see if they have any ideas.” Giving us a nod, the farmer turned and strolled back down to his place.
“I’ll see you tonight after work, Grayson.” Brooke stood on her tip toes and pressed a brief kiss to my lips before trailing off after the farmer and her boss.
“We’ll need a few words with those who were inside the building, separately of course, before you take off.” The chief’s clipped words sparked my anger again.
Of course. Treating us like suspects. But I shouldn’t have expected any better.
He stormed over to Pip and the two of them rounded the corner of the house. I was surprised he didn’t march him inside to sit on the bottom step – since there wasn’t any furniture inside – to act out “bad cop bad cop” since it was doubtful any of the present officers liked either of our clubs. Although maybe he was saving that for me.
“You know the police were never overly thrilled to have our assistance, just accepted it as a necessary evil, but I guess it’s going to be worse now since you’re banging the chief’s daughter.” Axel shot me a devilish grin.
“Shut up, dickhead. I’m not banging her.” I leveled a heated glare at him.
He studied me for a long moment, his expression pensive “Sorry, Bro. I had no idea you were serious. I’m happy for you, Grayson. She looks like quite the catch.”
Sucking in a much needed breath, I waved away his apology. “It’s okay. I get it. No one expected me to settle down, but she’s it for me. She’s the whole damn package. And I don’t give a fuck what her dad thinks of me, but I know it’s causing Brooke issues. And I don’t want that.”
After we each gave ourstatementto the chief, we hiked down to our trucks and then headed back to the garage. At the auto shop, I stopped in briefly to let the guys know I’d be back to finish up the car I had been working on when we had gotten called out to the farmhouse. As I crossed our lot to my Hog, I sent a quick text to Blooms before mounting my bike and riding over to the clinic. Deciding it would be a good idea to not go through the main lobby with a gunshot wound, I steered around to the rear lot. We normally used this entrance anyway since ninety nine percent of the time we weren’t coming here for a physical. At the back door, I knocked three times really hard.
A moment later, Blooms popped her head out and gave me a tired smile. “Come on in, Grayson.” She held the door open for me. “I’ll get you settled into a room and then give me like five minutes and I’ll be in.”
“It’s okay, Blooms.” I followed her down the hallway before we ducked into the third room on the right. “I know you have other patients and I have a little bit of time. And it’s not an emergency. You know we really appreciate all you do for us.”
“Well, it’s not like you guys don’t pay me really well for it either. And I really appreciate that. That money helps me keep my clinic running.” She held up her hand, fingers spread out. “Five minutes; at the most ten, I promise.” Then she slipped out into the hallway.
My phone buzzed with a text, so I pulled it out of my pocket and grinned.
Princess: Did you get your arm looked at yet?
Me: Doing that now. Thanks for checking up on me. Does this mean you are going to take care of me tonight since I’m wounded? ;)
Princess: Of course. See you later ;)
A few minutes later, a knock sounded on the door right before Blooms stepped inside. “Only about five minutes.” She walked over to the sink and washed her hands before gesturing to me. “Up on the exam table big guy.” Her eyes lit up with amusement and she shot me a smirk.
“Fine.” Grumbling, I strode over toward her and hopped up on the paper covered bench.