Page 64 of Stoker's Serenity

I helped her with the fine clasp and checked the price tag.

Shit.I’d be back for it. But in a couple of installments. This wasn’t going to be a one-and-done purchase at that price, but I happened to know the place took payments and when it was paid off? The piece could go home with you.

I knew it’d only been a few weeks I’d known her, but this was no impulsive thing. I really wanted to do something for her, something meaningful that would make her happy, that would let her know she was loved without saying it outright this soon – I didn’t want to scare her, or give her second thoughts. I wanted her to hold onto this easy and comfortable feeling we had when it was just her and I.

We left the shop and went into a few more random little places, an easy stroll down the boulevard that ate up time and the distance between us andThe Plank.

“Ready to head back?” she asked. The sun, though not visible with the remaining cloud cover, was giving its last, the dark creeping out from between buildings and wrapping around my little town.

“Actually, we’re closer toThe Plankthan the house at this point and by the time we reached my place, we’d touch the doorknob and have to turn back to make it on time.”

“Better early than late,” she said with a smile.

“My thoughts exactly.” I gave her hand a squeeze and she wrapped her other arm around mine, leaning into me as we turned the corner to the line of bikes parked out front of the little bar.

The captain was here; looked like Hope had ridden on her own; and a bunch of the other guys’ bikes were parked out front. I spotted Marlin’s, Atlas’, and Radar’s. Pyro’s was out here, too.

I felt weird arriving on foot. It wasn’t something I did, but we were already here, so it was whatever.

I held the door open for my little orchid, and it was like I held my breath along with it. I mean, this right here felt like she was really stepping wholly into my world for the first time. At least, for a no-holds-barred look into it.

Citizens weren’t always welcome atThe Plank. We kept it club as much as we could. The only real exception to the rule was the VFW guys we let in here when the town’s VFW Hall burned to the ground. Cutter, being a veteran of a foreign war, brought it to the club at an emergency meet, and he’d posed it as bringing a little legitimacy and respectability toThe Plank. At least enough to keep law enforcement from getting any wild hairs. Not that we had any trouble from Ft. Royal’s four-man police force. They were firmly in our pockets.

I stepped in right behind Serenity, dropping my hands to her bare shoulders and pressing my thumbs lightly in between her shoulder blades, where her tension rode.

“Back in the back,” I told her, as she nervously looked around at some of the old-timers giving her curious looks. A couple of them were wary until they spotted my cut. A few of them gave me a chin lift, a nod of respect. I threw some chin back at them as we passed, and I herded my beautiful woman past them thinking to myself,Yup, look at what I got, motherfuckers. All mine.

“Hey,” Cutter crowed as we stepped into the club’s section of the bar. He was draped in his electric chair, Hope sitting on one arm, looking up at us with his greeting. Her face went from serious to a stunning smile in an instant and I relaxed.

“Hope we’re not interrupting,” Serenity’s musical voice came from just behind my shoulder.

“Not at all.” Hope’s smile grew bigger.

“Welcome in,” Cutter agreed. “Pull up a chair, there, Stoker.”

I pulled up a chair as directed and dropped into it, helping my little orchid into my lap. She put an arm around my shoulders to steady herself and perched prettily on my knee.

“We were just talking about you, actually,” Hope said with a wink.

“Oh, no. I can’t tell if that’s good or not.” Serenity’s laugh was a tad forced, her nerves on full display.

“Nah, it’s nothin’ bad,” Cutter said. “We was just sayin’ you could probably stand a weekend away. Get out of Florida for a minute. Head up north with us where nobody knows you.”

“I don’t follow,” she said and chewed her bottom lip.

“Lake Run?” I asked.

“See, I knew you’d pick up what I was puttin’ down.” The captain winked at me and I smiled.

“Actually, I’d forgotten all about it. Thanks for the reminder,” I said.

“Okay,” Serenity said. “What is this?”

Hope grinned. “We, and by ‘we’ I mean the Kraken, are friends with another club up north in Kentucky called the Sacred Hearts,” she said. “They were a little before my time, but they’re a great group of guys and girls, and every summer we meet them halfway for a weekend at this lodge. Camping on the grounds, drinking, swimming, a little fighting all in good fun, and general fuckery. It’s a blast, and really good for the soul.”

“You should come as Stoker’s guest,” Cutter said, and I was touched that they would include her.

She looked a bit apprehensive and a little overwhelmed by the idea so I cooled things off with, “We can talk about it later.”

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