Page 13 of Jackal

My eyes popped open and landed on him. I would’ve known if something happened. Sadly, all my lady bits were perfectly untouched. I supposed that made him admirable, but was I really in my panties in front of him?

As if he could read my thoughts, he turned and looked at me. Even though my mind was racing and I was anything but cool, calm, and collected, I had mastered my poker face doing therapy sessions with patients, so I didn’t look away. I wasn’t going to act like some meek little inexperienced girl around him. That would only deter him further. I had to stand my ground and be assertive–confident.

He finally turned and I drank the rest of my tea as I watched Mama Hen visit their table. Watching her interact with her son was comical. He was the president and she obeyed, but she didn’t make it easy on him.

When Jackal turned back after she walked away, I wondered if he’d be the one escorting us around today. Mama Hen and the taken ladies all had been put on clubhouse arrest, except for Daisy going to work, but she had to be escorted by Falcon or a man of his choosing if he was not around. Lacy was taking a break from dancing because she was still shaken up after our little excursion to the small-engine airport a few weeks ago. Even the bunnies were given instructions on travel and work. Most of the guys had become someone’s personal bodyguard.

Penny, Hawk’s little sister and Mama Hen’s daughter, was a loose cannon and didn’t obey at all. But I was certain she knewshe had a detail on her around the clock. She was an astute girl, a college lifer like me, it seemed. She wasn’t around much, but I enjoyed the few discussions we had. Penny didn’t seem to like it here and growing up the president’s daughter, and now little sister, probably took its toll on her social life.

On the other hand, I was not upset about being surrounded by these guys, especially Jackal. It would be much more fun if he’d stop being so standoffish, though.

Mama Hen and I waited outside in her SUV with the air running full blast.

“It’ll cool off better once we get moving,” she said.

Shrugging, I answered, “No biggie. I lived on a little island for a few years when I was young and spent a few summers there. This isn’t much different.” The humidity here rivaled Trinidad, but at least the island had the ocean breeze, even if it was warm. I loved AC, but could handle the heat.

Loud pipes rumbled and shortly after, Jackal appeared from near the garages. Mama Hen and Penny parked in a carport next to the house, but the bunnies with cars and all the bikes parked by the garages.

Mama Hen looked over at me, seemingly to be sure I was buckled in, then headed down the long driveway.

“It’s beautiful out here.” I watched the full oaks and pines sway as we drove down the empty interstate. We passed a few farms and fields full of sunflowers, cotton, and berries. “There’s not really much open space like this where I’m from.”

“Lacy told me you both grew up with the rich people,” she said.

“I don’t know that we’re rich, just well off. Dad’s a doctor and had some luck with a little real estate. I’d say the club isn’t hurting for money,” I said as I watched for her reaction.

“We have enough. It’s a lot of people to take care of, though,and we have to manage the businesses.”

“You’re very loyal, and prideful,” I said as I watched her.

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“You should. Loyalty seems like a thing of the past sometimes, like chivalry.” I paused a beat then said, “Well, at least until I got here, oddly enough.” After being around a bunch of clinicians for a conference just before I came to Georgia, I felt like royalty here with the way I was escorted around. Everyone listened without question, and everyone made sure I was not without food, drink, and basic comforts at all times.

“The guys can be rough around the edges, but they can be gentlemen, too. Those girls are never disrespected. Maybe they don’t have the outcome they want, but being dumped after no promises were made doesn’t make them bad guys.”

“The heart can be tricky, though. Many women enter relationships with very few expectations, but then form a bond. That isn’t their fault, either. But as long as they can amicably split, neither party is at fault. Nobody should be stuck with someone who doesn’t want them.”

“True. But a lot of the bunnies are looking for an Old Man to take care of them. So when they invest time and themselves, they get hurt. But the guys are all pretty clear about what they want. They don’t make fake promises; at least, not my boys.”

Boys. Barring a few of them that appear to be late teens or early twenties, the rest were men, even her son. But she was Mama Hen and lived up to that name. “Why does Jackal call you Cindy?”

She chuckled then said, “Well, Jackal’s been around a long time and he was close with Raven. I guess I wasn’t old enough to be his mom, so he just never called me that.” The car was quiet briefly then she said, “You got a thing for Jackal?”

“You don’t mince words, do you?” I asked, trying to avoid the question.

“No sense in beating around the bush. Especially when it comes to these boys. He’s a good one, but he’s never been one to settle. Hell, it took us this long to get him to patch in.”

Sighing, I grinned. “Why does everyone assume I’m looking for my soulmate or something? Can’t a girl just have a fun fling? You just said these guys aren’t out here making promises of love. I’m an intelligent and logical woman. And I’ve been a good girl my whole life. I just want to have some fun.”

“But you just said that women often think that, only to later form a bond.”

“Touché. But until this past week, I wasn’t even sure I’d be sticking around. Even now, it’s still up in the air. I could go back to online therapy to hold me over, but I’m not sure when I can get my license here so I’ll have no office for now.”

“I thought you were looking into some other jobs? At hospitals and such,” Mama Hen said.

Blowing a breath through puffed cheeks, I answered, “Well, I am. I’d love to be on the research side of things, maybe even for new medications, or study viruses. That’s why I got my PhD. I don’t really like blood and dealing with sick people and people in pain all day is hard. That’s why I started out with Psychiatry. But that’s hard, too. Just in a different way. Most of my clients had moderate cases of depression and anxiety with an occasional ADHD evaluation, but some clients were severely depressed from traumas. You’re supposed to stay detached and objective,” I said, waving my hands through the air, “but how can you not feel terrible when someone tells you about how their father abused them as children and the mother did nothing but take it out on them?”

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