Page 16 of Hardy

Rose nodded.

He handed her a helmet, climbing ontohis bike.Hardy found it hard to swallow past the ball of emotionclogging in his throat.It had been too long since he had her onthe back of his bike.The only thing missing was his leather jacketon her.

She wrapped her armsaroundhiswaist, holding him.

Taking his time, he rode towardthe clubhouse.With Rose at his back, Hardy feltright.It wasright to have her with him.

They entered the clubhouse to findAngel and Lash herding the children toward their car.She hadTabitha and Miles with her, along with Anthony, Darcy, andSimon.

“What’s going on?”Hardyasked, climbing off his bike.

“I’m taking the kids home with metoday.Eva and Tiny wanted a break, and Tate and Murphy have thenew baby.I’m free,” Angel said.

“I’m just dropping heroff,” Lash said.“This evening we’ve got church.I’m calling it.Everyone knows, including the prospects.”

“What about Rose?”heasked.

“She can stay at the clubhouse,and one of the boys will drive her home.”

Hardy nodded.He shook hands withLash, then made his way toward his car.

“What’s with church?”sheasked.

“I made an observationabout Millie.She’s not very aware of the danger she puts herselfin by being exposed.”

“Why were you at Millie’splace?”Rose asked.

“Making an order for one of theboys.”Hardy pulled out of the parking lot.This was the first timeRose had spent time with him without him having to coerce her.Hewasn’t going to lose this chance.

Chapter Three

Rose watched Hardy lean forwardgrabbing the three different rose bushes she wanted.Red, white,and pink, they were her favorite.They walked around the gardenstore, and Rose couldn’t help but realize that this was the firsttime they’d been shopping together.They’d never even gone to thestore for food.

“What is it?”Hardy asked when she released alittle chuckle.

“Nothing.”

“You can tell me.”Hestarted pushing the trolley, and she followed him, walking side byside.

“We’ve never shoppedtogether.”

“Nah, we’ve got to havedone it before,” he said.“We’ve been together tenyears.”

“We’ve not.You always hadsomething more to do.You’d give me some money, send me in.Youwouldn’t shop with me.”She shrugged.It wasn’t something thatbothered her.Rose was used to watching other couples shopping, andwishing Hardy would go with her.Again, like so many times before,she hadn’t said anything.Rose realized it was just as much herfault as Hardy’s.“Forget I said anything.”

“Do you need to go to thegrocery store?”Hardy asked.

“I do.”

“We’ll rectify thatsituation.We’ll go shopping after we’ve bought these roses.Isthere anything else you want today?”

She looked around the store and shookher head.“No.Getting the garden to actually look like a garden ismore important.”

They paid for the roses, and were back inthe car minutes later.She watched Hardy as he drove to the store.This man she knew, and yet she didn’t.

Waking up from her nap, she’d beenshocked to find Hardy in her yard, mowing the lawn.He rarely didany yard work, and she’d been the one to keep the house lookinggood.

Hardy parked near the store, and Roseclimbed out.Her reflection caught her attention.She looked amess, and the last thing she wanted to do was go shopping withHardy, who looked good enough to eat.

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