Page 30 of Deuce

That explained why Tiny hadn’t seen him coming.“Go get it.After all the bikes in the past day or two, your truck might look like an improvement.”

Dad lumbered to his feet, dropping a paternal pat on my head before heading out.

“So, Willow?”Deuce strode over to the coffee maker to help himself to a fresh cup.“Doberman?Shepherd?Pitbull?”

I shook my head.“No, she’s a mutt.Hard to tell what kind of breeds she might have in her.Someone dumped her on the side of the road a few years back and Dad brought her home.She’s very sweet.”

Dad’s truck wasn’t much quieter than the bikes.I heard it turn the corner and got to my feet.I hadn’t seen Willow since my trip home last Christmas and I missed the furry little brat.I’d considered getting a dog of my own, but somehow it never seemed like the right time.

On top of my substitute teaching, I did freelance work as a seamstress, specializing in weddings and formal occasions.I was occasionally away on location if the event was out of the country, and I wouldn’t be able to take a dog with me.That wouldn’t be fair to the critter.

The front door opened, and an overexcited bundle of fur streaked into the kitchen.Willow threw herself into my lap, squirming in every direction as she tried to get her twelve-pound body high enough to lick my face.

“Probably safe to say she’d be okay at the compound.Mom would just love her to pieces,” Beast noted wryly.

Deuce met my gaze over the top of the excited dog and shook his head.

* * *

Deuce

I felt surprisingly nervous getting ready for my first official date with Sophia.Silly really.Fuck, she’d been through hell the night we met, and we’d already slept together, but we’d never gone out somewhere socially.I’d asked her if she was okay with going on my bike and she’d repliedyeswith real enthusiasm.

That made me happy.The bike was a huge part of my life, and it was important that the woman I planned to claim as my own understood that and shared in the joy of riding.After the drama with her dad showing up, the steak dinner had been postponed for now in favor of a meal out.

I put on a new pair of black jeans I’d bought just for the occasion, and a button-down shirt over my usual tee.Checking my image in the mirror, I shook my head ruefully.A lifetime ago, when I worked for one of the top accounting firms, this outfit would have been considered slumming.Amazing how a person’s perspective could change.

I slipped my leather cut on and hesitated.I never went anywhere without my gun and it seemed like a bad idea to leave it behind.Striding to the closet, I grabbed my shoulder holster.Strapping it on, I checked the safety and slipped the gun in place.The cut mostly hid it.Pocketing my phone, I grabbed my keys and the pics Shadow had printed out for me, and headed out the door.

The ride to Sophia’s place helped to clear my head.I’d polished my bike to a high shine, and it sparkled in the evening sun.I left my helmet on the seat and ran my fingers through my hair to make sure it wasn’t sticking up in all directions.I straightened my shirt.A button-down wasn’t something I was used to anymore, and I wanted to look my best.Striding up to the back door, I knocked.

No one answered.

I swallowed a lump in my throat.Surely, she hadn’t forgotten our date?Or worse yet, changed her mind and was now pretending she wasn’t home despite her car in the driveway?

I knocked again.A ferocious barking startled me, and I jumped back a step.

“Quiet, you little heathen!”Exasperation laced Sophia’s voice.“He’ll think you don’t like him!”

The door opened and Sophia rolled her eyes.“Just ignore her.She thinks she’s a guard dog.”

“She did make me jump,” I said, leaning down to offer my hand to the little pooch.

Willow sniffed my fingers, gave them a tentative lick.Apparently satisfied I was harmless, she danced up on her hind legs and tried to reach my face.I scooped her up, rubbing her little belly.

“Now you’ve done it.You’re going to have dog hair all over that nice shirt.”

“Angel dust.”

“What?”

I grinned as Willow let out a happy little yip.“My mom used to say it wasn’t dog hair, it was angel dust.”

Sophia tilted her head.

“Our dog’s name was Angel,” I explained, “and whenever my dad complained about all the dog hair in the house, my mom would just laugh and say it was angel dust.”

“That is adorable.”Sophia grabbed a coat and tugged it on.Shiny black leather with a heavy-duty zipper, it looked suspiciously new.“I guess by that logic, I have Willow dust in the house.”

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