Page 37 of Gypsy's Lady
Fingers drumming on the counter, Bulldog stared at him for a minute. He opened his mouth just as the doorbell rang. Gypsy twisted to look at the door. “Sec, brother,”he said, holding up one finger as he set his cup down.
Staring through the peephole again for the second time in a few minutes, Gypsy was surprised to see this visitor was Tugboat. He opened the door and stepped back, reaching for Tug’s hand to pull him into a one-armed clinch. “Hey, Tug. Bulldog’s here. We’re in the kitchen.”
They moved that direction, Tug telling him as they walked into theroom, “I wanted to pick your brain about something I heard this morning.”
This was barely-disguised code talk for club business, and it seemed Bulldog understood well what Tug meant. “I’ll get out of your hair, but ring me, Gypsy. If you think you know some blokes that can help, then I’d be all in for talking through things. Tug.” He nodded, lifting his mug to take a final, cautious sip. “’Warethe java, Gypsy’s got it hot as hell.”
Tug grinned, teeth bright in his beard. “Right, I’ll be on guard. Good to see you, Doc.”
“I can see myself out, Gypsy. Call me.”
Gypsy nodded and dumped Bulldog’s mug in the sink, running it full of water. When he heard the door close, he turned and eyed Tugboat. “What’s up, old man?”
Tug opened the cabinet and retrieved a mug.Hefilled it and stoodwhere Bulldog had been, unconsciously adopting the same position, hand lifting the coffee to his mouth where he blew a stream of air across the liquid. “California.”
“What about it? Nothing’s settled, not yet.” There was movement across the roomandKelsey’s head peeked around the corner by the hallway, hair a messy tangle around her sleepy smile. “Come here, darlin’. You know Tug.”
Lip grippedbetween her teeth, Kelsey came to him, moving slowly as if in a fog. The expression on her face was content as she sidled up beside Gypsy with a shy nod towards Tugboat. In turn, he smiled at her, greeting her with a softly spoken, “Mornin’, Miss Kelsey. Good to see you again.”
“And you as well, Mr. Tugboat.” Gypsy slipped an arm around her shoulders, tucking her into his side. She looked up,eyes still sleepy. “I had a good dream.” He realized she was relaxed and comfortable, her face soft with whatever emotions had followed her up out of sleep. She wasn’t stuttering, either.
He gave her a squeeze. “I’m glad, honey.” Staring down at her, he marked how young she looked without the lines of strain framing her expression. “Want some coffee?” She made a face, which Gypsy expected, givenher previous reactions. “Tea?” Cheek to his chest, she nodded.
“I can’t get used to American coffee.” That was directed at Tugandhe laughed softly.
“I spent time in Brisbane when I was in the service, and I couldn’t get used to having a cuppa.” Tug turned and checked the half-full teakettle before turning on the stovetop burner. “Tea and toast?” Unerringly, he moved to the cabinet next tothe refrigerator where Gypsy kept the toaster.
“I can do that, Tugboat.”
She shifted to pull away from Gypsy but stilled when the old man threw a glance at her over his shoulder. “It’s my pleasure, honey. You look comfortable there with your man. It’s just toasting some bread and heating a little water.”
At the phrase “your man,” she froze, turning to stone under Gypsy’s arm. He eased her infront of him, assuming the position they’d held so many times since he’d saved her. He wrapped his arms around her chest and waist, holding her close. “Let him,” he murmured in her ear. “Makes the old fart feel useful.”
“I heard that.”Tugboathad located the bread and a box ofteabagsand was busy arranging things on the counter.
“I wasn’t tryin’ to hide it from you.” Gypsy gave Kelsey a squeezeandshe snorted, trying to hide her laughter. It was quiet in the kitchen for a moment, Tugboat focused on his self-appointed tasks. Cutlery clattered against a plate, and the click and whoosh of the toaster signaled the bread was sufficiently browned. “So you’re interested in coming to Cali if we go?” At his words, Kelsey’s neck twisted, her face angled up as she snuck a look at him. “What’sin it for you?”
“My nephew is there. Maggie and I have been back and forth somethis past coupleof years. Blue Line and his crew have made us welcome, but it’d be nice to have folks I know and trustwithme. I want to make sure my blood lands on his feet, you know?” The kettle gave a rising whistle,andhe lifted it from the burner, aiming a stream of steaming water into the cup he’d set besidethe plate of buttered toast.
“He interested in joinin’ an MC?” Gypsy wouldn’t be surprised if it were that way. Often clubs were built on generations of members, patches passing from grandfather to grandson, uncle to nephew.
“Yeah.Heserved with Bear, and I know Blue Line’s partial to him. Navy family, you know? If hewon’t cometo Chicago or the Fort—and he’s told me he’s done with the cold,so I ain’t gonna hold my breath—thenI can’t think of a better club for him than the Malcontents.” Tug turned, cup and plate in hand as he made a show of passing them off to Kelsey. Picking up his mug, he pointed to the tableandGypsy reluctantly turned Kelsey loose, grabbed his coffee and followed them.
“Man, there are ties everywhere I turn. Bear and Blue Line, me and Blue Line, Watcher andBlue Line, Watcher and Mason, you and Blue Line. You think what Mason wants is reasonable?”
“I think it’s not only reasonable, but it’s the best possible outcome. Takes from the Outrider bastards still trying to hold onto a patch, and puts good men in line with other good men.” Tug took a swallow, then angled his eyes up at Gypsy, the expression on his face shrewd. “And I think you and I wouldbe idiots if we didn’t follow this chance, brother. Forging new ground for Rebels. It’s a heady thing.”
“Yeah, maybe.” The more thought he gave the idea, the better it all sounded. “Me and Kels, we’re still talking about it, right, honey?” Kelsey kept staring at the toast on her plate and didn’t respond. He grinned at her preoccupation, and semi repeated his question, “Right, Kels?”
She lookedup suddenly, eyes wide and blinking as she focused on him. “Suh-sorry. Wh-what?”
The fucking stutter was back.
***
Kelsey
Heart pounding in her chest, Kelsey took in the sudden expression of anger that flitted across Gypsy’s face and ducked her head, staring at the plate in front of her.How did I ruin it?They’d been having a good morning,conversationbetween the three of them had been freeand easy, and havingTugboatthere seemed to relax him a lot. More than she’d seen him unwind ever before. In fact, compared to how he’d been at Mason’s home last night, it was night and day. And now she’d gone and messed upandhe was back to being tense all over, even to grinding his teeth, a sound to which she’d become painfully accustomed.
