Page 45 of Gypsy's Lady
The waitress read the orders back, checkingwith the men to make certain she hadthemright, then disappeared around the corner on her way to the kitchen. Kelsey glanced back and found Maggie still grinning. “Men.”
Tugboat laughed deep in his chest as Bear opened the door to the diner. He walked up and asked, “What’s so funny?”
Maggie rolled her eyes. “These two Neanderthals thought Kelsey and I couldn’t order for ourselves.”
Bear grabbeda chair and dragged it close, sitting and resting his elbows on the table. “No secret, Mom. It’s a guy thing.”
Kelsey looked back and forth between them. Tugboat laughed again and angled close to Maggie, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. “Mags, it’s one way I can show you I care.” He turned and looked at Gypsy and Kelsey, still smiling. “Right, brother?”
Gypsy’s hand tightened around herthigh, sliding down and then back up a couple of centimeters. “Abso-fuckin-lutely,” Gypsy agreed, and Kelsey stared up at him. Heat fluttering to life in her belly, it rose up through her chest to her neck and cheeks. “We take care of the ones we love.”
Thirty minutes later, she had nearly recovered from that revelation when Maggie asked, “He’s the Australian doctor I’ve heard so much about?”
Kelsey looked up from her plate to see Tugboat nod as he tore abiteof toast off with his teeth. “Yeah, he’s MC friendly, so we wind up with him a lot.”
Bear leaned over and picked up the coffee carafe the waitress had left on the table. Topping up his mug, he said, “Bulldog’s the doc who treated me when I got back from California.” Everyone around the table went stillandKelsey studied Bear’sface. He kept it carefully blank as he continued, “He’s good. He works with Brute on the injuries he got from the IED overseas.”
Gypsy’s left hand had stayed on Kelsey’s legandhis fingers gave her a squeeze as he explained. “The doc’s a friend. Plays a mean hand of poker.”
“Th-there’s an Australian physician in Fort Wayne?” As much as she tried to steady her voice, Kelsey still knew it wavered.“Has he been there long?”
“Came over after he left the Royal Army, from what I know. Been in the Fort for years now.” Tugboat pushed back from the table, lying his cutlery crossways on his plate. “Man, those were some good eats. I’m full.” He rolled his wrist and checked his watch. “We should think about getting on the road soon.”
“And hisna-name is Bulldog?”
Gypsy nodded. He finished chewingand swallowed then looked down at her, his mouth pulled sidewaysintoa tolerant smile. “You nearly met him. He was at the apartment the day Tugboat came over.” He looked at her for a moment, head cocked to the side. “You want to meet him?” She nodded. “You got it, darlin’. Soon as we get home.”
“Home.” She wasn’t even aware she’d whispered the word until he gave her leg another squeeze.
“Yeah,Kels. Home.”
