Page 3 of Sackett
Sackett paused a moment, blinking several times as he waited for his eyes to adjust to the light inside, then scanned the room.There were more of his brothers here than he’d expected.
“I planned to, but Savage asked me to help him out and I was bringing my truck back, so decided to come on in.”There was no reason to spend the day away from the clubhouse, other than he spent more free time here than at home and had been looking for a change.
He'd spent all of two hours at home, done way too many chores and found himself bored and searching his bookshelves for something new to read.That was not the place to look for something new, and he knew it.Still wanting something new, he’d hit the used bookstore, then stopped at Drifters and that was where he’d been when Savage had called.At least there he’d been closer to the compound and his truck than at home.He’d only been in the place a few weeks and hadn’t gotten in the habit of parking his truck there yet.He’d kept it here while he lived in the apartment complex, because they had a one vehicle policy, and he’d rather have his bike there than the truck.
Sackett was still unpacking things and getting settled in, but he’d have to get one of his brothers to drive his truck over to the new place so he could free up the space here soon.
“You busy?”he asked Maverick as he joined his brother at the bar.He waved at Demon, who was cleaning up behind the bar, to bring him a beer, then turned his attention back to Maverick.
“Waiting for Dana, then going to take her out tonight, why?”
“I’ve decided it’s time to stop monopolizing too many spaces here, but I could use someone to drive my pickup to my place.”
Maverick stared at him for a moment, as if debating whether or not to say how stupid he thought Sackett was.
“I did think about loading the bike into the truck, but finding a ramp, loading and all that seemed a lot more trouble than asking for help.”
Maverick bobbed his head from side to side for a moment.“Now I’m trying to decide if you’re smarter than I am or just not as hardheaded.”
Sackett was willing to say not has hardheaded, because if anyone knew where his thoughts had been before walking in here, they’d be ready to send him for an IQ test to see just how stupid he was.But he didn’t say any of that.Instead, he waited and watched, hoping his friend would give him an answer, even if it wasn’t today or was just no.At least with a no he could go find someone else.
“Do you want it done right now or just soon?”Maverick asked after a moment.
“No, no hurry.It occurred to me as I pulled in to get my bike that there’s no reason I can’t take the truck home now.When I came in, I thought to ask if you can help.”He was only fudging the timing a little and there was no way he was going to admit to what he was really thinking about when he’d pulled in.“It can wait a few days if we need to.”
Maverick looked up at the clock on the wall over the bar.“Dana’s due in the next little bit or I’d say let’s do it now.”
Sackett lifted one shoulder and let it fall.“No big deal.It’s been here this long.A few more days won’t hurt.”
Demon brought Sackett his drink and paused long enough to ask if either of them wanted anything else.Maverick shook his head.Sackett considered it for a moment.It was late enough he could get dinner, then not have to deal with it later, but while Demon wasn’t as bad as Puck in the kitchen, Sackett wasn’t in the mood for something barely edible, even if it meant having to cook for himself later.
“Something special with Dana tonight?”Sackett asked after waving Demon off.
“Not yet, but I have high hopes,” Maverick said.
“What?Are you planning to propose?”Sackett threw out the most far-fetched thing he could think of.When Maverick only blinked and stared at him, it took Sackett a moment to realize that was exactly what his brother had planned.“No shit?”Sackett’s mouth fell open and his eyebrows tried to hide in his hair line while he tried to regain his composure.“Wow.”
His brain scrambled for something more to say.Congratulations was out, at least until she said yes, and Sackett assumed Maverick thought she would, otherwise why ask?Good luck made it seem like he thought his brother would need it.
“That’s great.You already have a ring, or you plan to let her pick one out?”
“I have one.I enlisted her friend Sean to help me find one she’ll love.”
“That’s great.We’ll have to celebrate.”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.She has to say yes first.”Maverick rubbed one hand against the right side of his chest.Sackett suspected that was where he’d hidden the ring, in the inside pocket of his kutte.
The door opened, drawing both of their attention.Dana stepped inside and paused to scan the room, obviously looking for someone.The way her face lit up when she found Maverick gave Sackett no doubt what her answer would be later that evening.
“That’s my signal.”Maverick tilted back the mug he’d been drinking from and drained it before setting it down on the back side of the bar and sliding off the stool.Sackett watched as he went to Dana, hooked an arm around her waist and tugged her close for a kiss.The two of them seemed lost in their own world for a moment, then they broke apart, smiled at each other, and went upstairs.
Sackett shook his head and wondered what it would take to make him trust someone like that.Well, someone other than his brothers.He’d learned a long time ago that the people you were supposed to be able to trust were often the ones who let you down the hardest.It had taken a lot for him to learn to trust his brothers, first in the military, then here with the Souls.He still had his moments but nothing like he’d once had.
He picked at the label on the bottle Demon brought him and found his mind turning back to the attorney.He wondered what she would taste like.What was she like away from the office, or courtroom, where she had to be professional and strong.Was she soft?Was she a ball buster?Sackett shook his head and pushed the ridiculous thoughts from his mind.He’d likely never see her again, so there was no point in wondering.
4
Selenafinishedpreparingthepacket to take to the judge in Fort Collins and put it into her briefcase with the other paperwork she would need for this trip.As much as she sympathized with Donna and her possibly being tied to the piece of scum ex, that alone wasn’t the reason for her trip.If it were just the one case, she wouldn’t be going to Colorado next week.
