Page 118 of Shine: Sins of the Father
Wolf glares at me. “Fine. I’ll give you my vote, but I want you to stay the hell away from me.”
Cole grins and lifts his chin to Crash. “Call Church, VP.”
***
Ten minutes later, I’m sitting out by the bar, and every patched member is in church taking a vote on my future. I want to believe I’ve got this in the bag, but there are a bunch of members, and it has to be unanimous. There’s always a chance someone just doesn’t like me.
Fiona walks in with the baby on her hip, her mother with her.
My girl comes straight to me and kisses me. She cups the back of my neck and stares into my eyes. Her touch is all I need to calm my nerves.
“Did it happen yet?” she asks.
“They’re all in there right now.”
“How long has it been?” Crystal asks.
“Longer than I want it to be. Longer than I would have thought it would take to do a simple vote.”
“So, how were your mother and sister?” Crystal asks. “Tell me all about your trip.”
I love her for the fact that she’s trying to get my mind off it.
“It was great. My sister really took to Dylan. It was sweet to see her come out of her shell.”
Crystal reaches her hand out and covers mine. “Fiona told me what happened. I hope you don’t mind. But I’m glad Dylan seemed to have such a good effect on her.”
“Yeah. It surprised both my mother and me. Especially since nothing else seemed to work.” I fold my arms and lean on my barstool, my back against the edge of the bar. “Fiona, I ever tell you my mother used to work in the bakery department of a grocery store? I bet she’d love to see your shop.”
“Oh, how exciting,” Crystal says. “I’m sure she could give you some tips with all her experience.” She turns to me. “I’d love to meet her.”
“Well, this vote goes the way I need it to, and I’ll be bringing her and my sister to live here in San Jose.”
“Oh, that’s fantastic.”
“Only thing that might be standing in the way is your husband.”
Crystal pats my arm. “He won’t do that.”
“He may be the holdup, Mother.” Fiona raises a brow. “Why else wouldn’t they be done? I swear, if he ruins this for us, I’ll never forgive him.”
Crystal really looks concerned for the first time.
Skeeter slides me a shot of whiskey. “Here, Shine. Take the edge off.”
I lean to him. “You ever been to Vegas, Skeeter?”
“No, man. But I always wanted to go.”
“You may get your chance sooner than you think.”
He frowns. “You know something?”
“Let’s just say I think your days of tending bar are going to be over soon.”
“They kicking me out?”
“Think positive, Skeeter. You may be sewing some leather in your immediate future.”
