Page 37 of Finish Line
“Of course.” He leaves the room, leaving me sittin’ at the table by myself. I rub my hands over my face before gettin’ up and leavin’ the room to find my Goddess.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Bull
I find Athena in her room with the door open. She has her back half facing me as she sits on her bed, textin’ away. My guess is she’s talkin’ to Rusty. I rap my knuckles against the door frame causing her to jump.
“You scared me!” she whisper-shouts.
I chuckle. “I’m sorry, Goddess. Why aren’t you outside?”
“I needed a break and wanted to check in with Rusty,” she explains. “They hired a new waitress.”
“How’s that goin’?” I ask.
“Rusty says she’s dumber than a box of rocks,” Athena laughs. “I’m sure she’s not. Rusty can be very particular about how things are done around the bar.”
“I understand that. Plus, she probably misses all your extra help,” I point out.
“Yeah, that too.” She pauses, staring past me. I can tell somethin’ is botherin’ her. “So, how was Church?”
“Tech was able to find out who your ex is workin’ with,” I tell her.
“Is it bad?” she asks with fear in her eyes.
“Nothin’ we can’t handle. But to keep everyone safe, I’ve ordered a light lockdown,” I explain, moving toward the bed. She scoots up to the pillows to give me a place to sit.
“Lay your head in my lap,” she tells me as I sit. I do as she says and her fingers come to my temples, moving in a circular motion.
“You’ve had a lot going on. I can only imagine how stressed you are,” she says.
“Just bein’ here with you helps more than you know, darlin’,” I admit, runnin’ my hand up her thigh. Her cheeks turn pink at my touch. If I had to guess, thoughts of Friday night are playin’ in her head. As much as I want, and need, a repeat of that night, I have to put any fun stuff on the back burner for the time being.
“You bring me a peace I haven’t felt in a very long time,” I tell her.
“That means a lot to me. Especially because you do the same for me,” she says. “I feel safe around you, too.”
“I’m glad I can do that for you, Goddess. You deserve to feel safe after all that you’ve been through.” I stare into her eyes and she smiles.
She runs her fingers through my beard and a low growl escapes my mouth as my eyes flutter closed. I’ve never let a woman touch my beard before. Athena, though, I’d let her do it all damn day. Her hands on my skin are somethin’ I’ll never grow tired of.
“As much as I would love to stay cooped up in here with you for the rest of the day, we should probably get back out there,” I tell her.
Athena lets out a sigh. “I agree. I was actually just thinking the same thing.”
I sit up and face her. Her beauty amazes me every time I take her in.
“Before we go out there, can you explain to me what a light lockdown means?” she asks, her eyebrows knit together.
“Shit, my bad. Sometimes I forget you’re new to all of this.” I chuckle. “A light lockdown means all brothers and Ol’ Ladies will stay in the clubhouse. Anyone can leave, but no one leaves alone. Brothers go out in pairs while Ol’ Ladies will be accompanied by two brothers. It keeps everyone safer.”
“I guess that doesn’t apply to me since I never leave anyway.” She gives a nervous laugh.
“Once we take care of your ex, you’ll be free to go wherever you want, whenever you want,” I tell her. I don’t want her to ever feel like she has to stay here forever.
* * *
I wake up Tuesday mornin’ with Athena curled up in my arms. If I could wake up next to her for the rest of my life, it wouldn’t be long enough. I try to lay as still as possible, so I don’t risk wakin’ her up. The prospects had got her own shampoo and conditioner. Now she smells like jasmine and berries. The only reason I even know it’s jasmine is because I saw the bottle. I tried to sneak it into my bathroom so she’d have to shower in my room, but she caught on to that. I was lucky enough to get her to sleep in my bed last night.
