Page 29 of Rattler
“Yeah.”He reached into his pocket.“Was going to give it to her after the meeting, but Rattler can handle that.”He tossed a cell phone at me.
I caught it, glancing at the screen.“This on our secure network?”
He raised his brows.“You think I’d put anyone on a network that can be hacked?Of course it’s on ours.I’m guessing she’s here for the long haul.”He thumped me on the back.“Good luck.”
“Thanks.I sure hope so.”I stuffed the phone into the front pocket of my cut and stepped outside.The sun was climbing in the east, and the temperature was warming up to a pleasant range.Typical for a fall day in Georgia.I headed back to the clubhouse, pausing to grab two coffees and tuck a scone and a muffin in my pocket before I headed upstairs.
Reaching my room, I balanced the two coffees in one hand and opened the door.
Chapter Seven
Lily
The sound of the door opening must have awakened me.I opened my eyes and found myself staring at a cup of coffee as Rattler placed it on the bedside table.
“Thought you might be waking up soon.”His voice was low, husky, filled with something I couldn’t quite place my finger on until I realized I was completely naked, and the sheet had somehow fallen down to barely covering my waist.Lying on my side, everything was on display from the waist up.
He wanted me.Again.
I probably should have pulled the sheet up but who would I be kidding?I wanted him too, and I was starting to think I was into exhibitionism.
But only for him.Rattler.He made me feel like the sexiest woman he’d ever seen.
Leaning over me, he brushed his lips across my forehead.“I brought you coffee and a scone.Or a muffin.Take whichever one you want.Oh, and Shadow sent a phone for you.It’s clean, and it’s on our private network so you don’t have to worry about your ex managing to hack into it or sending you nasty messages.Shadow programmed my number and the group chat for the club into it already.The old ladies have their own chat group, but you’ll have to have them send you an invite to that one.Us guys aren’t included.”
I yawned and picked up the phone.It looked like any other phone I’d ever seen, except this one had a cute flowery case on it.“Thanks.It feels weird having a phone again.”
He frowned.“It’s only been a day.”
I shook my head.“No.Tim took my phone away from me months ago.Didn’t want me contacting anyone without his say so.”
“Asshole.”
“Yeah.I thought we covered that already.”I looked at the plate of food.“Didn’t we do this already?The muffin or scone thing?”
He grinned.“Yeah, but you had lots of clothes on the last time.I like it better this way.”
So did I.
Scooting myself into a sitting position, I chose the lemon poppyseed muffin.Not quite the same as the choices at the bakery.I took a bite.“Delicious!”
He nodded.“Ace sent one of the prospects into town this morning for breakfast stuff.He wants the electrician to vet the wiring in the kitchen before Mom uses the stove or anything again.”
“How long’s that going to take?”
“Should be done this morning.Ace has ordered most everyone out of the compound while the electrician is here.Everyone except us, of course, and a skeleton crew to make sure nothing goes wrong.”He picked up the scone and attacked it like it might bite back.
I was confused.“Why?Is it dangerous?They cut the power to the kitchen, didn’t they?”
He swallowed the mouthful of scone.“Yeah, it’s not that.It’s just a precaution.The electrician won’t see anybody, won’t talk to anybody other than Ace or whoever he delegates to deal with the guy.Probably Jake.I know it sounds a little paranoid, but it keeps us all safe.We’ve helped put a few bad guys in jail or out of business over the years, and they could come looking for payback.No point in helping them figure out the best way to do that.”
“Oh.”I munched on my muffin.
“You could pull that sheet up a bit and cover yourself.”Rattler raked his gaze across my bare chest.
“I suppose I could.”I made no move to follow through.
“I’m not made of stone, you know.”
