Page 38 of Property of BamBam
Smirking, I reply, “It’s not up for debate, Livy. As long as I’m around, I’ll check out where you’re staying for my peace of mind. Get used to it.”
She grumbles something incoherent under her breath as she carries Theo into his room. I watch from the doorway as she quickly changes him into a fresh diaper and follows that up byputting him into a set of clean night clothes then lays him down in his crib. His soft coos sound sleepy, and I know it won’t be long before he succumbs to sleep, especially since he has a full belly.
“I was going to make some soup and while it simmered, watch a movie while I fold clothes,” she says. “Do you… do you want to stay, or do you have something you need to do?”
I think about what I’ve got going on and make a quick decision. “Nothing more important than hanging out with you, sweetheart.”
She nods as she heads into the small kitchen and I watch, fascinated, as she quickly and efficiently slices onions, carrots, and celery, before putting it in a pot along with salt, pepper, water, and chicken broth. Then, she takes a pack of chicken from the fridge and deftly cuts off the fat before she adds it to the simmering broth. “There, that’ll cook nicely, I think,” she murmurs as she washes her hands then cleans the kitchen. “Do you want to find something to watch?” she asks as she heads to the couch where I see a basket full of clothes waiting to be folded.
Grabbing the remote, I sign into one of the streaming services I have, then create a profile for her so she’s able to use it again even if I’m not around. “I found this series that’s pretty good,” I tell her. “Wanna watch it with me?”
“I think I’d like that,” she says as she places the folded clothes back into the basket. At my look, she states, “I’ll put them up when I get up to stir the soup again. No sense in wasted movements.”
“Make sure you arm the alarm once I leave,” I tell her.
“I will, BamBam. Thank you for hanging out with me tonight. I enjoyed it.”
“I did too, sweetheart,” I reply, leaning in to place a chaste kiss on her lips. While I’d love to take it further, she’s not ready.
After all, Paps used to tell all of us that slow and steady wins the race. Except if you’re racing the barrels, that is.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-FOUR
Olivia
“I really like him, Beth,” I confide.
It’s been several weeks since BamBam spent the late afternoon with me, getting me hooked on a silly comedy calledGhosts. Since then, he’s taken me and Theo to the park, then had Marge watch Theo while he took me for a ride on his bike, and he’s shown me in a multitude of ways that I’m deserving of everything good that’s currently in my life.
“From what I know of the club and his reputation, he’s a good guy. I mean, I’ve heard about the rumors that surround the club, of course, but in reality, the good they’ve done and are doing for the community means more and outweighs anything bad they could potentially be involved in,” Beth replies. “However, I hear a ‘but’, do you want to talk about that today?”
“How did you pick up on that?” I ask, emitting a snort because I swear, she’s a mind reader. “I mean, there is one and to me, it’s a big one.”
“Livy, go ahead and tell me however it needs to come out. Don’t worry about saying it perfectly, okay?” she states.
“Okay, alright,” I mutter as my face reddens. “He makes me feel things, Beth. And I don’t know what to do with those feelings.”
“What kind of things?” she gently probes.
“Aside from the obvious where I instinctively know he’ll protect me with every last breath in his body, when he’s near, I have butterflies. The simplest touch has me wanting… more, I guess. But more of what? I don’t have a good frame of reference when it comes to intimacy because of Jasper, but I remember before he came into my life how it felt to have a crush on a guy. Only, what I feel for BamBam seems like it’s more than that. It exceeds that simplicity, it’s deeper and more consuming. I can see him in my life if that makes sense.”
“It makes perfect sense. He hasn’t made it a secret as far as how he feels about you, Livy. All he’s doing is allowing you the time you desperately need to heal. He’s also nottellingyou what his intentions are, he’sshowingyou with every outing, with every gift he drops by, and every glance and touch he sends your way.”
“How do I tell him I’m ready for more? I mean, I don’t think I’m quite ready to make love to him or sleep in the same bed as him, but I want to kiss him, to feel his arms around me. I want… dang it all, I can’t find the right words!”
Frustrated, I huff out a breath, which makes Beth laugh. “Sounds to me like your subconscious is telling you that you’re ready. Not only that, but I suspect BamBam is the type of man who’ll let you set the pace. At least the first time, that is.”
My face is now flaming as I think of the times I’ve ridden behind him, my arms wrapped around his solid, muscular body. Justremembering how I felt then has desire coursing through me, which is so foreign, I don’t really know how to handle it.
Still unsure about how to act, I ask, “So, do I tell him or show him?”
“Honestly?” At my nod, she continues. “Let the situation itself guide you, Livy. Y’all are both consenting adults and while your past was horrific, it seems as though BamBam wants to give you the world. Follow your gut. Your instincts won’t steer you wrong.”
“But what if… what if Jasper comes back and ruins everything?” I whisper, fear now choking me.
“If he’s foolish enough to show his face around here again, I’m positive that BamBam and the Kings will thoroughly educate him about the error in his thinking,” she replies. “Now, I know this weekend is the rodeo. Are you excited about going? There’ll be a lot of strangers around. Is that something we need to talk through?”
