Page 14 of Wild Runaway
Vintage shifts in his chair. “Why don’t you bring them in here to stay in the clubrooms?”
The thought of sharing Trish makes me tense. I like her in my cabin where I can keep an eye on her, where I can pretend she’s mine.
I shake my head. “Too many people coming in and out, and she can’t keep the baby quiet. Someone might get wind of her being here.”
“Is her ex looking for her?” asks Badge. He’s the Sheriff of Wild and handy to have in the MC.
“Dunno,” I say. “He might be happy she’s gone, or he might come looking for her.”
“I’ll ask my team to keep an eye out.”
It’s hard to track strangers on the mountain when we have tourists coming and going, but I appreciate his offer.
“She’s Hailey’s sister, right?” asks Hops. “When are they back?”
“No one can get ahold of them.” I don’t mention that I’ve stopped trying so hard. They might be back any day now, and my time with Trish is limited. I don’t want to think about giving her up.
“But even when they’re back, I want us to protect Trish.”
Hops gives me a sideways smile. “You got a special interest in this woman?”
I pull at my beard and look down. I’m not ready to admit my feelings, not even to my MC brothers. But by the smirks on their faces, I can tell it’s too late to hide.
“Yeah.” It feels good to say it out loud. “Once I’ve dealt with this guy, she’ll be my old lady. If she’ll have me,” I add.
Trish has been through a lot, and I’m not sure how she feels about me. Apart from the sweet kisses I planted on her neck yesterday, there’s been no more intimacy. After what she’s been through, I don’t want to rush her, even though I’m aching to hold her.
There are broad smiles from around the table, and Hops slaps me on the back.
“Nice one, brother.” He’s grinning from ear to ear. “Love will change your life, I swear.”
Barrel scowls at him. “Another pussy-whipped club member, that’s all we need.”
Vintage shakes his head at him. “You wait, brother. It’ll happen to you one day too.”
“Not likely,” says Barrels. “I’ve got a brewery to run, and that’s all I need.”
Prez brings the meeting to order, and I leave the room while they vote. It’s unanimous. I club will protect Trish and Rose like they’re family. Relief settles over me knowing I have my brothers at my back.
The guys are staying for a drink, but there’s only one place I want to be.
I’m about to leave when Prez calls me over. “I need you on the next run.”
I nod and follow him to his office. It’s the first time I’ve ever been reluctant to help with club business. But my brothers have my back, so I need to do my part.
Prez closes the door behind him, and we go over the details for the run.
8
TRISH
It’s been two days since Joseph found me and took me in, and in those two days, the knot of anxiety I’ve carried around for so long has almost eased entirely.
It’s easy to be here. Joseph left this morning for a club meeting and said he’d be home after lunch.
I’ve spent the morning wandering the trails near his cabin with Rose strapped to my front in the sling he bought me and bear spray in one hand. Rose had her little face turned up to the sunlight streaming through the trees, as in awe of this place as I am.
She’s sleeping now in the travel crib we set up in the corner of the bedroom while I clean the kitchen. It’s the least I can do for the man who has taken me in, cooked me meals, and bought supplies for my baby.
