Page 21 of Bear

Chapter Thirteen

Winnie glanced at theplans and waited for Bear to arrive. She hated losing the gym because she’d put her blood, sweat and tears into making it a reality. She’d vowed that when they rebuilt, it would be better than before.

When Beth had come up with the idea of buying the land between the MC and the bail bonds, over 3640 acres, Winnie had breathed a sigh of relief. She loved the idea of the gym being better protected. She’d also been able to add parking spaces which couldn’t be seen from the road. If someone around wanted to come take defense lessons and not have anyone see them, their car could be hidden and Winnie could do a private lesson.

She’d been amazed at how fast Gage’s construction crew from the MC’s Texas chapter had finished even with all the underground additions. Since that underground addition at the previous gym had saved her and Remington’s lives, she was fine with multiple egresses from the gym.

Bear had suggested a panic room which was fireproof and was on the other side of the gym from the egress. He had multiple ways for them to leave the building. Her favorite had to be the crawl space he’d added between the outside wall and inside walls. Both of the locker rooms had secret doors installed to allow an escape.

Keeping her and Bear’s relationship a secret the last two months since the fire had been hard but they both needed the time. Next week was Halloween and the MC was having a huge party. She’d volunteered to watch Roam’s kids. Her reasoning had been so he could attend and Regina and Baron could also. She hadn’t wanted to be at a party and not get to dance with Bear. The positives outweighed the negatives on keeping their relationship a secret but there were times she second guessed herself. Then she’d watch one of the brothers giving War crap and realize she’d put up with anything.

Thank goodness the pranks seemed to have calmed down. You could definitely tell which sisters enjoyed that. Jesse and Beth had jumped in and made some enemies of the guys. Winnie was fortunate none of the pranks had been directed at her. She wasn’t challenging Bear in pranks. His brain would be way too devious thinking up paybacks. Nuh-uh, no way.

Winnie and Bear had one more walk through and then Sarah would test all the alarms, cameras, etc. Winnie was positive Sarah had already done that. Her sister was too organized not to.

“Hey, Winnie, we’re here. Where are you?”

Winnie walked out the office wondering why Sarah’s voice was calling for her.

Sarah and Bear were walking across the gym floor. Bear dropped back a little, shrugging his shoulders. Sarah’s grin let her know her sister was messing with her.

“I dropped by to pick up some sweets and Bear said he was headed here to go over the building. I thought why not come and do my stuff now.”

Sarah’s voice might be all sickening sweet but Winnie knew better. Sarah was who Winnie had shared about Bear with and Sarah freaking knew Winnie was giving Bear time by keeping it quiet. As her older sister, though, she couldn’t keep from nosing in and getting her point across.

Sarah had been urging her for weeks to come clean to the MC. The longer it went on the more chance someone would catch them. Sarah had even admitted it shouldn’t be like that but despite Locks seeing them as capable, fierce woman in the company, he was old-fashioned on dating.

Winnie didn’t care what her dad’s views were. She was thirty-five years old and she wasn’t getting permission from anyone to date a brother in the MC. She got all the stuff about how it was respect. They had a brotherhood and relied on each other but although she loved and respected her dad, she was not property of anyone but herself. She gave herself to Bear and when she accepted his property cut, it would be because they owned each other’s hearts.

She led her nosy sister and the man who she loved with all her heart over to the plans and their check off list for ensuring the gym was up to code and ready for inspection.

Bear walked by her, brushing his index finger against hers as he passed. His small touch reminded her with Bear she’d found a man who would always be by her side. She’d never be on her own because Bear would always have her back. He was her protector but he didn’t diminish her strength.

She’d almost lost hope over the years if he’d ever come home and ever notice the woman she was. Dragging out the planning of the gym initially had given her that spark of hope he saw her as a woman. She’d notice the interest in his eyes before he’d look somewhere else. She’d be forever grateful they’d had a security detail together. Sometimes fate needed a little help moving things along.

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