by Jamie Begley
Hearing voices in the kitchen, she went in that direction then remembered when she had come in the clubhouse with Shade. Slowly opening the door, she peeked around the corner, seeing the room filled with the members.
Lily and Beth were putting food on the counter, Raci and Stori were cooking, and Rider was setting out drinks. Willa went through the door, enjoying the smell coming from the kitchen. The platter of fried chicken looked mouthwatering and doomed the diet she had promised to start today. Fried chicken was her weakness. She made sure she never went into the diner the day it was on special.
“Hi, Willa.”
Both Lily and Beth came from behind the counter to welcome her. Then Winter stood from the table, handing her a vase of flowers without meeting her eyes.
“Thank you.” Willa blushed, remembering the last time she had seen her.
“We all wanted you to know how much you’re welcomed and that we’re looking forward to having you live here,” Lily enthused.
“It’s going to be really nice when we add her name to the chore list,” Rider said then winced as Ember elbowed him in the ribs.
“What? It’s the truth. One less week I have to do the dishes. It’s not like we aren’t all thinking the same thing.”
“I’m not thinking that,” Lily protested.
Beth glared at Rider. “Me, either.”
“I am. I hate the fucking dishes.” Jewell picked up a chicken leg, biting into it.
“I hate clothes,” Raci admitted, “but I’m still glad you’re here.”
Willa laughed. “I don’t mind chores.”
Lucky came up from behind her, placing his arm around her shoulder. “Just make sure that you don’t do everyone else’s.”
“I’ll try.” Willa didn’t want to make promises she couldn’t keep.
“Let’s eat before it gets cold.” Viper walked around them, taking a plate from the large stack.
Willa got in line with Lucky, filling her plate sparingly with only a chicken thigh and a scoop of potatoes.
Before she could move down the line, Lucky placed a chicken breast on her plate. “I know it’s your favorite.”
She was doomed to have a big ass until she died. She tried to remember how many carbs green beans had then didn’t think it mattered, considering the fried chicken. While Lucky lagged behind at the apple cobbler, Willa steered clear, going through to the dining room after seeing the kitchen table was full.
Searching for a place to sit, she saw Viper and Winter sitting at a large, round table where Bliss and Raci were also sitting. There were two empty chairs, so Willa set her plate at the table. She was pulling the chair out when Bliss rose, carrying her plate away without a word and sitting down at another table.
“Did I do something wrong?”
Winter cast Bliss an angry frown. “No, have a seat.”
Lucky came up next to her, taking the other empty chair.
“Something wrong?” Lucky asked when she didn’t sit down.
“No.” Willa would ask Bliss later if there was a problem. She had always been friendly with the woman and couldn’t understand why she had left the table.
Willa observed her laughing and joking with Train and Rider who shared her table.
“What do you think?” When he placed his hand on her arm, she realized her husband was talking to her.
“What about?”
“Viper and the brothers are going for a ride after dinner; want to go with them?”
Willa knew he was anxious to be back on his motorcycle.
“I want to get unpacked. You go ahead.” The memory of Bliss’s butt on the back of his bike would forever be ingrained in her memory, so there was no way she was getting on a bike with him. After all, she didn’t want the person who came up behind her on Lucky’s bike to have nightmares.
When she finished, she carried her dishes into the kitchen and washed them off, not wanting to interrupt the others talking at the table.
Raci placed her dishes in the sink on top of hers. “It’s Ember’s turn to do the dishes.”
“Oh … okay.” Willa dried her hands on the towel rack before self-consciously going to the door that led to the basement.
Once in the room that was going to be her new home for the time being, she set about getting comfortable before she started unpacking. She lifted her suitcase to the bed, opening it and taking out a pair of jeans and a loose top. Carrying them into the bathroom, she changed out of her dress. She zipped up the jeans, surprised to find they were loose. She then went back into the bedroom and searched through her clothes, finding her favorite pair of size eighteen jeans. Knowing her weight was like an escalator, she kept two different sizes of clothes. Next week, she would be back in her twenties.
Going back in the bathroom, she slid on the jeans then the cotton top and felt more comfortable as she moved around the room.
She had finished unpacking one suitcase and was about to unpack another when Lucky walked in the bedroom.
“You ready?”
Willa gaped at him. “I’m still unpacking.”
“I’ll help when we get back. Come on.” He took her hand, dragging her out of the bedroom.
She tried to tug against him. “I don’t want to go,” she protested shrilly.
Lucky stopped. “Why? And don’t tell me you want to unpack when we can easily do that after we come back.”
“I don’t want to go,” she mumbled, looking down at her shoes.
“Look at me and tell me the truth.”
Willa lifted her lashes. “I’m too heavy. I’ll make you wreck.”
“I don’t know which pisses me off more—you insulting yourself or me.”
Willa gasped. “I didn’t insult you.”
“So, you admit you insulted yourself after I have told you repeatedly not to? You think I can’t handle my bike with my woman on it?”
“No.” She was aghast that he thought she was putting down his skill.
“Good, then let’s go.”
Willa didn’t know what to do, but she darn sure didn’t want to embarrass herself with her ass half hanging off the motorcycle. .
He was pulling her up the side steps when she broke and began crying helplessly. “I don’t want to go.”
Her husband stopped on the top step, staring down at her with a frown. “I know what’s going on here, Willa, and it’s really pissing me off.”
“No, you don’t—”
“You’re comparing yourself to other women you’ve seen on my bike.”
Well, hell, maybe he did.
“Willa, do you think you’re the only woman I could marry or fuck?” His stern expression demanded her answer.
“Of course not. Most of the women in town would leave their husbands for you, and there’s not a single woman at church who wouldn’t give her soul to be with you,” Willa said dejectedly.
“So when I married you, didn’t that tell you anything?” he asked angrily.
Willa’s eyes widened as she stared at him. “I thought you fell in love with my personality.”
Lucky’s hand tightened on the banister. “That was a part of it. I fell in love with each part of you: your tits, your ass, your thighs, especially when you clench them around me when I’m fucking you.”
“Shh … I get the message.”
“Can we go for a ride now?”
“Yes, but I’ve never ridden before,” Willa said apprehensively.
Lucky gave her a smile that no pastor should ever give. “Don’t worry, siren. It’s not the first time I’ve taught you to ride.”
* * *
The motorcycle ride tonight turned out to be beyond her wildest dreams. They rode through the mountains then headed toward Jamestown. At first, Lucky drove conservatively, riding in the middle of the other bikers. As she began to get more comfortable on the back of his bike, he increased his speed, and the other bikers matched him.
She noticed
the men with women at their backs rode in the middle of the large group, the lone bikers taking the front and back, except for Viper, who led the group with Winter at his back.
When they reached Jamestown, Viper motioned for them to stop at a gas station. Lucky pulled to a gas pump at the end, and as he pumped, she couldn’t help watching the smooth way his body moved.
He placed the cap back onto the gas tank. “Like what you see?”
“Did anyone ever tell you that you’re a little conceited?” she asked with a grin.
“My wife does every now and then.” He smiled, bending down to give her a quick kiss before getting back on the bike.
“How come the women ride in the middle?” Willa asked curiously.
“Protection. The bikes in the back stay a certain distance from the bikes in the middle, keeping cars off our tail. The bikes in the front alert us to the danger ahead.”
“Viper and Winter are up front.”
“Because Viper’s the president, and Winter’s his old lady.”
“Winter doesn’t mind being called an old lady?”
“It’s not meant as an insult; it’s a sign of respect. You’re an old lady now.”
“What do you call an old lady that’s old?”
Lucky grinned at her over his shoulder. “A real fucking old lady.”
Willa laughed, wrapping her arms around his waist.
Lucky’s expression turned serious. “Are you having fun?”
“Yes. I can see how it can be addicting. There’s nothing like it, is there?”
“No, there isn’t.”
When Viper and the others began lining up to pull back onto the road, Lucky tapped the helmet she had taken off while he fueled his bike. “Back on.”
Willa made a face. “Can’t I just hold it on the way back? You aren’t wearing one.”
“Your ass isn’t on my bike unless you have one on.”
“Maybe Rider will let me ride with him to see what it’s like without one,” she joked then wished she hadn’t when Lucky’s expression went cold.
“You never ride on anyone’s bike but mine.”
“Why? The women switched bikes when we stopped. I don’t—”
“Did you see any of the old ladies switch?”
Now that she thought about it, she hadn’t. “I was just joking.”
“Riding on another brother’s bike is considered cheating unless you have my permission.”
Willa started to get upset at the chauvinistic attitude. “Do other women members get to ride with men who have old ladies?”
“It depends on if he wants her to.”
“That doesn’t sound very fair to me.”
“Biker clubs aren’t—”
“Fair. I know. I’ve been told that before by someone else,” she snapped, putting on her helmet. “Asshole.”
“Did you say something?”
“They’re waiting,” she yelled out over the sound of his motor.
The ride back was even more fun. The sky had grown darker, and she didn’t feel as if she were going to fall off. The hum of the powerful motor and the wind whipping at her clothes made her feel as if she were flying. She was disappointed when they arrived back at the clubhouse.
Lucky stayed upstairs with the men while she went downstairs to shower and get ready for bed. When she heard the music from above her head, she tried not to think about Lucky being up there with all the women. Then she opened the bathroom door and almost dropped her hairbrush when she saw Lucky undressing.
“Dammit. I was hoping to join you before you got out.”
Willa unwound the towel she had knotted at her breasts, letting it drop to the floor. “I missed my back.”
* * *
Willa rolled over in bed, stretching her hand and hitting Lucky’s shoulder. Rising up, she peered at him in the darkness, seeing him sleeping deeply. She lay back down, curling against his side and placing a hand on his flat abdomen.
A tear slid out of the corner of her eye, landing on his shoulder. Seeing her husband sleeping soundly was worth any price she had to pay. After all, he had been willing to live a life that was driving him crazy for her, so the least she could do was be willing to try to adjust to a different way of life for him.
Chapter 29
Willa poured herself another cup of coffee, trying to wake up. She had another forty-five minutes before she had to leave for the church. The deacons had agreed to let her rent the church kitchen after Lucky had left as pastor. She was happy with the way it had worked out. She still had all the space she needed to make her desserts to supply her growing customer base. Plus, she was able to sell in the church store. She had even been able to call Ginny and offer her a job. The girl had been thrilled about quitting her job at the theatre and had started two days ago.
“Would you like some help?” Willa offered Ember who was flipping bacon.
“No, thanks. I have it under control.” The woman flinched when bacon grease popped up. It was the second pan she had watched the woman fry.
Keep your mouth shut, keep it shut, Willa kept telling herself.
Ember flinched again when a bubble of hot grease landed on her hand.
“Damn.” Ember shook her hand in pain.
Willa couldn’t take it anymore. “It’s easier if you bake it in the oven. You can cook twice the amount and no popping grease.”
“You can bake it in the oven?” Ember looked at her questioningly.
“Yes. Do you need to make more, or is that the last of it?”
“With the way the men eat, I have two more packs to fry.”
“Where are the baking pans?” Willa turned the oven on to preheat then set her coffee cup down when Ember pointed to a lower cabinet.
Ember and Raci both watched as she pulled out two baking sheets then went to the refrigerator and pulled out the bacon. It took Willa no time to spread out the bacon on the baking sheets then slide them in the oven.
“Is it going to taste the same? The men can be picky.”
Willa stared down at the fatty mess that Ember had cooked. “The men won’t notice the difference,” she lied. Her own name wasn’t on the chore list for four weeks, and it was going to be hell for her. She had only been there three days, and each morning, she had watched instead of helping the way she wanted.
Winter stood up from the table to pour herself another cup of coffee.
“I’m on kitchen duty next week.”
Willa nodded her head absently, watching as Raci filled a kettle with boiling water.
Willa couldn’t help herself. “Are you going to boil eggs with that?”
“Yes. Why?”
“If you have a muffin tin, you can bake them in the oven, too.”
As Raci dumped the water back into the sink, going for the cabinet, Winter cleared her throat, drawing Willa’s attention back to her.
“Because I have to be at school so early, I have to get up at four-thirty to cook breakfast before I leave. I saw you down for laundry in three weeks. We can switch if you want. I can do that when I get home from work,” she said.
“Are we allowed to switch?”
Winter frowned. “Allowed?”
“We don’t get in trouble?”
Ember and Raci both stopped what they were doing to stare at her.
“We don’t get in trouble,” Winter explained. “We’re not children, and we’re not in boot camp. If you don’t do a chore, someone else usually steps up and takes care of it. The only time someone gets in trouble here is if you hurt someone within the club or show disrespect.”
“Disrespect?”
“Like, for example, you can’t tell Viper to go fuck himself. Only I can do that.” Winter smiled. “Seriously, Willa, we’re pretty laid-back. So, do you want to switch?”
“I would love to.”
“You just made my day. I get to keep my regular schedule next week.”
Willa didn’t no
tice Raci and Ember rolling their eyes behind her back.
“Is there any way to bake oatmeal in the oven?” Ember asked.
“Sorry, no, but you can do it in a crockpot. It’s too late to do it today, but you can start it tonight when you go to bed, and it will be ready in the morning.”
Ember’s disappointed expression brightened. “I’ll do that.”
The side door opened, and Lucky came into the kitchen at the same time several of the other members came to eat. The kitchen became crowded, so Willa moved out of the way, watching as her husband fixed his plate. When he sat down, she poured him a cup of coffee and placed it in front of him.
“Thank you.” Lucky tugged her down for his morning kiss.
Willa straightened when he was done, blushing at the show of affection in front of the other men and women.
“You have a busy schedule today?” he asked, beginning to eat.
“Yes,” Willa answered, moving to lean against the refrigerator as Winter, Viper, and Rider sat down to eat.
Shade and Lily came in the backdoor, and Willa melted when she saw Shade carrying his son. She and Lily had started driving in to the church together in the morning.
When Raci took the bacon out of the oven, Willa took two pieces for Lucky, setting them on his plate. Winter, who was chewing her own piece, lifted her brow as Jewell sat down at the table next to Winter.
“Aren’t you eating?” her husband asked, looking over his shoulder at her.
“I already ate.” She had eaten an apple while she had watched the women cook.
Willa poured Lucky a glass of orange juice, setting it down next to his plate.
“Do you always wait on Lucky?” Winter asked, her toast poised at her mouth.
Willa smiled down at her husband. “A wife serves her husband’s needs.”
The room went silent.
Jewell put her fork down on the table. “You’re kidding, right? Do you know what century this is?”
“I know it’s old-fashioned, but I like to make sure Lucky has a good breakfast. It’s the most important meal of the day. My mother would get up every morning and fix my father’s breakfast, and they were married thirty-seven years,” Willa boasted. “They never spent a night apart, and they were very much in love. They were so much so that they never planned on having children, content with each other.”