When I check the time and see that she’s been in there for twenty minutes, I decide to go and check on her, just in case. She said she’d just be in and out, but she is a woman after all. When I glance around the shop and can’t see her, my heart starts to race.
Where the hell could she be?
I dial her number, but she doesn’t pick up. Did someone take her? How? Unless there’s a staff back door that they were able to leave through. I’m about to call for backup when I see her standing in the corner, talking to a woman.
“Shay,” I growl, ready to take all my worry out on her. She sees me, eyes widening, and says something to the woman before meeting me halfway across the room. I grip her upper arm and all but drag her out of the store. “I thought I lost you.”
“I was right in there,” she says, brow furrowing. “Sorry I took so long.” She holds a little bag up in her hand. “There was a lot to choose from. I think I found her the perfect one though.”
“I almost had a heart attack,” I say, exhaling deeply, trying to slow down my heartbeat. My hand lets go of her arm and moves up to her nape.
“You thought someone got to me inside a store that only has one exit at which you were standing?” she asks, the look on her face telling me that I’m overreacting.
“Well, you were in the fuckin’ corner of the store, a blind spot where I couldn’t see you, so what else was I supposed to think?”
I let go of her nape, but she reaches up and touches my arm with her hand. “I’m sorry. Nothing happened, as you can see. Next time, I’ll be quicker.”
My anger all but disappears. “Next time I’m coming in with you.”
My fear of losing her is higher than my dislike for shopping, and I feel fuckin’ stupid for letting her go in alone in the first place. From now on, she doesn’t leave my sight.
“Okay,” she says, shrugging her shoulders. “We’ll be joined at the hip for all future shopping endeavors.”
See? Upbeat.
She’s one of those always-look-on-the-bright-side people, and it’s contagious.
I open the car door for her, and she flashes me a little smile in return. I wait until she gets in, close the door, and then make my way to the driver’s side.
I think Shay’s the only woman I’ve ever opened the car door for.
I don’t bother to question why that is, I just get into the car and drive us to the next place on the list.
TWENTY-SIX
Shayla
AFTER changing my mind and finding Faye the most perfect gold bracelet instead of a handbag, we buy the decorations and everything else on the list. It takes about two hours, and then we’re back at the clubhouse.
“I really hope she likes chocolate cake,” I say as we get out of the car.
“It’s universal” is his reply.
“What are we doing for the rest of the day?”
“I have to go into Rift to do some work, along with a few other errands. Tracker and Rake are here, so you’ll be safe.”
“I know,” I reply. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever felt safer than since I’ve been at the clubhouse. “I’m going to do some training with Colt. He already knows sit; next I’m going to teach him how to lie down.”
“Where are the other two?”
“Faye took them back to her house,” I say, grabbing the balloons and banners out of the car while Vinnie takes the large box full of alcohol and plastic utensils.
“I can’t believe you got a piñata.”
“The kids will enjoy it,” I say.
Vinnie opens the door for me, following me inside. “Faye will probably enjoy it too, who are we kidding.”
We hide everything away where she won’t stumble upon it, which ends up being in Vinnie’s room. Vinnie heads off to work while I spend the rest of the day outside, chatting with Tracker and Rake and training Colt. Tracker shows me some techniques he used to train Lana’s dog, Evie, who was here last week before the pups came. I cook dinner for us, and some extra for Vinnie or anyone else who happens to be stopping by. I’ve noticed that I never know who will be here on any given night, but that someone is always here. After a long, hot shower, I read in bed. Vinnie gets back to the clubhouse at around ten, smiling when he sees that I’m still awake.
“Tracker said you cooked dinner,” he says, removing his clothes and jumping into bed with me.
“Yeah, steaks, potatoes, and asparagus. How was work?” I bury my face in his neck. “And why the fuck do you smell like cheap perfume?”
I lift my head to glare at him and I catch his grimace. “Shay—”
It hits me right now that we’ve never actually had “the talk.” We’ve never spoken about his not being with other women; I just assumed he wouldn’t. But he is a biker, so I probably shouldn’t have. Although the other men in the clubhouse seem to be nothing but loyal, I’m not Vinnie’s old lady, and we haven’t even been together long. Or whatever we are. Another issue, we have no idea what the fuck we are. If he slept with someone else, however, I’ll take my chances with the Mafia. I’m not sitting around here and putting up with that, no way, no how.
“Tell me what you did tonight, and think very carefully before you try and lie,” I say slowly, the threat clear.
“I have no reason to lie,” he says, staying calm. He sits up and looks me directly in the eye. “I told you I had to go check on a few of the businesses, and one of those happens to be a strip club.”