She returned with the key, handing it to him.
“Thank you. I’ll bring it right back.” Ice went to unlock the padlock.
“Search the backyard while I take the key back to her,” he directed his men.
Snake and Raft both went inside the backyard while Ice went back to the porch, handing the old woman the key.
“Thanks, my ol—my girlfriend is attached to the little sh—dog.”
“You’re welcome. What does it look like?” Her tired grey eyes were twinkling in amusement, looking down.
“A little brown dot of…” Ice had to keep cutting himself off, trying at least not to come off as a complete jackass. Suddenly, Ice felt a wet tongue on his fingers. Looking down, he saw the dot licking them.
“Seems he found you.” The woman’s laugh turned into a bad cough.
Ice steadied her until she stopped. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” She brushed off his concern. “You better get your girlfriend’s dog home. I’m sure she’s worried sick.”
Ice bent over, picking the dot up and expecting to be bitten any second; instead, the dog licked the side of his face. Putting the dot under his arm like a football, he turned to leave, but before he left, he had to warn the old woman.
“You really shouldn’t open your door to strangers or leave your door open. It isn’t safe. There’s a lot of bad people out here who are not only mean, but evil and wouldn’t hesitate to hurt you.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” She gave him a sad smile as she went inside.
He shook his head when he didn’t hear her lock the door behind her.
“Did you lock the fence back?” Ice asked his men.
“Yeah.”
As Raft and Snake stared at the dot under his arm with animosity, Ice gripped it tighter. “You can both head back to the clubhouse. Take a couple of days off. You deserve it.”
Ice heard their bikes leaving as he went inside Grace’s house. She came running around the corner when she heard the door open.
“Bear!” she squealed in joy, practically ripping the dog away from him. “You bad boy. You know better. You scared me to death.”
“Nearly got you hit by a car,” Ice chimed in.
“That wasn’t his fault, it was mine.”
“If he hadn’t run out of the house, you wouldn’t have been outside in the middle of the fucking road,” Ice corrected her.
“He didn’t know that was going to happen!” she snapped. “Bear, want a treat?”
“No treat.” Ice told her, taking the dog firmly away from her and setting it on the floor.
“Where did you find him?”
“At an old woman’s house at the end of the street.”
“That’s Merry. She lives with her grandson. She’s really sweet, but there’s something strange about her grandson.”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know. I used to talk to her when I was outside mowing the lawn, but she doesn’t come out as much anymore. I think she’s been ill.” Grace had just sat Bear down and begun playing with him when Daisy came into the room, licking her friend in greeting.
“Food, woman, now.”
“All right.” Grace gave in, going to the kitchen. “I thought Snake and Raft were going to come inside and eat before they left.”
“I told them they could leave for the safety of your dog. Besides, I’m hungry enough to eat it all myself. I haven’t eaten since last night.”
Grace set a huge bowl of chili and a plate of sandwiches down in front of him. He managed to make a large dent in the amount of food before he sat back in his chair, finally content.
They did the dishes together before going to the bedroom. As Ice closed the door and turned around, he saw Grace standing in the middle of the room with her arms crossed in front of her chest.
“Would you mind telling me why those young men were outside watching my house?”
“Not really, but I guess I won’t be getting any tonight if I don’t.”
Ice took off his shirt then unbuckled his jeans before sitting down on the side of the bed to take his boots off.
“I have a news flash for you: you weren’t going to get any tonight anyway. I’m indisposed tonight.”
“Indisposed? What the fuck does that mean?” He stood up to face her. “If you’re mad at me, then be mad. I don’t dig chicks who use sex as a punishment.”
Her lips thinned in anger. Perhaps he should have been more considerate, finding out first if she wasn’t feeling well or still upset about the little shit, but he was fucking tired and aggravated after searching for her dog. He had even gotten here in less than three hours because he had been worried about her, and he had a ticket to prove it in his saddlebag.
“I didn’t think of using it as a punishment, but now I am. I’m not able to have sex tonight.” Her face turned bright red.