“Would it bother you if I was?”
“Abso-fucking-lutely not, baby. Knowing you’re all mine is hot as hell.”
“Oh.” I was pretty sure I heard a smile in her voice, and I contemplated throwing all my plans out the window and just hopping on my bike to go and snatch her right now. It helped to remind myself that her birthday was still a week out. “Yes,” she whispered in a breathy tone.
I needed to get off the phone before her voice made me come in my pants like a fucking teenager. “Good. Keep that pussy safe for me. I’ll handle everything for the party. See you in a week.”
“But his birthday isn’t until—”
“One. Week. Arya,” I bit out each word through clenched teeth. I knew I wouldn’t be able to control myself any longer than that. It was Tuesday, and Nova would leave for his run on Friday. He’d be back the following Friday, and she’d been planning the party for Saturday. “I need you to be here early.”
“Oh, that makes sense. To help get everything ready. ”
I didn’t need her to help get anything ready, but I wasn’t about to tell Arya that I wanted her here sooner so I could kidnap her. “Just get your sexy ass here, and I’ll do the rest.”
“Okay.”
A noise interrupted my focus on Arya, and I glanced up to see the prez entering and shutting the door to my office. He dropped down onto the ratty old couch set against one of the side walls and watched me speculatively.
“One week,” I repeated. “And Arya”—Mac raised an eyebrow—“don’t think I’ve forgotten your birthday. We’re going to celebrate when you get here.”
“You’re throwing a party for me, too?” she asked, her tone colored with surprise.
“No, baby”—I kept my gaze locked with Mac’s, figuring I might as well make myself clear and find out if he was going to be a problem too—“just you and me.”
“I-I love that idea,” she said hesitantly.
“Good. Now remember what I said, and I’ll see you soon, baby. Call me if you need me.”
She agreed and said goodbye. After we hung up, I tossed my phone onto the desk covered in haphazard piles of paper.
“What’s up?” I asked Mac.
“Sounds like we have bigger fish to fry than what I wanted to talk to you about.” He crossed his arms over his chest and rested an ankle on the opposite knee, still watching me thoughtfully. After a minute, he asked, “Arya Rossi?”
I nodded.
“Nova know?”
“Not yet.”
Mac scratched his beard. “This gonna cause problems in the club?”
I leaned back in my chair. “Nova’ll pitch a fit, but he’ll accept it eventually.” Then I cocked my head to the side. “You gonna stand in my way? Because I won’t back down any more than you would have with Bridget’s dad.”
Mac's brow lifted to his hairline, but he didn’t look pissed. “It’s like that?”
“It’s like that,” I confirmed.
“Explains your shitty ass mood over the past couple of months.”
I shrugged, then folded my hands behind my head and threw out another reason he should be in my corner. “I’m taking a page outta your book, prez. We’ll come back when she’s knocked up. Even Nova wouldn’t try to separate us then.”
“Hmm.” Mac was quiet for a long minute, then he jerked his chin up and down. “What’s your plan?”
I gave him the rundown, and he listened until I was through before speaking again. “Solid. I don’t see a scenario where Patriot would run his mouth, but I’ll lay the law down to keep Nova in the dark for at least a couple of weeks.”
Relief flooded me, not only because he was going to give me a little help, but because I loved and respected my president. I was glad I wouldn’t be forced to choose between my woman and my brothers.
“Need anything else?” he asked as he unfolded himself and stood.
“Actually, yeah.” I had been trying to figure this part out, and I knew Mac could get it done. “She’s gonna need a vest. But they usually take several weeks to arrive, and I can’t have it sent to a cabin out in the middle of nowhere.”
Mac nodded and headed for the door. “I’ll take care of it. Her vest will be here when you get back.”
I called my thanks as he left, and he waved in acknowledgment. My lips curved in a smile. I’d laid the trap. All I needed was to lure my prey inside.
* * *
One week later
I paced in my room and checked my watch for the millionth time in the past hour. Dash was all set to fill in for me over the next couple of weeks. My bike was parked out front, saddlebags stuffed with the things I thought we’d need that we wouldn’t be able to get from a local store on the way. A few days ago, I’d driven my truck up there with my bike in the bed. Then I rode back to the clubhouse. I wanted to ride back up there with the wind in my face and my girl wrapped around me. But if she was pregnant when we left the cabin, I wouldn’t risk putting her on my bike.