I had to break down and tell it all to Tara. She deserved to know what she was getting herself into. The fact is, the Guardians are all ex-military mercenaries that use our brotherhood as a cover for what we’re trained for... and just like Diesel said, we save people.
She took it easily enough and honestly didn’t seem that surprised by it.
“You ready, Mama?” I ask her as she joins me next to the MC’s van. She’s carrying a small box and hands it to me.
“Ready? I’ll be honest, Jason, I love your friends. They’ve made my stay here at the clubhouse tolerable. But I will be glad to get out of here and not have to worry about seeing half-naked women at every corner.”
I throw my arm around her. “Yeah, ooooh, yuck me too.”
She smacks me playfully in the chest. “You better...”
I interrupt her and steal a kiss. “Stop that. You know better. The only naked body I want to see is the one I sleep next to every night.”
Her smile drops from her face. “What about you? You going to be all right not staying here at night?”
She looks worried, which is crazy to me. “Wait. So you’re asking me if I’m going to be okay away from all my smelly brothers... living in a house with you instead?”
She nods. “Yeah, and away from the partying and having a good time?”
I grab her around the waist. “I think we have a good time.”
“Jaaaason, I’m serious.”
I pull her to me, flush against my body. I’m sure she can feel my reaction to her, poking her in the belly, but I’m not going to try and hide it. I couldn’t anyway. I’m like this any time I’m around her. “I am too. I’m serious. Tara... Mama... you’re who I want to be with. I’m looking forward to moving in with you. It’s only natural. I mean, if we’re going to get married and have babies... we need to live together.”
“Married?” she exclaims.
“Ha-ha, yes, married. You may be mine, but I want the world to know it.”
I’m about to pull her back into the clubhouse for a quickie before we finish packing up my shit, but when a car pulls into the lot, both Tara and I turn to see who it is.
Whoever it is probably won’t be able to leave once they turn their car off. It’s smoking heavily, and when they turn the ignition off, it spurts and sputters before finally dying.
The door opens, and someone gets out, but it’s hard to see exactly who through all the smoke. It’s not until she walks closer that I recognize her. “Brandy?” I ask in awe.
She looks different. Way different than before. And it’s not just the hair that is now brown that was once blond. No, it’s her body. “Uh, you’re pregnant,” I say, pointing at her stomach.
Her hand goes across her belly almost defensively. She laughs, and her face turns red. “Uh, yeah, I am.”
Tara is frozen next to me, her mouth hanging open. I turn to her. “No, don’t even think it. It’s not mine.”
Thankfully, Brandy chimes in. “Oh no, it’s not his.”
Tara lets out a breath, and I put my arm around her waist just in case the shock got to her.
Brandy looks between us. “Is Diesel around?”
At that, Tara nods her head. “Oh... Oh God... you’re Brandy. The Brandy.”
She nods, rubbing her stomach as Tara continues, “You’re the one that broke his heart.”
I grab on to Tara’s hand. One thing that has happened with her living here is she’s learned a lot about the club and each of the men in it. She’s also become a little protective of them all.
Brandy holds her hands up. “It’s not what you think... I mean, I didn’t want to break his heart. I didn’t have a choice.”
Tara looks her up and down, and I know she’s seeing the same thing I am... a woman that’s had a rough time of it. Tara looks up at me. “You going to go get Diesel?”
I look between her and Brandy. “Yeah, uh, you going to be okay?”
She nods and goes up on her tiptoes. “I’m moving in with my future husband today. I think I’m doing pretty well.”
I kiss her and smile. “I’ll be right back.”
I walk away and go in search of Diesel. I don’t know if he’s ready for this little surprise.