Chapter 17: Jessica
The last three weeks since I got back to Dublin Falls and out of the hospital had been a whirlwind of activity. I had talked to all the women and apologized to them for running off without a word, especially Madisen. She had been the most pissed I’d left and not contacted her. We were slowly getting back to being friends like we were before I left.
I got to spend a lot of time with Devyn and Jocelyn’s babies. They were so damn adorable. I could cuddle with them all the time, and since Ajax was being an asshole, I had a lot of time to do it. He kept telling me he didn’t want me to work.
The other big surprise was when I was discharged from the hospital, I hadn’t returned to the room I’d used at the compound. I was taken to the guesthouse which was being built when I left. Only I found out it was never a guesthouse. It was our house, mine and Ajax’s.
I’d walked around with my mouth hanging open, looking at it. He’d taken what I’d dreamed of and made it a reality. It was a modern farmhouse—two stories with a huge porch that stretched the length of the front of the house and around one corner. Classic white boards covered the outside with dark green shutters and a red door.
Inside, the entry led to the open two-story living room and a screened porch in back. One side had the dining room, kitchen and breakfast nook which led to the back mudroom and laundry as well as an office. The left side of the first floor was taken entirely up by the master bedroom, bathroom, and a sitting room. A half bath completed that floor.
Upstairs were three bedrooms. One had its own private bathroom while the other two shared one. All of them had big walk-in closets. I didn’t know what to say. There was only furniture in the master bedroom and the living room. I looked at him in amazement.
“I wanted to surprise you with it. They got it done a couple of weeks before you got back. I hadn’t moved into it. I couldn’t. Not without you. I was going to let the next brother who found his old lady have it. When you came back, I went and got the bedroom suite and the living room furniture. If you want to change any of it, do it. And pick out the rest of the furniture. Make it what you want, because, baby, I’m hoping you’ll want to live here on the compound with me. But if you want something bigger or different, I’ll have it built. Wherever you want.”
I knew all the guys wanted to live close to each other. Not just because they were like family, but it gave their women and children extra protection if needed. I loved having Madisen, Jocelyn, and Devyn close by whenever I wanted to see them. He had looked at me with uncertainty. I walked up to him and gave him a kiss.
“Kellan, I love it. It’s perfect. And what you already picked out is really great. I can’t believe you have been keeping this hidden. You told me it was to be a guesthouse.”
He grinned. “I know, and you fell for it. I can’t tell you how glad I am that you like it.”
After the tour, he insisted I take a nap, and so began his hovering. He’d been almost unbearable when we went to see Dr. Foreman. He hadn’t been happy to have a man touching me. I loved Dr. Foreman and he’d confirmed what Dr. Newton had told us.
Dr. Newton had been another surprise. She and I had seemed to bond those few days I was in the hospital. She’d stood up to Ajax when she thought he was being too pushy. She and Demon had gone to battle more than once. I could see the glint in his eyes every time he saw her. She’d even stopped by a couple times since my discharge just to check that I was doing okay. He’d locked onto her as soon as he knew she was on the compound and never let her out of his sight.
Now that the house was furnished and I’d rested sufficiently, I had a surprise for Ajax. Today, I was starting back at the bakery. He’d said he didn’t want me to work there because of the risk from my stepfamily. They were having me take someone with me every time I left the compound anyway. Why not go to the bakery? If it wasn’t him, it was usually one of the prospects. Tate seemed to get that duty a lot. I’d talked to Madisen last night and she’d agreed. She was now a month away from her due date and going to the bakery and being on her feet was too much.
Before I got on my shoes and hunted down my keys and purse, I texted Tate. Ajax had told me this morning he’d be my shadow if we left to shop or anything. Me going to work fell into the “anything” category, right? By the time I got my things and out the door, Tate was waiting in front in Ajax’s truck. That was another thing. He insisted I ride in it and nothing else. Riding a bike even with him was out until I had this baby.
Tate jumped out and held open the door. I gave him a smile. I really did like him. He got in the driver’s side. After I was safely tucked in my seat and buckled in, he looked at me.
“Where to today, Jess?”
“Just head to town, will you? I’ll decide once we get there.” I didn’t want to let him know until I was practically there. He might refuse to take me. Who knows what Ajax had told him? The drive into town was a quick one. As we came down the main road where the garage and the bakery sat on opposite sides of the road, I pointed to a parking space in front of the bakery.
“Pull in there, Tate. I need to check on how it’s going at the bakery. Madisen asked me to do it since she’s not coming in today.” I prayed he wouldn’t question me. He didn’t. After parking, he went through the steps of helping me out of the truck and into the bakery.
I was greeted by Trudie and Cleo. They’d been glad to see me when I came back. At the other end of the counter, I saw Tina, the young high school girl they had hired after I left. She helped them after school and on weekends. I hadn’t gotten to know her yet. She didn’t say much, just smiled and did her work.
“What’re you doing here, Jess?” Trudie asked.
“I’m here to work. Tell me what needs to be done. Baking, stocking, office work, whatever, I’m yours,” I told her cheerfully. I caught the frown that flitted across Tate’s face. He pulled out his phone and texted away rapidly. Shit, I’d better get busy. Ajax will be here soon.
“Could you work on some of the pastry dough prep for tomorrow’s baking? It would be a godsend. I have the recipes already pulled out in the kitchen,” Trudie asked. I nodded eagerly. I couldn’t wait to get my hands in some dough. While I’d liked working for Dolly at the diner, nothing compared to being able to bake. I hurried into the back and washed my hands. In no time, I was lost in the world of baking.
I wasn’t sure how long I’d been at it when some sixth sense made me look up. There stood Ajax. He had his arms crossed over his chest and a pissed look on his face. I raised my eyebrow at him. He wasn’t going to win this fight. And a fight it was going to be.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing, Jessica? You know it’s too dangerous for you to be here. What if May or Melody or those goons working for them came here? Besides, you’re pregnant. You need to be resting, not working your ass off and standing on your feet all day!” His voice got louder the longer he talked. I held up a hand.
“Enough, Ajax. I’m not a child. I know there is a slight risk, but I have Tate with me. Besides, your club brothers work across the street at the garage, and I’m in the back most of the time. None of them would tell anyone I was back here if they asked. What do you expect me to do all day?”
“Rest. Clean house. Visit with Devyn and Jocelyn and play with the babies.” His reply pissed me off. I stomped over to him and looked up at him.
“Bullshit! I’m going crazy. I can only clean so much. As much as I love the ladies and their babies, I can’t hold them all the time. I need to do something. I can’t be what you want, Ajax.”
He uncrossed his arms and straightened up. “What exactly do you think I want that you can’t be, Jessica?” His voice was a low growl.
“The little woman you come home to at night, expecting her to have done nothing more than cook and clean. You come in, eat, then go to the clubhouse for hours and then come home late after I’m in bed. You barely say anything before you crawl into bed and go to sleep. I can’t do it. If you’re going to be going elsewhere for companionship, then I guess I’ll need to find my own companionship too. This is as good of a place as any to start,” I told him heatedly.