“And you never left.” I laughed.
“Never left,” he agreed with a nod.
I loved hearing their stories, learning their history, but the conversation turned decisively to me after that. Even though I’d spent time with them at the clubhouse party the other night, this was different. This felt like we were all getting to know each other, and not as brother versus a brother’s woman, but as real people. There was no divide between us now. They saw me as family, which I greatly appreciated, but I also wanted them to like me.
Cheese decided to hit the sack and said a quick goodnight before escaping to his clubhouse room. I reached into my back pocket for my phone. I lit up the screen. No word from Colt. I wondered how long it took to talk to the sheriff.
“You guys have been really wonderful to me,” I said quietly. “I just want you to know that even though I didn’t grow up in this world and I don’t always understand the way things are handled, I respect Colt. I respect all that he’s done to earn your loyalty and I just—I don’t want you to think I’m going to piss all over it or lead him around by the balls. Not that I think I even could.”
“You’re not like I thought you’d be,” Reap said.
“No? How’d you think I’d be?” I asked, setting my phone aside.
“You’re one of the guys,” Reap said with a wry grin. “I thought, maybe, you needed to be taken care of, you know? Since that’s how he rolls. Takes care of shit. Takes care of people.”
“Prez has always been methodical,” Boxer said, looking into my eyes. “He never does anything without thinking through every scenario.”
“Are you saying he did that with me? Went off the rails and did something completely out of character?”
Reap shook his head. “You know what he did the night he met you?”
I shook my head.
“We had church.”
“Church? What’s church?” I asked.
“It’s when all the brothers meet to discuss club business,” Boxer explained.
“I was club business?”
Reap grinned. “Yeah, babe. He wanted to bring you into the fold. Wanted to let us know that’s how it was gonna be.”
“Wait a second. Are you saying if a brother wants to make a woman his Old Lady, he has to run it by the club?”
“Yeah, that’s what we’re saying,” Boxer said, “But not because he needs approval or anything. It’s a courtesy. Just letting us know he’s ready to make that step.”
My eyes widened. “Seriously?”
“Yup,” Boxer said. “When Colt said you didn’t call the cops after seeing him beat the shit out of that rapist, he knew for sure what you were made of. We were shocked as hell.”
“But Zip totally vouched for it. Now look, we’re trying to be gentlemen here, so we’re not gonna repeat some of what was said.” Reap’s brown eyes seemed to twinkle with devilish enjoyment. “But some of your assets might’ve been mentioned.”
Boxer made an obvious show of checking out my body.
“Up here, dude,” I growled, causing him to laugh.
“Colt is the best judge of character I’ve ever seen,” Reap went on. “He’s got an instinct about people, you know? He just knew you were the one for him. Never seen him like this around another broad, either.”
His words made my heart expand. “Never?”
He shook his head. “Never. And point blank, I didn’t think he’d meet a chick who’d put up with his moody ass.”
“Moody?” Boxer shook his head and looked at me. “Not lately.”
“Well, a steady supply of pussy will do that,” Reap pointed out.
“Yeah, as much fun as this is,” I said, my tone snarky, causing them to grin, “I think it’s time I said goodnight.”