19
Lynx
When Jaynee said she was going to call Karma, she did it at fucking lightning speed. Not ten minutes after we got back to the club, she was on the phone.
I knew why too.
She felt the connection we had. When we were within inches of each other, lust sparkled in her whiskey-colored eyes. Heat radiated off her just as it did me.
It fucking scared her as it did me.
And this was why I parked my beat-up truck in front of Karma’s tiny home. After supper, Jaynee announced she and Sadie were moving in with Karma tonight. Tonight!
My goddamn stomach had been in knots ever since.
“I don’t want to stay here,” Sadie whined from the back seat. “I want to stay with Zander.”
Peanut knew how to slice me open. Between her and Jaynee, I would never have the strength to walk away from them. I should thank Jaynee for taking control. For doing what I couldn’t.
“Sweetie, I’m sure you’ll like playing with Nova.” Jaynee smiled, but I could tell it was forced. She wasn’t okay with moving in with Karma. She was doing it to get away from me.
Fuck, it hurt too.
I got out of the truck and went to get Sadie from the backseat. The front door opened, and Karma waved, her little girl was at her side.
As Jaynee had done, I slapped a fake smile on my face as we approached the front door.
“Karma, right? I’m Jaynee, and this is Sadie.” She patted Sadie’s leg.
My little peanut wasn’t having any of it. She buried her face in the crook of my neck, locking her arms around it.
“Yes, and this is Nova. Please come in.” Karma stepped back, waving us in. “How’s it going, Lynx?”
“Good, and you?” I checked the place out, never having been inside it before. After the crap with Casso, Grizzly had put in a security system in Karma’s place. It gave me a little peace of mind knowing Jaynee and Sadie were in a safe place. I still didn’t like them moving in, though.
“I’m terrific, thanks.”
I hiked an eyebrow. “Terrific? That’s unusual,” I said teasingly. Karma was an intense, extremely private woman. I hadn’t gotten to know her too well, but we chatted a little the last time she gave me a tattoo.
I set Sadie on the sofa. “I need to get your suitcases, peanut.”
She dropped her chin to her chest and moped.
I left anyway, trying my damnedest to not let the pint-sized human manipulate me. Not that I thought Sadie was. I knew she wanted to stay at the compound; I just didn’t have a say in the matter. If I did, they wouldn’t be moving in with Karma.
Once outside, I inhaled a deep breath. The smell of burning wood was in the air. I liked fall. The changing colors of the leaves, the crisp air, and it got dark earlier. But mostly, it meant winter was near. Growing up in Texas, we didn’t have snow as we did inMinnesnowta.
I smiled when I thought of Sadie making snow angels or ice skating on the pond behind the clubhouse. She would look adorable with a red nose and cheeks from the cold. Her infectious giggles would be the best part of our day. Later, we’d warm up by a fire drinking hot cocoa, and maybe watch a movie curled up on the sofa.
Jaynee would snuggle us both.
A pang hit my chest as I hoisted the suitcases out of the back of my Chevy. My fantasy would never be realized.
Fucking hell. I needed to get over this mom and daughter duo asap. It would hurt like a bitch, but it would be best for everyone involved in the long run.
When I brought the luggage inside, Karma showed me where to put them. Rather than linger, I went to Sadie to say good-bye.
“Hey, peanut, I need to go. If you need me, I’m number two on Mommy’s phone.”