On my way out, I held my head high after that ass-chewing. Storm rarely laid into a brother. When he did, it wasn’t pleasant being on the receiving end. But I’d take my punishment like a man for crossing the line.
I only wished I could pull Eve aside and kiss her goodbye.
17
Sugar
It’d been four days since Art had left to help the Vipers. I’d gone through the motions as always, smiling and being a busy worker bee for Cash’s party. It was a success, of course. The newly patched member was back in Montana, and the club was eerily quiet.
I strolled to the kitchen, totally lost without Art. Even if we’d hidden our feelings from everyone, seeing him every day had made life bearable.
Gone were the days when the clubhouse was filled to the brim with bikers, seven days a week. So many of them had fallen in love and had families. It left me with little to do, so few to care for. Maddox was guarding the gate, Markey was in Arizona with Mickey, and Art was gone
Afternoons were the worst while everyone was at work. Tina had gone out with Raul for lunch. She was doing her best to not lose her mind the closer it got to capturing Brynne. Raul hardly let her out of his sight and kept her busy. Their love and devotion made me pea-green with envy.
I went out back, barely able to hold myself together. I didn’t care if Grizzly monitored Art’s phone or mine. I needed to speak to him, needed to hear his voice, or I might go crazy.
The gazebo Storm had built for Angel was the perfect spot to callmyman. I just hoped he was free to talk.
I listened to the ringing, my stomach twisting into a knot. If he didn’t answer, I’d be crushed.
“Hello,” he answered in a hushed voice.
“Art, it’s me.”
“Gimme one sec to find a private spot.”
I could hear voices—maleandfemale. Loud classic rock music played in the background. My innards twisted even more as I imagined a party with half-naked women, drugs and booze, and orgies.
“Hurry up,” I hissed into the phone. I was about to lose my shit.
“Okay, sweetness. I’m here. How are you, baby?”
“Horrible. Is there a party going on there? Have you been screwing around with the club girls?”
“Eve, I can’t even believe you’d ask me that. No, I haven’t screwed around.”
“I heard women’s voices,youngwomen’s voices.” Insecure much? Hell yes, I was. I shouldn’t ask, but I had to… “Any women trying to bed you?”
He sighed into the phone. “Yes, but I shot them down on the spot. I know better, Eve. I won’t fuck up and lose you.”
Again, I shouldn’t ask, but I was in deep with Art. I had to know what his intentions were. “Where do you see us going from here, I mean beyond sex?”
“You really want to do this on the phone?”
“Yes.”
“It’d be better if we hashed this out in person.”
“No, just answer me.” If he couldn’t tell me how he felt over the phone this very second, I was ready to put a stop to us. It would shatter me, but I’d do it.
“I want the whole enchilada: marriage, kids. I see us growing old together.”
“I’m forty-one. Having a baby at my age may not be possible.”
“Stop taking the pill. We can try our luck and see what happens. Don’t forget there’s adoption. Unless you don’t want another kid. In that case, I don’t want one either.”
My word, Art sounded like a determined man. My determined man. I loved him even more for knowing what he wanted.