“Hippolyta was queen of the Amazons. Like you’re one to talk with a dog named Dizzy Jizzy following you around everywhere?”
“I told you, my grandmother thought it was cute because it rhymed. She wasn’t up on current slang.”
Pris eyed me over the rim of her coffee cup. “You must have been close to your grandmother if she left you her house and her dog.”
My shoulders sagged as I thought about the memories I’d missed out on with my biological family. “I only got to know her about a year ago.”
“Why’s that?”
She deserved to know everything about me if she was going to be my woman. I let out a sigh and juggled the rock I’d picked up from hand to hand. “My dad went to prison when I was five, and my mom died in a car crash when I was about ten. I was raised by a foster mom, along with Kane and some of the other guys in the MC.”
Pris grabbed onto my arm. “I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be. Despite all of that, I had a pretty good childhood. Mama Mae made sure we had what we needed and wasn’t stingy with the hugs, either.” I lifted my head to meet her gaze. “My grandmother found me after searching for me for years. All that time I’d been living just outside of town. Even though we didn’t have much time together, I’m glad I got to know her.”
“Y’all coming with us, or are you going to sit the rest of the ride out?” Kane yelled over the rumble of bikes in the gravel parking lot a couple hundred yards away.
“Ready for another afternoon of riding?” I held out my hand to Pris. In the short time we’d known each other, she’d become everything to me. I’d never fallen for a woman before, and I was surprised at how hard and fast I went down.
“If it means we’ll get to spend another night camping, heck yeah,” she said.
“So, it’s the camping you enjoy most,” I teased.
“Not so much the camping, but the activity that happens while we’re in the tent.” Her cheeks flushed as she climbed onto the back of my bike.
I strapped DJ into his harness and navigated my bike into position behind Kane, eager to get to our next campsite so I could spend another night wide awake in Priscilla’s arms.
10
PRIS
After three days straddling Bison’s ass, I was ready for the ride to come to an end. I’d miss the naughty, desperate things we did to each other under the cover of darkness, but I was looking forward to air conditioning and a real mattress to support our evening activities.
Before we headed back to the garage where I’d left my car, I’d asked him to swing by the home where my grandma was staying. We had to pass by it on our way into town, so it would save me some time. Plus, I wanted to introduce the two of them. She’d always been a good judge of character and before I went all in with Bison, I wanted them to meet.
Despite the multiple times I tried to tell him I’d be no good for him and might even put him at risk, he didn’t seem to care. He said his heart beat only for me and that he’d stay by my side as long as I wanted him. It felt way too soon to say it out loud, but I already knew forever wouldn’t be long enough for the two of us.
“You sure you don’t mind waiting outside with Dizzy?” I asked as we pulled up in front of the dreary state home.
“I don’t think he’ll fit under my jacket to sneak him in.” Bison held the bike steady with one hand and helped me off with the other. “Don’t worry about us. We’ll be fine. Take your time visiting with your grandma, and if she’s up for a little sunshine, I can meet y’all on the patio over there.”
I glanced over at the three iron tables chained to posts on the covered patio. My reward money couldn’t come in soon enough. I couldn’t wait to get my grandmother somewhere where she could sit and enjoy some flowers instead of the dingy gray cinderblocks.
“Thank you so much for doing this.” I wrapped my arms around his neck and rose to my tiptoes.
“Anything for you, Princess.” He held Dizzy’s leash in one hand and cupped my ass with the other.
“I’ll meet you in a few minutes.” With a final look at the man who’d stolen my heart, I headed into the building. I’d registered as a family member the first time I’d visited, so I swiped my ID card and waited for the guard at reception to wave me through.
I took the elevator to the third floor and waited to get buzzed through another doorway. The staff said the precautions were to keep people out, but it felt a lot more like they were trying to keep the residents locked in. I kept reminding myself that she wouldn’t be here much longer.
I reached the end of the hall and paused outside her door to pull out the souvenir I’d picked up for her on our ride. Grandma always loved bluebonnets, and I’d found one pressed inside a paperweight that she could leave on her nightstand.
“Hey Gram, I brought something for you.” I pushed her door open, expecting to see her sitting in her recliner in front of the TV. Instead, she faced a man who had his back to me. No, it couldn’t be. He turned around and all the air squeezed out of my lungs.
“Priscilla. I was wondering when you’d be by. Poor Gram and I have been waiting for the past two days with no word from you. It’s not like you to let a day go by without a phone call at least.” Blake held out his arms like he expected me to forget what he’d put me through and take a flying leap into them.
“What are you doing here? How did you find me?” Panic clawed its way up my throat. I struggled to take in a breath while I tried to figure out how to get him out of my grandma’s room as quickly as possible without causing a scene.