“Okay, wow, remind me not to even bother putting you on my Christmas card list.”
“I doubt I was even on it.”
“Oh, well then, I guess, you’re in for quite the surprise.” This wasn’t flirting. Was it? Hunter stood close. Why did he have to smell so good?
He reached out, and before she knew what was happening, he stroked her hair behind her ear. “I have a feeling when it comes to you, I will always be in for a surprise.”
****
“What kind of tree do you want?” Hunter asked.
Smokey stared at the allotment of trees, and the truth was, he didn’t have a fucking clue. Trees didn’t matter to him, at least, he didn’t think they did, but now as he looked at the impressive lot before him, he had to wonder.
Running a hand down his face,he tried to think. What kind of tree would his woman prefer? Would she like something small or big? Plain green, or with fake snow, real tree, or plastic?
“Dude, you look like you’re going to be shitting your pants. Don’t you think this is all a little extreme if you’re stressing out?”
“I want this to be perfect.”
“And my guessis it will be. You’ve just got to give it time. Have you thought about asking Ava what she wants?”
Smokey glared at his VP.
Hunter held his hands up. “I’m just thinking, you’ve made mistakes before. What if the only thing she wants is to spend time with you and her son? She might not want to be around the whole club.”
He ran a hand down his face, a little exasperated. “This isn’t about spending time with the whole club. It’s aboutchanging the memories she has at the clubhouse.”
“And being around the whole club.How do you expect to do that when you won’t even allow Brick or Kinky to be anywhere near her?”
“Why did I bring you along?” Smokey asked.
“My charming personality, but in truth, I was the only one not busy.” Hunter rested his hands on his waist. “Fuck me, I don’t give a flying fuck about trees or Christmas.”
Smokey started to look at the trees that were available while also thinking about his woman and trying to imaginewhich one she’d love.
“So, er, what is Harlow doing around the club all the time?” Hunter asked.
“She’s spending Christmas with us.”
“Seriously, you want the mouthy vegan at Ava’sbakery?”
Smokey lookedat Hunter. “Let me guess, you’re not a fan of Harlow.”
“I don’t think about the woman at all.”
“Then it won’t bother you that she’s going to be at the dinner. From what Big Dick tells me, she has a rough time of it at home through Christmas, and seeing as she works for my woman, having her at the clubhouse will be good for Ava.” And this was about making Ava feel welcome. Wiping out those fucked up memories once and for all.
It’s going to take more than a Christmas to do that.
He had New Year’s, Valentine’s Day. Pretty much every single time she came to the clubhouse. He was determined to make this work.
“What do you think of this one?” Smokey asked.
Hunter came to stand beside him. It was slightly taller than him and was full.
“It’s fucking big.”
“You’re being a pain inthe ass, Hunter.”