Smokey stood up. “Do you know what Carlos has gotten you?”
Raven frowned. “Why would Carlos get me anything?”
“It’s what married couples do unless they want to have a shit relationship.” He shrugged.
“You’re wrong.”
“If yousay so.” He wanted Ava’s gift to be just perfect. A necklace, that was personal. He thought of her pretty neck, and he moved toward the door.
The man behind the counter clicked a button that allowed him to enter.
Smokey had never been to thisjeweler’s before, and seeing as he was wearing his leather jacket, the man looked like he was shitting himself.
Judgey.
It was a goodthing he’d bought some cold hard cash with him to pay.
Raven tutted. “What’s that supposed to mean? He’s given me himself and a couple of kids, Smokey. What more of a gift is there to give?”
“You think Carlos is a gift in himself?” Smokeyasked, turning toward her.
Raven shrugged. “Don’t you think it’s a gift having Ava?”
“Yeah, I do. The fact she picked me is a fucking miracle after … everything.”
“The guilt?” Raven asked.
Smokey ran a hand down his face. “I want this tobe perfect, and I asked for your help because you’re a club brother, and also, you’re getting close to Ava, and you know what she likes.”
Raven rolledher eyes. “Seriously? Are you having doubts about your ability?”
He glared at her. “Now I’m starting to regret bringing you along.” He didn’t want to bring Hunter as his VP was moody of late and continued to ask him why he invited Harlow, and now Larissa to Christmas.
Speaking of Larissa, he made a note to stop by to talk to Jonah. It was only fair to invite her father around for Christmas dinner. Ava liked the two.
It would help to create the memories he wanted tobe a buffer between the club brothers, and to show that people could enter the clubhouse and not be fucked up by the experience. The clubhouse was coming along really well. Admittedly, there was way too much fucking glitter for his liking, but that was Christmas.
“Sir, is there anything else I can help you with?” the salesman asked.
Raven sighed. “We’re not here to steal shit. He’s looking for something for his woman. He wants her to know that she’s one of the most important people in his life. That he loves her and wants everything to be perfect between them. He wants a long and happy life with her. Have you got something like that wrapped in one package?”
He turned to Smokey, and Raven shrugged. “That’s what you’re looking for, right?”
He couldn’t deny it.
“We have just the thing,” the salesman, Charlie, said. Smokey had finally caught sight of the nametag on his chest.
Smokey waited as he pulled a set of keys from his pocket, released the lock, and then pulled out a sleeve of necklaces. They were all delicate with jewels in them.
“Nothing says love more than diamonds. Depending on your budget, diamonds will help to deliver any message.”
Glancing over the necklaces, he kept coming to one that caught his eye. Tiny little diamonds, with a scalloped edge. It would decorate Ava’s neck to perfection. “This one.”
Charlie gave him the price, and Smokey already had the amount in cash. He wanted an expensive gift forhis woman, and he made sure it was gift wrapped and finished with a nice neat bow on top.
The salesman checked each bill to make sure it wasn’t fake.
Smokey was used to this kind of behavior. It wasn’t like he could blame the kid.He wasn’t a good man, and if it wasn’t for Ava, he would have hurt the kid long before now. Maybe the festive season was finally getting to him. He wanted to do good deeds and all that shit.