She chuckled. “I’m keeping it real.”
They arrived at the church to see Jonah outside. He wore a thick jacket and was carrying a brush, wiping away the snow from the previous night’s fall.
After climbing out of the car, Raven matched him step for step.
“Raven, Smokey, this is a pleasant surprise.” Jonah put the brush down and shook his hand, then Raven’s.
“It’s good to seeyou, Jonah,” Raven said, and then surprised Smokey as she hugged the other man.
Jonah patted Raven’s back, and then took a step back. “I want to thank you,” Jonah said, looking toward him. “For Larissa. I know with her losing her job at the library, it truly upset her, and she was worried, even though I’ve told her she has no reason to be.”
“I’ll keep aneye on her, Jonah.”
“We all will,” Raven said.
“Thank you. Is there anything you need?”
Smokey wasn’t used to this, asking people to be part of a Christmas celebration, inviting people.
This is for Ava.
All of this is for Ava.
“Actually, I don’t know ifLarissa told you, but we’re having a big get-together at the clubhouse. I’ve invited her, and I wanted to extend the invitation to you.”
“It’s for Ava,”Raven said.
“Ah, so that’s what all the fuss is about.”
“Fuss?” Smokey asked.
Jonahchuckled. “The town has been whispering rumors about what the MC is up to. Some of them are more elaborate than others.”
“No one has said anything to Ava?” He didn’t give a shit what people said about him. He was used to the lies spoken about him and the club. It had been happening for years, but his woman was different.
No one could hurt his woman. It would piss him off.
“Not that I know of.I think everyone is terrified of you, and of course, Ava being yours, they know she’s protected by you.”
That should have filled him with joy, but if anything, all it did was annoy him.
No one should be afraid of Ava. She was a good person.No one should ever make his woman feel like he was a problem.
Smokey clenched his hands into fists. All he wanted was to createthis surprise for his woman, and every single way he turned, it was all getting fucked up.
“I would love to come,” Jonah said. “I know Larissa is excited as well. She will help keep everything all neatly organized.”
Smokey shook Jonah’s hand. “I look forward to you coming.”
He knew Jonah would have other commitments with the church, but he was always welcome at the clubhouse. Jonah was a good man. A nice man.
Headingback to the car, he looked down the street toward his woman’s bakery.
“You want to go see her?” Raven asked.
Smokey thought about her presented cheek last night. Did he want to risk that kind of rejection with Raven watching?
“She doesn’t want me ruining shit.” He climbed behind the wheel and took off, heading back to the clubhouse where his clubhouse was beginning to look like a neon sign for Christmas.