DOTTIE

It’s Thanksgiving Eve and the ladies and I are prepping food so that all we have to do is warm it the next morning. I’m quite impressed with the kitchen that Charlee’s mom designed in the unlikely event everyone would have to live down here indefinitely.

The dining area has multiple tables with chairs set up all around, just like a normal house would have. There’s a baby grand piano in the corner as well as a nice sitting area complete with fake plants that look unbelievably real.

Through a set of swinging doors is an industrial-sized kitchen with huge, stainless-steel islands that have shelves underneath for the large trays and bowls. There are multiple restaurant-grade ovens and a massive, eight-burner stove. We had enough room for each of us to work without tripping over one another, which was a good thing considering the sheer amount of food we have to make.

There are three women I don’t know who have been steadily cleaning the used dishes as we prepare the food. All the little ones are with their respective fathers, although in reality, all the men are together and have the kids corralled between them.

“Incoming!” Charlee yells, just as a wet rag goes flying over my head to plop into the sink. “Oops, sorry, Jackie, didn’t mean to splash you guys.”

The woman in question, Jackie, shakes her head but doesn’t say anything, she just keeps working on the dishes. I haven’t seen any of the three women with a particular man and make a note to ask Bull who they are later.

“Okay, who’s coming down early to get the turkeys going?” Cam asks.

“I can,” I volunteer. “I’m used to stuffing turkey anyhow, so I’ll get that just about ready to go today then finish it up in the morning and stuff one of the turkeys before I get them in the oven.”

“Cornbread stuffing?” Charlee queries.

“No, bread stuffing, but I can make a pan of cornbread stuffing as well,” I reply.

“That sounds yummy to me,” Star says. “If it’s not too much trouble, I vote for you to do that.”

“It’s not too much trouble,” I return, reassuring all of them that I’ve got it under control. “I’ll drag Bull down here with me.”

Charlee starts to snicker then the others join in and soon, we’re all doubled over laughing hysterically. Despite the seriousness of the situation, I’m glad we’re together. I don’t know these ladies well, but what I’ve learned about them so far, I like.

“Then we’ll come and check on them so you can get a few more hours of sleep,” Cam advises. “Right, Charlee?”

Charlee nods even though I know by now she’s not really a morning person.

* * *

Later, we’re all lounging in the community courtyard, and I broach the topic that’s been floating through my mind most of the day.

“Charlee?” I call her name.

“Yeah?” she says, swiveling her head to look at me.

“Those three women who’ve been helping us today, who are they? Are they old ladies too?” I ask.

“Uh, no,” she snorts. “Have you ever heard about women who hang around MCs to ease the men's tension?”

“Ease the men’s tension?” I return the question with my eyebrows raised, the way she said that almost sounds scandalous.

“Um, Cameron?” Charlee brings in her best friend, and I can’t help but wonder why Charlee suddenly seems so apprehensive.

“Jesus, Charlee, since when are you so shy about explaining club positions to newbies?” Cameron huffs. “Listen, Dottie, those girls, they’re good ones. They’re here for one reason, but since these three are decent, we allow them to help in other areas.”

“You ladies suck at this shit,” Star harrumphs. “I’m gonna give it to you straight, Dot. They’re brought in to sexually satisfy the men’s frustrations. However, with that said, they’re decent and don’t step in places they shouldn’t. The ones they’ve replaced were vipers who didn’t give a fuck if a man was taken or not. Katy, Sabrina, and Jackie have a moral code that the other group before them was sorely lacking. They’re sweet and we’ve befriended them. They watch our kids, hang out with us, and still cater to the single brothers. We don’t judge them or manipulate them, and all we ask is that you give them that same respect and courtesy.”

Sighing, I take a deep breath then ask, “Do they want to be here or are they in debt to the club in some way and that’s how they’re repaying it?”

“What? No, every club girl who’s ever been at the clubhouse has been there willingly, Dottie. Anyone with us is there of their own free will, the guys would never, ever, force someone to spread their legs as a form of repayment for a debt owed to the club. That’s fucking disgusting,” Charlee sneers, a forlorn look aimed my way. “Do you think of us like that, Dot?”

“Hell no,” I vehemently rebut. “But there are rumors of clubs out there who take flesh as payment. I didn’t get that vibe from anyone here, but I wanted to clarify it so that I’m making no assumptions.”

“I can understand you needing that clarity,” Cameron says, leaning forward and patting my hand. “And we appreciate the fact that you asked instead of assuming or worrying. The guys aren’t angels by any stretch of the imagination, but I promise you, what you see is what you get, they don’t hide anything about themselves from the outside world. Club business is club business and none of the women are in the know with that, but they aren’t fake, they don’t hide who they are.”

“Just so you all know,” I state, “I really like what I see and how I feel when I’m with Bull and y’all.”

“That’s good, darlin’,” a husky voice, that belongs to my man, leans over and says. “Because you’re stuck with us.”

“Good,” I respond. “I like being stuck right where I am.”

The women all hide their smiles behind their hands and pretend they aren’t paying close attention to our conversation. But I’m a woman and I know better; women are curious and nosy by nature. We want all of the gossip first person not via second hand.