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— GRACY —
I wake slowly and instantly realize the pillow my head is resting on is in fact not so much a pillow but Eddie’s chest. Pushing myself up, I glance down and a slow smile spreads across my face as the memories of last night resurface.
After dinner we talked some more and eventually took Finn for a walk and we ended up watching a movie in bed. The both of us are still dressed and I guess somewhere during the movie we fell asleep.
I reach for Finn who’s sleeping near our feet and take him in my arms as I slide off the bed. Finn knows the routine. I need to find my shoes and coat before we head out for a walk. I grab my purse and decide to swing by the tiny place near the marina to get some coffee and breakfast to take back to the boat.
Eddie is still sleeping when we get back, but as I place the coffee on the table and the bag with fresh pastries, his phone suddenly starts to ring, waking him up. He groans and grabs his phone.
With a groggy voice he says, “Yeah?”
Clearly, the person on the other end said something important because he flashes up and his eyes are wide open. “When?” Eddie scoots off the bed and rubs a hand over his face. “Then we’re going to speed things up. Two hours from now I’m walking into the clubhouse. Yes. Make sure everything is set. Good. See you there, brother.”
Eddie stands and puts his phone away to free up his hands so he can rub his face. Finn dashes off to him and starts to claw with his one front paw at Eddie’s pants. He reaches down and scoops him up, earning him a facewash from Finn. The way that rugged man cradles his little dog in his arms makes me swoon.
He bends down and places Finn back on the floor, who happily trots to his blanket to catch up on some sleep. “Something smells good. Did you go out for coffee?”
“Uh huh, and fresh pastries. Did something go wrong? The phone call, did Yates have news?” I question as I grab plates and place the pastries on them.
Eddie grabs a cinnamon bun and places a kiss on my temple. “Don’t worry about it,” he mutters and takes a bite.
“I am, and I will. And after last night I kinda hoped you would be honest with me. And I know there are things you can’t tell me and aren’t my business, but you can’t expect me not to care about you.” I quickly grab my coffee and take a sip to stop myself from rambling.
Eddie’s gaze is locked on me as he slowly eats his cinnamon bun.
He reaches for his coffee and says, “Yates called to say Rush wants everyone in church this afternoon. There will be a vote. I need to prevent it from happening.”
“He’s going to push this whole dealing in drugs thing through, isn’t he?” My heartbeat picks up. Not due to fear, but from anger. “You need to stop him. You mentioned last night how all eyes are on Unruly Defenders because of him. Dammit, what if he is doing this because he wants you to walk in there and claim your spot as the president? And then have the cops come in and you’ll be the one with the criminal record and right back where you were a few days ago.”
Eddie stares at me with wide eyes and it makes me feel weird.
“I’m overthinking things, right? Too farfetched? Sorry. My mind is running in different directions and I just want you safe and out of trouble.”
“Not farfetched at all,” Eddie muses. “Why didn’t I think about this particular angle? Shit. Can I trust Yates? Is he in on all this?”
“Wait. Hang on, and put a pin in it, Mister. Are you questioning your buddy’s loyalty again? That’s not my intention, Eddie. And really, you can’t flip a coin with trust and not trust a person. I get you’ve been betrayed, and Rush is a scumbag and all, but there are more loyal people out there than scumbags. And you’d better stay on the positive side of things. Your mother tells me you practically are Mister Positive, always have been. Hell, I’ve even called you that myself. So, don’t let that scumbag crush another part of you. Am I clear?”
“You’re damn sexy when you get all angry and tell me what I can and can’t do,” he tells me with a wolfish grin on his face.
“Yeah, well, you’re damn sexy every damn minute of the day,” I mutter and stuff my mouth full with a large bite of a cinnamon bun.
We finish our coffee and I gather my things before the both of us leave the boat. Finn and I follow Eddie to his bike where it’s parked near my car. I put Finn in the car so I can give Eddie my full attention.
He delicately strokes his fingertips along my hair and cups the back of my neck to pull me close. “If only we met a few years ago,” he whispers, more to himself than to me.
“Time is irrelevant. And problems will always come and go. A life can be lost by tripping in your own home or taking one step outside. Does this mean you’re not supposed to live? That you should be too scared to take a risk and avoid doing things that feel good, or make you curious, or make you crave so badly your heart aches to connect with that single person? Except, you don’t want to take that step because the future is unsure, the consequences could take lives...and yet, by not doing it and playing it safe, you did in fact already kill everything beforehand. Your own life, your future, everything. Because you’re not living it. And I’m rambling. But it’s frustrating. You are frustrating.” My shoulders sag. “I know this whole situation is not on you or on me. I didn’t choose the insanity my life is wrapped in, and you didn’t choose to be betrayed. It happened to you, it happened to the both of us. Just...don’t let it define you.”
I reach out and stand on my toes to connect my lips to his. I pull back and stare in his eyes to see the turmoil swirling in there. I pat his chest and turn to head for my car. Getting inside, I start the engine, making the radio automatically turn on. The tunes of Danny Vera’s song “Roller Coaster” fill the car.
I love his tunes but this song and the timing is practically melodically shoving my nose into the fact of the turmoil of life. It takes everything inside me not to stop the car and rush back into his muscled arms. But instead I take one last glance at him through the rearview mirror as I head home.
My whole mood is down the drain when I park my car and head for the bungalow I share with Maggie. I’ve never had a guy influence my feelings how Eddie seems to be able to rock them. Good or bad. And I hate it even more that I don’t have a grip on myself.
And why do I even care? I just met him a few days ago. Hell, we’ve only spent time together for a handful of hours spread out over two days. And I didn’t even see him for three days after the first time we met. Not to mention he was an ass that first day. Great, Gracy, just great. Now I’m fussing over wanting him while I have so many other things running havoc in my life.
I stalk inside and Finn rushes to Maggie who is waiting for me. Suddenly I feel bad about not letting her know where I was last night. It’s not like I owe her an explanation but I know how she worries about me. And to be honest, I never spent a night somewhere else without telling her.
“Sorry. I went out to the boat but didn’t intend to spend the night there.” I place my purse on the table and decide to grab a quick shower before I head for work.
I’m about to head for my room but Maggie’s voice stops me. “Eddie called last night to let me know where you two were. And you don’t owe me an apology, sweetheart. You know that. Oh, and I will take over your shift this morning because I need for you to run a few errands for me.”
“Sure, just let me grab a shower and a change of clothes and I’ll take care of it for you.” It’s not unusual for Maggie to rearrange my day but my gut tells me there’s more to it this time. “What do you need me to do?”
“You go and get ready, I’ll make you a list.” She shoos me away and even if I think it’s weird, there’s a hot shower with my name on it screaming for me to take it.
I head for my room and decide to take my time freshening up. Standing before my closet, it’s easy to make a choice what to wear. Mainly because I don’t have to be behind a desk today. Ripped blue jeans, a purple tank top, along with some black boots with a tiny heel. Most definitely a day for casual clothes.
I grab some underwear and my thoughts slide to Eddie again. Why can’t I ban him from my mind? Sliding the purple lace panties on—along with the matching bra—I dress quickly and decide to leave my hair down. I glance at my makeup and I don’t want to fuss too much and only apply some mascara along with some lip gloss.
Ready to take on a new day and dead set not to think about Eddie, I stroll into the living room to find Maggie, but she’s not here. The sliding doors are open and I know she likes to drink her tea on the patio, so I head out and see her sitting in her favorite chair while glancing at the beach.
“I’m ready, do you have your list of errands for me?” I question and her eyes land on me.
“Eddie has the list, he’s outside waiting for you,” she simply says and I swear I can feel my eyes widen and my jaw drop.
I start to sputter but she just shakes her head while wearing a smile, freaking mischief dancing in her eyes. “Just hear him out, sweetheart. Remember what I told you.”
“I remember what you told me, but I feel like a freaking marionette. Everyone is trying to pull my strings their way and I have no other choice but to ride the waves others create while I can’t seem to get my own life on track. And I am trying with Eddie but the whole being betrayed thing? That’s not a knife in the back leaving a scar, it’s one huge gaping wound that asshole Rush is rubbing salt in and it’s still wide open, unable to heal. He doesn’t trust anyone, and even the slightest turn makes him doubt stuff.” The words leave my mouth and they ring hard in my own ears and it makes me come to a conclusion. “You’re right. He needs me. He needs a friend, and I like him.”
Maggie stands and closes the distance between us. She places her hands on my shoulders and softly says, “He does need you. I know he might be difficult to be around at times, believe me, I married his father, remember? But he’s loyal and honest. You need him as much as he needs you.” Her hands tighten on my shoulders and she pulls me into a hug. “You’re young and free, sweetheart. Do what feels right.”
My throat closes up, and in this moment, I miss my mother even more but I’m thankful to have Maggie in my life. Her kind words and loving arms are just the thing I need to see through the obstacles in my life. Even if she’s biased with Eddie being her son, she’s also there for me.
She pulls back and gives me a smile and it makes me mutter, “It’s a good thing my mascara is waterproof.”
The both of us snicker and Maggie gives me a little push. “Go on, he’s waiting outside.”
I tell her goodbye and give Finn a quick hug before I grab my purse and head out. Eddie is on his phone and is right next to Yates. The both of them are sitting on their bikes. My heart skips a beat by the way Eddie looks, wearing a leather cut with patches on it.
Eyeing one of the patches as I walk closer, I can tell there are two skulls merged into one, a human one and a bull one. A rose sits slightly behind the skulls on each side, and everything is held together by two daggers.
“I almost didn’t recognize you there,” Eddie quips right after he ends the call. “All dressed up as my old lady.”
Yates chuckles and slaps him on the back. “Nice touch, man. Very smooth way to claim your woman.”
Old lady? Claim your woman? I’m about to question him but my phone starts to ring inside my purse. Digging deep, I grab hold and see it’s Clemente calling.
“Hey, Clemente. I’m in the middle of something, can I call you back?” I ask.
Clemente didn’t even seem to have heard one word I told him. His voice barks in anger, “Is it true? You’re his old lady? I thought I told you yesterday to be careful and not get involved with him, Gracy.”
There’s that term again, old lady.
“Clemente,” I sigh. “I have no clue what you’re talking about. And I absolutely don’t appreciate receiving a call from you where you’re throwing words at me in anger, so either explain in a normal way or I’m hanging up.”
Eddie is standing in front of me and leans in to whisper words on a hot breath right next to my ear, making goose bumps erupt to run wild across my skin. “You were right, darlin’. And I’m taking that step, even if the future is unsure. The whole craving part was what hit me. And since I’m taking back what belongs to me, I’m also taking what should belong to me. You. My old lady.”
“Did you hear a word I just said?” Clemente says, suddenly sounding very tired.
“Sorry. Someone was distracting me. But to answer your question...yes, I’m Eddie’s old lady.”
Whatever that might entail because I’m not completely sure what comes with this title. I’ve seen movies, series, read books, and the old lady term did swing by as the name they give the girlfriend, wife, married biker style, whatever. Besides, when you get thrown into stormy waters and someone throws you a lifeline that makes you feel safe and gives you something solid to hold onto...you grab hold and rail that sucker in. And that’s exactly what I’m doing.
“Walk away, Gracy. I’m sending a car over and you’re moving in with me or I’ll get you an apartment. I want you out of there. Now,” Clemente growls.
My eyes widen slightly and I see Eddie reach for my phone. Still standing close to me, I’m positive he heard what Clemente just said. But I’m the one he threw those words at and I’m beyond pissed.
“Look, Clemente. Yesterday was the first time I saw you in almost nine months. You seemed to have known for a while now that I am your half-sister. I just found out. I’m not holding a grudge because you didn’t tell me the second you knew. Well, maybe, but my point is...don’t act like you’re my big brother and I suddenly need to be protected. And I most certainly won’t move into your house or live in an apartment you supply. I have a fat bank account myself and don’t need anything from anyone.”
“You don’t understand,” Clemente says, his tone now filled with concern.
“No, Clemente, you don’t understand.” I take a deep breath and tell him, “Family is supposed to have your back no matter what decision you make. You of all people should understand the value of making your own decision, with the restrictions and obligations of the familia. And even if you think a person is making a mistake, it’s still theirs to make and find out for themselves they’ve fucked-up.”
“Okay, Gracy,” Clemente groans. “I have a feeling there’s little I can refuse you, so I’ll have your back. But remember I’m your family now and I’m here no matter what. Tell Eddie I’ll get it done. And you call me when you need me.”
We exchange our goodbyes and I end the call but keep staring at my phone. I’ve always liked Clemente and as he mentioned with the not being able to refuse me anything...he always did say he had a soft spot when it came to me. But I thought it was because his father was a good friend of my mother. I release an unfeminine snort at the thought of the head of a mafia family having a soft spot for me.
“Everything okay?” Eddie murmurs and places his finger underneath my chin to make sure I connect my gaze with his.
“Everything is overwhelming and now you add this whole old lady thing to it too. What does it all entail? This old lady thing? Are we a thing? And why am I mentioning to you that Clemente said he’ll get it done?”
“It’s something between me and Clemente, nothing you have to be worried about. And you being my old lady means I claimed you, you’re mine. You could say we’re a thing but being my old lady has a lot more weight to it than two people being a thing. I’ll explain later, for now we need to go. I’m heading to the clubhouse and I need for you to come with me, okay?”
“Why do I feel like you’re not giving me a choice? Are you getting bossy already? Is that how things are going to be between us?” I grumble, wondering what exactly I signed myself up for by agreeing to be his old lady.
“Darlin’,” he drawls in a husky tone. “You haven’t seen me bossy yet. And I’ll show you later today exactly how things are going to be between us. When we’re alone, and naked.”
I can feel my whole face heat up. Did he really just imply having sex and voice it hard enough for Yates to hear?
I clear my throat and decide to ignore his last statement. “Let’s go, did you want me to drive behind you guys?”
“No, your ass needs to be on the back of my bike,” Eddie says and guides me to his bike.
Good thing I opted for jeans and boots instead of a summer dress. He grabs a helmet and puts it on my head himself. Yates watches the both of us closely. I should question why Eddie suddenly decided to be with me while this morning he thought he couldn’t because of everything that was going on. Maybe it is as simple as him taking my advice about what I said to him this morning.
Except the words Clemente made me mention to Eddie strike me as odd and it makes me feel as if there’s more going on than I’m aware of. But for now, I wrap my arms around Eddie’s waist and relish in the way I feel when I hug him close as the bike roars to life underneath us.
