Page 53 of Sainte
I begin making sandwiches for us both. I grab chips from the cupboard and two sodas from the fridge. “Dr. Pepper okay?” I ask.
Tara nods.
Once I’m done, we sit at the table and eat. When we’re finished, Tara helps me clean the kitchen. Just as we’re finishing up, we hear the front door open and people talking.
“They must be back,” Tara says.
We step out of the kitchen, and Tara is correct. Ice, Emma and Brianne are standing by the bar. Sainte gets up from the couch and walks toward them. Ice introduces her to him, and he smiles and shakes her hand.No, that was not a twinge of jealousy I felt.
I decide it’s time to join them.
“Oh, Honey, do you remember Brianne?” Emma asks.
“Yes. Welcome, Brianne,” I say.
She smiles awkwardly. She looks so uncomfortable, making me wonder if this is the right place for her. She has got to be leery of bikers after the ordeal she has been through. I’m sure Emma has told her our club is nothing like the Satans’. Obviously, or she would have never agreed to come here.
“Is her room all set?” Ice asks me.
“Yes, sir,” I reply and turn toward Brianne. “Would you like me to show you around?”
“Yes, thank you,” she replies. She follows me up the stairs.
“We have several rooms in this portion of the clubhouse. All of them have their own bathroom, which is nice. Don’t have to share.” I take a few more steps up. “I put you in the room next to mine. Tara is across the hall. So we’re all close together if we need anything from each other. I hope that was okay?”
“Oh, yes, the last thing I would want was to be removed from everyone else.” She gets to the top of the stairs and looks around. “Do the members stay here too?”
“Some, but they usually keep to themselves.” I point down the hall. “Sainte’s room is down there. Rebel is across from him, and next to Rebel is Spike. The other guys have homes they stay in, unless they are too drunk to get home; then they find a spare room and crash.”
“So that’s why you have so many rooms here.”
“Yep, this place was an old hotel we took over and made our own. Grayson blew up our old clubhouse and so we had to find new space fast. It still needs some work, but it’s home.”
“Oh, I didn’t know that. Emma hasn’t told me much about him.”
“Yeah, I probably shouldn’t have said anything. I’m sure she will tell you in time. You’ve been through a lot, and I’m sure she is just being cautious.”
I open the door to her room. “Do ya like it?”
She steps inside. “I do. Thank you, Honey, for making me feel so welcome.”
“My pleasure. I’ll have the boys bring your bag up.” I turn to go and then turn back. “Feel free to come downstairs when you’re ready. You can meet everyone.” I turn back and run downstairs. “Hey, Spike, can you bring Brianne’s bags up to her room please?”
“Sure thing, Honey. Which room is she in?” he asks as he grabs the bags.
“Next to me. Thanks.”
I walk to the bar where Ice, Emma, and Sainte are hanging out. Hobbes, who was lying at Emma’s feet, gets up to greet me. He is the sweetest dog and has grown so much. He’s not quite full grown, but he’s getting there. Ice is gonna have a fit when he starts to shed. I bend over to pet Hobbes. “Hey, buddy.”
“So what’s on your schedule today?” Sainte asks me.
“I thought about taking the girls shopping to see if they needed anything if it’s okay with you.”
Sainte looks at Ice and then Ice looks at Emma. “Do you mind if I go with you?” Emma asks. So they don’t trust me completely yet. I get it, I do, but I sure do miss their trust.
“Of course. That would be nice,” I reply with a smile.
Emma turns toward Ice. “Will you watch Hobbes?”
