Page 10 of Outlaw Xmas
His dark eyes narrowed. “We like to handle things internally. We don’t need help from the fuckin’ badges.”
A shiver ran up her spine as it always did when she heard Axe say things like that. Most of the time, she forgot he was an outlaw biker, considering his world didn’t really collide with hers very often. The family get-togethers were fun times with the members, the old ladies, and the children. Those times didn’t depict the dark, gritty, and violent side of the club. For her, it was best to push that part to the far reaches of her mind.
“I’m going to take another shower. You don’t have to babysit me, honey.”
Looping his arms around her waist, he pulled her back against him. “I want to. I wanna make sure you’re okay. We can walk out together. Take your time. The restaurant’s not going anywhere.”
She brought his hands to her mouth and kissed them. “I love you.”
“Me too, babe.”
An hour later, Baylee cruised down the desolate road that led to the clubhouse. The snow sparkled under the brightness of the sun, and the frost on the evergreens glistened beneath clear blue skies. The mountain peaks, covered in snow, looked like upside-down snow cones, only more jagged.
She stopped at the iron gate and smiled when Rusty, the newest prospect, came up to her car. Rolling down the window, she gave the tall, lanky biker her driver’s license. Even though he knew her from the numerous times she’d been at the club with Axe, he acted like he’d never seen her before.
“Hi, Rusty. How’s life treating you?”
“Good.” He handed back her ID.
Laughing to herself, she drove through the checkpoint. She knew Rusty wouldn’t engage in conversation with her. He knew his duties as a prospect were to do whatever club members asked him to do and to keep his mouth shut unless he was spoken to by a club member or an old lady. A prospect never initiated any communication unless it was an emergency, and then he’d convey that to a member only. Baylee was surprised at the number of men who wanted to prospect for the Insurgents. She couldn’t imagine jumping on command as a life she’d want, but each of the brothers had gone through a couple of years of prospecting before they donned their full patches.
When she walked into the clubhouse, the first thing she saw was a young club girl wrapped around Tigger.Doesn’t that asshole ever work?To say she couldn’t stand Tigger was an understatement. He epitomized everything she despised in a man, and the way he treated Sofia broke her heart. But if she was being totally honest with herself, she also despised the way Sofia allowed Tigger to treat her. She knew she was being unfair, and that Sofia had come from a background laden with abuse and neglect, but the strong feminist strain inside her made her want to grab the thin woman by her shoulders and shake some sense into her.
“Baylee,” Belle called out, and she made her way over to a large round table near the pool tables.
“I’m glad you could make it,” Cara said as she glanced in the direction of Tigger and the woman.
Baylee shook her head. “I can’t believe he has the fucking nerve to be so open about his cheating, especially with Sofia coming to the meeting.”
“Sofia’s not coming,” Cherri said. “And Tigger’s a fuckin’ idiot.” The women burst into laughter, and a jolt of satisfaction rushed through Baylee as she saw Tigger turn and glare at the women.
“We’re all here. Are you feeling okay? You look peaked,” Belle said.
“Actually, I’ve been feeling like crap for the last few weeks. I didn’t think I was going to make it today because I was so nauseous this morning. I think I may have the flu, but it comes and goes, which is weird.”
“Do you throw up?” Addie asked.
“Sometimes.”
“Do certain smells really bother you?” Cara said.
Baylee nodded.
“What about heartburn?” Clotille said.
“Not really.”
Cherri leaned forward. “Does the nausea last all day some days and only a little on others?”
“Yeah, or sometimes I’m not nauseous at all. Why all the questions? Is that what the flu symptoms are like this season?”
“Sounds like you’re pregnant,” Belle said, and the others voiced their agreement.
“Pregnant? No way. Impossible. I’m on birth control.”
“Classic signs of morning sickness,” Cara said.
Morning sickness? Pregnant? I can’t be fucking pregnant. I’m in the middle of opening another office in Aspen. And Axe doesn’t want kids. We both decided if we changed our minds, it’d be years from now. I can’t be. No. Impossible.
