Page 43 of More Bite than Bark

“So you’re living with Kevin.”She glanced in his direction, then back to Elle.“I guess I can accept that, though I really wish you were married.But I guess for now it’s better to let things die down after that.Are you in that awful clubhouse?”

Hex fought the urge to roll his eyes.Sandy had never been to the clubhouse, or the compound, at least as far as he knew.Her opinion that it was awful was directly from his mother, he had no doubt.Mother had been there exactly once, shortly after he’d been separated from the Army and had only just gotten his colors.He’d still been living in the bunkhouse style rooms with the prospects, as he hadn’t been given a room of his own yet.That was before they started building homes on the compound.He was the one who’d insisted they needed more housing, and he’d gotten it started when he’d been elected president.Hex couldn’t be sure, but he suspected his push for a few houses, at least for those ready to get out of the party atmosphere of the clubhouse twenty-four/seven, had been part of what had gotten him elected.

“No, we don’t live in the clubhouse.We’re on the same property, but we have a nice four-bedroom house of our own.If you’d like, you can come out to see it, when you have time,” Elle offered.“I’m still getting settled in but it’s a nice house.”

Hex didn’t even blink.Elle had already asked if she could invite Mama out.He had no problem with it, though he didn’t think Sandy would be interested in coming out, at least not until she found out about the baby and wanted to stick her nose into how Elle chose to decorate.He had never wanted to keep Elle from her mother, only to keep her safe.Being on the compound where the Warriors could keep an eye on who came and went, he was better equipped to do that.It was part of why he’d wanted to be sure there was room for everyone in the club to build if they wanted.

“Are you okay with that?”Sandy asked, looking at him.

“I am.You’re welcome any time.Right now you’d have to stop at the gate and wait to be let in, but that’s temporary.”

Sandy scowled.

“Wait to be let in?Are you locked inside?”She turned to Elle.

“No, Mama, I’m not locked in.I can come and go as I want.It’s people who aren’t part of the club who get stopped.”

“So you’re part of his club now?Does that mean you’re going to be one of the Angels or worse yet, one of the Belles?”

“That’s it.”Hex slid out of the booth and reached for his wallet.“I won’t sit here and listen to you insult her.”He pulled out several bills and dropped them on the table before holding out one hand for Elle.

“Wait.I’m sorry,” Sandy said, her words rushed.“I didn’t mean it.Please stay, I’ll stop.”

Hex looked at Elle, leaving the choice up to her.

“One chance, Mama,” Elle said with a sigh.“One more word and I’ll leave with him.”Elle took his hand and tugged him back into the seat.Hex picked up the cash and stuck it into the inside pocket of his vest.It would be handy to pay later, and he wouldn’t need to dig out his wallet again.

“You sure, sugar?”

Elle looked up at him and nodded.She tugged at his hand once more.

Hex slid back into the seat beside her, but he didn’t let go of her hand.He looked at Sandy, meeting her gaze.

“Elle is my old lady.She’s with me and no one else, just like I’m with her and no one else.”

The look on Sandy’s face said she didn’t believe it, but at least she kept her mouth shut this time.

“I know school just let out and that you timed the wedding like this on purpose so you would have time for the honeymoon, but are you still planning to go back to work?Will you still be working for the Edmonton District or will you see if there are openings closer to Wilmer?”Sandy seemed to be trying to do as she’d promised by changing the subject to something safer.

“I’m not sure yet.We’re still talking about that.I have some time before I have to decide and I’m going to weigh my options.”

It wasn’t a lie, they hadn’t even talked about her going back to work.While he didn’t have any issue with her working, he wasn’t sure being a librarian in a high school was the safest thing for her while pregnant.Not that he would say anything in front of Sandy.That was a discussion for the two of them, when they were alone.

“What do you say about it?”Mama turned her attention to him.

“That we’ll discuss it.I’m not against her working and I’ll support Elle in anything she wants to do.”Well, almost anything.He wouldn’t be behind anything that might get her hurt, but aside from that?The sky was the limit.

A server, not their waitress, appeared with a tray of food.He served them and Sandy turned conversation to gossip about the people they knew and what was happening with them.Hex listened, but didn’t say anything as they ate.

“I’vebeenthinkingaboutthis all day,” Hex whispered to Elle later that night as they lay curled together in bed.

“What?”she asked.

“You.”He nuzzled her neck, enjoying the velvety softness of her skin.He slid his hands over her torso, wishing there was nothing between them.

Hex loved having her here.He loved having her in his arms, and even more, he loved the way she responded to him.He continued to caress along her torso and down the side of her thigh where she lay with her back to him as he’d curled against her while they’d talked for a few minutes.Elle wiggled her hips, pressing them back against his groin and letting him know she was enjoying his touch as much as he was.

“What do you want, sugar?”he murmured in her ear as he slid one hand under the oversized shirt she’d stolen from his drawer.Not that he was complaining.She’d gotten into the habit of wearing one of his old shirts to bed and he loved seeing her in his things.It felt like she was claiming him as much as he’d claimed her.