Page 68 of Minus
“Honey child, that boy has loved you for as long as I’ve known him. He ain’t never looked at another woman like he looks at you, and since I love him like a son, I hope you won’t take that for granted.”
I bit my lip. “I won’t… I don’t.”
I wasn’t prepared to go into detail about my insecurities when it came to Jase, but I liked hearing that this lovely woman saw his love for me even though I’d never met her before. It solidified several things for me, and I knew my future included Jase… and Minus… and whatever other side of his personality might appear.
“Glad to hear it, honey,” Pearl said, then took a few minutes to flush my wound, making sure any gravel that burrowed into my skin was gone. Then she put some antibiotic cream on it and bandaged me good and tight.
I pulled my (now stylishly torn) jeans back up while Pearl cleaned up, then she led me through another door (a regular one this time) and into a bunk room of sorts. I mean, it was most certainly a bunk room, but it was kind of… well… fancy.
“This is where we stash bikers who need to stay hidden for a while,” she said.
“It’s really nice, especially considering your usual guests.” I glanced around the room. “I’ve always figured anyone who needed to disappear would be relegated to some remote cave somewhere. This is way better.”
Pearl nodded. “We take care of our boys.”
“I can see that.” I smiled at her. “Thank you for doing that.”
“My pleasure, honey.” She patted my arm. “Let’s go find the boys. I’d imagine yours is already pining for you.”
I giggled. “I doubt it, but that’s sweet to imagine.”
Pearl led me back the way we came, and we ended up in the kitchen where Duke and Jase were making coffee.
Minus handed me a cup and then wrapped his arm around me and kissed my temple. “How’s your knee?”
“It’s all good,” I said, giving him a squeeze.
“Well, Pearl and I got some shit to do,” Duke said. “You comin’ back for dinner?”
“We’d love to come back for dinner,” Jase said.
“Right. We’ll see you at six,” Duke said. “Sharp.”
“Sounds good. I’m gonna give Cricket the fifty-cent tour of the property. Then we’ll get cleaned up and meet you back here.”
“It was lovely to meet you both,” I said.
Pearl grinned, taking Duke’s hand. “You, too, honey.”
We finished up our coffee, then headed back to the car.
Cricket
Jase drove usover to what he referred to as the ‘main barn’ and I couldn’t stop my mouth from dropping open as we walked inside. It was nicer than any barn I’d ever seen. Not that I’d seen many, but I’d seen a few from watching Poppy’s competitions and visiting Kim and Knight’s home. None of them were as clean as Duke’s. From the first-aid room, to the bunk room, and now the barn, I wondered just how much money Duke had stashed away.
Jase pushed open a door marked with “Tack Room” above it and guided me inside. It was huge. Against the wall directly in front of me was a row of saddles (small ones, like the one Poppy rode with), and the things that go over theirface on hooks next to them. To my right were the big bulky saddles with horns, and to my left there was a wall of armoires with trunks in-between.
“Fancy,” I said. I shook my head. I seemed to be using this word to describe all manner of things today.
Jase chuckled, closing the door. “Yeah, I suppose so.”
Jase took my hand and pulled me up against him, leaning down to kiss me. I slid my arms around his neck and wove my fingers into his hair. “What are you doing?” I asked in suspicion.
He grinned, reaching behind him to lock the door. “I’m planning on giving you a positive memory about horses to take with you.”
“How ya gonna do that?” I challenged.
“Gonna fuck you hard enough you won’t forget.”
