Turning to look at Sienna, I was relieved to see her still looking relaxed. “What about you?”
“I had a great night,” she said softly, smiling at me. “I didn’t know if I would, but your friends are really great.”
“They’re your friends now, too, don’t forget. July has your number, and trust me, she’ll use it.”
Chuckling, she nodded. “She’s awesome, so I don’t mind. I think she’s going to come and see my work next week.”
“That’s good, and I’m glad you had fun. Do you—” I stopped, wondering if I was pushing her too fast.
“Do I what?”
Looking out the windshield to see that Maddie was motioning at me to kiss her, I asked, “Do you think you’d be up to doing it again?”
“I think I’d like that.” Then she reached over and surprised the hell out of me by hugging me and kissing me on the cheek. “Thanks for a great night, Jinx. I’m so glad you invited me.”
“You won’t be saying that when you’ve got the club turning up to make pottery and bug the shit out of you,” I warned, only half joking. “Don’t move, I’ll open the door.”
I wasn’t doing it to be a gentleman or to make a display. I did it because I wanted her to know I was there for her, even if it meant just opening her door. Like I said before, it was the actions that spoke the words that would mean something to her.
Once she was out, I walked her up to where Maddie was still waiting, shaking her head at me in disappointment.
“I’ll see you tomorrow?” I asked as I took a step backward.
“That you will.”
As I got into the truck and headed home, I thought again about our situation.
I liked Sienna, really liked her, and I was starting to think maybe she felt the same way. I wasn’t going to push her to move faster than she was ready for because she’d always be in control of what happened between us, but I needed to figure out a way to let Sienna know without her panicking.
I didn’t know the way to do it right now, and I might not know how to tomorrow, but I’d figure it out.
I might be jinxed, but I was also astute. I’d find the best way to do it eventually.
The next morning…
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” I asked July, eyeing the dogs who were jumping around my legs.
“Of course I am. We’ll take them to meet her today, and if she decides she wants to adopt them we’ll get the process going. If she decides not to,” she bit her lip, looking down at them. “Damn, I hope she says yes.”
“How long have they been here?”
“Not long, but their owner dumped them by the side of the road and they’re just the sweetest boys ever. I’d take them home, but Wes would kill me.”
A high-pitched whine brought my attention back to one of them, who was sitting in front of me, watching me with sad puppy eyes.
“What breed are they?”
“Our best guess is German Shepherd and Labrador cross.” It was a weird mix, but now that July named the breeds, I could see it.
The dog whined again and nudged my thigh with his head, wanting more scratches. An idea occurred to me—if Sienna didn’t want them, I could take them. They’d be okay at the shop so long as I kept them away from any sterile equipment, and I could also keep them at the bar when I was there.
It would mean less time on my bike because I’d have to put them in the truck, but that didn’t mean I’d never ride. Plenty of the guys did that, including Wes. July could ride a bike and had one of her own, but because they now had the kids, they had to use a vehicle most of the time.
“Okay, here’s the plan. If she doesn’t want them, I’ll adopt them. I can take them to work with me and to the club, so it’s not like they’ll be stuck home alone.”
Squealing, July rubbed her hands together excitedly, which set the dogs off barking again.
It was funny how life could change in an instant. One minute I was traveling down the road I’d been on for years, not thinking about the future and just living for the moment. The next, I found a woman who I’d known years before, one I’d started off by feeling indebted to.
One life-changing tattoo for her later and a promise to fix the wrong I thought I’d done, and my life had become fuller. Better.
I had a purpose.
And two dogs if Sienna didn’t want them.
Opening up the door, I whistled at the boys to jump out. Whoever had owned them before this had at least trained them, even if they were a soulless sack of shit for dumping them like they had.