The next day, Sharon Cole walked into my bar, and I knew Donovan had been right. She was going to be a valuable addition to my team. I spent a couple of hours talking her through how we ran the place, and when I had to step out the back to take a call, I wasn’t the slightest bit concerned she could handle the bar by herself.
Jess arrived at work later that afternoon, and we headed outside so I could catch her up on things while she had a smoke. “How’s Sharon doing?” she asked.
“I think she’s going to work out.”
“Thank fuck, I was worried when Damian said he was leaving. Just when we had a good thing going with the three of us.”
“I hear ya, babe.”
“And how did Annie do on her first day yesterday?”
“She didn’t say a lot, but she went back today without any complaints so I’m hoping that’s a good sign. Donovan said she didn’t have any problems that he knows of.”
Her eyes lit up at the sound of his name. Jess had a tiny crush on my man. “Bitch, how the hell did you get so lucky finding a guy like him?”
“I’ve been through my share of shit, don’t you worry.”
She narrowed her eyes on me. “Mmm, one day you’ll have to tell me about that.” She stubbed out her cigarette and we headed back inside.
Sharon was deep in conversation with a woman at the bar while another woman stood listening. They all appeared to know each other, and when I took a closer look, I wondered if she was Sharon’s daughter because I could see the similarities in them. Which meant she was possibly Donovan’s half sister.
I made my way to the bar, and Sharon smiled at me. “Layla, this is my daughter, Madison,” she said. Then she indicated to the other woman and introduced us. “And this is Velvet.”
Madison gave me a huge smile. “Hi Layla, I’ve been dying to meet you.”
“Really?” She was nothing like I’d imagined. I’d figured the daughter of a biker president would possibly be a nasty bitch, so her friendliness surprised the hell out of me.
“Of course. The woman who tamed my brother . . . but he’s been so damn secretive.”
I laughed. “Tame Donovan? I don’t think any woman could do that.”
“You call him Donovan . . . I love that,” she murmured.
Velvet joined in the conversation. “I don’t think I even knew what his real name was.”
Before I could say anything, Madison said, “I’m having a BBQ next weekend. I’d love for you and Blade to come.”
“I’d love to, but I have to work.”
“I’ll work for you, Layla, if you want to go,” Sharon offered.
I frowned. “Won’t you be at the BBQ?”
“I don’t mind not going so you and Blade can go.”
Madison didn’t hide her excitement. “Fantastic! Not this Sunday, but the next at five o’clock. I’ll see you then.”
They said their goodbyes and left. I looked at Sharon. “Is Madison always that excited?”
She grinned. “When it comes to Blade, yes. Those two have a special bond I can’t even begin to understand. I think it’s perhaps because she gave him her love without any conditions when they finally met, and that wasn’t something he’d ever had before.”
It sounded like it could be true. Donovan craved love and acceptance after his shitty childhood. I just hoped he would continue to let us all in.
Chapter Twenty
Blade
I listened to Merrick go on about the issues we had with the Hurley bid, but my mind kept drifting to Layla and thoughts of fucking her this morning. It had been nearly two weeks since the night I’d shared my shit with her, and she’d been nothing but fucking amazing since.