“Yeah, and then you’d be sitting alone in this big office thinking about Jasmine. That’s who you’re thinking about,” Red said. “No need to deny it. Everyone can see how smitten you are with your woman.”
“I don’t need to hear this shit.”
“Why not?” Bear asked. “I pushed Renee away, and it was the craziest thing I ever did.”
“You’ve been with her an entire week. Relationships get tricky, Bear. They get hard.”
“And how much harder can they get? My woman knows I’m here with women I fucked. You think I don’t get a hard time over that shit? I’ve got to make it up to her.” Bear shrugged. “I’m willing to do what needs to be done for her to know I mean business.”
“Jasmine’s a tough cookie,” Red said. “She can handle whatever you throw at her.”
“You don’t know her.”
“The night you took out that other MC. You set fire to the barn, and we listened to them scream. It was your decision. You always like to be alone, and you’d gone up to your room and Jasmine came down. We told her not to worry. That you need to be by yourself during that time. She went into the kitchen and served you dinner. She adapted for you. I imagine she was hurt by whatever you said to her. She’s not going to run from you. She’d stand and fight by your side. She’s a strong woman.”
“I want to marry her,” he said, shocking even himself with that revelation.
“Do you want to do this before or after the run, because weddings take a lot?” Bear said.
“Aren’t you worried?” Red asked.
“Why would I be worried?”
“Hate to break it to you, but Renee and Jasmine are tight. You could be walking down the aisle before you know it.”
“Renee doesn’t want to get married,” Bear said.
Hawk and Red chuckled.
“I fucking hate you two.”
Bear got to his feet and left the room. Staring out the window, Hawk looked out over the clubhouse.
“You could do worse.”
“I have done worse.” He thought about Bethany’s mom. He’d had no problems putting that woman to ground. She’d been a piece of shit.
“If you can’t live without her then you’re going to have to make a decision.” Red got to his feet. “I’ll organize the teams for the drop off and pick up. You’ll make the right decision.”
Red left his office, and he ran a hand down his face.
This thing between him and Jasmine, it wasn’t going away.
Getting to his feet, he left the clubhouse, and went straight to his bike. Straddling it, he took off, heading home. What he needed was a long ride, but he didn’t want to be away from his woman.
Pulling up outside of his home, he saw Jasmine’s car still in the driveway complete with Bethany’s car seat in the back.
His woman was home.
Entering the house, he didn’t hear her. Going to the back where the kitchen was, he caught sight of her in the yard on the grass with Bethany on the blanket. She was smiling as she held Bethany. His little girl was taking one step and then another.
He covered his mouth and gasped as Jasmine held up a cell phone and was filming it.
“We’ve got to show your daddy what a big girl you are. Yes, you are. That’s it. Look at you, Bethany. Such a big girl.”
Stepping out of the back door, Jasmine looked over at him and smiled. “You saw?”
“I saw.”
“I got it on camera, but she’s walking.”
Bethany sat on the ground and clapped her hands.
Picking her up, he held her close, seeing that she was growing up so fast. He kissed her cheek, and Jasmine got to her feet. “Do you want a drink?” she asked. “Are you staying? I don’t know if you were just stopping by?”
“I’m staying. How about we go out for dinner? You, me, and Bethany.”
“I’d love that. She doesn’t scream as much.”
He didn’t care if his girl screamed the entire time.
This was his family.
Him, Jasmine, and Bethany.
Jasmine went to walk away, and he caught her hand, pulling her to him.
“What is it?”
“I killed her.”
“What?”
“Bethany’s mother was a traitor. She was about to sell out the club, and she was leaving Bethany all day by herself to fend for herself.” He stopped. “I killed her.”
“Why are you telling me this?” Jasmine asked.
“Because I need you to know that this for me is real. That I want this with you. The way you take care of Bethany, I know you won’t hurt her. You care about her.”
“I love her.”
“Her real mom didn’t. She couldn’t give a shit. She left her here alone. Off fucking whoever would have her, trying to sell out the club.”
Tears filled Jasmine’s eyes, and she stared at Bethany. “I wouldn’t do that. I wouldn’t sell out the club.”
“I’m not a good person.”