Outlaw (Evil Dead MC 1)

“Maybe I’ll do that.”

“Well, you’ve always got a place to stay if you come,” Cole offered.

Natalie laughed, taking a drink of her beer. “Don’t be surprised if I take you up on the offer. I just may show up on your doorstep one day.”

“Not a problem,” Cole assured her.

“Did you have any trouble on the drive out here?” Angel asked.

Cole looked over at her. “Trouble?”

“You know, flat tire, a breakdown, whatever.”

“No. No problems.”

Natalie got up. “You two sit, drink your beer. I’m going to go in, check on TJ, and set the table.”

“I can do that.” Angel started to get up.

“Nonsense. You have company.” She turned and walked inside.

Cole turned to Angel. “Your aunt seems like a real sweetheart.”

Angel nodded. “Definitely. I don’t know what I’d do without her.”

“So, you live with your aunt?” He nodded toward the house.

“Yes. She took me in when I came back home.”

Cole took a drink of his beer, studying her. “You didn’t go home to your dad?” He frowned.

She shook her head and sipped her beer. “His unmarried, pregnant daughter embarrassed him.”

“Aw, man. I’m sorry,” Cole said, setting his beer down. “I wish I’d known. Really.”

Angel nodded.

“Why didn’t you try to contact me? Let me know?” he asked quietly.

She shrugged. “The way it ended. Or at least the way I thought it ended, I didn’t figure you’d care.”

Cole looked away and shook his head. He took a hit off his cigarette.

“Do you want to go with me to the hospital tonight? Meet your daughter? Visiting hours last another two hours. If we eat now, we’ll have time.”

He looked back at her and nodded. “Yeah.”

“Come on. Let’s go eat.”

They walked inside. Natalie had set the table and was transferring the roast and potatoes to a platter.

“I’m going to go wash up, if you don’t mind,” Cole stated.

“Oh, of course. Go ahead,” Natalie replied.

When he came back, Angel noticed he had also put on a fresh shirt. He took a seat and asked, “Where’s TJ?”

“Oh, he ate earlier. He’s had a bit of a cold. I gave him some cold medicine, and it knocked him right out. He’s been asleep since right before you got here,” Angel explained as she passed him the platter.

He dished up a plateful and passed it to Natalie. Then he dug in.

Angel watched him eat.

“This is very good, ma’am,” he complimented Natalie.

“Well, you don’t be shy about helping yourself to seconds now,” she replied, beaming.

“I don’t usually get home cooking like this.”

“Really?” Natalie asked, sliding a look at Angel.

Just then Angel heard TJ crying and got up to check on him.

Cole turned and watched her leave.

“Angel knows her way around a kitchen, too.”

Cole smiled. “I’m sure she does.”

“She made apple pie for dessert.”

“Did she now? I’ll have to have some.”

Angel walked back in. “He fell back asleep.”