Shades (Reckless Souls MC 3)

Braden’s shoulders fall in relief. “Thank you. How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine,” I assure him. “Your treasurer insisted on patching me up last night when she found me in the parking lot.”

He smiles. “That’s Letty. She’s a good girl, but when it comes to doing the right thing, she’s as stubborn as her mother, and that woman is a force to be reckoned with.”

I nod. A small smile plays at the corners of my mouth as I recall her stubbornness and her guilt trip.

“She’s something all right.”

What that something is exactly is inappropriate to share with a clergyman.

“Is there anything else?”

I nod and stand. “I have a deposit to make.”

Frank nods and lets out a long, stressed-out breath.

“Letty will handle that from here on out. I’ve already spoken to her about her duties, but I haven’t told her everything—or anything really. She just knows what her job requires. I think we should keep it that way.”

“No skin off my back. Don’t like having to explain myself anyway.”

I shrug and push out of the chair, staring down at the pastor for a long moment. I don’t know why Ace has chosen to trust this man, but I trust Ace, so I’m willing to pretend. For now.

“I’ll see you around, Frank.”

“Bless you, Shades.”

“Yeah. Sure.”

With a half-hearted farewell, I leave the pastor’s office and make my way to the office of the one woman I want to lick from ears to clit but can’t. I knock on her door, and when she answers, I remain where I am. Frozen like a goddamn statue.

“Come in,” she says, her tone firm and accommodating rather than annoying.

I push inside and offer her a smile. “Good morning, Letty.”

“Mr.—I mean Shades, what can I do for you today?”

You can start by stripping off your clothes so I can taste every inch of you.“I have a deposit to make,” I tell her and hold up a bag.

Letty’s blue eyes blink rapidly, swaying from me to the bag and back to me. “Is, uhm, is there money in that bag?”

I nod. “Yeah.” The silence lingers between us, and I know she’s waiting for some type of explanation, but she wouldn’t get one from me.

“So, where do you want it?”

Her cheeks blush prettily as she motions for me to take a seat opposite her. “What’s this money for?”

I sigh and roll my eyes. So much for not asking questions. “That is something you’ll need to take up with your boss.”

“No,” she shakes her head. “I mean, how am I supposed to label it for receipt. Is it a donation or a payment?” When I say nothing, Letty shows the first signs of annoyance, the first clear indicator that she isn’t Suzie Fucking Sunshine and might have a breaking point.

“How about this, is the money for the church or someone else?”

“The church. We help out Frank, and in turn, he helps us.”

Letty snorts, and goddammit, even that is appealing. “That’s about as clear as mud.”

I shrug. “It is what it is, and you should talk to your boss about that.”