It Happens (Bear Bottom Guardians MC 6)

“Not really punishable offenses,” Cabe observed.

I shrugged. “I don’t know. It was just a feeling that I had. There’s no rhyme or reason to it, really. I just didn’t like him. The house buying thing was the last straw. I told him to have a nice night and went inside, and I swear to God, he stayed out there for another twenty minutes just staring at my house. I was scared to leave the living room where I was watching him to go take a shower.”

“Redmond is a creep.” Zee sat back in his chair and rubbed his taut stomach with both hands. “I saw him a few weeks ago when I was riding my bike. Did you know he drives his hearses around like they’re personal vehicles?”

That was directed at me.

“No,” I admitted. “I guess I should count myself lucky that he picked me up for our date in a regular car.”

Well, as regular as they could get when you were richer than God. Alex Redmond was a self-made millionaire. He owned a chain of limousine rentals in and around our area—and even extended all the way out into the Dallas/Ft. Worth area where he now nearly dominated the ‘travel in style’ thing he’d started over here. Now if you needed a ride from the airport, you would most likely call Alex’s company because it was so well known.

“I don’t know.” Zee shrugged. “It might’ve been fun to be picked up for a date in a hearse. Memorable, at least.”

I felt my lips twitch. He was right, of course.

It would’ve definitely been memorable.

Though, there was a distinct difference.

If Zee had shown up in a hearse, it would’ve been a joke and we would’ve still had a great night.

If Alex Redmond had, I would’ve turned right around and gone back inside my house, not looking back.

I visibly shivered and set what was left of my burger down on the stack of napkins I was using for a makeshift plate. “Let’s not talk about him anymore. He gives me the creeps.”

“You and me both,” Channing said. “I’ve always had this feeling when it comes to people—whether they’re good or bad. I don’t know why or how, but I can tell with just one look whether I’ll like them or not. And this Redmond guy? I don’t even have to see him in person to know that I wouldn’t like him.”

I felt my lips twitch. “Don’t worry. I think he got the message. He hasn’t said a word to me since I told him over the phone that I didn’t want to go on any more dates with him.”

“You actually said that?” Zee asked, looking relaxed and confident. But I could tell something was bothering him.

Something that I knew I wouldn’t get out of him with all of these people around, watching him and me together.

“No—yes. I’m not really sure. He called, I answered, and then when he asked if I’d like to go out on a second date, I told him no. Politely. Then I told him to have a good night.” I paused. “He called back, thinking I only meant ‘no for that night’ which I learned through the voicemail. I ignored it and him ever since.”

Cabe sighed. “You did the right thing. If you weren’t feeling it, then that’s how it should be. He’ll get the picture eventually.”

“In the meantime,” Zee said. “If he calls or harasses you anymore, feel free to let me know.”

I felt my lips turn up at the corner. “I’ll do that.”Chapter 12Beards make me hungry…and horny.

-Text from Jubilee to Zee

Zee

She came home with me.

She was also sleeping on the bed right next to me.

I’d never slept with a woman that wasn’t my ex-wife before, and it was…good.

I liked it.

I hadn’t really liked sleeping with my ex-wife because she forced us to have eight million pillows on the bed, as well as use an uncomfortable down comforter that weighed too much and made me feel suffocated.

Not to mention the fact that sleeping with her was akin to sleeping next to a tree—all stiff and unyielding. She had her side, and I had mine, and that was just the way it was to be.

I hadn’t known what to expect when I’d told Jubilee to crawl into the bed—it was a king size, and more than capable of housing the two of us.

What I hadn’t expected was to fall asleep within minutes of my head hitting the pillow.

Nor had I expected to like it when she started to slowly inch herself in my direction, waking me up with her heat pressed up against my body.

Currently, I had my arm lifted up over my head, curled around the back of the pillow, and my back resting against the bed. Jubilee was snuggled up to my side, her nose and lips pressed up against the skin right underneath my armpit.