“Yum,” he said, taking another mouthful, only this time he shuddered.
“You lying little panties,” she said.
“It was really good.”
“You shouldn’t be allowed to lie.”
“I didn’t want to make you feel bad.”
“It can’t be that awful.” She grabbed a spoon and had a try. “Ugh, that is gross. I can’t believe you had that in your mouth.”
Matthew burst out laughing. “Why are you so determined to get this right? Maybe carrot and cilantro soup is destined to be the most hated soup in the world.”
“Because I don’t like giving up. Mom made it once for me years ago, and I loved it. It was one of the best soups I ever tasted. She didn’t get the chance to write the recipe down, and I’m trying to replicate it. I’ll get there. I don’t believe in defeat.”
She picked up the soup pot and poured the entire thing into another bowl. When it was cold she’d throw it out.
Pushing some hair out of her eyes, she turned back to him.
“So, are you going to tell me what has you in a huff, and why you came back home, determined to be part of the club?”
He sat down at the counter, and she walked closer, resting her hand on the surface, waiting.
“I … I saw Luna when I went to visit her.”
“I figured you had.”
“Yeah, and it didn’t go well.” He shrugged.
“Did you talk to her?”
“No.”
“Then how did it go bad?” she asked.
“She hugged someone.”
Holly stared at him. “You do realize that we women hug sometimes.”
“I know, but she kissed him and you know how a woman is with someone?”
“No, I can’t say that I do.”
“He wanted her, and they were together. It’s why I know there’s no chance of us getting back together. At least not yet. I’ve got to be ready. She needs to know that I’m not going to let her down again.”
Holly had met Luna, and something told her the young woman had feelings for Matthew. “How do you know they were together?”
“I just do. Why wouldn’t they be?” Matthew asked.
Holly knew she shouldn’t interfere with this, but she was who she was, and leaving it be would never be in her nature. “You know, you kind of have to ask her if she’s dating someone before you go and assume, buddy. The female mind is a crazy, special place, and we don’t always act like you guys think we should.” She winked at Matthew, then grabbed him a sandwich out of the fridge. “It’ll give you something to think about.”
Chapter Nine
“I can’t believe you’re doing this,” Pie said, staring at his reflection. He had to make it through the clubhouse without being seen or laughed at. That wasn’t going to be easy. He pretty much knew without a shadow of a doubt that several of the brothers wouldn’t be able to contain themselves.
For so long he’d taken the piss out of many of the brothers who’d fallen for their women and become pussy-whipped.
He’d been enjoying the fruits of what the club offered with the club whores. Now, however, he wanted to win over his own woman, Lindsey.
“This is your own fault.”
Falling for Lindsey had taken him by surprise, and there was no way he could turn back the clock, not that he wanted to. Far from it, in fact. He loved her, and one day he intended to marry her.
“Baby steps,” he said.
There was a knock on the door, and he called for them to enter.
Dime whistled at him.
“Well, look at you getting all sexy,” Dime said.
And so it began.
“What do you want?”
“You think I was going to let you get away without coming to see you. This all for Lindsey?”
“Yeah, what about it?”
Dime held up his hands. “It’s just a shock to see you falling for pussy. Don’t get me wrong, Lindsey’s great and all, but she’s still pussy.”
“Cut the crap, Dime. I don’t want to hear it.”
“So you really are claiming her as your own?” Dime asked.
“Yeah, I will.”
“In front of the club. Will you take her as your old lady?”
He turned toward Dime. “You got a problem with that?”
“Nope, but I am the winner of a bet if you do so in the next month.”
“You put a bet on me?”
“Most of us guys did. Landon didn’t think you’d fall, but the rest of us knew she had a power over you. Clearly, he wasn’t watching closely.”
Pie grabbed his wallet and tucked it in his back pocket. “And you were?”
“Hell, yeah. You never snuggle with any of the pussy around here. Nor do you hold their hand and whisper sweet nothings in their ear, and yet you did every single one of those things with Lindsey. Friends with benefits, lovers, whatever you want to call it, you are both smitten for each other, and want some sexy time.” Dime did a little grunting noise at the same time as thrusting out his hips.