Page 35 of Broken Skulls (Rebel Skull MC #7)

Chapter Thirty-Four

Jacob

“ W e’re going to be late, ladies!” I yell down the hall for the third time.

Lexie steps out first. The way she slides past me with a huge smile on her face should have been the first indicator that I should have prepared myself.

I’m about to yell again when Elizabeth joins us in the hallway.

Holy shit.

She’s … well, not to sound crude, but she’s a fucking smoke show.

Her hair looks so goddamn soft, falling in shiny waves over her shoulders. It’s the first time I’ve seen her in makeup. She looks like she stepped right out of a fucking magazine.

She turns to go back into the bedroom, but I rush forward and snag her by the belt loop. “Oh no you don’t.”

Her red lips part and a little whoosh of air leaves her lungs.

“Fuck, baby, everyone’s going to be so fucking jealous of me tonight.”

“That’s not what I want,” she grumbles.

I laugh loudly. “I sure as fuck do. I’m not afraid to show them what a lucky fucker I am.”

Her brows pull together, and I see there is more going on behind those soulful brown eyes than she’s letting on. But we’re going to be late, and there’s something I want to bid on at the auction. Whatever is bothering her will have to wait until we get back.

I usher the women outside and then hold the truck door open for them. Elizabeth slides in first, Lexie following reluctantly.

“Quit dragging your feet.”

She gets in and crosses her arms, but I swear I catch a small smile as she settles in. I close the door and round the vehicle, shaking my head at how much my life has changed in a short time.

The scent of Elizabeth’s perfume when I sit beside her makes me want to groan out loud. I’m so attracted to this woman every way to Sunday. I don’t know how I’m going to keep my hands off her.

As soon as we get to the warehouse, Elizabeth looks at me with trepidation in her eyes.

“I know it’s a lot of people, but you can do this.”

I give her knee a squeeze after shifting into park. Lexie starts to open her door, but I reach over them and hold it closed. “You stay with me until I talk to Jackson.”

“Fine,” she whines.

“Also, when you’re with a real man, he will open the door for you. Sit tight.”

I hop out and round the truck, opening the door for her.

Her cheeks redden, but she mumbles a thank you as she waits for Elizabeth to follow her out.

“It looks like the auction is about to start, but I think we have time to find Charlotte.” I drape my arm across both of their shoulders and lead them around the corner of the warehouse.

Petey and Katie are sitting at a picnic table with all three of their girls. It twists the knife in my chest. I wish I didn’t have the commonality with them of seeing our fathers off our mothers. Hopefully they’re so little they won’t remember the way I do.

Lexie starts to drag her feet when Katie looks up and spots us.

“She won’t knife you right here,” I joke, giving her shoulder a little squeeze.

“She beat the shit out of a full-grown man in McDonalds.”

Hmm, she has a point. “Exactly why it’s better to work this out now,” I try to reason with her.

I give her a little push forward when we reach them. She stumbles but catches herself. “Hi, um, yeah, um, I was wondering if I could talk to Charlotte,” she stutters.

Petey raises his eyebrows, surprised Lexie approached them. Charlotte scratches her nose, looking to Katie for her response.

Katie learned from the master. She leans forward, resting her elbows on the table. “Depends.”

I roll my eyes. She’s not going to make this easy for Lexie.

“I know I don’t deserve an opportunity to speak to her. I … I just really want to apologize.”

Katie softens her stance, leaning back and wrapping her arm around her daughter’s shoulder. “Do you want to talk to Lexie?” she asks her.

Charlotte is a literal angel. Nobody can convince me of anything different. I’ve seen this child change hearts in this club, and I think she’s about to do it again.

“Kelsie already told me you were sorry,” she says to Lexie.

Lexie sits down across from her. “That was nice of her, but you should hear it from me. I’m sorry, Charlotte. I said a lot of mean things to you, and I’m not really sure why …” Lexie drops her head. “That’s not true. I know why. I was jealous of you and Kelsie.”

“Why were you jealous? I don’t even have a boyfriend.”

Lexie chuckles sadly. “I was jealous of your family.” Her eyes dart up briefly to Petey and Katie.

“Okay, I forgive you. Do you forgive me for putting that itchy stuff in your shorts?” Charlotte asks.

This makes Lexie laugh and cry. “I deserved it.”

Charlotte leans over and whispers. “Do you have anyone who needs some itchy stuff in their underwear?” she asks Lexie.

“Charlotte,” Petey warns.

“What? She’s my friend now.”

Lexie wipes her eyes on her sleeve. Katie leans over and grabs her chin. “I admire you for walking over here today.”

I set my hand on her shoulder. “The auction is about to start. I need to get up front,” I tell her.

Petey waves me away. “Lexie can hang with us today. We could use a hand with the girls,” he says.

Lexie places both of her hands over her heart, releasing a little sob.

“And I need to show her the new bridge that Jackson and Elijah built us,” Charlotte adds before shoving a chip in her mouth.

“Alrighty then. Don’t leave Petey’s sight.”

Petey and I exchange a glance. He understands. She’s under the club’s protection now.

Jesse walks out with a plate placing it in front of Lexie. She looks at Elizabeth and me. “The food is inside when you guys are ready.”

Lexie stares at the plate in front of her.

“Oh, try the Frenchie fries,” Charlotte tells her, leaning over to tap her plate. “They have shaky stuff on them.”

Jesse laughs. “They have ranch seasoning on them.”

“Yeah, ranch,” Charlotte agrees, going back to her own plate.

“Okay. We’ll see you guys later.” I wrap my arm around Elizabeth as we walk away from the group. “You okay? You’ve been awfully quiet.”

She glances over her shoulder. “I’m … I’m fine.”

I stop and turn around, spotting what has her attention. Her friend Danielle is sitting with Anthony and Tank around the fire pit.

“Lexie was really brave,” she whispers.

“You are too.”

She starts to argue with me, but I swallow her words as my mouth descends on hers. There are a few hushed murmurs around us, but I don’t give a flying fuck. I can kiss my woman anywhere I want.

When I pull away from her, she blinks at me. “What was that?” she asks, struggling to catch her breath.

“That was me telling you to shut up.”

She opens her mouth to argue, but she snaps it shut when my gaze goes back to her lips.

“You saw how easy it was for Lexie. It will be the same for you. I promise.” I turn her to face the group, leaning close to her ear. “Now go talk with your friends while I go bid on the coolest fucking bed I’ve ever seen. If … no, scratch that. When I win it, I’m going to tie you to it and fuck you senseless.”

She shivers against me. It makes me smile. I tap her on the ass and push her away from me.

I wait to see what she’s going to do as she stands in place. Her gaze roams over to Lexie who is grinning wide as Charlotte sits beside her, no doubt talking her ear off.

Elizabeth straightens, and then slowly, and I mean slowly , starts to walk toward the small group by the fire. She approaches them and stops short by a few feet. I sense she’s going to bail, but Danielle spots her. She jumps from her seat and rushes toward my girl, wrapping her arms around her and pulling her close.

I breathe a sigh of relief.

Tank turns, looking for me. When he spots me, he tips his head, letting me know he’ll keep an eye on her.

Most men wouldn’t like their woman’s ex to be in the picture, but I’m not most men. My brothers are as loyal as they come.

Now, time to go get our new bed.