Page 9

Chapter Eight

Fox

“So, we’re having a cookout this weekend, huh?” Ledger, our club treasurer, asks. “Guess I need to give Nonna the club card to do the shopping?”

I chuckle while nodding. “Yeah, Tressa, Nini, the club girls, and Nonna are working on the menu now.”

“And your mate’s coming with her father and best friend?” Popeye, questions. “Anything I should look into, just in case?”

As our secretary and IT guy, he usually does background checks on anyone who’s going to be around the clubhouse. Nodding, I quickly give him the information I know about Angie, Vivi’s father, and her former pack. Forewarned is forearmed, after all.

“Kinda bothers me that some asshat is on a mission to find your mate,” Stealth chimes in, while Chaos nods.

“Vivi said her girl traded out her vehicle somewhere in Oklahoma, so hopefully that’ll throw this Carter fucker off the trail. Still, he’s not her mate, I am, and there’s no fucking way he’ll get close enough to her,” I retort.

“I’ll let you know when I have something,” Popeye advises, already walking away toward the office he uses for his various computers and monitors. I have to give him props, though, because he’s like a concert maestro and he makes them bow to his whim. Me on the other hand, barely know how to maneuver around a fucking game console. Still, that’s why he’s got the position he has, and why I don’t.

“We’ll keep the girls, all the girls, safe,” Chaos states. “Wait, did you find out if she likes to read or not?”

“Based on the bookshelves in her apartment that have a few knickknacks on them but far more books, I’m gonna say she does,” I reply, smirking.

“I’ll have Nini ask her this weekend,” Stealth says. “That way, they can always buy another ticket for her to go with them.”

“She has her friend with her now, too,” Ledger advises. “Probably would want to get her one as well so she doesn’t feel left out.”

“Fuck, at least it’s close enough we don’t have to get hotel rooms,” I mutter.

“Tressa says that’s half the fun,” Chaos replies. “Being able to ‘commune with their fellow bookies’ or some shit.”

“Okay, never use that phrase again because that’s not what I said,” Tressa states, having walked up behind her mate. She looks at me and says, “I think it’s a lot of fun to hang out with a lot of other book nerds, but I understand if Mr. Protective and Over-the-Top doesn’t wanna do that. Still, who knows when Sapphire will host another one and if it’ll be in the same place or not.”

“Baby, if you want to stay at the fucking hotel, we’ll stay at the fucking hotel,” Chaos rumbles, which has me hiding my smirk.

Somehow, I suspect I’ll be the same way where Vivi is concerned, and I truly cannot wait.

We’ve waited a long time , my wolf whispers.

Yes, yes we have.

While Vivi and I have been texting on and off all day as she’s had time, I’m still surprised when my phone rings and I see her name pop up.

“Hey, sweetheart. Your dad and Angie getting settled in okay?” I ask once the call connects.

“Hey, Fox. They are, actually. They both love the shop and are currently walking around Zephyr Hills getting a feel for the town itself,” she replies. “Which is why I figured I’d take a few minutes, rest my fingers, and call so I could hear your voice.”

“Miss you and honestly can’t wait to show off the clubhouse,” I tell her. I leave off ‘ and our den’ because I don’t want her stressing over that. “I do have a question for you.”

“Shoot,” she replies.

She sounds so free and happy right now, and I know a lot has to do with her worry easing over her friend and father no longer being subjected to anything from their former pack. I’m sure that the alpha has tried to put on a lot of pressure to find out where Vivi went. I also suspect that neither of them would ever give my mate up, even under threats of severe punishment.

“Okay, so Tressa and Nini love to read and apparently, there’s a book signing coming up in Frisco this May. The authors independently publish their books, although I think there are a few who use publishing houses as well. Do you think you and Angie would want to go with the girls?”

She squeals in my ear which makes me grin. “Are you serious right now? I mean, I know we’re real-life shifters, but some of the authors attending Motorcycles, Mobsters, and Mayhem really know their shit. Plus, of course, I like reading MC romances too.”

I shake my head with a smile plastered across my face because I didn’t mention the name of the event and yet she knew which one I was referring to. Which lets me know that she’s just as much of an avid reader as the other ol’ ladies in the club.

“Yeah, gotta say, babe, most of those are definitely fictionalized. If we did half the shit some of those books talk about, we’d be dead,” I reply, chuckling. “I’m sure there are possibly clubs out there who get into the more nefarious side of life, but we’re not about that lifestyle whatsoever.”

Well, except if our mates are in danger, but I don’t feel the need to mention that particular tidbit to her right now. She’ll figure that out soon enough once she talks to Tressa and Nini. That’ll be a problem for future me and my wolf.

“You said you can get me and Angie tickets?” she asks, her voice still sounding excited.

“Yeah, I’ll take care of it, babe. Also, Tressa wants to stay at the hotel even though it’s well within driving distance. How do you feel about that?” I question. I can hear her doing something on the other end of the line and call out, “Vivi? Did I lose you?”

“Did you see everything they have for the readers to do? There’s a Friday night dinner, and I think one of the authors I follow who’s going to be there has mentioned in her reader group that if any of her readers want to go to dinner on Saturday night, they’re welcome to join her and her husband.”

“Then we’ll stay at the hotel,” I tell her. “I’ll get Ledger on booking the rooms for all of us.”

“I’m so excited, Fox,” she says. “Thank you for thinking of me.”

“You’re welcome.” I hear a commotion and realize she’s down in her shop. “Do I need to let you go?”

“Angie and Dad just walked back through. Seems they hit the bagel shop. Can I call you later?” she asks.

“Whenever you want, sweetheart.”

“Okay. Bye, Fox. Wait until I tell Angie, she’s gonna be so stoked!” she exclaims, before disconnecting the call.

I slide my phone into my pocket and head back down to the common room to find something to eat and let the brothers know we’re staying at the hotel. I have no clue if Sapphire is getting security in like she did a few years ago, but after what happened with Tressa, there’s no fucking way that Chaos will let her wander around on her own. Not to mention the fact that he’s become a bit more anal since she’s now expecting, and he’s likely going to figure out a way to follow her through the venue to ensure she’s safe. Fuck, Stealth will be the same damn way.

“Ledger,” I holler, knowing if he’s anywhere close, he’ll come running. When I see him sitting at a table with a plate of food in front of him, I change directions and walk to him then pull out a chair. “Go ahead and get two more tickets since Vivi and her friend want to go. Also, we need to book several suites because apparently, there are things the readers can do outside of the signing itself.”

“Way ahead of you, Fox. Already booked five suites, since I figured you’d want some of the brothers around just to be safe, and nabbed tickets for a Friday night dinner for you, Stealth, Chaos, your ol’ ladies, and Vivi’s friend.”

“Appreciate it, Brother,” I reply. “Now, I need to get some of that,” I say, pointing to his plate. Seems Nonna’s been cooking again, and I fucking love her beef pepper steak.

“Better get on that, then, because it was going fast,” he replies, focused on his tablet once again.

“She always saves some for me,” I retort, walking toward the kitchen.

I’m freshly showered and stretched out on my bed when my phone rings. Seeing it’s Vivi, I quickly answer it while nabbing my remote to turn the volume down slightly on the television. “Hey, babe,” I say once the call connects. “Did y’all have a good day?”

“Well, aside from Angie piercing my eardrums when she found out where we were going, it’s been pretty good. In fact, the local shifter doctor reached out to me to find out the type of inventory I carry. Since it’s easier to send people to me than to order stuff online, he told me I’d probably see an influx of customers come through my doors. Definitely a win-win kind of day, Fox,” she replies.

“I’m glad to hear that, Vivi. Do you grow your own herbs and shit?” I ask.

“Yeah, I still have seeds that I can plant to replenish stuff, but I don’t exactly have a garden I can put them in,” she teases.

“What about a greenhouse? Could you use one of those?”

“Ideally, a greenhouse would be perfect, because I could control the temperature, have an area for drying plants, and also work on some new mixtures I’ve been toying with. Why?”

“Because I have the space behind the clubhouse to build you a greenhouse, Vivi,” I tell her, grinning when she lets out a girly squeal.

“Are you serious?” she whispers when she finally calms down.

“Absolutely, sweetheart. That way, you can tinker or do whatever it is you need to do here,” I say.

“Good thing we’re mates,” she teases. “You’re building up a lot of credit in your favor, Fox.”

“Not doing it for that reason, just trying to take care of my mate is all.”

“I know, but the rewards will be plentiful,” she says.

As my cock hardens behind my cut-off sweatpants, I barely bite back a groan. She’s killing me and she doesn’t even realize it right now, because my mind definitely went there when she mentioned rewards.

“I’ll take your word for it, babe. Your dad and Angie still good to come out on Friday? They know you’re staying, right?”

She giggles then says, “Yeah. Angie’s already given me the lowdown on some things, Dad is being growly as only a dad can be, and they both want to know if there’s plenty of space for them to shift and run.”

“Definitely. You feel up to that too?” I question.

“I’d like to show you my wolf and see yours,” she replies, her voice suddenly shy.

“Then that’s what we’ll do too. You get some rest, sweetheart, and I’ll talk to you tomorrow, okay?”

“Good night, Fox. Sweet dreams,” she whispers.

“You too, babe.”