Page 34 of Wyatt (The Black Roses MC #5)
We’ve hired some of the best mechanics around who do top-notch work at a fast pace, but usually around this time, there’s one or two brothers in there to help pick up the extra work we get.
Plus, I’ve got nothing better to do until later, and spending time with my brother—elbows deep in something—sounds like a fan-fucking-tastic way to spend the rest of my afternoon.
I pull up to Thorn and Thistle and spot my brother’s bikes.
Jude, Linc and Knox are here, which means their women are probably here, too.
I haven’t heard from Maizie since I saw her this afternoon, but I hope like hell she talked to the girls.
Otherwise my greeting is going to shock the hell out of them.
I’m sick to death of seeing my woman and not being able to kiss her, to touch her like I want, when people are around.
When I pull the door open, Maizie looks up from where she’s standing behind the bar. My mind registers that there are other people here, but the only person I have eyes for is her.
My steps are sure and quick as my legs carry me inside, and I walk behind the bar, grab her around the waist and crash my mouth to hers in one fluid motion.
Her hands immediately slide across my shoulders, and she pulls herself tighter to me as our tongues dance in a deep and powerful kiss.
Her lips curve in a smile against mine before I break it.
After making sure she’s steady on her feet, I press my forehead to hers.
“Hi,” I whisper. “I missed you.”
“Hi yourself. Did you make your point?” she asks in a breathless laugh.
I shake my head and claim her mouth again, my hand tangling in her hair.
“I think I just got pregnant,” I hear Lucy say with a chuckle somewhere on the other side of the bar.
Maizie pulls away and giggles, and I turn my head toward my brothers and their women.
“Now that that’s settled, can I get another beer?” Knox asks.
That makes Maizie laugh harder as she grabs a longneck and sets it in front of Knox.
“You want a beer?” she asks me and I nod. “You gonna go sit down so I can get back to work?”
I tilt my head back and forth as though I’m considering her question.
She rolls her eyes. “Wyatt, I do have a job to do.”
“And you look damn good doing it,” I say and shoot her a wink.
My woman giggles again. I love that sound. “Go.” She pushes me out from behind the bar.
“I fucking knew it,” Lucy says, sitting next to Mia with Jude on the other side. “You tried to play it off, but I saw the way you looked at our gorgeous friend over here.” She nods toward my Maizie.
“Yes, yes, Lucifer. You’re all-knowing. Must be a by-product of those demon powers,” Jude jokes and leans over to give Lucy a kiss on the cheek as I sit down on the other side of my brother.
Maizie shoots me a smile and sets a beer in front of me.
“So what was all that shit with the dating app thing, then?” I ask.
“Oh, it was my way of giving you a little push, and it worked,” she replies, waving her hand between Maizie and me.
“Lucy, that could have gone horribly wrong,” Charlie admonishes.
“But it didn’t,” Lucy replies with a knowing smile. “See? I’m a genius.”
Last night, after making it known to everyone in the bar that Maizie is mine, I took her home and spent hours worshipping her delectable body. I didn’t spend the night though. We decided that we would tell Colby together that we’re…well…together.
“Why am I so nervous?” I ask Pepper as we park in front of Maizie’s house.
I look over at my dog, and he’s happily wagging his tail as he looks out the window, knowing exactly where we are.
Knox came by earlier and dropped off some cookies that Mia made, saying she thought cookies would sweeten the boy up to the idea that there was a man in his mom’s life now.
Until that moment, I didn’t give it much thought.
Colby and I get along great. Why wouldn’t he be happy I’m going to be around more?
And yet, here I am, second-guessing the confidence I had that this would go smoothly. All because of some damn cookies.
The door opens, and Colby comes bounding down the stairs. I swear, every time he sees this dog, it’s like reuniting with his best friend. Hopefully, if nothing else, he’ll be happy that Pepper will be around more.
“Hey, buddy. Look what Mia gave me to give you,” I say, holding up the bag of treats as I open the door so Pepper can jump out.
“Cookies!” He jumps up and down. Pepper just as excited as he runs around the yard.
“You can have these after lunch, yeah?” I say when Colby comes over, making silly, grabby-hand gestures.
“Mommy is finishing up now, but she said I could open the door for you guys. Come on, Pepper, she made extra bacon for you, too.”
I hand Colby the bag of cookies, and the dog follows him into the house.
Maizie is in the kitchen, finishing up some BLT sandwiches for us.
“Mommy, look what Mia gave me,” Colby says, handing her the bag.
“You gonna share those, son?” she asks.
His mouth twists in concentration as though he really has to think about it, then he starts laughing. “Of course. Those are way too many for me to eat by myself.”
Maizie laughs. “Okay, buddy. Go wash your hands, then we’ll have lunch.”
The kid spins on his heels and rushes to the bathroom.
“Everything is at warp speed with that one, huh?” I ask, smiling as Colby speeds past me.
“Pretty much. I’m told it’s a boy thing, but I have a feeling it might be a Colby thing,” she says.
“I certainly never ran to wash my hands. Though I wasn’t promised dessert after lunch, so that might have something to do with it.”
Colby comes running back into the kitchen, and Maizie hands him a plate with a sandwich and a few chips. “Go sit at the table.”
He carries the plate with intense concentration to make sure the sandwich doesn’t fall over.
She hands me one next, and I smile. “Thank you, baby.” I want to kiss her.
It was so easy and natural last night around all of our friends, just like I knew it would be.
I want to be able to do that all the time, even around Colby.
She and I walk over to the table, and I pull out the chair for her beside her son.
“Dig in, guys,” Maizie says and lifts her own sandwich to her mouth. When I taste mine, the salty richness of the bacon explodes over my tongue.
“Holy sh—wow,” I say, looking at Colby then back to Maizie. I should probably start watching my swearing around the kid. You know, be a positive influence and all that. “This is delicious.”
“It’s really good, Mommy,” Colby agrees.
We sit at the table, and Colby practically inhales his sandwich. “Can I have a cookie now?” he asks.
Maizie chuckles and nods toward the counter. “Why don’t you bring the bag over here, bud. I wanted to talk to you about something.”
He hops up and grabs the bag, then sits back down at the table with us.
“Wyatt and I wanted to talk to you about him spending more time with us. He’s become someone very important to me, and I know you like him a lot, too.”
Colby shrugs. “Sure.”
“We’ve decided that he’s going to be my boyfriend. If you’re okay with it,” she says.
“Okay,” he says, nodding.
“Do you know what that means, bud?” I ask.
“Yeah, you guys will hold hands, and you’ll let her kiss you even though I think kissing is gross. Amy Watson from my school tried to kiss me last year at the swing set and I almost threw up.” He gags overdramatically.
“And you’re fine with that?” Maizie asks, trying to stifle her laughter.
“Are you going to sleep in Mommy's room like Auntie Mia and Knox share a room?”
“Sometimes,” I answer honestly. No use lying about it.
“Does that mean Pepper is going to sleep in my room?”
“He can, sure,” Maizie answers.
“Can they have a sleepover tonight?” Colby asks Maizie with hopeful eyes.
This time, Maizie can’t control the laughter that bursts from her. “Sounds good to me.”
“Yes,” Wyatt says, pumping his little fist and looking down at the dog. “We get to have a sleepover, Pepper.” He looks at the bag on the table. “Can I have a cookie now?”
Mia nods with a smile and watches as Colby reaches in and pulls out a chocolate chip cookie, hopping up from his chair and running outside with it.
She turns to me with relief and a touch of surprise in her eyes. “Was it seriously just that easy?”
“You promised him sleepovers with Pepper. Of course it was that easy.” I smile and grab the seat of her chair, pulling her closer to me. “Now I can do this whenever I want.” I lean over and press my lips to hers. “Oh, and look, I don’t even want to throw up.”
Maizie bursts out laughing, and my heart swells.
I might not be who she imagined herself falling for, but I’ll be damned if I ever let her go.