Page 14 of Jackson

Kane caught him as he stepped off his porch. “You look like you’re on a mission brother,” Kane grinned at him.

“Go away Kane. You’re not ruining my mood today.”

“I’m here to help,” Kane said innocently, holding his hands out in front of him. “I thought you’d want to know I’m joining Maya and Sarah at Bear Ridge.”

Jackson stopped and turned towards his brother. “What the hell are they there for? That’s not a place they should go alone.”

Kane chuckled. “That got your attention then.” He said. “And they’re safe. They’re with Colt and his sister. Sarah has been meeting them about a new shelter there.”

Jackson grumbled something as Kane slapped him on the shoulder and started to walk with him to the car. “Come on. Maybe you can manage to get lost with Maya again on the way back.”

“We weren’t lost you idiot. We lost our gear. I knew where we were.”

“Just keep telling yourself that,” Kane said as Jackson glowered at him. “Anyway, it had the right effect regardless. You can thank me later for getting you two together.”

“We aren’t together yet. I need to make her mine still.”

“Better hurry up brother. She won’t stay waiting for you forever.”

Jackson continued grumbling under his breath as he got in the Jeep with Kane, knowing deep down Kane was right. He had to make his move. To make Maya his forever.

Chapter Fifteen

Maya's gaze fixed on the man mountain before her. Colt was chatting to Sarah, and Maya was supposed to be taking notes for a new article on how the shelter was expending into the next county.

But Maya couldn’t take her eyes from Colt. He was huge and his bushy beard was practically a wildlife refuge in itself. His voice boomed through the room and he was dressed in the leathers of his MC chapter. Maya was embarrassed to note that she would be terrified if she met him in a dark alley, but here in Octane, the bar he owned, he was a pussycat. A wild one, but one that had the potential to be tamed.

"And my crew and I will help Amy with whatever she needs. She’ll be here soon, but she’ll say the same thing. Anything at all she needs is hers, including protection," Colt declared, stretching his arms wide enough to span the Mississippi, as he dropped an arm around Sarah’s shoulders in a sisterly hug. “You’re like family now.” He said gruffly.

Just as Sarah was about to reply, the door creaked open.

"Colt? What in the—" Kane’s voice trailed off as he did a double take, his eyes bulging at the sight of the huge man touching his wife. Ethan and Jackson ambled in behind Kane; their expressions wary, unsure if even the three of them could take Colt down if Kane started swinging fists.

"Get your man paws off my wife" Kane growled, rubbing the back of his neck. "I don’t like violence, but I will put you through the wall if you don’t stop touching her.”

Colt's grin spread wide, revealing a set of straight white teeth and dimples in each cheek. "Kane! You know I don’t touch a woman unless she’s mine.” Colt rose and engulfed Kane in an embrace that might crack lesser spines. They slapped each other's backs with a force that echoed through the room.

Jackson, meanwhile, had sidled up to Maya, standing by her, guarding his own.

Maya rolled her eyes affectionately at Jackson. With a soft chuckle, she reached up, looping her arms around his neck, and pulled him down for an impromptu kiss that spoke louder than words.

"Get a room, you two," Kane teased, wiggling his eyebrows as he disentangled himself from Colt's bear hug and went and draped his arm around Sarah, putting distance between her and Colt. "Boys, meet Colt. He's the mountain of a man behind the new shelter in Bear Ridge County," Kane announced with a flourish.

“Me and Amy,” Colt said as he held out a large beefy hand to Jackson and Ethan, both men trying not to wince as he shook their hands.

"I'm interviewing him and Amy about the community effort. They're building a second shelter for those in need." Maya said, as Jackson stepped even closer to her.

"Sounds like a big project." Kane quirked an eyebrow. "You fellas going to need some extra funding for that?"

"Kane, darling," a voice drawled from the doorway, "money isn't everything."

The room swiveled as one to the source—the embodiment of sass and ink. A woman with short dark pixie hair swaggered in, her tattoos vibrant against her skin, curves wrapped tight in denim and leather. She shot them a grin that was all challenge and no apology.

"Guys, this spitfire is Amy," Colt said, as he pulled Amy under his arm. "She'll be running the show at Bear Ridge."

"Nice to meet you," Jackson muttered, though he never left the protective stance he had next to Maya.

"Likewise," Amy replied, not missing a beat before her gaze landed on Ethan. She gave him a once-over so thorough it could've unraveled the threads of his flannel shirt. Her tongue darted out, wetting her lips with a mischief that set the air buzzing.

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