Page 38 of Where We Promise

Eventually it worked well enough to drive. There wasn’t even a road from the cabin up to the main house for the Stone Riders, but I drove through the dead weeds and flat ground, just the same. Cresting the only minor hill between the cabin and the clubhouse, I flicked my gaze to the rearview mirror and saw the man, Harris, following me ever so slowly on his bike. If my window wasn’t so temperamental and didn’t choose when to work and when not to, I’d roll it down to wave at him. Instead, I just continued until I found a decent place to park near the edge of the manicured lawn.

Would Killian care that I was creating my own parking space? The Chaos Kings did it with their bikes, wasn’t sure why anyone would care if I did the same with my car. Harris parked next to me and gave me a small dip of his chin as I walked toward the clubhouse.

“Miss Penelope?” he called out to me, which made me turn around.

He was tall, nearly six three or four. Broad muscle and faded ink covered the places on his arms that weren’t covered by leather. I liked his beard and kind eyes.

“Would it be a bother if I helped you out of the car from now on?”

I nearly gawked at him. No one cared if I had trouble getting in and out of my car. No one but Jamie.

Feeling a strange burning in my throat, I nodded. “Fine by me.”

His chin dipped again, and he smiled.

I wasn’t sure what to do with that, so I just persisted walking up the steps to the clubhouse. Right as my hand touched the handle, I turned back toward Harris.

“This club still makes me nervous. I—I don’t really feel welcome unless I’m with Jamie or Natty. Would you mind walking with me until I find her?”

Harris was behind me within a blink. “Of course, Miss Penelope.”

Warmth spread through my chest, and I pushed open the door. There were people milling about, but they only glanced my way once then returned to their conversations. In here, I didn’t seem to be a zoo animal like I was with the Chaos Kings. Here, no one thought I was carrying a traitor’s baby, or that I was a whore. No one seemed to hate me.

Skirting the kitchen, I caught sight of Natty and veered directly for her.

“Pen, hey! I was on my way to come find you.”

I narrowed my eyes, searching hers for a lie. “You were?”

She lifted a concealed box of something and then set it on the counter with a huff. “Laura is going to sing at the Hollow tonight. Callie is going to go, and both of them asked me if I would ask you to come with us.”

“The Hollow?”

She smiled warmly while cutting through the box with a rather large hunting knife she seemed to pull from somewhere under the counter. It wasn’t a normal kitchen knife, and since I’d been around different clubs growing up, I learned how to spot things that didn’t seem to fit. Natty carrying that massive knife didn’t fit. The hilt was thick, black and had a scythe etched in silver.

For some reason, I didn’t feel like drawing attention to it. I just watched her work as she began explaining this refurbished bookstore turned lounge bar. Singers and live bands would go and do sets while drinks were served, and apparently Laura was one of the regulars.

Natty sheathed the knife, then slid it under a gap in the counter and drawer. It made me curious how many weapons she had stashed around the place.

“Sounds fun. I just have to let Jameson know.”

Natty smiled sweetly. “Great, and do you think I can ride with you?”

“Of course.”

Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Harris lingering near the bar. I promised Natty I would come get ready with her after going back to the cabin. It would give me time to talk to Harris.

Once I approached and explained I was heading back, he merely smiled and followed me out.

“I’m going to the Hollow tonight with Natty, Laura and Callie,” I said once we were outside and walking toward my car.

Harris nodded. “I’ll follow.”

“Can I—” I wasn’t sure how to ask without seeming too clingy, so I blinked and stopped, forcing him to stop next to me. “Can I have your number, so I can text you if I ever feel…” My face flushed. This was so stupid. He wasn’t my babysitter or my friend. Just because he’d shown me kindness and basic human decency didn’t mean he was on call.

“Just shot you a message, Miss Penelope. Jamie made sure I had yours earlier.”

My face warmed again. “Do you think you can call me something other than that? It’s making me feel like I have a chauffeur or something.”

---