Page 33 of Hatter

“All right.” He hesitated, wringing his hands. “Just checking.”

“Appreciate it,” I said, fighting the urge to roll my eyes. His heart was in the right place, but damn, he could be a nervous wreck. I didn’t know how he’d made it through the fight.

“Okay, okay,” Rabbit said, backing away slowly. “You know where to find me if you need anything.”

“Thanks,” I replied, focusing back on the wall. Our sanctuary would rise from the ashes, and so would we.

As I painted, I felt the weight of my past mixing with the hope for the future. The Underland MC had given me a new home, a second chance. And as the last remnants of blood and bullets disappeared beneath a fresh coat of paint, I knew we’d stand together, stronger than ever.

By the time I’d finished one wall and started another, my back and shoulders were aching. But the pain meant I was alive. Rabbit’s anxious gaze flickered ‘round like a damn hummingbird on crack, but he finally vanished, leaving me to my work.

“Jo,” Absolem’s calm voice cut through the room, grabbing my attention. He walked in, arms loaded with supplies. “Here are more rollers, paint cans, and brushes.”

“Thanks, Absolem.” I dipped my brush into the new paint can, planning my next move.

“Keep an eye on the budget,” he warned, adjusting his glasses. “I know you haven’t been making demands or anything, but every little request adds up. Not sure Hatter thought about that after we discussed the paint. I’d assumed we’d get one big ass bucket of the same color, but he’s letting you paint rooms elsewhere in the clubhouse too. Makes a difference in pricing. We’re walking a tightrope right now. Most of what I had left after getting this land and building the clubhouse has been invested, which means I only have access to so much per month.”

“Got it.” I nodded.

“Good.” Absolem left as quietly as he came, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

Hours crawled by, and my muscles ached. It was time for a break. I wiped my hands on my jeans, heading toward the kitchen.

Hatter leaned against the counter, mug of coffee in hand. His eyes met mine, a spark igniting something deep inside me.

“Hey,” he said, his voice low and gravelly.

“Hey,” I replied, pouring myself a cup of coffee. “How’s the cleanup going?”

“Progress is slow, but we’re getting there.” Hatter took a sip, watching me closely. “How about you? Heard you were on painting detail.”

“Same.” I traced patterns on the counter, feeling the weight of his gaze on me. “Feels good, though. Like we’re building something new, and this time I get to be part of it.”

“Agreed.” He moved closer, our shoulders touching, warmth spreading through me. “We’ve got a long road ahead, but we’ll face it together.”

“Damn right,” I whispered, looking up at him. In that moment, I knew even though we’d been broken and battered, this was home, and we were strongest here.

Sipping the last of my coffee, I felt Hatter’s hand wrap around mine. His touch sent a shiver down my spine.

“Come on,” he said, his voice deep and husky. “There’s a room we need to work on together.”

Together. I liked the sound of that. Following him, our hands entwined, I couldn’t help but feel a tinge of excitement.

We stepped into the room, an empty shell waiting for us to fill it with life. The walls were bare, the floor dusty.

“What do you think?” Hatter asked, his eyes surveying the space. “It was intended as a bedroom, but… I’m thinking we could put a large screen TV on one wall, fill the rest of the space with couches and chairs. Have movie nights in here or something.”

“Maybe, yeah.” I chewed on my lip, picturing the possibilities. “A lounge? Is that sort of what you’re going for?”

“Sounds perfect.” He grinned, squeezing my hand. “Let’s get started.”

We got to work, first cleaning the area, then picking up paintbrushes and cans of paint. The air filled with the smell of fresh paint, the sound of bristles against the wall.

“Think we’ll have enough of this color?” I asked, dipping my brush in the dark blue paint.

“Should be fine,” Hatter replied, working on the opposite wall. Our movements synced, like we’d done this a million times before.

Every now and then, our hands brushed against each other’s, sending jolts of electricity through me. I tried to push the feeling aside, focusing on the task at hand.

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