Page 4 of Blade

I turned my head to see Jack had given up pestering Samantha and joined us back at our table. He took Blade’s empty seat across from me. This made me wonder again what he was so upset about when I sat down. Given the way Cash reacted to my questions, maybe they just really didn’t like outsiders and were only humoring me because of Rachel.

“Beck here is asking questions about the MC.”

This was the first I’ve heard from Jingles, and I looked over to see a wide grin on his face.

“Not questioning, just looking to get to know the neighbors.”

“Why, you wanna prospect? Just kidding, no girls allowed.” Jack winked at me, and I shook my head.

Rachel was right, Jackass fit him perfectly.

“Ask away, sweetheart. We got nothin’ to hide.”

“I have no experience with a motorcycle club. I was just wondering how it all works. You know, all those stereotypes about loose women and loud parties. Wondering how Grams handles all that.”

All three men started laughing uncontrollably, as Rachel looked at me with an amused grin.

“What?”

They made me feel like an idiot with everything that came out of my mouth.

“Beck, Grams is at the parties.” Rachel rolled her lips between her teeth.

“What? Grams goes to your biker parties. She said she needed me home because she was too feeble to take care of the house, and now, I find out she’s partying all night with bikers. Please tell me she isn’t one of the loose women.” I closed my eyes, shaking my head in complete disbelief.

“No, she isn’t one of theloosewomen.” Jingles chuckled. “But I wouldn’t put it past her in her younger days. That woman puts us all to shame.”

“You should come with her this weekend. It’s a lot of fun, and I promise we’ll keep the debauchery to a minimum. Though I can’t speak for Grams.” Jingles winked at me as Samantha dropped off our food.

The conversation turned to everyday topics as we ate. When we were done, I said goodbye to everyone and promised to think about going to the party this weekend.

But first, I definitely needed to have a talk with Grams when I got home.

Chapter Two

Blade

I stomped my way out of The Diner and headed toward my bike. I needed to take a ride and clear my head. Climbing onto my Harley Davidson Heritage Classic, I fired it up, letting the rumble course through me. Taking a right out of the parking lot in the opposite direction of the clubhouse, I rode out of town.

She wasn’t supposed to come back.

Fuck!

With Grams living across the road from the clubhouse, I knew there was always a chance it might happen. I didn’t think it would be this soon. I’d assumed that she would settle down, get married, and pop out a couple of kids before returning here. A heads-up would have given me time to get my shit together.

I figured Grams would have told me, let me wrap my head around her coming home, but in all the days I’d spent helping that woman around the house, fixing things, mowing the lawn, she had never said a word.

I knew it was her as soon as I saw her.

Even before Rachel said her name. It killed me the way she looked up at Jack. She didn’t notice Jack glance over at me when Rachel called her name. The even shorter versionof what I called her. I shook my head at him, knowing he would understand and not say anything.

Then there was Rachel. Rachel knew exactly what the fuck she was doing. She and I didn’t agree on how to handle this situation. We never had. We have had a hypothetical discussion often, and that hypothetical just became a goddamn reality.

Thankfully, as Cash’s old lady, she knew the club came first. Unless I gave her permission, she had to keep her mouth shut.

I just needed to keep my distance, not get close enough for her to see who I really was. She didn’t recognize me today. How could she when she hadn’t seen me in a decade?

Not since that last day.

---