Page 52 of Spike

“You need moretime?”

“No, I’m good.” Isquared my shoulders and squeezed his hand, then we headed inside.

We entered a largecommon room already packed withpeople. Thespace was filled with sofas,over-stuffed chairs, a pool table, giantflat-screen television, several smaller tables that a few of the younger childrengathered around for board games. There were three pinball machines set upagainst the wall and bells were dinging as the older kids engaged in epicbattles.

My senses were onoverload. The smell of alcohol and barbeque wafted through the air, while a lowdin of gruff male voices mixed with kids squealing in excitement and womenlaughing with unabandoned joy. In all the churches and religious meetings I’dattended, I’d never once seen a group of people who seemed more alive. Theyspoke openly and freely about things that would make sailors blush, but alsoappeared to love just as honestly.

“Wow,” I breathedout.

“Yeah,” Spike saidwith a chuckle. “The Dogs’ space is cool, right?”

“Yes. Is yourclubhouse like this?”

“It’s gettingthere.” He smiled. “Let’s drop our stuff off in the kitchen, then I’llintroduce you.”

I nodded andfollowed him through a door to our right. Several women and a long-haired manwere in the kitchen preparing food. Well, the women were. The man was groping aparticularly beautiful blonde woman.

“Hatch, love, I’mgoing to shove this pie in your face, if you don’t stop,” she warned in a sweetBritish accent.

Hatch chuckled.“Kinky.”

“Hi Spike,” theother blonde said in greeting.

“Hey, Cricket.Hatch, Maisie.” He set our offerings on the large metal island. “This isTrixie.”

Cricket’s eyeswidened and she grinned. “Oh my god, you’re Trixie? Devlin wasn’t kidding whenshe said you were gorgeous.”

I blushed andleaned closer to Spike.

“Cricket’s ourpresident’s old lady,” he explained. “Where is Minus?”

Cricket nodded toher right. “Changing a diaper.”

“Nice,” Spikesaid, giving my hand a squeeze. “There’s a kids’ room just down the hall.”

“Wow, you haveeverything covered.”

Maisie smiled. “Wetry. Although, we’re going to need to add on to accommodate all the newrecruits and families.” She tugged on Hatch’s beard. “Aren’twe?”

“Yeah, Sunshine,gettin’ right on that.”

Maisie rolled hereyes and Cricket laughed. “We do have brothers who do construction, Hatch. Youdon’t need to be part of this… atall.”

“Who’s payin’ forit, baby sister?” he challenged.

“There’s no needto get facts in the way of this conversation.”

“Whatconversation?” A tall man with yet another epic beard walked into the kitchen,wrapping an arm around Cricket.

“Adding on to theclub,” Cricket explained. “You also don’t need to be part of it.”

He smirked. “Noshit. I’m not payin’ for it.”

Hatch tipped hisbeer bottle toward him before taking a swig.

“Hush,” Crickethissed. “Now, don’t be rude. Spike’s brought a guest.”

“Hey,” he said.

---