Page 63 of Eagle

Dad stood and went to the uncovered part of the deck, opening the lid to the grill. “Kabobs and taters.”

“Smells great,” Lacy said.

I reached over the table and stuck my hand out. She slid hers into mine, and my heart began to slow. Amazing how just touching her could calm the storm inside of me. Like she knew, her cheeks pinked and her eyes fluttered.

God, I love this woman.

Her blue eyes sparkled as she squeezed my hand. I leaned over to kiss her cheek and she blushed again. She smiled at me like she felt as I did. The constant reminder that her reluctance to go all in was my own fucking fault drove me mad. All I could do was show her and wait. Hopefully.

Chapter 29

Lacy

Dinner with Jimmy and Eddie was so cozy although,Eaglemade numerous comments about me working at the club and not staying at the clubhouse. Outside of that, it was fun and breezy conversations, a few tales about Eddie when he was younger, and so much to eat, I had a food baby. Hopefully that would go away before work.

Jimmy had made some amazing kabobs with chicken, steak, peppers, onions, and mushrooms with baked potatoes on the side. He also baked a yellow sheet cake with chocolate frosting, so I had to have a slice. It would’ve been rude not to.

We’d moved inside to enjoy dessert. Licking the last bit of frosting from my fork, I glanced over to find Eddie staring me down. His dad stood up from the table to put his dish away, so I made a production of licking the fork slowly while I stared back at Eddie.

Heat filled his gaze and a grin spread over his face as he reached down to adjust himself.Mission accomplished.

I grinned back, but then stood up to grab our dishes and help clean up. Jimmy turned and snatched the dish from my hand, then pushed my shoulder.

“You’re a guest. You sit. Eddie, you can help.”

“I really don’t mind. You cooked and–”

“And you’re the guest,” Jimmy said, gently guiding me back to my chair as he motioned for Eddie to get up. I could barely contain myself as Eddie stood, kissed the top of my head, and started cleaning the kitchen.

My foot shook under the table as I watched the men tidy up and put condiments away. My eyes landed on some photos on the wall. “Is that you?” I asked as I looked at one image. It almost looked like Eddie, but the photo was older and the man was dressed in formal military clothes.

Jimmy looked back. “Oh yeah. Did a few years in the Marines.” He looked back at me and said, “Scout sniper.” He gave a wink. “Eddie was young and I never saw the front line before I got out. But I learned enough to teach my boy a few things. And I still get a few benefits from it.”

I’d heard the guys mention Eagle was the best shot of anyone, but I figured he just was handy with a gun. Jimmy covered the cake with some foil then stuck his hand out. “We have a surprise for you.”

I was having such a nice time, I forgot all about that. Curiosity filled me, though. Both of them had a surprise? Jimmy was a nice looking man, but if they had some weird sharing thing, I didn’t know that I was interested. Eddie was a handful on his own.

“Meet you outside,” Jimmy said as he walked out. Okay, I definitely let my mind wander, because even if they plannedthat, I doubt they’d make me go outside for it.

Sliding my hand into his, I stood and he gave me a quick peck. “This way,” Eddie said with a childlike grin.

His eagerness had butterflies filling my stomach. I followed him out through the back door, down the steps, and to the side of the house where a detached garage stood. It wasn’t as large as those at the clubhouse, but it looked like it could hold two cars with one large rolling door that was still closed. Once we made it closer, Jimmy pushed the door up revealing a car and a few motorcycles. The sun hadn’t gone down completely, just starting to set, so I could make out the front end of a champagne-colored Honda Civic.

Eddie pulled me closer and Jimmy held his hand up, dangling a set of keys. Looking between them, both with wide smiles, I shook my head. “What is this?”

Jimmy reached for my hand, then put the keys into my palm. “Eddie wanted to be sure you had a safe ride. Here you go.”

Eddie pulled me inside the garage and opened the driver’s side door. “I still want you riding with me. But I can’t always be there. Now I know you have a safe ride home from work. And maybe to the clubhouse.”

Looking at the keys, then the car, then back at him, I kept shaking my head. “You can’t give me a car.”

“If you want to be technical, honey,” Jimmy said as he leaned on the side of the garage, “I gave you the car. And I’m older than you, so you can’t tell me what to do and it’s not polite to block your blessings.”

“Sir, I can’t possibly take this.” It was too much. It was thousands of dollars. “I don’t even have a copy of my license right now. And insurance, and–”

Eddie silenced me with a kiss. Still very aware that his dad was standing nearby, I didn’t completely melt into him but didtake a few seconds longer to pull away than I should have. “Youwilltake it. He can sign it over to you to get insured, but I’ll pay for it. Just take it, Lacy.”

Looking down inside the car, tears filled my eyes. Covering my face, I tried to say, “Thank you both,” but it was garbled from the sobs.

---