Page 37 of Dodge

Dodge took the plastic cup and downed the contents in one go. The fire burned to his belly, and his dick finally softened. He caught one of the round fruits in his back teeth and chomped down, filling his mouth with sweet cherry and biting alcohol.

If the prospects and their women hadn’t come along, he would be inside Fauna right now, making her come.

Afterward, she would have hated him.

He cursed under his breath as he rose from the water. “It’s been a long week. I’m hitting the sack. Have fun, but don’t let Betsey catch y’all naked out here.”

One of the girls laughed loudly, making her wet breasts bounce above the waterline. “He said ‘y’all’ too!”

Forge said something in response, but Dodge didn’t hear it. He ignored the sounds from the hot tub as he toweled off and quickly left. The main room of the lodge was empty, the TV off, and the players retired for the night. Dodge’s gaze drew to the staircase that led to the upper floors. Brick and Betsey’s private quarters were up there along with the guest suite where he guessed Fauna lay. He was tempted, so fucking tempted, to climb those steps and see if she would let him in. The cherry taste in his mouth was nothing compared to hers.

He waited for several long minutes before going to his own room. Hopefully, he would find some sleep this night.

CHAPTER19

“Oh snap!This is perfect for the front area so people can sit while they wait.”

“You’re so right. What’s the price tag say?”

I groaned as Macie and Betsey moved as one unit to examine a wood bench. Both of them decided to accompany me on a discovery shopping trip to the local antiques mall. I wanted to add some finishing touches to the bistro’s decor with locally made pieces and a few extra odds and ends.

Psalm brought me some gorgeous paintings and other wall art that blended together. She’d also offered some really nice pottery from a reclusive artist who lived somewhere deep in the mountains, saying, “I’ve never met the man, but his face jugs are very well known throughout the state.”

I’d take any support I could get from name recognition, even if that name was just “potter on the mountain.”

I’d spent several nights at the Lair while Betsey insisted on outfitting my small apartment. She had Rafter and Forge move a spare queen bed and dresser she had in storage to my place, plus some lamps and a small love seat.

“Cain’t do nothing ’bout a better kitchen, but at least you got a decent place to sleep for now. You can always come to the Lair anytime you want to,” she’d said.

I’d teared up a little at the warm invitation. It seemed when Betsey claimed someone, she did it all the way with no expectations of payment or future favors. She’d accepted me into her group completely, and I grew more and more comfortable in that fold. Tambre told me to come to her salon anytime and she’d take care of me. Molly wanted to take me shopping for new clothes whenever we got a day off. Eva had finished the bar and took me to hang with her at the River’s Edge once when Stud’s band was playing.

“The girls are spending the weekend with their uncle and aunt in Asheville, so I’m taking advantage of having a night off to see my husband play,” Eva explained. “My brother and his wife only have three kids left at home now. Their oldest decided to do college after all. Beverly is an amazing mom. Connor is so damn lucky to have moved in next to her.”

Yes, I had friends now. Female friends with no agenda whatsoever. This was a level of acceptance I’d never had before, and it blew me away.

The one fly in the ointment came in the form of a tall linebacker-built blond man who occupied my thoughts constantly.

Dodge was into me, or at least I thought so. The scene in the hot tub percolated in my mind for the past week and drove me crazy. Part of me was angry as hell at him for not following through. Another part respected him for not pushing me into a potentially embarrassing situation after I threw myself at him. I bounced back and forth between the two emotions with a healthy dose of anxiety for flavor.

I stifled a groan as my two decorators chatted and shopped like old friends. Hormones. That had to be why I nearly jumped the man. It had been a long time, after all. He liked me, I liked him, and those pesky little enzymes ignited in a surprise flambé.

Should I ignore it? Acknowledge it? Try again? Or stop it?

There was no running away, as we were around and supported by the same people. What would happen if we suddenly broke off this friendship or relationship or… fuck me sideways, I had no idea what to call this thing between us.

“Oooh, look at that plant stand!” Betsey and Macie were examining a wood spiral holder that could house a number of smaller plant pots. My bartender grinned at me. “You can put this up front and grow fresh herbs in it for the kitchen!”

I wanted to be irritated, but the piece was cute and matched the bench. “I can’t grow enough oregano in one of those little pots to season more than one or two dishes.”

Betsey flicked her nails at me. “People will see the fresh stuff and think what they want. It’s a good marketing visual.”

She had a point. I left them to wander around and found myself at a back wall looking at row after row of framed prints of vintage motorcycles. Not really part of my restaurant theme, but they were still pretty cool. Some of the models looked like they were the first ones ever made, as in really primitive, but one short squat one painted in green and white caught my eye.

“A 1936 Harley Davidson El Knucklehead. One of the rarest vintage bikes out there.” Betsey joined me as I stared at the picture. “Dodge had the opportunity to do a restoration paint job on one for a collector some years ago. I remember the guy wanted some sort ofStar Trektheme with the Starship Enterprise on the side. Dodge convinced him to keep it classic like this one. He really likes you.”

I bit my lip as my heart leapt up to dance. “It’s… complicated.”

Betsey put her arm around my shoulders, and my throat pulsed with the need to close. “I get it looks that way, but it ain’t. Dodge has some scars and baggage in his life, and from what you’ve told me, you got some mess too. He has a big sense of obligation to take care of the people in his life, and some of them have taken advantage of that. His daddy is one. Mallory is another. Breaks my heart to see any of my boys hurtin’. Dodge hasn’t shown much interest in any woman for years. That is until you came along.”

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