Page 95 of Thornhill Road

Seeing as Mustang had a way of getting what he wanted, especially when it came to me, I’d made it work to be at his place before I fell into bed that whole week.

Sunday to Wednesday we had Mary-Kate. While I didn’t get to see much of her Tuesday or Wednesday, she and I got to spend some quality time together Monday night. Steel Mustang was usually closed Mondays and Tuesdays—but with the rally still going on, they were open for business, which meant Mustang was putting in some extra hours.

Fortunately, Mary-Kate was more than happy to have a girl’s night with me.

It was debatable which one of us had the better time.

Spoiling her was too easy.

Her best friend might have been a boy, but she was a girly girl at heart.

By Wednesday, even though I would be asleep while Mustang worked, and he’d sleep the following morning after I left for my shift, I ended up in his bed because it was convenient. My toothbrush, shampoo and conditioner were already in his bathroom.

Thursday evening had been a long one, Mustang again working behind the bar on a busy night. I hung out, because we’d been two ships passing in the night for a couple of days. When we got home in the wee hours, Mustang promised me he’d take me on a real date as soon as the Sturgis rush had died down.

Seeing as we’d spent four unbelievable nights together at the rally, he heard no complaints from me about the crazy work week that followed.

It was my bladder that beckoned me out of bed. After I’d seen to my needs, I went looking for Mustang. I found him at the kitchen island, sipping coffee, his attention directed at his phone.

“Morning, sweetheart,” I said, stopping at his side only long enough to press a kiss against his Wild Stallions tattoo before heading for the coffee pot.

“Hey, baby,” he muttered distractedly.

I glanced back at him, curious what was on his mind, but I didn’t ask. I’d doctored my coffee the way I liked and was standing opposite him at the island when he put his phone down and gave me his full attention.

“You okay with a sandwich for lunch, or do I need to get more creative?”

“I’m good with a sandwich—but you don’t have to make them. Let me. I just need, like, five minutes with this coffee.”

“Yeah. Okay. I’ll get a quick shower. In about an hour, we’ve got to head to the clubhouse. A few of us need to have a chat.”

I nodded, cupping my mug with both hands. “Is everything okay?” I asked cautiously.

“Just some shit gettin’ stirred down south. We’re handling it.”

While his answer hadn’t revealed much, it was more than he gave me the last time there was club business. I wasn’t entirely clear on how tight they were with the other chapters, but Mustang didn’t seem to be too concerned about it, so I decided to follow his lead.

He went to take a shower while I made us sandwiches for lunch. After we’d eaten, I took my turn under the water. I was running out of clothes, with only a clean pair of scrubs to change into. I made a mental note to ask Mustang if he wouldn’t mind sleeping at my place the next couple of nights, so I could catch up on laundry and restock my non-work apparel.

If we were going to keep up the back and forth, it was possible we needed to consider doubling up on essentials while each of us spared a dresser drawer for the other. Living out of a suitcase was bound to get old fast.

My scrubs and sneakers were probably the most practical outfit I’d ever worn while riding on the back of Mustang’s hog, and I enjoyed our comfortable—albeitshort—ride to the compound. We walked hand-in-hand into the clubhouse only to find Bull, Twister, Maverick, Wrangler, and Slick—a guy I didn’t know nearly as well as the others—were already there.

“Hey, Tess,” greeted Bull with a jerk of his chin. “Winnie’s in the office over at the garage if you want company.”

“Alright. Thanks.”

I looked up at Mustang and he squeezed my hand, sliding his sunglasses over his hair. “I’ll come grab you when we’re done.”

“Sure.”

He kissed me before he went to join the others, and I set out to find Winnie.

I’d been thrilled to learn she and Bull would be joining us at Sturgis. Given they still had three kids at home, I wasn’t sure how they’d swing it. Apparently, Miles—their oldest—was left in charge. As Bull put it,under threat of death,he was to keep watch over his brothers while they were away.

I was merely relieved I wouldn’t be the only woman riding in our pack. Not that there weren’t plenty of women at the rally to keep the other boys company—there certainly was no shortage of half-naked enthusiasts in attendance—but it was nice to have a known female friend there. And after our long, adventure filled weekend, I definitely considered Winnie a friend.

I was halfway to the garage when my phone sounded with a text alert. I dug the device out of my purse and found a message from Jenna.

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