Page 20 of Pooh

When Pippa first got her hands on him and dragged him into the house, we could hear him hollering, arguing, begging and swearing. You would’ve thought she really was drowning him. When he reappeared back outside, he was clean, so were his clothes, and his hair was neatly combed. And he was not happy.

Craig is clearly craving some male bonding. I’m guessing that dad didn’t spend any time with the little munchkin even when they were living together. And that makes me angry. Being a dad, a father, is more than an orgasm. Being a good dad is the same as being a real man. You have to take your responsibilities seriously and work to do the right thing by those in your life.

Having several alpha males in his sphere is like Christmas to Craig. And me and my club brothers all recognize this fact. Every one of us is making a point to include him in our conversations and the work we’re doing.

“We have cupcakes for dessert,” I hear Tammy say as she and Pippa walk into the yard with trays in their hands.

“Trigger, I added sprinkles to a few just for you,” she adds.

I hear a snort laugh behind me and know it’s Petey.

“Why does he get sprinkles and I don’t?” demands Craig.

“Because he…”

“Is donating the fence materials so he gets the special cupcakes,” I blurt out.

All eyes turn to me. I see laughter in Petey’s, confusion in a few others and acceptance in Craig’s. Whew! Another crisis averted. The cupcakes are devoured and we start putting away the tools until tomorrow when we’ll meet back here again.

As I’m putting away my tool belt, Pippa approaches me. I turn to face her and am once again blown away by how much she affects me. Looking into her eyes, I feel it hit me in the gut. I don’t know what it is, but it’s there. I want to get to know this woman, in and out of the bedroom. That’s not normal for me. I like women, and I love the ones already in my life, but other than that, I only want to know how wild they will get in the bedroom and that’s the extent of what I need to know about them. But this is not the case with Pippa.

“I wanted to thank you for the save today. I would have been mortified without your hoodie. See-through shirt and all,” Pippa tells me with a small smile.

“No worries, doll. I wasn’t keen on my brothers seeing your good parts on display.”

That gets a small laugh and twinkling eyes from Pippa.

“You are not getting your hoodie back, by the way,” she states.

“And why’s that, Pippa?”

“I’m confused about that, Pooh, but I know everything in me wants to keep it close,” she answers, softly.

That statement rocks me back a little but it also gives me a glimpse of hope. Hope that maybe she just needs time to get to know me before she says yes to a date. Hope that she sees me as a man and not just a biker. I’m both, but sometimes labels scare people away. I need her to see that neither should be scary for her.

“Then you should do that, Pippa. Makes me feel good knowing you want that. Keep the hoodie and know that I’m just a phone call away, anytime you feel like you want to hang out. Or talk. Whatever you need, doll.”

“You’re a nice guy, Pooh, a good guy. Working here, I don’t see that very often and I think it may have jaded me. Thanks to you and your club, every female here has seen another side to men.”

“Men can be alpha without being abusive, Pippa. Protective, not domineering. I know you understand that, but maybe you need to be reminded sometimes. There isn’t a guy in that club that would ever raise a hand to you but each and every one of them would protect you with their lives. We’re a family. A family that feuds, disagrees, and argues but comes together in the end. Those men taught me how to be a man. I’m proud to be a part of that family. But reality is, most men are like us. You only deal with the worst of mankind. It’s given you a skewed perspective of men. I get that, I do. But if you can get past that, you have my number. I’m not going to push you. Ball is in your court, darlin’.”

I move forward, into her space, and cup her face with one hand. I lean down and drop a soft kiss on her temple before stepping back, winking and walking away.

Pippa

I’m lying in bed and my mind is still repeating Pooh’s words. Pooh has been front and center in my exhausted brain since we spoke tonight. I feel a pull toward him like it’s a physical thing. Like two magnets being held close but not allowed to touch.

I looked at his brothers tonight and, being a female, I noticed how hot several of them are. I’m not blind to that fact but it doesn’t do the same thing to me that Pooh does when our eyes meet. Standing near Pooh feels like coming home. Like we’re old friends that have just met again. I realize I’m comfortable around him when I don’t think about it too much. I need to shut my brain down and take a leap of faith.

I’ve been single since Cal. I tried going on a few dates after Cal but, at first, my heart wasn’t in it. Then after some time had passed, I found that my interest in a relationship was just not there. My confidence had taken a beating and it hadn’t come back yet. Now, years later, it’s back and somehow, I find myself in a rut. Work, home, dinner with Tammy, jogging. That’s my life. That’s what it consists of now. I’m pathetic.

I pick up my phone and pull up Pooh’s contact. I have no idea what to say to him but I know I want some kind of contact with him. So, I start typing.

Me: Hey. Are you busy?

I’m the queen of witty conversation, can you tell? Ugh.

BILF: Nope. Just lying in bed being bored. What are you up to?

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