“I want to adopt him,” Pippa states as soon as we leave the party.
“Of course, you do. You and him are so attached to one another, it’s inevitable that you two stay together,” agrees Tammy.
Tammy, Trigger, Pippa and I rode to, and now from, the party in Tammy’s SUV. The women are chattering a mile a minute about adoption plans. Trigger is driving and I glance toward him to see him smiling big.
“What’re you smiling about, old man?”
“Things work out between Tammy and I, I’ll not only have Bailey and Pippa as the daughters I never had, but I’ll be a grandpa to Craig. That’s plenty to smile about, you ass,” he answers good-naturedly.
“If things continue working out with me and Pippa, you’ll get me as a son-in-law, too,” I tease him.
“Life is never perfect. I may have to take the bad with the good in that case,” he smirks back at me.
Pippa
I’m driving to the compound to see Pooh and the progress that’s been done on his house. While listening to Kidd Rock singing about his first kiss, my mind wanders to how blissful life has been the last few months.
Pooh and I are rock solid. Our bond is strong and we’re heading in all the right directions. We never spend the night apart and Pooh has been hinting lately about Craig and me moving into his house when it’s completed. Actually, the word hinting is all wrong. He’s stated several times that he wants us there and I don’t see him bending on that. I’m worried it’s too soon but I’m keeping an open mind.
I started the adoption proceedings for Craig. He’s doing great according to his counselor and he’s taking classes now with Bella. Chubs does most of the teaching with help from the rest of us. Craig is thriving in all areas of his life. Except that sometimes he learns things too quickly. Usually they’re things I wish he wouldn’t learn at all. But he is a happy, smart kid and I love him to bits. And while I know he loves me too, Pooh and Trigger are his heros.
Tammy and Trigger are nearly inseparable. Tammy has already moved into Trigger’s house and put hers up for sale. Trigger claimed Tammy club-style and she proudly wears her “Property of Trigger” cut during all club functions. I never thought I’d see the day that she would willingly call herself “property” but that is the power of the love and respect she has for Trigger.
I never asked Pooh what happened with Cal, because I trust his decisions on that, but I have heard bits and pieces over the last few months. And I saw the blood splatters on his clothing later that day. I know I should’ve been upset by that but I wasn’t. Pooh took back a little of what Cal took from me and I’m grateful for having a man in my life now that would do that. And, better yet, I haven’t seen Cal’s face since.
I drive slowly past the clubhouse and make my way to Pooh’s. I park on the road in front and step out of my car. Every time I see his house, I’m amazed at how fast it’s all come together. It’s a beautiful log home and it’s quite large. Two full stories plus a full basement along with an oversized three car garage makes it sprawling.
The front yard is small and needs landscaping, but the backyard is huge and is currently being fenced. There are workmen everywhere at the moment. Some are finishing up the gutters, others are doing the fencing, and still others are walking in and out of the front and garage doors.
I make my way up the drive and squeeze past some workers to make it through the front door. I hear a wolf whistle behind me, but I don’t turn to see who made it. I don’t care because there isn’t a man behind me that tops the one I’m searching for inside. And I know right where he is when I hear him giving directions to Craig. I follow the sound of my man’s voice and little boy giggles and lean my shoulder against the doorway to watch them together. I love watching these two interact. Pooh is incredibly patient with Craig. When Craig is talking to him, he has all of Pooh’s attention. And Craig soaks that up. Pooh has restored Craig’s faith in men, I think. Along with help from Trigger, Chubs and the rest of the club.
They’re putting the draw pulls on the kitchen cabinets. Pooh is holding the cabinet door in place while Craig, who’s standing on the counter top, tries valiantly to use the screwdriver correctly. I bite back a laugh at Craig’s grunting and giggling while trying to tighten the screw. Pooh has a hand at Craig’s back to hold him steady and a smile on his face at Craig’s efforts. When Craig gets the job done, he states to Pooh, “This shit’s hard work. I need a root beer before we do anymore.”
“You want me to finish them up?” Pooh offers.
“No, I want to help. But I need a break first. Maybe a little snack to power up. That’s what Chubs and I do when we tow things. We eat snacks to power up our strength.”
Pooh chuckles outright and I can’t hold mine in this time. Two pairs of eyes swing my way and two faces light up. One is sexy as hell, the other impish.
“Hey, guys. These cabinets are looking great!” I tell them.
“Thanks! Pooh let me help pick them out at Home Depot!” Craig says excitedly. “And he let me help put them on!”
“You did very well, Craig. I like them.”
Pooh has decided he’s waited long enough, so he sets Craig on his backside on the counter, then walks to me and claims my mouth. I return the kiss and when he pulls back, I grin up at him.
“You ignore the rules just to get punished, don’t you?” he questions with a grin.
“Maybe.”
Pooh isn’t big about being bossy. He’s protective, alpha, but not domineering. One rule he has though, is that he wants my mouth on his as soon as one of us sees the other. I come home from work and he expects, and demands, a kiss immediately, for example. He doesn’t care where we are or who is nearby, he wants his kiss. And I like to deny him this just because I like the punishment. Pooh’s punishments consist of naked time and I’m a naked Pooh addict.
“Will you two handsome gentlemen go on a date with me tonight?” I ask. “I know a great steakhouse that’s been calling my name.”
“Do I have to eat broccoli?” questions Craig.
“Yeah, do we have to eat broccoli?” adds Pooh with a smirk.