Page 44 of Cash

“Oh, hell no! That’s not the only time you’ve met her!” Axel insists.

“No, it’s not. Tessie took the class seriously and met up with us afterward to ask questions. We chatted and we’ve struck up a friendship. Since then, we’ve had lunch together a few times,” James adds in a firm voice.

I watch as Tessie’s body relaxes slightly, and Axel’s deflates.

“I’m waiting on that apology, Axel,” Tessie states.

“I’m waiting on food,” Dad interrupts.

“Whoa! Wait a minute! Are you the cop that shook my dad down at the bakery?” Axel asks excitedly while pointing at James.

“I asked for ID from a member of the Devil’s Angels at a bakery. Was that your dad?” James replies with a grin.

“Yes! Oh, holy hell! We can have some fun with this!” Axel shouts.

“How so?” James inquires.

“Hang on a minute. I need to call Pooh,” Axel answers as he pulls his phone out of his hip pocket.

“Who’s Pooh?” Livi asks.

“He’s another club brother. If I leave him out of this, I’ll never hear the end of it,” Axel answers as he puts his phone to his ear and exits the house through the sliding door.

“Should I be worried?” James asks.

“I’ll protect your honor, Boo,” Terry tosses out in a saucy voice.

“Anytime Axel and Pooh get together, it’s worth worrying about. Petey might want to leave town for a while,” Vex answers while we both start laughing.

“I can’t say I know the guy from the bakery, but he seemed really nice. He stepped up for me when a douchebag started talking smack,” Livi shares.

“That’s Petey. Tough as nails, hard-headed and biker through and through but with a huge heart. He’d never stand by while someone gave a female a hard time,” Taja responds.

“Lady named Trudy was working that day. She volunteered to taser the dickhead,” James adds with a grin.

“She’d love to get her hands on a taser. Chances are, you’d never get it back and Axel would learn a whole new level of respect,” Vex says with a laugh.

“Can I borrow it, James? Please! Just for a quick moment,” Tessie all but begs.

“No!” Livi, Taja and James shout at the same time.

I’m disappointed, though not as much as Tessie, when they refuse. Axel getting tazed would’ve definitely brightened our day.

*~*~*~*

James and Livi get a call and leave before I have sandwiches made. As I watch them switch into professional cop-mode, I know a moment of worry. I’ve never dated anyone with a job where I needed to worry about their safety. I’m not sure I like this aspect of dating a woman with a gun and a badge. As I get busy making lunch, I remind myself that Livi isn’t alone and that James is protective as hell. I feel a little better knowing she has him at her back both at work and in real life too.

“You make good sandwiches, Cash. You’re going to make some woman a great wife someday,” Axel says around a mouthful of ham and bread.

“I have to agree. Being a bachelor for so long has taught you some skills,” Dad adds with a smirk.

“Marry me and I’ll happily be the wife,” Terry coos in my direction.

“Are you serious right now?” Axel asks loudly in an offended tone.

“Of course, I am. Cash is hot as fuck and has been fighting his attraction to me for years now,” Terry responds calmly.

“Cash is hot as fuck?” Axel chokes out.