Page 12 of Pigeon

“Maybe and quit grinning at me. I’m not soft, pussy-whipped, or any of those other names you and Axel have tossed out. I just like making my woman happy, and apparently, animals do that for her. I swear to fucking Christ, Pigeon, if you keep smirking at me, I’m going to remove your face,” Gunner threatens heatedly.

I can’t help it and start laughing out loud. I’m poking a very large bear, but it always makes my day to annoy the guys in the club. Not having a woman makes it easy for me to taunt the ones that do. After a minute of enjoying his annoyance, I quiet down and answer his question.

“Donkeys are smart. Smarter than horses and are incredible animals. They’re very protective and will outright kill things they take as a threat. You don’t want to cross one because they’ll never forget or forgive that shit. Ava and your kids would love one, no doubt. You should always have two, though, and best yet a bonded pair. They form bonds that last their lifetimes. That’s not to say that they won’t form tight bonds with people or other animals too, though. You give them kindness, it gets returned. They’re cheaper to own than horses and less likely to get sick. Tough, durable, and protective. You thinking standard size, mammoth or minis?”

“FurEver Homes has a bonded pair of minis that I’m going to look at tonight. Can you come and tell me what you think? If we think they’d work out okay for Ava and the kids, I’ll take Ava there tomorrow and let her decide before the kids know anything about it. Vex said we can set them up at his barn until I get one built,” Gunner answers.

“Yeah, Prez, I’ll go with you,” I reply while giving him a slap on the shoulder.

“I’ll go too,” Axel announces as he appears next to Gunner.

“Didn’t your dad ever teach you it’s wrong to eavesdrop?” Gunner asks with a scowl.

“No, and it’s not eavesdropping when your voice carries like it does,” Axel replies with his own scowl.

“Why the frown, my little bald princess?” I ask Axel.

“Fuck you, Pigeon.”

“Either Bailey has left with Alex, or Bailey’s still refusing to get pregnant again. Which is it, VP?” I taunt Axel now that I’m done taunting Gunner. For now, anyway.

“Bailey’s pissed at me. Pointing out that she can work, take a few art classes, and be pregnant at the same time is apparently a bad thing to say. Fuck me, I might as well buy the whole damn flower shop and own it myself. I’d make a mint and stay in business for fucking ever,” Axel answers in a disgusted voice.

“You’d go broke because you’d be your only customer. Maybe you shouldn’t have pointed out that Ava is pregnant, runs a business, and has three kids already,” Gunner advises but does so with a huge grin. It’s so wrong, but he’s loving Axel’s misery. “Women aren’t big on being compared to other women.”

Hearing this, I wince. I’m single, no woman other than the occasional stripper or one-night stand, and I know better than to say something like that to any woman. What the hell, Axel? It’s like he wants to die a slow, painful death, and he’s chosen Bailey to aid him in that endeavor.

“I didn’t mean it the way it came out, but she didn’t wait long enough for me to explain. She went nuclear, and I thought it best to give her some space,” Axel mumbles.

“At least out here, if she comes at you with knives, you’ll see her coming,” I add.

“If you’re coming with us, keep your mouth shut. I don’t want Ava and the kids knowing about the donkeys until I’ve had a chance to see them and to talk with Ivy some more,” Gunner orders.

“I might eavesdrop, you dick, but I’m not a gossip,” Axel argues.

I leave them to their arguing and return to the clubhouse. Entering the kitchen, I stare at Ava until she notices me. As soon as she does, I give her my best puppy dog look and take a seat at a worktable. I grin when I hear her sigh because I know I’m about to get fed. Minutes later, Ava slides a large bowl of homemade soup, slices of still warm buttered bread, and a sleeve of crackers in front of me.

“You know you’re my favorite, Ava,” I tell her.

“I know, Pigeon. How you doing, honey?” she asks softly.

“I should be asking you that instead of sitting here waiting for you to feed me,” I answer with more than a twinge of guilt hitting my gut.

“I feel great. I keep telling Gunner that too, but he still worries. But honestly, I think my body likes being pregnant. I have more energy and get a lot done each day. Everything is ready for this baby, and I’m not ready to just sit and wait yet. When I am, I’ll hunker down and let the rest of you handle things,” Ava says with a serene smile.

While eating, I chat with Ava as she continues cooking and stacking containers of food on the counter. When I look around, I’m amazed at how much food she’s cooked today.

“Why all the food?” I ask.

“Gunner told me about the visitors we’re getting. When I heard their plans changed and they wouldn’t be here for another week, it gave me time to stock the freezers and fridges for them. He said they’d be lying low, and this way, there’ll be enough food prepared to feed however many come. The other women cleaned the rooms and put out fresh bedding and towels. After today, we have the clubhouse stocked and ready,” she answers.

“Reeves and Cam are staying with Horse and me, so their rooms are available. What else do you need done? I had Cam make a liquor run, and he and Toes have the bar well-stocked,” I tell her something she probably already knows.

“As soon as I finish in here today, we’re done. Trudy asked for the kids today, so it freed me up to get this finished. We’re good, Pigeon.”

“You get the food into the containers how you want it, and I’ll get it all put away. Toes can clean up the kitchen tonight. That work for you?” I ask.

“Sounds good.”

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