Page 27 of Pigeon

Without waiting for her to refuse, I turn to Craig and ask, “Got everything?”

“Yep, and Ivy’s already put her things in her truck. We on the bike, Pigeon?”

“Yeah, we are. Follow us, Ivy. How’s pizza sound to everyone?” I ask as we exit the rescue.

“Pigeon, you don’t have to…” Ivy starts to protest when I cut her off.

“You have something against eating pizza with bikers? Two handsome, charming bikers?” I ask with a raised eyebrow.

“No! Of course not. I just don’t want you to feel—” Ivy attempts to say before I cut her off again.

“What I feel is grateful to you because I didn’t have to put up with Craig today, and that’s more than worth some pizza,” I tell her with a wink.

“You think you’re funny, but you’re really not,” Craig tells me with a glare as Ivy gives a small laugh.

“Okay, then. Pizza it is,” Ivy concedes.

After giving the server our order, I watch Ivy quietly while she answers questions from Craig. She’s patient and never talks down to him. She’s realized how smart Craig is and answers the questions accordingly. I take this time to also study her features. As many times as I have watched her at work, I’ve never consciously thought about how cute she really is.

Average height, curvy in all the right places, lightly tanned skin, hazel eyes with light brown, nearly blond hair. Her curves are perfect because she’s a few pounds overweight, and that’s not a turnoff for men. Certainly isn’t for this man anyway. Hair that ends mid-back and is a bouncing mass of curls. I like that she doesn’t straighten it because the curls frame her face perfectly. The fact she wears little, if any, makeup is a nice change from the women that hang around the strip club and the clubhouse. Ivy’s attractive in the girl-next-door-type, but it’s her personality that draws you in first as it should be.

“What the fuck, Craig?” I snap when he kicks me hard in the shin under the table.

“Sorry about that, Pigeon. Accident,” he replies in a sickly-sweet voice. “But since you’re listening to me now, I wanted to tell you about how that Dale guy stares at Ivy all the time.”

“No, Craig, I told you it isn’t a big deal,” Ivy hurries to say before turning to me. “I don’t work with him very often, so it’s no problem. Craig was concerned, but it’s okay.”

“Is that all he does, Ivy? Just stare?” I ask.

“Yes, he’s never gotten out of line. Never. He’s just odd, is all.”

“I told Ivy that you should have a chat with Dale about it,” Craig volunteers.

“If it becomes a problem, I will,” I answer while making eye contact with Ivy.

Our food arrives at that moment and saves Ivy from answering. I slide a couple of slices of pizza on each of our plates and pass the chicken wings to Craig. When the server sets the plate of breadsticks on the table, Ivy and I reach for them at the same time. I raise my hands in surrender as she helps herself, grinning at me. She places one on Craig’s plate, takes some for herself, and then passes the plate to me. No one talks for the first few minutes as we dig into our meal. When Ivy moans, my eyes rise to meet hers.

“Good, huh?” Craig asks. “This is my favorite pizza place.”

“Yes, it is. I can see why it’s your favorite,” Ivy answers.

“You haven’t eaten here before?” Craig questions before stuffing half the breadstick in his mouth.

“No, I haven’t. I don’t eat out very often, but I’ll be coming back here now that I know how good their food is,” Ivy responds.

“How come you don’t eat out? We do a lot because Pooh says it’s safer than having Mom cook, and he says he needs a kitchen break sometimes,” Craig says.

“Don’t have time. I usually just grab something out of the fridge and eat it on the run.”

“Do you know how to cook? Miss Ava’s really good at it, but my mom can only use the microwave,” Craig informs her.

“Yeah, I can cook. I like to but don’t have a lot of time for it.”

“Maybe when you teach me how to ride, Pigeon and I can take you out for dinner again. Right, Pigeon?” Craig asks with his fake innocent look plastered to his matchmaking little face.

“Yeah, sounds like a plan,” I answer, shocking myself and, most likely, Ivy too.

“I have to use the little boys’ room. Be right back,” Craig announces before jumping out of his chair.

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