Page 12 of Jag

“Get their medicinal products here, then stop at Claire’s and pick up sweets for the munchies later,” I said and chuckled.

“Well, shit. Maybe we should attach one of those awnings on the front and add a few tables with chairs, then they don’t have to wait until they’re home to have a toke and enjoy,” Turk said seriously, then turned to look over the front of the building.

The thought really had merit, and I found myself trying to picture if it would work out.

“As entertaining as this is, I think I’ll leave you to it and go take my woman to lunch,” Romeo announced.

“You and Claire heading to Soft Tails to eat?” I asked as I stopped looking at the building and turned toward Romeo.

“Nah, not today. We’re meeting Cruz at Thelma’s diner.” I didn’t miss Romeo’s eyes when they shifted to Coast and back. Interesting. Seemed lately the dads had been up to more than fishing and riding their bikes. Also made me wonder if I’d missed anything with my old man.

“Alright, tell Thelma we said hey and try to stay out of trouble,” I said, and Romeo grinned.

As he turned toward the bakery and started to walk away, he spoke over his shoulder, “Not a chance in hell. It’s you boys’ responsibility to keep us in line. Good luck with that, too.” Romeo’s laughter was cut off as the bakery door closed behind him.

“Damn, I’m having a beer with lunch while I go over the paperwork for this building. Let’s lock this place up and head to Soft Tails. Since we pass the sheriff’s station on our way, I need to stop there.”

“Why? Got a ticket that needs to be paid?” Coast asked.

“No. Sheriff asked me to look over some documents for him.” I shrugged.

“Damn, you are in demand, Jag. You might want a building of your own to hang a shingle out,” Flirt said, and I flipped him off.

“As if I’ve got the time between the bike shop and club shit. Besides, the sheriff has always treated the club fair, it’s the least I can do for him.”

Everyone agreed with me, and after the building was locked up tight, we mounted our bikes and headed down the main road through town.

As we grew closer to the station house, a man and woman embraced on the sidewalk and I grinned when I recognized the man was Sheriff Lance. The woman he had his arms wrapped around had her back toward the road, which wasn’t a bad thing in my eyes, the jeans she wore hugged her ass, and that alone was drool-worthy on the woman. The sheriff being a lucky man went through my head as we reached where the couple stood and pulled into the parking lot that was on the side of the station. The noise from our pipes had the couple breaking apart, but the sheriff left an arm around the woman’s waist as they turned and watched us pull in.

After we parked, I swung my leg over my bike and dismounted while the others stayed on their bikes to wait. When I turned toward the pair and got my first good look at the woman, my appetite left, my blood pressure surely was on the rise since a red haze moved over my eyes as I focused on the woman’s face. My teeth ground with every step I took, and there was no need for a mirror to show me the veins in my neck pulsed, I felt them, and the ones in my temples because they throbbed in a synchronized beat.

“How’s it going, Dom?” Sheriff Lance asked as I approached, but I hadn’t taken my eyes off the woman beside him with her chin stuck out as she glared at me.

“Good. Was in town so I thought I’d stop by and grab the papers you wanted me to look over. You seem busy, though, so if you need me to grab them later that’s cool,” the tone as I spoke was harsh to my own ears.

“Nah, I’m not busy, Dom. I didn’t expect you to come by and pick up the paperwork. You’re doing me a favor, I would have brought them out to the club. But I do want to know why you are staring at River. You got a problem with my—”

“You don’t need to take up for me. I can handle the man’s rudeness. We’ve had a couple incidents. Nothing to worry about.” River glared back at me, and I sneered. Incidents was a nice way of putting it.

“Incidents my ass. That day if I’d been one second sooner to that parking spot, I wouldn’t be standing here. And if that wasn’t bad enough, the next time I see you, you try to take me out on the sidewalk,” I gritted out through my teeth.

My morning pep talk about the woman in front of me went to the wayside. And Luna was way off base in her take on River and me. No one was going to get second-degree burns from the heat between us, they were more likely to get blown up.

“Exaggerate much,” River said and rolled her eyes.

“No, but I do wonder how you walk with the stick up your as—”

“Okay, I think that’s enough,” the sheriff cut me off while he moved the arm around River’s waist to grab her forearm when she took a step toward me.

The sheriff shook his head and grinned when River looked up at him.

“I think it’s time for you to be on your way. Drive safe, okay, baby?” The sheriff chuckled when River glared at him, then he leaned down and kissed her forehead.

“Fine. Whatever. Don’t forget dinner tonight. You’re still coming, right?” River asked as she stepped away when the sheriff let her arm loose.

“Wouldn’t miss it,” Sheriff Lance answered and waved his arm toward the front entrance to the station. “If you’ll follow me to my office, Dom, I’ll grab those papers for you.”

“No problem.” I gave a last sneer at River, then turned away.

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