Page 12 of Odin
“That’s so nice of you. I could be an axe murderer for all you know.”
Crow laughs, but coming from him, it’s a dark rumble that raises the hair on the back of my arms. “Even so, you’d be no danger to men like us. Most guys in the club have beenthroughit. We can hold our own.”
“Yeah, and I’m wicked with a curling iron,” Tarynn adds to put Willow at ease, but she does walk up and set her hand lightly on Crow’s shoulder. There’s so much tenderness in her touch, but a bit of a warning too. She doesn’t want him to scare Willow off, even if he’s just being honest. And not entirely honest…
No one outside the club knows about Raven.
“Oh. I- I’m not. I don’t have a thing for any sharp objects. Or poisons. Or anything nefarious. I promise.”
Tarynn keeps her hand resting lightly on Crow’s shoulder for a moment before she smooths it down his back, tracing a small circle between his shoulder blades. “You’ve been so honest with us about your story. I wanted to let you know that you’re in good company. About what Crow said, it’s not just the men who have been through rough times. My parents were- they liked to basically keep me a prisoner in the house. I met Crow and he was determined to set me free, even if it meant breaking down my parents’ door and taking me right out of their house.”
Willow gasps, but there’s a little bit of excitement mixed in with the horror. “Were you already in love with him then?”
Crow’s hand pauses for just the slightest second before resuming his sure strokes. Tarynn fondly cups the backof his neck over his long black hair. “I’m not sure if I knew what that meant at the time, but I think I was, even though we’d just met.” Her eyes dart to me and then back to Crow. “I don’t know that it’s right for me to tell you other people’s stories, but every single person in the club has one. I think if you stick around Hart, you’d be good friends with a ton of the old ladies in no time.”
“Old ladies?”
“Biker’s wives and girlfriends. Old lady sounds terrible, but to bikers, it’s a badge of honor. Trust me, I love being called an old lady instead of a wife. Wife is soboring.”
Willow bites down on her bottom lip, the movement creating a shameful amount of heat in my gut. My hands clench tight in my lap, and I firmly block out any further mental images of her tongue.
“I don’t want you to think that Preston was… that he… that he was a bad person,” she stammers. She glances guiltily at me and holds my gaze for a moment before breaking to look at Tarynn again. “I truly think he was a good man who made a mistake. I- I just want to say that.”
Tarynn nods, turning to study me from under lowered lashes.
I’ve never kept it a secret that I had a kid out in the world. I explained who Willow was earlier, before I asked Crow for this favor.
It’s generous of her, the woman who was so horribly wronged by two people who were close to her, to want to try and make sure the world doesn’t see my son as a total asshole. She’smore than fair. I don’t know if I could offer the same kindness even now, if I was in her position.
“We have a dog,” Tarynn bursts out, changing the subject. “She’s the sweetest. After Crow hauled me off from my parents’ house, he took me straight to Vegas and married me so that they couldn’t demand I come back. We rescued Connie there and brought her back here with us.”
“That’s so sweet. How did it happen?”
Tarynn sits back down and launches into the whole story. By the way Crow stiffens slightly every now and then, I can tell that she’s obviously leaving a whole lot out, memories that belong to them alone.
Crow turns on his stool to share a private smile with Tarynn when he refills his mag.
That, of all things this evening, is the most unexpected sucker punch. There have been times in the past when I wished I could find a woman to share my life with. Mostly over the past few years, as I’ve watched my club brothers fall hard and fast, one by one, finding lovers and soulmates of their own.
When I was young, I doubted that I was capable of nurture and love, but I guess it didn’t beat the romantic out of me. I’ve learned brotherhood and friendship. I’ve witnessed firsthand how the love of a good woman can change a man who is ready to make that growth happen. Sure, I’m old, but I don’t think that really means shit.
“It’s a wild story. I’ll fill you in on some parts tomorrow morning first thing, when I do your hair.”
“You really don’t have to do that. It’s insanely late already. You don’t have to get up at the ass of dawn to dye my hair before you even open.”
“Seeing as it’s a Sunday, we’re closed. We can set it for whatever time we’re ready to roll. I’ll take you to meet Connie after. She’ll be so excited for another new friend. She adores everyone and everyone adores her so much that she’s getting pretty spoiled.”
“Not a bad thing for a dog who had a rough life.” Crow’s voice rumbles with deep emotion.
“Not a bad thing at all,” Willow agrees.
“We’ll have to do a girls’ night out if you’re staying! We haven’t had one in forever! It’s hard now that there are so many of us and everyone is busy, but we’ll try to make it happen. If you have time tomorrow, I could take you to Willa’s antique store. It’s the coolest place ever. And her name is so much like yours.”
“I wish my name was Willa. I’ve never really liked it, at school they used to call me Weeping Willow. When I was eighteen, I threatened to legally change it.”
“Ooh! To what?” Tarynn’s asked all the questions this whole time. I haven’t had to betray any of my own interest. I know it’s not inappropriate to talk to Willow, but ever since my dick took on a life of its own in the basement with her, I’ve been leery.
“Kitty.”
