Page 85 of Jasper
“Fortunately, not,” I tell him. “We got a tip that Whitmore’s mother has got it in her head that the wife has something to do with his disappearance. The police are crawling all over Mrs. Whitmore with a fine-toothed comb, and the last I heard, they found that she had been siphoning off money from their various accounts to create her own little nest egg.”
Slate states flatly, “Sounds like motive to me.”
“Yeah, it does. We’ll be monitoring both those situations to make sure there isn’t any blowback on the club. For now, we’re on to new business. We need a new VP. Do I have nominations?”
The room quiets instantly, eyes fixing on me. I don’t think anyone really thought about it. I can tell by the way they glance at my club brother that they know who the obvious choice is for that position.
“I nominate Slate,” I say confidently, my gaze moving across every face around the table. “He’s smart, cunning, and loyal. In a fight, he’s as fierce as five men combined. Slate has been Sergeant-at-Arms for five years, and he’s ready to advance. He’s also the right brother to step up if I’m ever temporarily out of commission. He also sets a good example for the prospects, and in our club, supervising them falls to the VP.”
Jinx is always the most outspoken brother. “Yeah, I don’t envy him being VP. Supervising prospects is like herding fucking cats.”
Several brothers chuckle, because he’s not wrong about that. Most are unwittingly nodding their approval. When no other nominations surface, I tap the table lightly with my gavel. “Let’s put it to the vote.”
Fists knock gently but firmly against the wood in quick succession, a familiar rhythm that means unanimous agreement. Since every brother is knocking, I don’t need to ask for nays. I glance at Slate. He meets my eyes briefly, offering a short, respectful nod of acceptance.
“Slate is officially VP,” I announce, pride evident in my voice. “Now, we fill Sergeant-at-Arms. Jinx, you’ve earned this. You’ve been with us through everything, and you’ve proven your loyalty repeatedly. I’m nominating you.”
Jinx’s eyes widen briefly, surprise flickering there before he masks it quickly. He straightens his shoulders, a subtle hint that he considers being nominated an honor beneath his tough exterior. Again, no other nominations come forward. Brothers shift approvingly, leaning forward in anticipation.
“Vote,” I call firmly.
The sound of fists tapping against wood fills the room again, quick and decisive. Another unanimous vote, no objections. Jinx nods sharply, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly in acknowledgment. There is usually some dissent, but both of these are obvious and solid nominations.
With the voting finished and the new appointments made, I lean back, letting the weight of responsibility settle comfortablyover me. The club’s leadership is secure, trusted, and ready for whatever lies ahead. I feel a deep sense of pride, satisfied we’ve laid a solid foundation for our future. We wrap up the rest of our club business, mostly talking about repairs and a request for a charter club a few counties over.
***
After church, I find Tessa in the bar area. She’s laughing at something one of the club girls said, her face glowing with happiness. This woman of mine is showing more now than she was before. The gentle curve of her belly is clearly visible beneath her clothing. Then again, she dresses to show off her baby bump. Today, she’s wearing hip-hugging jeans, and a form-fitting T-shirt with our club name on it. There’s something profoundly beautiful about seeing her in my property cut, surrounded by my family and brothers. Tessa’s turned out to be a much better old lady than I ever dreamed possible.
Without fanfare, I walk towards her feeling lighthearted and playful, or as playful as a big tatted-up biker like me can feel. Stopping in the middle of the room, I reach into my pocket as casually as I can, pull out a ring, and toss it lightly towards her. “Head up, darlin’.”
When she catches it with one hand, I tell her, “Pick a date, and I’ll be there.” It’s clearly a proposal, and I watch carefully for her reaction as she opens her hand and looks at the large diamond engagement ring I bought for her. It’s a two-carat heart-shaped simulated diamond that still cost me a small fuckin’ fortune.
The entire bar goes silent, all eyes turning towards Tessa as everyone waits to see how she’ll respond.
Instead of irritation, Tessa’s face lights up with surprise and pure delight. She laughs softly, clearly pleased by the simplicity of my proposal. I watch intently as she slips the ring onto her finger, pausing briefly to admire its design. The satisfaction I feel seeing her genuinely happy makes me want her more—like my next surprise this much too. Her response eases any lingering doubt I might have had about us being right for each other.
Before I can say anything else, she runs to me and launches herself into my arms. Her laughter fills my ears as she wraps her legs around me, pulling me close and kissing me warmly. I hold her tight. In this moment, I feel perfectly sure that I’ve done exactly the right thing.
“So that’s a yes, is it?”
“Of course. You’re the total package. I’d be the queen of fools to turn you down.”
“Aw, shucks, ma’am. You’re gonna make me blush,” I tease.
“I love it when you’re like this, laid back and casual. I forgot to mention that you have a wonderful sense of humor.”
I fake-frown down at her and ask, “Why do I always feel like I’m losing a compliment competition to you?”
She kisses me again and I set her down onto her feet.
“Don’t turn grumpy now. You were killing it in the hot boyfriend category there for a minute.”
It’s obvious by the tone of her voice that she’s just joking around, so I ask her, “Are you ready for my second surprise?”
“Don’t tell me you’ve got a preacher hidden away and we’re doing this right now.”
I give her a lopsided grin. “No. But that’s a fantastic idea that I wish I’d fuckin’ thought of myself.”
