Page 20 of Xactly What She Needs

I chuckle as I stand, “You really just bring out all the warm and fuzzies, ya know that?”

I walk to the door and stop when I hear him scoff. “Where the fuck did you come up with that?”

I shrug. “Numbers one and two have said it before. I liked it.” I eye him, “Plus, it’s very fittin’ for you.”

“I need to get better locks on these doors.” He shakes his head before stopping and glaring at me. “How did you get in anyway? I know damn well that I locked up already.”

I give him a smirk. “I’m a man of many talents. You should know that by now.”

“Mhmmm,” he grumbles while eyeing me dubiously.

“Later,” I say and flick my wrist in his direction.

“See ya tomorrow at the party,” Edgesays, makingme halt.

“Fuck, I forgot about that. What time do we have to be there again?” I ask. Dee throws so many damn parties that I have trouble keeping track of all of them.

I watch his lips quirk, “Four o’clock, but you should probably be there earlier to help set up.”

“That shit is for the prospects to do,” I scoff. I’m the fucking VP, I don’t set up shit.

****

“Xander, make sure you put those chairs more off to the side. I don’t want people tripping when trying to walk,” Dee demands, one hand on her hip and scowl on her face.

I sigh but do as I’m told. The woman is a nightmare when she wants to be and I have no wish to be on her bad side. I’ve seen what happens when you are. There is stillapoor woman in town who literally runs in a different direction when she sees Dee. Not that I blame her, I wish I could do the same most days. “Got it," Igrunt while lifting one of the heavy ass chairs and placing it in the specified spot.

She purses her lips as if she’s sucking on a lemon. “I don’t know why you have to be so damn grumpy about helping out.” She eyes me shrewdly, “That’s more Jax’s department.”

I walk back over to her, with a scowl on my own face. “Probably because I’m the fuckin’ VP and this is the type of shit you can get the prospects to do.” Although, looking around, I see those poor bastards are up on ladders, hanging lights or some shit. Jesus, this woman is too much. Not that I’m dumb enough to say that. I may not be a rocket scientist, but I do have some sense of self-preservation.

“Alexander,” I cringe at her use of my actual name. The damn woman knows I hate it and uses that to get under my skin. “Thisparty is for your father’s birthday. I don’t care if you’re the king of the fucking world, you are helping, whether you like it or not,” she growls, making a few of the more skittish guys around back away. Pansies.

“Maybe I would want to help more if you didn’t throw so many damn parties,” I grumble quietly, but the damn demon has some insane hearing.

She raises an eyebrow and crosses her arms. I can practically see the steaming coming from her ears. “Is it a problem that I like getting all of our family together to enjoy each other’s company?” Her tone is too calm, making alarm bells go off, but I’m too far in already.

“And why aren’t the rest of them here helping?” Do I sound like a petulant child? Maybe. But for fucks sake, she has three, well four sons that could be helping out right now.

“Probably because they have wives and children that they need to be with.” She eyes me, like a cat going in for the kill. “Since you and Jax don’t seem inclined to settle down and give me grandbabies anytime soon, that only leaves you two fools.” Lord, help me. If I ever do have kids, this nut job would be their grandmother. I feel bad for the imaginary spawn that will have to deal with her.

Nah, I can’t really say that. As much of a pain in the ass as she is, she would love our kids as if they were her biological grandkids. The woman is a psycho, but she’s a loving and loyal one. I understand why she’s always been it for dad. They broke the fucking mold when they made her. And probably smashed it to smithereens just to be on the safe side.

But I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t screw with her a little. “You really think that I’m goin’ let your crazy ass near my kids, let alone have them call you grandma?” I scoff, making a few of the guys murmur about my impending death.

She inhales deeply through her nose and holds up her index finger. “First, I will be called Gigi and notgrandma.” That word is spit out with venom making me smile. According to her, the word grandma makes her sound ancient. Guess what my kids will be calling her if I ever have any? Although, I’m pretty sure some of her other grandkids call her grandma, just usually behind her back. “And second, we both know that your dumbass will be begging me to watch your kids so that you can have some free time.” Fair point.

“What are you two fightin’ about?” Dad walks out with Jax on his heels, both carrying paper plates and some other shit.

“I’m just explaining to Alexander,” she smiles sweetly at me, making my dad and Jax smirk, “that when he finally finds a woman who can put up with his ass and ends up having kids, that I will most definitely be their Gigi.”

I shake my head and roll my eyes. “You really couldn’t have found anyone else over the years, Pop? This,” I throw out an arm in Dee’s direction, “this is really what you choose?”

“At least he was able to get the woman that he wanted,” she sniffs while looking at me, “unlike some people I know.”

“I have no idea what you’re talkin’ about,” I lie.

“And how is your new office manager doing, dear?” She flutters her lashes at me.

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