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  “I’ll make it all better later,” she said, wiggling her eyebrows at him.

  Angelina laughed at the couple. It was obvious that they loved each other deeply and their teasing had an affectionate quality to it that she had longed for but never had.

  The conversation flowed between the friends as they waited for the food to be served. The guys got up and grabbed drinks for the table, the women opting to hold off on their drinking until after they had eaten. As she waited for her diet coke, she felt like someone was staring at her and she glanced around the room until she saw a woman who looked like she was close to her own age giving her a dirty look. “Eva?”

  “Yeah, Angel, what’s up?”

  “Who is that woman over there? The one in the miniskirt and red shirt?”

  “That’s Tina, why?”

  “She’s giving me eat-shit-and-die looks and I know I don’t know her.”

  Eva glanced over to where the woman in question was standing and then said, “She’s a friend of one of the Brothers’ girlfriends, Sass, I think, and for whatever reason, she had set her sights on Zeke, but he made it clear he wasn’t interested. I’m guessing that she has figured out that you’re with him seeing as you walked in holding hands and he has had his arm around you since you sat down.”

  “Well, she’ll get over it or I’ll have a few words to say to her,” Angelina declared.

  Renda chuckled hearing Angelina’s declaration. “Yeah, sweetie, I remember the last one you had words with,” she said.

  Angelina rolled her eyes before she said, “She disrespected an old lady, plain and simple. I may not be that here, but I won’t be disrespected by anyone ever again. Period.”

  Zeke and Dex, coming up on the tail end of Angelina’s statement, looked at Renda who merely shrugged. “What’s going on, you two?” Dex asked.

  “Nothing, Dex,” Angelina replied. “Just had a question and Eva answered it.”

  Realizing that she wasn’t going to say anything further, Dex let it drop, mainly because the servers were coming around with plates of food. Once everyone was served, Zeke stood and, while holding her hand in his, blessed the meal. Conversation flowed throughout the room and laughter rang out from time to time. Angelina found that she was having a great time and wasn’t sure how much of it had to do with the fact that her friends were there for silent moral support. But she was thinking it had more to do with the man sitting to her left. Until they started eating, he had kept an arm around her shoulders and would occasionally toy with one of the curls cascading down her back. I don’t know where this is going, God, but I’m glad You’re along for this ride because I don’t want to make a mistake again she thought.

  “Cherub?”

  “Hmm?”

  “You okay? You kind of drifted off somewhere there for a minute.”

  “I’m sorry. Thinking about how good of a time I’m having,” she replied.

  “I’m glad. Do you want any dessert?”

  “Hmm, no, I’ve been saving room for the strawberry margaritas that Eva promised me,” she told him, trying but failing to keep a serious look on her face.

  “Well, there’s always room for those,” Eva called out from across the table, having heard her last comment. “In fact, if you ladies are ready, we have to man the bar and make them ourselves since they are ‘sissy drinks’ according to some people around here,” she said, looking pointedly at Preacher who just grinned at her and raised his beer.

  Going to stand up, she was surprised when Zeke tugged her down and gave her a quick kiss, which elicited a few catcalls from some Brothers at the next table. Once again, she felt someone staring at her and when she glanced around, she saw it was that woman again, Tina. She raised her eyebrow at her in a silent challenge as she made her way with Eva, Renda, and Debbie to the bar. Once behind the bar, Eva got down to business, giving each of them a task while she measured out the mix and alcohol. As they mixed up two pitchers, Tina came walking up to the bar and sat down. Eva looked at her and said, “Something I can do for you, Tina?”

  “Yeah, I want one of those.”

  “Well, if you want some, you’ll have to get your girl to come behind the bar and make them for you. These are for us.”

  “Well, she’s not an old lady,” Tina said, pointing at Angelina.

  Before Eva could respond, Angelina was standing in front of Tina and she said, “Listen here. You don’t know me but I know your type. You know nothing about me at all and for you to say that? Shows your total lack of ignorance regarding this MC. My old man died, bitch, so while I may not be anyone’s old lady up here? I most assuredly am an old lady of the Heaven’s Sinners MC. And can I give you some free advice? If that’s what you’re looking to become, you may want to try to be less of a bitch to other people because honey? These men don’t deal with bitches.”

  Tina’s mouth opened and then closed but nothing came out. Looking at the blonde standing there, now with three women standing at her back who were old ladies, had her realizing that saying anything now would be a bad idea. It just galled her that she had been dropping hints at Zeke for quite some time and he had always declined, yet this woman moved into town and had him wrapped around her finger in no time flat. Deciding that the best move was to remove herself, she got up without saying another word and went back to where her friend was sitting. When Sass asked what was going on, she shook her head, not wanting Sass’ boyfriend to hear what Angelina had said to her.

  Eva looked over at Angelina and said, “Girl, you may be tiny, but you’re definitely not afraid are you?”

  “Oh, I’m afraid of a lot of things, Eva. But women like that? Nope. Not any longer. Been there and done that and while I know I’m not his old lady, I won’t have some Brother’s girlfriend’s friend disrespecting him or any other man who wears a cut in here or their old ladies! Now, I need a drink, how about y’all?”

  Zeke looked over toward the bar again. He had seen that woman who had been trying to get him to notice her approach the women, seen her say something that had apparently ticked Angelina off and then, after his Cherub said whatever she did, seen her go back to the table she was sitting at without saying another word.

  Preacher glanced over at him and said, “I bet, based on the fact that the other three were at her back, she made a comment against either a Brother here or possibly the old ladies. I also can almost guarantee that if we ask, they’ll say it was nothing.”

  “Yeah, Renda and Angel did that all the time and when I would push, one or the other would tell me that just like we have stuff we don’t share with them, they have the same in the sisterhood.”

  About then, the women walked up, frosted glasses and two pitchers of margaritas in hand, along with refills for the men. “We figured that you were due for refills, even if y’all won’t fix our drinks,” Eva drawled as she handed out the bottles.

  Zeke nodded his thanks as he watched Angelina pour herself a drink. Her cheeks looked flushed and her eyes were almost glittery, they were sparkling so much. He leaned over and whispered in her ear, “You okay, Cherub?”

  She glanced over her shoulder, not surprised that he was right there, and said, “I’m fine, Zeke. Promise.”

  Taking a sip of her drink, she looked over at Eva and raised her glass saying, “You know what you’re doing.”

  “She should, she’s been making them for years,” Preacher said.

  Eva just rolled her eyes at him as she raised her glass and motioned for the other three women to raise theirs. “To the sisters!”

  After clinking glasses, they all finished their first round and quickly refilled their glasses.

  Chapter Twelve

  As the night wore on, the pitchers of margaritas got stronger and Angelina found she was having the time of her life. One of the Brothers was acting as the DJ and a makeshift dance floor had been put together. She was sitting there tapping her toes when a line dance song came on and Renda looked at her, saying, “C’mon, sweetie, it’s time we show ou
r North Georgia family how us ‘southern’ girls do it!”

  Laughing, she put her glass down and headed out to the dance floor, not surprised to find Eva and Debbie and a few other old ladies moving out to line up. It took a few minutes, likely because of the margaritas, before they got into it and before she knew it, they had flowed into a second then a third song. Finally begging off for a drink when the next one started, she headed back to the table. “Cherub? You’ve got hidden talents,” Zeke told her when she sat back down and grabbed her drink. “And I want to dance with you tonight,” he whispered next to her ear.

  “I’d like that. Zeke? I’m having a great time,” she said, looking up at him.

  He kissed her forehead and said, “I’m glad, Cherub. I am as well. How much of a headache are you going to have in the morning?”

  She giggled as she thought about the drinks she had already had before saying, “Shouldn’t be too bad. I’ll take something before I go to bed. Just hope I hear the alarm so I don’t miss church!”

  He chuckled before saying, “I think with the number of folks staying at your house, you’ll be okay, yeah?”

  The music slowed and he looked at her and held out his hand. “Cherub? Ready to dance?”

  “Yes, yes I am.”

  ***

  As they watched Zeke and Angelina circle the dance floor, Dex looked over at Preacher and simply said, “He’s her kinsman-redeemer, even if he can’t see it himself yet.”

  “Yeah, man. I agree.”

  Renda, listening in, spoke up and said, “He’s going to have to convince her though, because she thinks that she shouldn’t be an old lady again, she already had that once.”

  Both men looked at her, incredulous expressions almost identical. “What do you mean, she doesn’t think she should be an old lady again? Hell, she’s a perfect old lady, and honestly? I can’t think of a better woman to stand alongside our President,” Preacher said.

  “I think she’ll get there and I think your President and a lot of prayers from those of us who love her will help her get to that point,” Renda stated.

  “Yeah, in the meantime, I’m enjoying watching this pan out,” Eva said, having come back with another pitcher of the potent margaritas. She topped off all the womens’ glasses before she sat back down and continued, “Neither of them realize that what is going on is so far beyond them. It’s years of prayers being answered. He’s more at ease even though he was never really a hard-ass to begin with, and in the short amount of time I’ve known her, I’ve seen her blossom.”

  Debbie looked at her northern sister and said, “You don’t know how glad I am that she’s building a girl posse up here. That was one thing I worried about when she left because she’s never had a lot of friends until us, but it seems that I worried in vain, huh?”

  Eva smiled before she replied. “Yes, you did. She is so kind and her loyalty to this club and her family shines through in everything she says and does.”

  ***

  Out on the dance floor and oblivious to their friends’ conversation, he held her close while they danced. She loved the feeling of being in his arms; he was respectful but she still knew that he wanted her. As one slow song melted into two, they stayed on the floor. He occasionally kissed her forehead but for the most part, they were content to be in one another’s arms.

  ***

  As it got closer to midnight, folks started to leave until only a few remained. Zeke, looking over at Angelina, could tell she was tired and he stood, saying, “I think I need to get my Cherub home.”

  “Night y’all! Eva, those margaritas are the bomb. Renda? You guys going to be here tomorrow?” Angelina asked as she stood. She was a little wobbly, but overall, didn’t feel too rough.

  “Yes, we’ll be here. See you at the house, yeah?”

  “Okay, yeah. Better let your daughter loose, Eva!”

  They laughed and Zeke did a general hand wave to the rest of the room before leading her out to his truck. Since he wanted her in the middle, he helped her up on the driver’s side and was thrilled to see that she caught the hint as she buckled up in the middle seat. He jumped in and buckled up before he started the truck.

  “Zeke?”

  “Hmm, Cherub?”

  “Thank you for the best night of my life.”

  “My pleasure, Cherub. I had a great time as well,” he said as he headed toward her house.

  Once they arrived, she was surprised to see every light on and glanced at him with a worried expression. “I hope everything is okay.”

  “I’m sure it’s fine, Cherub. Let’s go in and see for sure, yeah?” he asked as he helped her down.

  “Okay.”

  On the porch, he turned her to him and pulled her into his arms. “C’mere, Cherub,” he softly said.

  She stood there, his arms around her, wondering why they hadn’t gone into the house, when he leaned down and captured her lips in a blistering kiss. Losing herself in his embrace, she kissed him back not caring what that said about her. He was demanding without being overbearing and her heart sang at how he was making her feel. When he finally pulled back, she was breathless. He pressed a quick kiss to her lips before he took her keys and unlocked the door.

  ***

  They found Tally curled up on the couch in the family room, the television on and playing a suspense movie. Seeing that, she figured that the teens had probably watched scary movies, causing her to turn all the lights on. Going over to the teen, she gently shook her awake, saying, “Tally, hon, I’m home.”

  Tally woke up and smiled up at Angelina. “Hey, did y’all have a good time?”

  “We did. How were the girls?”

  “They were fantastic. We played outside for a long time after they ate. They really like their playhouse, don’t they?”

  “Yes, they do, that’s for sure!”

  “Once I fed them and gave them a bath, we watched Tangled and Frozen and then I put them to bed.”

  “Thank you again for watching them. I take it Thad and Amelia left already?”

  “Yeah, the prospect took them home so she would make curfew.”

  “And did he ask her?”

  “Yes! While I was giving the girls a bath, he asked her to the dance. She said yes!”

  Standing, she looked around and then told Angelina, “Sorry about all the lights. We found the scary movie channel and after they left, I felt too alone.”

  Angelina laughed because if she was honest, she didn’t like those kinds of movies and would have done the same thing. As she went to get her purse to pay Tally for the evening, she saw that Zeke already had his wallet out and was handing the teen several twenties. “Zeke? What are you doing?”

  “Taking care of Tally, Angelina.”

  “But…but…”

  “No buts about it, Cherub. Our date, my responsibility, yeah?”

  She raised an eyebrow at him but didn’t say anything else. He finished paying Tally and walked her out to her car. Angelina went to the girls’ room and was making sure they were covered when he came into the room. She watched him go over and tuck one of the Cabbage Patch dolls in and smooth a lock of hair back and smiled inside. Placing one last kiss on the sleeping child in front of her, she headed back down the hall.

  He caught up with her in the family room where she was straightening up. The teens hadn’t left a mess, but he knew she was suddenly nervous being alone around him. Sitting down in the recliner, he motioned for her to come to him and when she did, he pulled her into his lap and got her situated to his liking.

  “Zeke? What…what are you doing?”

  “Well, traditionally, after a date, when the guy likes the girl, they might make out a for a little while,” he told her as he nuzzled along the side of her neck.

  “Oh…”

  He continued feathering kisses along her neck, taking note of the places where she shivered slightly, before he claimed her lips. Hands now threaded in her hair, something he had wanted to do all night long, he claimed
her wholly, letting his lips and tongue show her what he knew she wasn’t ready to verbally hear. Yet. Her soft moans had him shifting her closer and he deepened the kiss.

  Holy hell she thought. As a variety of emotions flew through her mind, one thing became abundantly clear: he had her whether he knew it or not. A boldness she didn’t know she had caused her to reach up and run her hand along his neck and through his hair. Soft, oh-so-soft she thought as she kissed him back. She pulled back slightly and lightly nipped his lower lip before laving it with her tongue to soothe the sting.

  He groaned low in his throat as he fought to maintain control. Not like this he admonished himself. He feathered kisses along her jawline and pulled her earlobe into his mouth to suck on it lightly. As she squirmed in his lap, he realized that she would know how she affected him and some part of his brain rejoiced.

  Pulling back, he sighed before he kissed her forehead. “Cherub, as much as I’m enjoying this, I need to go before I can’t go, yeah?”

  She breathed in deeply before she nodded. “I understand.”

  Helping her stand, he held her hand as he walked toward the front door. “Make sure you lock up, Cherub, yeah?”

  “I will once Dex and Renda get back,” she said, grateful that her friends had given them a little bit of privacy.

  “Well, at least lock it until they get here, okay?”

  She smiled softly before saying, “Okay, Zeke. I’ll see you in the morning?”

  “Yeah, Cherub. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Waking up the next morning before the alarm went off, she was happy to note that she only had a minor headache. Easy enough to fix she thought as she got up and showered. If she had timed it right, she had enough time to make something to take for today’s potluck as Saturday had been too full. She put on a pot of coffee, knowing that Renda would need at least half of that to feel human judging by her condition when they got in the night before.

  As she whipped up a Hummingbird cake, she created a breakfast casserole and slipped it into the oven. While they both baked, she sat at the kitchen table and made out a list for the upcoming week. Hearing a noise, she looked up and saw Dex come into the kitchen. “Good morning, Angel,” he said as he kissed the top of her head.