Ready For Love?

Chapter 6

I would hate to think of Fire or anyone being in that state and people just driving and walking past, but it happens. It’s actually more likely people would keep going than to stop. “Oh, I know.” I sigh.

He nodded. “Look… our club is safe. We are all military or ex-serving members. We may look and sound rough and many are f****d up with PTSD, but we aren’t like most clubs. You’re safe there, no one would dare hurt you, may hit on you with bad pick-up lines, but they won’t hurt ya.”

“I haven’t had anyone give me a bad pick-up line in years, so look forward to it.” I grinned at him making him laugh. “But thank you. I was a bit nervous… but it also explains a lot of things.”

“What’s that?”

“My dad’s a retired cop, so I recognize the walk, movement, mannerisms, hair cuts…” I shrugged.

I didn’t want to say, and you all didn’t seem as feral as I would have expected for MC club members.

He regarded me for a moment. “He wanted you to go into the force?”

“Yeah, but it wasn’t me. I would shoot the first child or wife beater or worse. I don’t have the control to say the law will get them, because we all know they get a tap on the back of the hand and are let go most of the time. I saw how frustrated my dad was every time he came back from court due to another crap ruling.”

He nodded with a smirk. “It certainly can take a f**k load of control.”

We sat in silence for a moment. “Is she going to be, OK?”

“Yeah. She’s called Fire for a reason. This was her loser ex trying to force her to take him back. He won’t be doing that again.” He laughed, and I thought back to when she said a clean-up crew was needed.

“He’s dead isn’t he.” Flew out of my mouth before I could stop it.

He watched me for a moment. “You really are a momma bear aren’t cha.” Not the answer I was expecting… but I understood the change of subject.

I shrugged and laughed. “It’s all I’ve known for what seems like forever. The old saying of ‘my children are my world’.” Ha! I think I got that one right.

“Where’re they today?”

“Holidaying with my sister….” I gave him the spiel. “I love how everyone over here uses wedding planners. Two weeks before my wedding, I was triple checking everything and ticking off lists.” I shook my head laughing about it.

Cam was great and right there with me. Ringing everyone who hadn’t RSVP’d, going through the seating chart, triple checking menus with dietary requirements and everything.

We really did spend HOURS working out that damn seating chart. Or should I say I spent hours looking at it as he sat there drinking and calming me down saying it looked good over and over.

“Who’s she marrying?”

“Andrew Jefferson. He’s lovely. They have been together for over three years.”

“If it’s the Jefferson’s I know, they’re a good family.”

I wasn’t sure why I was relieved he said that. Probably because it doesn’t matter how old you are, you’re always protective of your younger siblings.

“That’s good to know. Fi would definitely whip them into line if they weren’t. I haven’t met the full family. That’s this weekend.”

Fire and Doc came out then. I searched both their faces before Fire spoke.

“Two bruised ribs and other bruising. Everything else is fine.”

“Even your jaw?” The side of her face was now a really nasty black and purple color under the new ice pack she was holding onto it.

“Just bruised.” She sighed with a small smile and I couldn’t help but go up and give her a big hug. Yep, mother mode again.

“I’m so glad.” I gave her a gentle squeeze as she hugged me back. “I still think some hearty soups for you for a couple of days though.” Doc agreed with me.

After some paperwork, Doc ended up staying at the clinic. Turns out he actually worked there and a couple of patients had come in desperately needing to see him.

Trigger organized for a couple of prospects to bring his bike to the medical center while we went shopping.

“Alright, so what do you normally cook?”

“Hamburgers and chips mainly. We have a fryer and a big grill. They normally just order and I cook it.”

“Do you have ovens and cooktops?”

“Yeah, two big ovens and burners on top.”

“Pots and pans and stuff?”

We went through everything they had that she could think of and then even had a prospect send photos of what was in the fridge, cupboards and drawers from food to pots and pans.

“All right. Tonight, we will do banquet style and everyone can just grab what they want when they want. How about some roast meats, stews, scalloped potatoes, roasted vegies and stuff? It means we cook it all, put it out, and they can serve themselves, so no running back and forward." They both seemed to like that idea. "Any allergies? Any kids?”

She thought about it with a frown before Trigger cut in with the ones he knew about.

I grabbed my phone and started making a grocery list, making sure to sound off everything with Fire. She was more than excited about it all as Trigger said money was no issue, and he would order the meat from the butcher and veg from the local store.

We got to the supermarket and there were two prospects there waiting. Trigger had me text one the list of meats and vegetables I wanted, and the other grabbed a trolley and followed us into the store.

Fire loved the idea of getting enough for a few days, so she had time to relax and heal.

“We will do a big cook up and the good thing with lasagna and pastas is, most of the time, they taste better reheated as the flavors have soaked through… well, so Cam used to say.” I laughed to myself thinking about how he would scoff my reheated lasagna like he hadn’t eaten in days.

Three trolleys later, no, I’m not joking, three trolleys and don’t even ask about the bill, we were done.

They really didn’t have much food in their cupboards, so we had to get everything from the herbs and spices, to the gravy, flour and so on.

Oh, and the trolleys didn’t even have bread or rolls. Another prospect was sent to the bakery to grab all of that. But we did end up getting a lot of snacks as well, with chips etc.

“You’ve been good for her. f**k, I wish you lived local. You not thinking of moving here?” Trigger asked as we stood watching Fire at one stage choosing the herbs and spices from the list on her phone.

She had also researched some recipes she wanted to try and had a real pep in step as she went.

I laughed. “My sister has already warned me she is trying to find me a husband to keep me here. I don’t really have any big degrees that would give me a green card or sponsorship, so she decided that was her best route. She even has my eldest on her side, so I’m not looking forward to the weekend with both of them trying to set me up with any single man they can.”

He laughed and nodded. “Well, I’ll be hopin' they're successful.”

We finished the shopping and Fire definitely needed to rest. We got back to the compound, and they drove around the back again. This time, though, my car wasn’t there.

“Your sister's car was due for a service. The boys are doing it now as a thank you in the shed next door.” Trigger seemed to know exactly what I was thinking as a few members appeared and started grabbing all the groceries.

Trigger helped Fire out of the car as I walked over to grab some bags.

“Why don’t you go rest and I will get someone to help me in the kitchen.” I suggested, but Fire shook her head... yep, saw that one coming.

“Nope. I’ll set myself up at the table.”

I couldn't help but laugh at the look of 'I'm doing this, and you can't stop me' took over her face. She was so like my daughter.

I put my hands up in surrender. “Fine but you are not leaving the table.” So, in return, I gave her 'the mum' look, making her laugh in return.