Page 16 of Cole (Dirty Misfits MC 4)
I watched her type away on her phone before I felt mine vibrate. “Done.”
I nodded toward the SUV. “Now, go on. You’ve got kids that need food and naps, and I’ve got a dog that needs a bath.”
She giggled. “Sounds good to me. We’ll talk soon?”
I nodded. “I’ll call you sometime tonight and we can talk about what we want to do tomorrow.”
She blinked. “Wait, tomorrow?”
“Yeah. Unless you’re not off work tomorrow. Do you work Sundays?”
“Actually, no. I don’t. Are you off tomorrow?”
I grinned. “Sounds like a plan. I’ll call you tonight. Opie? Come!”
And as I walked away, leaving her tripping and stumbling over her own words, power rushed through my veins. Strength filled my tired muscles. For the first time in a very long time, I felt like my life was more than just the guys. Just the trade. Just the bikes, the rides, and the bullshit.
For the first time since I joined up with the Dirty Misfits, I felt like my life was finally moving forward.
And I couldn’t wait to talk with her this evening about our plans.
Eight
Molly
“So, who was that guy?” Sandy asked.
I furrowed my brow as I parked the SUV in the garage. “What guy?”
Cody clicked his tongue. “The guy with the leather jacket that you gave our dog to.”
Sandy nodded. “Yeah, do you know him?”
I decided a little white lie wouldn’t hurt. “Yes, we’ve known each other for a little bit.”
Cody furrowed his brow. “I thought you were giving Max away.”
I hopped out and opened the side door for the kids. “Now, what would give you the impression that I’d ever do that to poor Max?”
Sandy giggled. “Cody’s just jealous.”
“Am not!” he exclaimed.
I tilted my head to the side. “Jealous of what?”
Cody rolled his eyes. “I could’ve watched Max, you know. Dad says I’m the man of the house when he’s gone, and that’s a man’s job.”
I shook my head as I tried not to smile too much. “Actually, any job can be done by either a man or a woman. That’s the benefit of modern society.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Cody grumbled.
Sandy cackled with laughter. “I think he’s got a crush on you, Miss Molly.”
“I do not! Make her stop!” Cody exclaimed.
I held up my hands. “All right, all right, all right. I think you two need a nap before you eat.”
Sandy pouted. “But, but, but I’m hungry.”
I pointed to the house. “Then, get inside so I can feed you and stop making each other upset. You’re not that bored, you’re just that tired. So, come on. Let’s go. Out of the van.”
The kids grumbled and mumbled to themselves as they slid from their seats. They dragged themselves inside like they were strapped to fifty-pound lead weights and I giggled at their theatrics. Max flopped onto the cool marbled floors, his eyes already closing as I fished around for something quick to make for the kids.
And after they stuffed their bellies full of macaroni and cheese, I didn’t hear another peep out of them once they collapsed into their beds.
“Finally, some silence,” I whispered.
I went and filled Max’s water and food bowl for when he did wake up, then I started on some chores around the house. I emptied the dishwasher and filled it back up. I took stock of what we needed in terms of groceries. I checked my voice messages to make sure I hadn’t heard from their parents at all, and then I mopped the grimy kitchen floor so it would shine like I knew it could.
Then, I fell face first onto the couch in the living room and relished the silence.
I turned over and pulled a blanket over me from off the back of the couch. I worked my phone out of my pocket and scrolled through my social media, but in the back of my mind all I wanted to do was text Cole. I didn’t want to seem needy, though. He did say he’d call me tonight. But I found myself checking the clock on my phone a little too much and getting a little too frustrated when only a couple of minutes had passed instead of a couple of hours.
Why in the world am I so attracted to this stranger?
It was so unlike me, and yet it felt so right. Usually, I felt the need to get to know someone first before I determined whether or not I liked them. And while Bridget—my best friend—would tell people that it was because of my trust issues surrounding my father, I still didn’t understand why Cole was different.
Why he felt so different.
The idea of spending more time with him tomorrow spread a smile across my cheeks, and for once I was actually excited about something in my life. I mean, yes, I enjoyed nannying the kiddos. But my nannying position didn’t leave much room to be excited about other things in my life. I didn’t have time for hobbies or personal attachments. I didn’t have time to make a home for myself or generally maintain the apartment I did rent out. Bridget always hated coming over to my place whenever she came in from San Diego. There were no pictures on the walls, no decorations on any of the tables, and I had the absolute bare minimum in terms of furniture.
