Unveiled Wishes (Iron Shield MC #2)

18. Christmas Eve Dinner

Chapter 18

Christmas Eve Dinner

G race

I watched out the window with my hands still in the sink, covered in soap, as Zook led Emily to the trees. A lot of change was heading her way in a short amount of time. I understood that better than anyone. I liked Emily, and the last thing I wanted was to see her get overwhelmed.

“You think she’ll give him a shot?” Pebbles asked, her gaze fixed on the pair as they disappeared.

“Yes. I think she wants to, but there are a lot of ‘what ifs’ she’ll need answers to,” I replied, my thoughts drifting back to my journey. There had come a time when I had to throw caution to the wind, and it had been terrifying. Emily would have to do the same eventually, and I wanted her to know she wasn’t alone.

Pebbles threw the dish towel onto the counter with a small laugh. “She has options, and How won’t let anything happen to her.”

Two hands appeared on either side of my waist, grasping the edges of the sink. A hard chest pressed against my back, and a shiver ran down my spine as his breath ghosted over my ear. “Leave them alone, mama,” Sabre murmured.

“We’re just speculating. Not everything needs to be a bet,” I teased, smiling as I heard Pebbles laugh beside me.

“Tell that to the rest of the brothers. They bet on when he’d convince her to stay. I picked right after breakfast, but Dead is winning. He said after breakfast but before dinner.” Sabre’s stubble rubbed against my cheek.

“You know, you only win bets when they’re about us.” It hadn’t been easy. Sabre had had to hold out, but the last bet we'd won had been about how long it would take to get busy after my first ride on his bike.

“Yeah, but I thought I had a shot. How’s the only one that didn’t bet.” He pressed further into my back.

“Of course, he wouldn’t. Would you want to know when Pretty and Wreck finally get together? Down to the minute?” I pushed back against him, my hands still in the soapy water in the sink. “Those trees are going to shake.”

“No.” He kissed the back of my neck. “Are you done here? I need to know how you want to set up the tables for dinner.”

“Oh, give me a sec.” I pulled the plug from the sink and grabbed one of the other towels to dry my hands. Heading towards the main room, I told him, “I figured we could put the square tables on the side for the food, and then use the round ones for families. There are a couple extra card tables…” I trailed off. “Are you listening?” I turned around, and Sabre wasn’t even behind me. No, he was leaning against the door in between the main room and the kitchen, directly underneath the mistletoe.

He was silent as he pointed to it. “Or do you need to check my ass out first?” he asked, causing the room to roar in laughter. His eyes twinkled. This wasn’t about the mistletoe. This was clearly about staking his claim in the main room.

I strutted towards him, but when I was close, I jumped into his arms and wrapped my arms around his neck. “I don’t need a reminder,” I said.

He held me underneath my ass and suffocated me with his body. His lips were on mine, taking all of my air as if he owned me. I didn’t know how much more I could survive. My lungs burned, and when he finally broke the kiss, I sucked in as much air as possible. I’d never complain, though, as I heard catcalls in the background.

“I love you,” he whispered against my lips. “I’m all you need.” He walked away, throwing orders around based on my table instructions. He’d been listening all along.

***

There was so much excitement in the air. Chef was outside smoking briskets while the kids were running around in the yard. I couldn’t keep the smile off my face. Christmas Eve dinner was turning out better than I had expected. Every brother was here with their family.

I had planned to make potato salad for Pretty, but when I had opened the refrigerator this morning, there was already a pan with his name on it. I wasn’t sure where it had come from, but I didn’t ask questions. Instead, I peeled the potatoes to mash.

“You’re spoiling them,” Dee told me, as she stood at the stove, her hair teased as high as ever. I’d stopped being scared that she’d burn herself or burn down the place. She’d told me more than once that her spot was stirring whatever was on the stove, and she wouldn’t move just to make me happy. The club could afford to build a new clubhouse if she burned this one down.

“They need to be spoiled sometimes,” Bear retorted. “Some of them have forgotten what family is all about. This is just a way to remind them.”

“We really haven’t celebrated Christmas as a club in so long,” Raven joined the conversation. “I can remember past Christmases that were just like this.”

Lost in my own thoughts, I didn’t see Bear approach me. “You’ve brought new life into this club, honey,” she said with a wink. “How’s Meredith doing? I haven’t seen her today.”

“Some days are better than others,” I said. It wasn’t a secret that Meredith was having a hard time, but I didn’t want to reveal anything that would set the club further against her. I was hoping today was a good day, and that she’d make an appearance.

Bear clasped my hand in support and went back to cutting the onions. The chatter went on as we worked as a team. Even though they were much older than me, I felt the camaraderie. They had accepted me as their own, and I had welcomed them into my life with open arms.

“Honey, when are you going to get yourself a man?” Dee called out. I turned to see who she was talking to. Kelly had entered the kitchen and was pulling JR from his pen. Kissing the top of his head, she replied, “Never.”

“That’s not what you used to say,” Raven chimed in. Once Kelly had begun to babysit JR, the Old Ladies had taken her under our wing. I thought it would help if they did the same with Meredith, but I wouldn’t push.

“They don’t want me, Dee. Why bother trying?” Kelly sighed as she bounced JR against her chest. “You’re the only man in my life,” she said to the baby.

“You shouldn’t have given away the milk for free.” Dee wouldn’t let up.

“Don’t listen to her. She was giving away more than the milk,” Bear said. She was the peacekeeper of our group. “Honey, when the right one comes along, you’ll know.”

“Like Slate? You let him hit it and quit it. Don’t tell me you think it’s going to go somewhere?” Dee said, turning away from the stove to stare at Bear.

“When do you start school?” I asked Kelly, changing the subject. We’d all been proud when Kelly announced she’d gotten into the local college. I wasn’t supposed to know that Sabre was helping her with the funds. I thought he still felt guilty over how the brothers had treated her when she had been a hang-around.

“The second week of January.” She swayed with JR in her arms. He reached up and tried to grab for her hair.

“Did you get all your supplies?” I was trying to maintain the conversation so that Dee wouldn’t be able to tease her. She thought it was harmless, but the digs had been pretty deep.

“They’re supposed to send out the book list next week, so I’ve just been getting the other basics when I can,” Kelly answered me.

“You’ll have to tell me, and we’ll go shopping. Maybe make a day of it,” I told her.

“I’d like that.” She asked if there was anything we wanted her to do, but we were almost done.

“No. You can take him out to the main room, if you want,” I told her. Gossip flowed in the MC like water, and I’d heard a certain mohawk was interested in Kelly. When I’d turned towards her as we were talking about school, I had noticed a certain pair of spikes right outside the kitchen door. They had floated back and forth near the mistletoe.

“Hey, Kelly,” I called out to her, stalling. “If he needs changed, you’ll have to find Sabre. The diaper bag is in his office.”

“Oh, okay. Come on, Little Man.” As she turned to exit the kitchen, she bumped into a hard chest. I had to give Count credit. He played it off like it was no big deal.

“I am sorry. I didn’t see you,” she told him, trying to move to the side so that he could pass.

“You’re going to owe me,” he said, pointing at the mistletoe.

“Oh.” She kissed my baby on his head and tickled his tummy, making him giggle. Turning towards Count, she went to kiss him on the cheek. As she approached, he turned and kissed her full on.

When he pulled away, he tickled my baby’s tummy again. “Next time, I want mine rubbed, too.”

Bear whispered in my ear, “You’re bad.”

***

“Dinner’s good, but you know what would make it better?” Pretty asked. When no one responded, he answered his own question. “Potato salad.”

“I was going to make you some, but there’s a tray in the refrigerator with your name on it,” I said, spooning a bite of mashed potatoes.

“I thought you were still holding a grudge.” He sat his fork down and put his elbows on the table to cradle his face. He waited until I was paying attention to him before he batted his eyelashes.

“I was, but I figured it’s Christmas, and I should be nice to you. It has your name on it, so I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to serve it.” I shrugged.

“W…eck made it,” Aunt Liz chimed in. She tapped Thunder’s forearm with her good hand. “Tell...’m.”

My dad scowled. He wasn’t happy that my aunt had been paying Thunder more attention than him. I swore he even growled when she touched Thunder’s forearm. I thought that was only a biker trait, and my dad despised the men in the room.

“Wreck made it,” Thunder said, going back to the piece of brisket on his plate.

“What do you mean, Wreck made it?” Pretty moved his plate towards the middle of the table and stared at the top of Thunder’s head until it became uncomfortable for the rest of us.

Thunder eventually felt the uneasiness floating around and explained. “Liz sat in the kitchen and supervised, and Wreck made it.” Thunder continued to eat the brisket, but I snuck a look at Pretty. He looked like he was going to hyperventilate. His forehead was shiny, and his chest looked like it was working double time.

Pretty stood from the table and ran. I watched as Wreck walked into the kitchen after him. I wanted to help fix whatever was going on, but it wasn’t my place.

Sabre’s hand wrapped around my thigh underneath the table. “Don’t meddle. It’s going to get worse before it ever gets better.”