Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 43071 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 215(@200wpm)___ 172(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43071 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 215(@200wpm)___ 172(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
11
POPPY
Istared at my reflection in Colter’s bathroom mirror for the third time in ten minutes, smoothing my hands over the halter top I’d picked out. It was as close as I came to biker chic, but I’d never worn it before. I had tossed it into my suitcase on Wednesday out of pure impulse, similar to when I bought it a few months ago.
The top looked better on me than I remembered, but it was so different from what I normally wore. With my hair down in loose waves, tight jeans, and lipstick the same shade of pink as my halter, I felt confident that I wouldn’t stand out like a sore thumb today.
Still, my stomach was doing cartwheels.
No matter how often Colter had told me not to be nervous, I was headed to the Hounds of Hellfire clubhouse for the first time. A place that Riverstone locals were all curious about. But more than that, I was going to meet the family he’d chosen.
He appeared in the doorway behind me and leaned a shoulder against the frame. Already dressed, he looked sexy as ever. “You ready, baby?”
I turned, biting my lip. “I think so. Maybe? I’ve never been to a motorcycle club before. Am I wearing the right thing? Or should I change? What if I say the wrong thing? Or talk too much? Or—”
He pushed off the doorframe, closed the distance between us in two strides, and cupped my face in both hands. His thumbs brushed my cheeks. “Poppy.”
I sucked in a breath. “Yeah?”
“Just be yourself. That’s who I want there with me. Not some quiet version of you. You don’t need to worry about trying to fit in.”
My eyes stung at the sincerity in his deep voice. “What if they think I’m too much?”
“That’s not gonna happen. But if it did, they’ll still love you anyway and soon figure out how wrong they are.” He kissed my forehead. “Come on. It’s time to go.”
The ride to the clubhouse on his motorcycle felt like it held more meaning than any of the other times I’d been on the back with him. The teal helmet he’d bought me fit perfectly, and I wrapped my arms around his waist, cheek pressed to his back, letting the rumble of the engine and the wind drown out most of my nerves.
When we pulled through the gate, the lot was already full of a mixture of motorcycles, SUVs, and trucks. The smell of charcoal and barbecue sauce drifted toward us, and kids’ laughter rang out over the chatter. Not exactly what I’d been expecting from the Hounds of Hellfire MC.
“Stay close until you feel comfortable,” he murmured, squeezing my fingers. “Or the entire time, if you want. I like having you next to me.”
“Okay.”
It was rare for me to be so nervous that I was actually quiet, but my one-word reply gave me away.
Colter stopped and pulled me into his arms. “Trust me, baby. You have nothing to worry about. The guys with old ladies will like how I am around you, their wives will be happy to have a new woman join their little crew, and my brothers who’re single will stay far away ’cause they don’t wanna risk getting their asses kicked.”
There was a lot to unpack with what he said. I started with, “Do their wives know about their old ladies?”
His broad chest shook with his deep laughter. “Yeah, baby. Their wives are their old ladies.”
“Oh.” My cheeks burned with heat. “I guess I should’ve known that since nobody in town has gossiped about the Hounds two-timing their women now that so many of them have wifed up over the past two years.”
“You got nothing to worry about there, Poppy.” He brushed a kiss against the top of my head before pulling back to meet my gaze. “Morally gray as our world might be, our emotional values are black-and-white. Once a Hound claims a woman, it’s forever—obsessive protection with unwavering fidelity. Our women, our old ladies, are treated as sacred.”
Instead of going with my impulse to climb him like a monkey, I asked, “Why would the single guys be afraid of getting beat up?”
His wink sent butterflies swirling in my belly. “Because they know how possessive we are with our women.”
His answer relieved most of my nerves, making me feel like I was already part of the group.
He led me around the clubhouse and toward the sprawl of picnic tables and lawn chairs scattered across the grass. Heads turned, and conversations paused. Then a tiny tornado of energy barreled toward us. “Unca Ace!”
A little boy with a mischievous grin launched himself at Colter’s legs, who scooped him up without missing a beat, making my heart melt and my ovaries explode.
“Hey, little man.” He ruffled the boy’s hair, then turned to me. “Poppy, this is Cadell. King and Stella’s boy.”