Genny departed, leaving her alone with Jackal.
“I better go get dressed, too.” Penni rose, carrying her cup to the sink.
“What time does church start?”
Penni almost dropped her cup. “You’re going?”
“How would it look if I didn’t sit in the pew with you?”
“Shade doesn’t go to church with Lily.”
“I don’t mind church. Just don’t ask me to give witness or eat dinner with the pastor.”
“Too late. You had dinner with him last night.” When he looked confused, Penni explained, “Lucky is the pastor.”
“And he lives with The Last Riders?”
Penni nodded. “Yes. That’s his house they’re building next to Razer’s.”
“And he’s a pastor?” Jackal repeated. “He’s married to Willa, the woman who makes cakes and cupcakes?”
“Yes.”
“The one who makes the peanut butter candy?”
“Yes.” Was that a twitch of jealousy that had her clenching her nails against her palms at the rapturous look that came over his face?
“Rider had five pieces of it. Stingy fucker only gave me half of one. That woman knows the way to a man’s heart.”
“Really? Peanut butter candy and you’re for the taking?” Snidely, Penny wondered if her shoe would fit up his ass.
“Hell, nah. The way to my heart is through my dick.”
22
“Are you going to the diner for lunch?”
Jackal stood in the background as Penni talked to her friends. Strangely, he didn’t feel uncomfortable in his jeans and T-shirt. The parishioners were dressed in everything from their Sunday best to jeans and T-shirts.
“No, I’m going to drive to Cash’s house and see Rachel and the new baby. I want to introduce her to Jackal.” She waved her hand toward him. The pale, blonde woman stared at him curiously as Penni tugged him closer. “Beth, I know you’ve been busy with the boys having the stomach flu, so this is Jackal, a friend of mine. Jackal, this is Lily’s sister.”
Jackal shook her outstretched hand. The woman was surprised, and from the looks of the other women gathered around her, she wasn’t the only one.
“It’s nice to meet you.”
Jackal wasn’t given the time to say anything else before Penni led him to her rental car.
Viper gave him a glare as he ducked into the front seat, and Jackal pulled down the sun visor to shield Viper’s unhappiness that he had left the clubhouse despite his orders.
“If I disappear, make sure you call the cops.”
“That wouldn’t do you any good. Knox is the sheriff.”
“I should get hazard pay for pretending to be your boyfriend.”
“It could be worse; you could really be my boyfriend.”
“I’ve seen some of the men you’ve gone out with. You’d never pick a guy like me if you weren’t trying to make Train jealous.”
“Why not?” She took her eyes away from the road to shoot him a frowning glance.
“Because I don’t kiss your ass.”
“Don’t be stupid. Do you see Train making any effort to kiss my ass? That’s not my priority in a relationship.”
“So what about Train does it for you?”
“Train doesn’t talk a lot, but when he’s with you, you know you’re safe. I’ve known him since I was a kid, and he’s never treated me like I was stupid or an inconvenience. When I wanted to shoot a gun, he taught me how. When I wanted to ride on Shade’s motorcycle, he sneaked me out of the house and taught me.”
“You can ride a motorcycle?”
“No, but he tried. He made up reasons his bike was getting scratched up, and Shade found out. Then he talked Shade into letting him teach me. I gave up after a week.”
“So he was like Shade except nicer?”
Penni turned onto a smaller road that was off to the side. The house she pulled in front of was secluded. No one would even know it was there unless they had searched for it. Large trees surrounded the property, and the cabin blended into its surroundings.
“Nice.” Jackal got out of the car, walking beside Penni as they reached the front door.
“It’s Cash’s family home. When Rachel and him got married, they added a couple of bedrooms and the road.” Penni knocked on the door.
A gorgeous red head answered the door.
“Hi, Rachel. I heard you decided to have the baby a couple of weeks early.”
“Thank God, too. If I kept eating that cornbread Cash was making for our dinner every night, I would be as big as our house.”
The two women hugged before moving away from the door and entering the house. Jackal found himself receiving a curious stare as Rachel and Penni sat down on the living room couch.
“This is Jackal.”
Rachel gave him a welcoming smile. “So he’s your new boyfriend that everyone is talking about?”
“That was quick. The gossips must have texted you before I got in the car.”
“It gives them something new to talk about.”
“I thought The Last Riders kept the town gossips busy.”
Rachel shook her head. “They’re too afraid of them to gossip, but your fair game. You’re an outsider, and you tend to make a stir when you come for a visit.”
“They’re exaggerating. When I came to town the last time, nothing happened.”
“That’s only because you didn’t cook, and everyone refused to drink anything you made them. Sex Piston’s gang refuses to come to Treepoint if Beth tells them you’re in town.”
“Sex Piston?” Jackal inquired. He needed to meet the woman. She sounded perfect for Stump.
“You’re better off not knowing,” Cash said as he came in from a room off the living room, carrying a small baby against his chest. He shook his head when Penni started to explain and said, “She’s getting fussy.”
Rachel reached up, taking the sleeping infant from his chest. “You couldn’t wait for your coffee?”
He bent over, placing a kiss on her cheek. “Want me to get you something?”
“No thanks.”
Jackal looked back and forth from the couple. He had researched The Last Riders when he had become interested in Penni. Shade’s military record was buried, which had cost King a fortune to find out. Cash’s exploits were well documented. The bastard was lethal. He had been a SEAL, and the commendations he had earned in the military had made him a force to be reckoned with as the clubs’ lieutenant.
His own father had a brief stint in the military before he had joined a bike gang that consisted of wannabes and drug addicts. It gave them the opportunity to steal money to buy their drugs and little else.
Cash walked across the room, opening a door and leaning in. “You want a cup of coffee, Mag?”
Jackal couldn’t see the occupant of the room, but the voice coming from it had him shifting, trying to see inside.
“Lord, why am I still here?”
Rachel smiled, seeing Jackal’s concern at that remark. “She’s in her nineties. Mag thinks that’s long enough.”
“You want me to help you into your wheelchair? Penni came for a visit.”
“Did she bring any moonshine?” Mag asked.
“No.”
“Lord, why am I still here?”
“She brought a friend,” Cash added.
“Is he my age?”
“No.”
“Is it the pastor?”
“No.”
“Lord, why am I—”
“Rachel is going to make some fried chicken for lunch.”
“Give me my wheelchair.”
A few minutes later, Cash wheeled a feisty grey-haired woman into the living room. She treated him to a narrowed stare then turned toward Rachel.
“You’re holding her wrong.” Mag stared at Rachel critically. “Hand Ema to me.”
Rachel shook her head, handing the baby to her great-grandmother. “Let Penni hold her for a while. I’ll go start lunc
h.”
Rachel and Cash left the room, and the stern expression vanished as the old woman held the child.
“Why didn’t you bring me some moonshine?”
Penni lifted her hands. “Tate threatened to take away Greer’s new truck if he gave me any.”
“Since when has that asshole listened to his brother?”
“He loves that truck.”
The woman turned her attention on Jackal. “Who are you?”
“I’m a friend of Penni’s.”
“You her boyfriend?”
“Kinda.”
“What kind of answer is that?”
“She’s trying to make up her mind.”
Mag looked at him from his head to his boots. “You got a college degree?”
“No.”
“You been to prison?”
“Yes.”
“What for?” She snapped the questions out as if she were a parole officer.
“Drug possession, a couple of times for extortion, and three times for fighting.”
“You’re not smart enough not to get caught?”
“It was when I was younger.”
She nodded. “How’d you get that scar?”
“My father.” Jackal surprised Penni by not giving the smartass reply he gave everyone else.
“Son of a bitch dead?”
“No, he’s in prison.”
“You put him there?”
“No, he’s in prison for assault.”
“Can I hold Ema?” Penni chimed in.
“You going to bring me moonshine the next time you come?”
“I’ll try,” Penni answered, carefully taking the child into her arms and sitting back on the couch.
“You got kids?”
“Lunch is ready,” Cash interrupted Mag’s interrogation.
Jackal stood up, pausing at the sight of the woman gripping the wheels of her wheelchair, despite Cash trying to push her across the floor. Obviously, no one was going anywhere until the old lady got her answer.
“I don’t have any children.”
The woman leaned in her chair, satisfied he had answered. If the nosy old bat had been his grandmother, he would have put her ass in a nursing home.
Sitting down at the table, Rachel set a beer next to his plate. “Thought you might need that. My grandmother is kind of hard to take, especially when you’re sober.”
“I thought she was your grandmother,” Jackal questioned Cash.
“She doesn’t claim me,” Cash said sardonically, twisting off the top of his beer.
Penni held the baby as Rachel filled Mag’s plate.
Cash reached for his daughter. “I’ll take her.”
Penni held the baby closer to her chest. “I’ll hold her while you and Rachel eat.”
“You sure?”
“Absolutely.”
Jackal held out his arms. “I’ll take her. I had a big breakfast.”
Penni gave him a strange look as she handed the little girl over.
Jackal stared down at the baby. She had a thin layer of red hair across the top of her scalp. Her tiny bow mouth scrunched into a cry, and Jackal tilted her upward so she could see her mama. Her gurgling had him smiling down. “Your mama looks better than me, doesn’t she?”
“You’re damn comfortable holding a baby for a man who claims not to have any,” Mag snapped.
“Mag!” Rachel protested.
“It’s okay.” Jackal flipped the blanket back over the baby’s feet when her movements loosened it. “I have a friend who has several children. Sometimes, he has to work late, and I watch them until he gets off. He’s married now, but I’ll watch them if they want to go to the movies or something.”
“That’s nice of you.” Penni smiled, placing a big chicken breast on the plate in front of him.
“Damn, girl. He just said he babysat them, not gave birth to them.” Mag eyed the food on his plate then the chicken leg Rachel had placed on hers.
“Remember your cholesterol,” Cash said then mockingly took a big bite from the largest breast on his plate.
“At my age, cholesterol is the last thing I need to be worried about. A good fart could cause a heart attack.”
When Rachel was done eating, she took the baby, and Jackal got up to fill his plate, adding a heaping mound of potatoes.
“I thought you weren’t hungry?” Penni watched as he put two biscuits onto his plate.
“I’ve changed my mind.” Jackal buttered his biscuits as Mag took Cash’s beer away. “Remind me when I get done eating that I need to make a phone call.”
“Who do you need to call?”
“I’m going to cancel my gym membership.” If Mag was an example of getting old gracefully, he wanted to die young.
23
“Are you sure I’m not disturbing you guys?” Penni heard Genny’s question as she mopped the kitchen floor.
Penni grabbed a bottle of water out of the refrigerator, avoiding going downstairs to workout, something she had promised she would do after eating the home cooking that was making her jeans skintight.
Train, Hennessy, Cruz, Jackal, and Rider were sitting at the kitchen table, playing cards while Genny had finished serving lunch and was cleaning the kitchen.
Hennessy looked much better since the day they had arrived two weeks ago. Still, it had taken Rider and Jackal to get the large man down the steps.
As she mopped, Genny brushed against Hennessy chair. He moved his chair to the side, and Genny’s arm grazed his shoulder. Penni saw her flinch away to mop farther away from him.
“If you need me to move, just say so.”
Genny stopped. “I’m finished.” She put the mop in the bucket, carrying them down the stairs.
“I guess she doesn’t like to be touched by the black man.” Hennessy’s snide comment had the men at the table stiffening.
Penni’s temper exploded, knowing Genny had heard the comment before she had closed the door. “It had nothing to do with your color; it was your size.” Penni slammed her water bottle on the table. “You’ve been in your bedroom since you got here, so let me you tell for a freaking fact that Genny, nor any of The Last Riders, give a damn what color you are. They didn’t care when they saved your life, even though you kidnapped me and kept me hostage. Genny didn’t care what color you were when she washed your dirty clothes, cooked your food all week, and even made those cinnamon rolls for your breakfast when she heard how much you liked them. I noticed last night when Knox came over to dinner that she’s skittish around him, too. You are a jerk … whatever color you are.”
Penni snapped her mouth closed, stomping out of the kitchen and going to the basement. She almost said something to Genny, but from her expression, she could tell she didn’t want to talk.
She stretched for a couple minutes then turned on the treadmill.
“Hennessy’s just irritated from being cooped up,” Jackal said as he came up behind her.
“He had no business taking it out on Genny.” Penni turned to see Genny dump a handful of clothes in the dryer.
Jackal raised his hands in surrender. “I’m not disagreeing with you; I’m explaining.”
“He’s a grown man. He doesn’t need you to apologize for him, and I’m not the one who deserves an apology.”
“It’s okay,” Genny said softly.
“No, it’s not. The next time you fix him a plate of food, bash him upside his head with it.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Genny shook her head. “I’ll see you two tomorrow.”
Penni waved as Genny left. She would be on her way to work for Willa at the bakery for the rest of the day.
She liked Genny. During the past week, she had spent a portion of every morning with her. It allowed her to give Shade and Lily alone time with John. She felt like she distracted Genny from her work, so Penni would take a couple of her jobs to pass the time. Then they would often share a cup of coffee before Genny left.
Genny was a sweet woman with a go
od head on her shoulders. She worked two jobs: one for Willa baking, the other cooking and cleaning after The Last Riders. She had saved enough money to purchase Willa’s home. There weren’t many nineteen-year-olds who could accomplish that. Hell, Penni was twenty-four and had shit for money in her checking account. As soon as she could talk Kaden into giving her a raise, she wanted to save enough money to buy her condo.
Something definable reminded her of Lily. Penni couldn’t pinpoint what is was, but like Lily, she kept her secrets to herself.
“Want to play some cards? Hennessy and Rider went upstairs, and Train went to work at the factory.”
The Last Riders had a factory next door. When Shade had told her that he was working for them and making survivalist equipment, she had been fascinated. Over the years, she had realized how they had helped people facing natural disaster, often donating their time and equipment. The rest of the club members wouldn’t be back until their shifts ended that afternoon.
“No thanks. I don’t play cards.”
“Why not?”
“Because I win, and people—especially men—are lousy losers.”
Jackal laughed as he sat down on the home gym, pulling the bar downward.
Penni watched him out of the corner of her eye. His jeans were low enough that she could she could see his abs. He straddled the seat, lifting the weights effortlessly. Penni was tempted to adjust the weights so she could see a sheen of sweat cover his body.
Watching Jackal’s T-shirt play peek-a-boo each time he stretched his arms upward raised her lust to a fever pitch.
“Train doesn’t talk much, does he?”
His remark had Penni turning back to him. “Not a lot, no.”
“Seems to me Rider would be more your type.”
“God, no.” Penni shuddered. She wouldn’t be able to feed him. The only thing he loved more than food was women. “I’d end up having to cut off his dick if he was my boyfriend.”
“He’s not into monogamy?”
“What do you think? Rider looks at women the way he looks at a smorgasbord. He wants to try it all.”
“From what I can tell, Train eats at the same restaurant.”
“Are you trying to piss me off?” Penni sped- up the treadmill.