“You were murderous?All ofthathappened a long time ago, Raggedy Dan.I’d say I’m beyond it, but you got an up-close-and-personal view of how much unbeyond it I am.Still, given the way that club operated?I’d bet most of the men are dead.”
“So you’re saying maybe they aren’t all dead?”He closed one eye, squinting at her.“Murdery again.”
“Am I yours, Raggedy Dan?”
He pulled back, staring down at her.“You are.”
“Then that means you’re mine, and I would rather you avoid the murdery because of the incarcerationy.”She cleared her throat and angled her chin up, staring at him as she lowered the timbre of her voice, “You feel me, Raggedy Dan?”
“I do.”
“Ready to get some breakfast, old man?”
His grin was wide and rewarding.“I’m willing if you are, ole lady.”
They readied themselves and used the bathroom on the way downstairs.When they strolled into the main room of the clubhouse, that was when things went freaky.Riley first noticed it when Dan wasn’t allowed to make his way to the self-serve line for breakfast.Mad Dawg guided them to a table instead.Riley sat next to Dan and watched as first confusion and then understanding dawned on his face.
A prospect brought them two plates piled high with bacon and eggs, then set a third plate on the table with a tall stack of pancakes.A member Riley hadn’t yet met carried a bottle of syrup over and thudded it on the table between them, slapping Dan’s shoulder with his other hand.
Before she’d eaten the first bite, another member dropped off fresh cups of coffee.The end of things was when Tinder, the president of the whole shebang, brought over a jug of juice.
“Dan, what’s going on?”She leaned close and whispered in his ear.“The president shouldn’t be serving us.”
“The president does what he fuckin’ wants,” Tinder said loudly, causing Riley to pull back.“Dan, wanna bring your lady in on the low-down?”
“Penitence.Triggering you might have been unintentionally done, but this will even the scales again.”Dan nodded once.“Thanks, brother.”
Brothers filed out, slapping Dan’s shoulder as they passed with hard thumps, which were their silent congratulations.Mad Dawg lingered at the door, grinning wide.
“Ella’s already planning a girls’ night for you, Riley,” he warned.“Brace yourself.”
Dan groaned.“She’s probably gonna teach Riley yoga breathing for ‘when your old man is being an overprotective caveman.’”
Riley laughed softly.“I’m gonna love learning that.”
“I’m so fucked,” Dan said with a smile, hidden behind a bandana but still there.
“Pretty much.”Dawg clapped him on the back.“Welcome to the yoga club, brother.Officially.”
***
Dan
Dan stepped through the archway into the common room, still feeling the echo of those words in his chest.She’s mine.
Riley pulled free of his hold and made her way to the corner table where Ella and two other old ladies, Nora and Maria, were sipping coffee and laughing over something on Ella’s phone.He noticed that Riley’d borrowed his flannel shirt again.The sleeves were rolled to her elbows, the tails hitting mid-thigh over bare legs that went on forever.His mouth went dry.
Ella spotted him first.“We’re stealing her for lunch.You can have her back at six.”
Riley lifted a brow at him, eyes sparkling with mischief.“That acceptable, caveman?”
Dan exhaled through his nose, fighting a smile.“Six-thirty.And you text me when you get there.Every time you land somewhere, hear me?”
Riley saluted with her coffee mug.“Yes, sir.”
The women dissolved into laughter that was bright and easy, the kind that filled the room like sunlight.Dan decided retreating was the better part of valor.He gave Riley one long look, letting her see the heat barely banked from last night, then turned and walked towards the garage.
Behind him, Ella stage-whispered, “Girl, you just made Dan blush.That’s a Christmas miracle.”