Chapter 9

CHAPTER

NINE

Holly

“Bye, babies,” I say as Samuel backs out of my driveway. “Have fun with Grandpa!”

They probably can’t hear what I said, but they’re waving and blowing me kisses, which I grab while sending them some in return. Once they’re out of sight, I sigh before turning to go back into the house. My nerves are jacked up because I know that this weekend is ‘the one’ for me and Rebel as far as taking our relationship to the next level. I’m equal parts excited and nervous; what if I’m a disappointment to him? I only have my experience with Devin, and it’s been years now since a man has seen me naked. I’m confident in my skin, most of the time, that is, but Devin did rattle my self-worth quite a bit, especially when he started sleeping with other women.

While my mind wrestles with all the doubts I have, I clean my house and put up the folded laundry I washed the night before. With the girls being gone, it goes a lot faster than normal and soon, my house is spic and span and it’s time for me to get ready for work.

I decide to braid my hair after my shower, which will cut off some time since I don’t want to be late for my shift. I already have a bag packed for the clubhouse; Rebel didn’t say I was staying the whole weekend, but even if I’m not, I won’t wear the same clothes home tomorrow. Once I’m sure I have everything together, I haul my ass out to my SUV and drive to work, my mind already on what’s going to happen later on.

“I didn’t think you’d be here tonight with a party at the clubhouse,” I say when I get behind the bar and see Rebel in his normal spot.

“Babe,” he replies, giving me a heated look. “If you’re here, my ass is in this chair unless I’m in the hospital or dead.”

I wince at his choice of words since that’s kind of what happened to Devin.

But Devin is not Rebel, my brain whispers. They are not the same at all. Rebel has shown over and over that he’s twice the man that Devin was.

Realizing that I’m overthinking stuff, I ask, “Do you want a beer or a whiskey?”

“Beer, sweetheart,” he replies. When I hand him an opened bottle, he winks and says, “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome,” I tell him.

By the time we close the bar, I’m exhausted and can barely put two feet in front of the other. I see Rebel pick up his phone as I work to restock the coolers while Morris does the register, but don’t know what he’s doing. As I split my tips so the kitchen staff can take off for the night, I hear Marnie singing along to the jukebox as she continues to clean the tables. I slip money through the window to Keith, our cook for the night, and wave off what Marnie’s trying to give me.

“Girl, no, Christmas is coming,” I tell her, slipping mine into my front pocket.

“But you have two little girls,” she says, again trying to hand me money for the drinks I’ve gotten for her tonight.

“And they’re going to be well taken care of, I promise,” I reply. “If you want to do anything, you can help me search for a kid’s kitchen like this,” I tell her, pulling out my phone and showing her the picture I found.

“Oh, I’ll start searching when I get home!” she exclaims. “That one is so cool.”

Grabbing a clean rag and the spray we use to clean the tables and chairs, I say, “Well, I’m doing up one of my bedrooms as a playroom for them, and they love to play house, but they also enjoy it when Mina is a teacher. Half of the room will be a little ‘house’ complete with a kitchen and the other will be a schoolroom. I have the shelves and some books already and have put up a chalkboard wall for them to write on. It’s just the kitchen that I can’t find.”

“We’ll find one, Holly,” Marnie promises me.

“I sure hope so,” I murmur as Rebel comes up to me. “Hey, is everything okay?”

“Yeah, got one of the guys coming up so they can take my bike back to the clubhouse. I’m gonna drive you there in your SUV.”

“Why?” I ask.

“Because you’re dead on your feet, babe,” he replies, before walking to the office.

I may have bit off more than I can chew telling Rebel I’ll try to handle the accounting for the club’s businesses, especially since I’m so tired now and haven’t even started. Still, it’s not for much longer that I’ll be working every weekend, so I just have to work smarter, not harder.

“We’re here, Holly,” he murmurs as he lifts me from the passenger seat.

“Sorry I fell asleep,” I reply, my voice raspy like I’m coming down with a cold or something.

“It’s okay, babe,” he says as he carries me through the clubhouse then into what I’m presuming is his room. He turns and nods to the man carrying my bag. “Just set it there, Colt. Appreciate your help.”

Rebel helps me take my jacket off then goes to his dresser and pulls out a t-shirt. “Why don’t you go into the bathroom and grab a quick shower. I’ll see if I can rustle up something for you to eat.”

“I’m not really hungry, Rebel,” I tell him.

“You didn’t get much of a break tonight because of how busy it was, and you need to keep your strength up,” he rebuts.

I realize I’m not gonna win against him, especially when he uses what I secretly call his presidential voice. “Fine,” I mutter. Then guilt swamps me because I sound so grumpy, so I reach out and touch his hand. “I know you’ve gotta be tired too, Rebel, so don’t go to too much trouble.”

“You’ll never be any trouble to me, Holly. Now, go on and I’ll be back in before you know it.”

“That hit the spot,” I admit as I set my empty soup bowl on the tray he brought up. The meal was simple; grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup, but it was enough to wake me up.

“I agree,” he says as he removes the tray from the bed and puts it outside the door. “I’ll text one of the prospects to come and get it,” he tells me when I raise my brow in question. “Now, slide under those covers and let’s get some rest, pretty girl.”

All the jitters I had about what might happen come back full force. Will it happen now? Or later? Or what? My apprehension must be showing because he leans in and kisses my forehead and whispers, “We’re sleeping right now, Holly. We both need it, and I won’t have my ego crushed if you fall asleep in the middle of me making love to you.”

I can’t help the giggles that burst out with his words. “That would definitely destroy anyone’s ego, I guess, huh?”

“You bet it would,” he replies, sliding in next to me then pulling me close so my head’s on his shoulder and my arm’s across his waist. “Now, sleep, babe.”