Chapter Three

Meg had enjoyed breakfast at the clubhouse and met so many nice people. She'd worried that she'd be the only one in her fifties, but she'd met the matriarch and patriarch of the MC Regina and Baron, who were both in their sixties. Remi and War had joined them. It was wonderful to put a face to Remi since they'd spoken on the phone. Her husband was president of the MC and looked tough, but he'd picked up what she'd call a frou frou type of dog and cuddled it on his lap after breakfast.

She was especially glad the men wore their MC vests because she could look at the front for their names. It had been a lot of people to meet at once. There were numerous kids and animals running loose through the clubhouse. She'd gotten to spend a little time holding the littlest one of Rascal's grandkids. Joey had been darling even when he'd kept grabbing onto her hair.

She'd really enjoyed helping assemble the items for the festivities. They had a thank you bag for every veteran or active service member who had registered for the event. Regina had an extra twenty bags just in case people dropped by who hadn't known to register. Remi and Winnie had been in charge of the commemorative items for families who had service members who participated in D-Day. The metal items were miniatures of the monument mounted on a stained wooden base.

Rascal had let her know in numerous small ways he considered her special. When she'd started to get up from the floor where she'd been stuffing bags, he'd held her hand and waist to help her up. When she'd been stretching her shoulders after helping, he'd moved her hair to the side and rubbed her shoulders, then placed a kiss at the base of her neck before tugging her back against him to hold her in his arms. He wasn't remotely shy about letting everyone in the room know she was special to him. Each time he touched her, she melted a little more.

As each person had come in, he'd made sure he introduced her along with her accomplishments and that she had graciously accepted the invitation to speak at the event. He put value on her as a whole person. He'd introduced her as her full name but then called her Meg. When she'd asked him why the difference between Meggie this morning and Meg around everyone else, he'd growled in her ear that Meggie was when she was catching fire in his arms. It had taken everything in her to not shiver and then have to fan herself.

"Meg, I'm scheduled to go to the park and help set up tables, chairs, and canopies. I know you said you'd need to change before the event. Do you want to come with me or stay here?"

Before she could formulate an answer, Regina and Remi were chiming in. "We want her to stay with us. You've monopolized her time, and we want to get to know her a little better. She can ride with us when it's time to go. Plus, she's not going to want to get all sweaty before her speech."

She was torn because she did want to spend time with Rascal but also get to know the women here. She also didn't want to be all sweaty before she spoke. She still got a little nervous in front of crowds she didn't know.

Rascal leaned over, brushing her hair back from her cheek and tucking it behind her ear, leaving his hand holding her neck. "It's okay to want to stay and get to know the women. They're a good bunch. Do you want to meet me at the park later?"

His eyes staring into hers had her wondering if she could be hypnotized by his eyes. Each time she looked into his eyes, she felt peace and safety come over her. Was this what love felt like?

"I'd like to stay. I'll see you at the park later."

He grinned, then leaned closer, placing a kiss against her mouth. "Don't let them make you late because they decided you all needed some adventure."

She giggled at Rascal as he caught each woman's eyes around the room.

"You underestimate us, Rascal. We wouldn't do anything to jeopardize the commemoration activities but once they're over... look out," Beth high-fived Remi at her words.

Meg finished curling her bangs after she'd applied mascara. She wasn't one to wear a lot of make-up, especially when the heat would most likely have sweat running down her face today. She was in Regina's house. The women had all decided to get ready there, and she'd been pulled along with them.

"So, tell me more about this jerk who fired you. He didn't give any warning?" Sarah asked.

"No. Like I told Rascal, when we had a meeting a couple weeks ago, the question was asked if they'd be doing any cuts. He unequivocally said there would be no layoffs and no departments or degrees cut. Then, yesterday morning, he called us in and gave me along with a couple others the ax. I need to decide what I'm doing next because I don't know how long they'll allow me to stay in the house I'm in. Housing was provided as part of my package."

Sarah grabbed a notebook and started taking notes. "Okay, I'll start digging into what's going on because this has all my senses tingling. Something sounds off. Did they give you a severance package?"

Meg walked over and sat down by Sarah. "No, in fact, he specifically said no one would be getting any severance. Honestly, after that I was so angry that I didn't even stay to ask questions. Which is very unlike me. I'll be okay money-wise because I'm a saver. Plus, living at the college and not paying rent made a huge difference on what I had to spend on. I also have a small life insurance policy from my parents just sitting in an account. It's the thought he lied when the question was brought up earlier. I thought he was a fair president, but what don't I know?"

Regina handed out glasses of iced tea before sitting down. "I bet Rascal, Baron, and the men could get to the bottom of it if they visited him."

Meg smiled. "Rascal offered to scare him and bet that he could make my ex-boss pee himself."

Laughter from all the women had Meg relishing this time. She had one good friend at the college who was close to her age, but she'd never had this large a group of women who had her back. They'd only all known each other a short while, but she could see herself here.

"Now, I want to know, how did you enjoy staying in Rascal's house last night?" Winnie questioned.

Her cheeks heated. "We stayed up until three talking, then I slept in the spare bedroom."

"Umm, that blush is telling us there might be more to this than you're saying," Jesse teased. Jesse had been one of the sisters she'd met. She'd worn bright pink coveralls with the bail bonds logo on it. She was what Meg would consider a tinier thing, but Jesse had said she was the mechanic for the bail bonds.

Meg debated what all to share, but she'd never been in this situation before. Wanting a man who she'd just met.

"After he made a special trip for the creamer I liked and handed me a perfect coffee, I leaned up and kissed the edge of his mouth as a thank you."

A chorus of yells greeted her words.

"Knowing Rascal, he took that as an invitation. He's a smart man but very methodical," Regina grinned and winked at her.

"He did. He did that thing you read about in romance novels, grasping my hair, and then he gave me the best kiss I've ever had. I'm fifty-nine years old and felt like I was being kissed for the very first time."

The women hugged and high-fived her and then were off chattering about how hot that was. She glanced at her watch. She needed to finish getting ready because they were leaving in fifteen minutes. Although she wanted to just sit here and daydream about the man who had swept into her life, she had a speech to give and service members to commemorate.