Gravel's Road (2 page)

“You think you can show me my room or you just want me wandering around?” He grumped at me.

I slammed my knife down. Crap, I totally forgot Gravel had never been in my house. All of the other guys from the club had been in my house numerous times before and knew their way around. “I’ll show you.” I grabbed the towel I had hanging off the handle of the stove and wiped off my hands.

I headed down the hall off the kitchen and glanced behind me to make sure Gravel had followed me. He moved slowly behind me, the fatigue evident on his face.

“This is your bathroom,” I said as I opened the door and flipped on the light switch. It was the guest bathroom, and I had done it in pale greens and blues.

Gravel leaned into me and glanced in the room. “It’ll do the job,” he replied.

I stepped back from him, not wanting to be too close to him and headed further down the hall. “That one is my room,” I said, pointing at the closed door on the left.

“I don’t get to see that one?” He asked. I looked back at him, and he had a smirk playing on his lips.

“No. Stay out,” I said walking to the last door on the right.

“That mine?” He asked before I could open the door.

“Yes,” I said, opening the door and walked in. I flipped on the light switch; the light illuminated the room.

I had decorated the guest room in a rich, dark forest green with warm brown accents. The king bed had a plush brown and green comforter with two fluffy pillows. I also had a long dresser with a big mirror on top and a bench at the end of the bed that flipped open for extra storage. The thing that made this room fantastic was the sliding glass doors on the opposite side of the room that opened to a small deck that had two chairs on it. It was next to the woods and where I sat every morning to drink my coffee. I would have to switch up my routine for the next month with Gravel being here.

“This is the guest room?” He asked as he looked around. He slid open the closet, seeing my winter jackets and such hanging up. It was going on September, and it wouldn’t be long till I would be pulling them out.

“Yeah. Is it ok?” I asked, worried he didn’t like it.

“It’s more than ok, darlin’,” he said, sliding the closet shut and looked at me.

I just stared at him, not knowing what to say. It had been close to a year since I had seen this man, and now he was standing in my guest room and was going to spend the next month with me.

I took in his beat-up motorcycle boots, wondering how he had gotten them on, figuring the nurses at the hospital were probably falling over themselves to help him. He had faded blue jeans encasing his powerful legs, and a dark blue tee stretched across his chest and his arm in a sling. I looked at his face and saw his dark blue eyes on me. His eyes had always entranced me. They were deep, dark blue pools that always drew me to him. He had a strong jaw and chiseled cheekbones that made him look ten years younger than he was. Gravel had aged well.

“As much as I like looking at you, darlin’, I’m about to fall over,” Gravel said as he ripped his gaze off me and sat on the edge of the bed.

I jumped, not realizing I was keeping him from sleeping. “Um, do you want me to put on the TV or some music?” I asked, gesturing to the radio that was sitting next to the bed. I always turned it on in the morning while I listened to the world wake up.

“No. Silence is good right now,” he said, trying to toe off his boots. He bent over, trying to unlace them and couldn’t get the knot undone.

“Stop, let me,” I said as I crouched in front of him and knocked his hands away. I quickly unlaced them and pulled them off. I set them next to the bed and looked up at him. He eyes were trained on me again, just watching.

“Thank you, darlin’,” he muttered.

I blushed under his gaze and stood up. “You’re welcome,’ I said as I walked to the door. ‘Just holler if you need anything. I’ll wake you up for dinner,” I promised as I walked out the door, shutting it behind me.

I walked down the hall and back to the kitchen, where I leaned against the counter and tried to catch my breath. I don’t know how he did it, but Gravel made me feel things I hadn’t felt in years.

He made me feel like there was something more out there waiting for me. I just didn’t know if he was what was waiting for me, or if he would be gone before I knew it.

Back when we had first met, I felt the attraction between us, but I was married and never thought of cheating on Lo’s dad. Henry was my love until the day he died. But it had been a long ten years since Henry had left me.

Looking at Gravel gave me hope, but the real question was, was I putting faith in something that was just going to leave after he took what he wanted from me? I didn’t know if there would be anything left when he's gone.

Was that a risk I was willing to take?

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Gravel

The door clicked shut behind her, and I let out the breath I had been holding. Fuck me I was in a lot of pain. Believe it or not, this was not the first time I had been shot.

Twenty years ago the Collinsworth chapter had gone through a turf war of their own, and I had gotten caught in the crossfire. I had been shot in the leg, but I didn’t remember it hurting this much before.

I laid back on the pillows and swung my feet up on the bed. I turned over on my right side, taking pressure off my wound and looked out the sliding glass door. I had never been to Ethel’s house before, not for her lack of trying, though. She had always invited me out when all the other brothers would come, but I always found a reason not to.

I liked Ethel, but she always made me yearn for the one thing I hadn’t wanted in a long time. She made me want to settle down and just take things slow. The exact opposite of what my life had been for the past twenty years. I loved having the wind at my back and any willing woman waiting in bed for me.

I had met Ethel when King had joined the Knights, and she had turned my world upside down ever since. King had brought her out to a ‘family’ picnic a year into being a Knight. She had brought a shit ton of fried chicken and potato salad and had somehow worked her way into a world that she looked like she didn’t belong in.

Ethel was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. Even now, fifteen years later and her blonde hair turned white, she still took my breath away every time I saw her. Her body was still fit and trim and her skin still flawless. She always looked so put together, even in the jeans and tee she was wearing today; she looked fantastic.

I shifted on the bed, trying to get more comfortable and shut my eyes. I wasn’t looking forward to a big dinner tonight, but I would be there because Ethel was. I was getting too old to keep running from her. It was time to sit back and see what happened.

Ethel could be the thing to make me or break me. Either way, I wasn’t going anywhere.

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Chapter 2

Ethel

“Just tell me the word and I’ll get him out of here,” Lo said to me as I pulled the last of the chicken out of the fryer and set it on the platter that was already piled high.

“He’s okay, Lo. Getting shot doesn’t make a person happy.” I reasoned as I set the platter on the table. I had everything else set out and Meg was filling glasses with iced tea or milk. Lo was sitting at the head of the table with Remy at his right.

Remy was the spitting image of Meg. I had told her that, and she had denied it, saying if you were to see Remy and his dad stand next to each other you wouldn’t be able to tell them apart. Remy didn’t have a comment, only smiling at his mom and shaking his head. Lo did the same thing, letting Meg think what she wanted.

“If he gives you any problems, you better tell me. He may be older than me, but I can still kick his ass,” Lo said, his eyes on me as I sat down at the table.

“I'm all right, Lo. Now stop worrying and tell him dinner is ready,” I ordered as I grabbed my glass of tea and took a sip.

“I’m up, woman,’ Gravel said as he walked into the dining room and gingerly sat in the chair next to me. ‘The smell of fried chicken woke me up,” Gravel said as he grabbed a roll, ripped it open and started slathering it with butter.

“Well, it looks like your appetite isn’t suffering,” Meg smirked as she sat down in the chair between Lo and Gravel.

“Even if I weren't hungry, I’d still be out here eating.’ Gravel looked at Remy and winked. Freaking winked. ‘You ever get the offer for Ethel to cook for you, take it and don’t leave till all the foods gone,” Gravel advised Remy.

“Yes, sir,” Remy said as he grabbed two pieces of chicken and passed it to Lo.

I sat there in shock, amazed that Gravel had just paid me a compliment. “Eat, woman,” Gravel said, shoving the plate of chicken at me.

I grabbed a thigh and filled my plate with potatoes and corn casserole. The table was quiet, everyone digging in, enjoying dinner. This was when all that time in the kitchen paid off., watching the people I cared about enjoy the fruits of my labor.

“How are Rigid and Cyn?” I asked. I hadn’t seen either of them for a couple of weeks. I had heard from Meg that Cyn’s ex had been taken care of, and they thought the threat was gone. Now with Gravel getting shot, the threat was still very much there.

“Good. She got her cast off today. I have never seen her so happy to bend her arm.” Meg giggled as she grabbed another bun and cut it open.

“She finally let Rigid in?” I asked.

“Oh yeah, that and more. They are inseparable. Rigid even changed his hours at work; he comes into the garage when Cyn is at work.” Lo put in, shaking his head.

“Hey, you do the same thing too! Ever since you trained Turtle to help take care of the front end until you come in,” Meg teased, waving her butter knife at Lo.

Lo grabbed the end of her knife and pulled her to him. He leaned in, kissing her lightly on the lips and whispered, “You wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Meg blushed, looking around, realizing they had an audience and snatched her knife out of Lo’s hand. “Keep telling yourself that,” she mumbled as she shoveled a mound of tators into her mouth.

Lo threw his head back laughing, and I smiled. I loved seeing my son so happy with Meg. I never thought that I would be able to see this. I had waited so long for him to find a woman, all along afraid he would end up like Gravel. I know Gravel wasn’t unhappy, but I just felt he was missing so much living his life the way he was. But who was I to tell someone how they should live their life.

I glanced over at the man who had been occupying my thoughts and saw him staring at me. Our eyes connected and I couldn’t look away. His hypnotizing eyes drew me in and wouldn’t let me go.

The corners of his mouth lifted into a smile, and he winked at me, releasing me from my trance. I shook my head and looked around the table, making sure no one had seen us. Meg was the only one who was looking at me with a knowing look in her eye. Crap.

“You need to cut that tree down in the side yard before it falls on the house, Ma,” Lo said in between bites.

“I know. I’ve been putting it off until it got a little cooler,” I replied, setting my fork down on my plate having eaten enough.

“You wait much longer, the snow will be flying soon,” Gravel rumbled as he refilled his glass and took a long drink.

“I’ll call someone about it tomorrow,” I said, mentally reminding myself to do it right away in the morning.

“You don’t need to call anyone to take it down. I’ll have some of the brothers come out, and Remy can help, too. We can get it done in one afternoon. All you’ll have to do is probably feed everyone,” Lo informed me as he nodded at Remy.

“I can help. I help my dad all the time with cutting trails and stuff,” Remy said.

“Ok, sounds good to me. When do you want to do it?” I stood up and grabbed my empty plate and took it to the sink.

“Two weekends from now sound good to you? We’re still getting caught up from Rigid being gone the last month,” Lo told me.

“Sounds good. Meg, you can help me with the food while the guys work,” I said, winking at her.

“I’m down with that. I’m sure Cyn will be here, too,” Meg said as she grabbed hers and Lo’s empty plates and walked them to the sink. Remy followed her with his dishes, and they both started the water to do the dishes.

“I can help out, too,” Gravel said as he grabbed the last roll and slathered it with butter.

“You’re hurt,” I said, pointing out the obvious.

“He’ll be a lot better two weeks from now. He can help out with the light work. You let him sit around doing nothing, Ma, he’s going to go all soft. Then his age is going to start showing,” Lo joked, kicking back in his chair and throwing his arms behind his head.

“Fuck you, I work just as hard as you, if not harder. Fuck me, I was the one doing all the work on the strip club before I got fucking shot. Someone else can handle all that shit now,” Gravel snapped.

“Alright, alright,’ Lo said as he held his hands up in surrender. ‘We’ll see how much you can do in two weeks. Better rest that shoulder.” Lo threw a wink at me and walked over to the sink, putting his glass in the soapy water.

“You know you aren’t going to be able to keep up with them. I don’t know why you need to act like you’re one of those young bucks,” I scolded Gravel and gathered the used napkins and forks.

“Stop,’ Gravel said as he grabbed my hand that was reaching for his glass. ‘Sit down. Meg and Remy can take care of the dishes.”

“They’re guests,’ I said as I tried to get my hand out of his grasp. ‘You should head back to bed and get some more rest.”

“I’m not fucking tired. I just slept for two hours,” Gravel growled.

“Then lay down. Rest your shoulder.”

“Is this what the next month is going to be like? You telling me what to do and fussing all over me?” Gravel said, his hand losing its grip but not letting me go.

“If you don’t start listening to me, yes. That’s exactly what it’s going to be,” I replied flatly.

“I never knew you had this feistiness in you, darling. I think I might like it,” Gravel whispered.

“I never knew you were such a jackass. I think I might stab you with this fork,’ I whispered back vehemently. ‘Let go of my hand.”

“Feisty.” He mouthed at me as he let go of my hand.

I snatched it back, holding it to my chest. “I think those pain pills are going to your head,” I said as I rubbed my hand. He hadn’t hurt me, but his touch had scorched my skin. That was the first time Gravel had ever touched me.

“You know what, darlin’? I think for the first time in a long time, I’m finally thinking clearly,” he said with a wink and walked into the living room and gingerly sat down on the couch.

“You want to bring those dishes over, Ethel?” Meg called, bringing me out of my daze. I grabbed all the dishes, stacking them on top of each other and carried them to the sink.

“I can finish these,” I said, bumping Meg out of the way with my hip.

“Hey, Mom? Jack just texted me. He wants to hit up the batting cages tonight. Is it ok if he picks me up here?” I glanced over my shoulder and watched Remy talk to his mom.

“Remy, I barely see you anymore. I told you we were spending the night with Ethel. The answer is no,” Meg replied, her hip cocked out with her hand resting on it.

“Fine,” Remy said as he headed to the living room with his nose in his phone.

“You could have let him go, hun. He’s young and doesn’t want to hang out with his mom on a Friday night,” I chided as I dunked the last pot in the water and started scrubbing it.

“He’s going to be off to college in a year; he can spend some time with me before he leaves.” Meg pouted as she dried off the glasses and put them back in the cabinet.

Meg and I finished the dishes while she ranted and cried how she didn’t want Remy to leave, but she was ready for him to leave. She was crazy at times.

I kept an eye on the living room, watching the boys as they talked and watched TV. I put the coffee on to brew and pulled out a peach pie I had made while Gravel slept when I glanced over and saw his head begin to bob, his fatigue hitting him.

“I saw the way you two were looking at each other over dinner. Is there anything going on between you two?” Meg asked as she leaned a hip against the counter and crossed her arms over her chest.

“I was looking at everyone,” I said vaguely, cutting the pie and putting it on plates.

“Mmhmm. You know what I’m talking about,’ she said, smirking at me. ‘The tables have turned, Ethel. Now it’s me who gets to bestow words of wisdom upon you.”

“Oh jeez,’ I mumbled, ‘there are no words of wisdom I need to hear. There is nothing going on between Gravel and me. Lo made
me watch him while he healed if you remember correctly. This was not my choice.”

“Ok, I’ll give you that. But let me just say, if the way that man was looking at you earlier is any indication about what he wants with you, you better run or be prepared for what he has in mind for you.” Meg picked up two plates and headed into the living room.

I looked out the window over the sink into the back yard and thought about what Meg said. I had wanted Gravel for a long time, but I had buried those feelings knowing that I wasn’t what he wanted or needed.

How ironic would it be, that now that I was over Gravel, he wanted me? But did I want him now?

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