Chapter 10

Ailee
I have been here for a few hours now. The little ones have either gone home with their parents or a babysitter. And Merigold tells me now is when the adult party begins. She and Ace asked me to stay for a while. I’m still feeling ok. I’m not too tired so after checking with Callen and Finn to see if they are ready to go we decided to stay a bit longer. Besides now is a good time to observe the club when they aren’t being on their best behavior
in front of the kids. That is when you can truly find out about a person. Very similar to watching animals in their natural habitat.
I’m sitting with Merigold and her husbands, Ace, Callen, Finn, Tank, Thor and Trina. The club is getting louder as the guys are drinking freely. The bunnies are working throughout the guys trying to get attention from whoever will give it to them. The music is playing and everyone is having a good time so far. I’m also enjoying myself except for something nagging at me. I noticed that whenever Ace introduced me he never mentioned that I’m his daughter. And for some reason it is bothering me. Is he ashamed of me? Does he not want this family to know about me? He said he wanted me to get to know him and his family so why wouldn’t he tell them about me? I don’t understand. And then I see the way he treats the other girls and their kids. He is very close to them. He treats them like they are his kids. But he is treating me like a temporary guest. Is that what I am? I don’t like being mixed up like this. It is not in my nature.
The next song starts and Kelly, her brother, Merigold and Rowdy get up to line dance with several others. But that is not what gets my attention. There is a guy I haven’t met dancing with them. He is wearing a leather jacket telling me he is part of the club. And trust me even with all the people I met tonight I would remember this guy. He has to be the most gorgeous man I have ever seen. “ Hoollyy FEK.” Finn looks at me “ Ailee
you ok?” Shite, I said that out loud. “ Aye. All good.” Trina nudges me and gives me a knowing smirk. I shake my head and turn back to the dance floor.
I want to get a better look at this man.From where I’m sitting I can be sure of his height but a good guess is six foot four. He is wearing a white tee shirt that looks like it was painted on. Thank the gods for that because I am definitely enjoying the view. I let my eyes devour him as I take in his pecs and roam my down his chest to his washboard abs. He has on a cowboy hat and boots. He has to be the hottest man I have ever seen.
I get a brief image of me dragging my nails down his chest followed by my tongue. What the hell? Where did that come from? That is not like me at all. But it doesn’t stop me from continuing my visual exploration. Just below his abs is a V that gets lost in black jeans. Jeans that cling to nicely muscular thighs. Oh my he is a fine specimen of man.
All the guys here are muscular, tall and attractive in their own way but this guy. I don't know, he is just more. I want to get a closer, more intimate look at him. I pull my eyes from him when Trina whispers to me “ They are pretty good aren’t they.” “ Aye very good.” I say. When the song is over Merigold and Kelley come back over to the table. Merigold sits on Axle’s lap and Kelley goes over to Gretchen and Brick. She grabs Gretchen's hand. “ What are you doing, baby?” Gretchen asks. Kelley smiles, “ I’m going to dance with the most beautiful woman here.” Gretchen huffs “ You need your eyes checked. I’m as big as a whale.” I tried hard not to stare but watched the two of them. Their interaction is so sweet. I even watched Brick but all he did was watch them with pure love in his eyes. “ That is where you are wrong, my love. You are so beautiful you are glowing. I thought I showed you this morning how I felt about your body but I guess I’ll have to show you again. For now I want to slow dance with my wife and hold her in my arms.” Kelley says. Gretchen reluctantly gets up and goes to dance with Kelley.
Brick caught me watching them “ Gretchen has been feeling very unattractive since her belly has gotten bigger. Kelley is proving her wrong.” “ How are you handling that brother?” Rowdy asks as he places Merigold’s feet across his lap. “ I can handle Gretchen not feeling pretty better than I can handle Speed crying. Gretchen is an easy fix. We just fuck her every chance we get that way she never doubts how much we want her.” Brick says it like it is the most normal conversation in the world. I have never heard anyone talk so openly about their relationship. I notice no one else bats an eye at what he said. Brick even continues like he was just discussing his sex life. “ But Speed crying I just didn’t know what to do.” I’m very confused and I’m sure if I should continue sitting there or get up and give them some privacy.
Kelley has come back to sit down with Gretchen. Brick pulls Gretchen in his lap and Kelley beside him with Gretchen's feet in her lap. Kelley looks at me “ I can see you are confused.” “ I was just thinking that this is obviously a private conversation and was about to excuse myself.” I told her. “ No, stay. You are one of us now.” Kelley said. Then she explained how Brick freaked out about her crying. Because Kelley wasn’t a person who cried often and when she was crying over the fact that she couldn’t fit in her race car Brick didn’t know what to do but luckily Gretchen did. They also explained that while Kelley had given birth to Alana her and Gretchen were her mom as well as the new baby. Brick was the father of the kids. I didn’t need all the details on how it worked. It wasn’t my business. But there was one thing you could see just by looking at them. You could almost feel the love between them. Same as Merigold with her husbands. And Tank and Lilly. It was beautiful to see. I was almost envious.

“ Can I have your attention please?” Viper yells standing in the middle of the yard. We all turn our attention to him and the guy standing next to him. I believe he is Kelley’s brother Marcos. “ Most of you know what I’m fixing to say so I will keep it short. There was a vote taken yesterday. And it was unanimous. I want you to welcome our newest prospect, Ratchet.” Viper says as he helps Marcos put on the leather vest I come to know is a kutte. There is a round of cheers and clapping. Ratchet signs and Kelley helps me understand what he is saying. “ Thank you for your votes, brothers. I promise I won’t let you down.” Ace taps me on the shoulder “ Come on, I’ll introduce you to the rest of the guys.”