“Hey baby,” I coo and squat down next to them.
Deeds lifts her up for me to take and I nuzzle my daughter, breathing in her sweet baby scent.
“You look good,” Deeds compliments.
“She looks hawt,” Lynn says as she strolls out of the kitchen, flicking my ass with the dishtowel she was drying her hands on. “Are you staying for dinner? Archer called to tell you he needed to handle something and it’ll be an all-nighter.”
“Of course,” I grumble and take a deep breath in an effort to let my grumpiness fade with Queenie’s scent.
“Deeds, can you go away?” Lynn orders.
Deeds’ eyes widen. “What?”
“Can’t you see your son is fucking up again? I’ll handle it, and you need to leave since I can’t trash talk men in general without stepping on your dick.” Lynn shoots him a “Duh” look.
Deeds cups himself, glares at his woman and stalks out of the room. The only thing for me to do is laugh and shake my head. These two are so weird and yet perfect for each other. And to think they have been together for decades and have been through so much.
“It’s hard, I know,” Lynn starts. “Not just men being an asshole part. They just don’t see us worry about things while managing all the stuff thrown at our, and their feet. But let me tell you something. I’ve been where you are for many years, and being the old lady of the president of an MC is hard. The club comes first and with the dynamics of everything it’s tough to deal with life at full speed. But being the old lady of the president of Broken Deeds MC also comes with the angle of danger and responsibilities from the cases they handle. Even after barely a year swinging the gavel, Archer is still getting in the routine of things, and it’s taking all of his time while he tries to be there for you and Queenie.”
“You’re not telling me anything I don’t know.” I nuzzle Queenie and give the woman I’ve known all my life a sad smile.
Lynn is the sister of Zack, the president of Areion Fury MC. She’s the one who tied these MCs together all those years ago. Lynn and Blue–Zack’s old lady–were neighbors as kids and they’ve been best friends ever since.
“All I do is think and get frustrated and in the end I can’t even pinpoint what I’m angry or frustrated about. Today I decided I wanted a change and when my mom asked me to pick up a laptop, I asked if I could buy it instead.”
“Smart woman,” Lynn compliments. “When Deeds and I first got together I was bored out of my mind too. And I don’t mean to sound like you’re sitting on your thumb with the little one you’re holding but you, my sweet child, have a magnificent brain, like your mother. It would be a shame not to put it to work. Ask Archer if he has something nerdy for you to do. That’s clearly two birds, one stone and all; helping your man and the club while finding another way to chew off some of his attention since he needs to divide his chunk over all of the stuff he needs to do.”
I instantly start to shake my head. “I offered him the first months we were together. His sharp reply made it very clear Ganza is the computer guy for Broken Deeds MC, and he has it under control.”
Lynn holds her hand up. “That might be so but you’ve been here longer now. You were pregnant when you asked him and he didn’t want the two clubs mixing with everything going on. The two of you didn’t exactly start with everyone knowing about it. Dams freaking out about you two getting pregnant and married all within a few weeks’ time.” Lynn releases a deep sigh. “It’s all in the past now, but you can imagine how Archer taking over as the president due to a CIA investigation and renewing contracts for us working with the government and solving cases does cause issues when there’s a dispute with another MC. Like I said, the situation is different now.”
I place a kiss on Queenie’s head. It’s all settled now because of her; being pregnant at the time, and Archer marrying me to show them what we had was a forever deal. It was why my father saw reason and buried his grudge.
“You’re right. Well, I have my new laptop and I’m going to work on a code first to get my fingers and brain fired up. I just need a distraction. Maybe I’ll bug Ganza and ask him if he has issues with anything. He likes cracking games and other stuff for fun.”
Lynn holds out her hands and smiles at Queenie, who in return leans back with her arms out to get to her grandma. Lynn takes her from me and blows a raspberry on her neck, making Queenie giggle.
“That’s a start. And I like seeing you in jeans, showing off those sexy curves.” Lynn shoots me a wink.
Without thinking I blurt, “It all started when I picked lace panties instead of comfy granny panties.”
Lynn throws her head back and laughs. “Welcome to the mom club, where being comfortable is the priority over sexiness. You know, because our men rip off any barrier to get us naked without looking anyway. But you go, girl. I bet that will snag Archer’s attention too. But most of all? It makes you feel normal and sexy again. And besides being the president’s old lady, and a mom, you deserve a little of being just you.”
I brush the tip of my finger along Queenie’s cheek. “Since she came into this world the days have blurred from one into the other.”
“And you’ve only dropped her here a few hours here and there the last couple of weeks. Basically, only when you wanted to punch away some of your frustrations. It doesn’t hurt to get some you time, Bee. Maybe think of daycare, or drop her here, or at your parents’ some more to let you focus on work or do whatever you want. I know you’re not the type of girl to party, but a night out dancing might be fun.”
I give my mother-in-law a thankful smile. “I’ll think about it. Though the night out isn’t my thing, never was. But I know what you mean.”
Another weight falls from my shoulders and for the first time in months I feel as if I’m slowly moving forward instead of falling deeper into darkness.
CHAPTER TWO
– ARCHER –
“I knew I’d find you in here,” my woman says as I hear the door to my office fall shut behind her.
I close the file in front of me and rub my eyes as I grumble. “What time is it?”
“Two in the morning.” Her voice is right beside me and I release a string of curses as I stand and watch how she places the baby monitor on my desk.
I cup her face and take in her beauty. Even with the dark circles underneath her eyes and her honey colored hair pulled up in a messy bun, this woman is a sight to behold. I’ve always loved her. In some way as kids growing up, more as teenagers, and finally in every way once we were adults; she was only ever meant to be mine.
Glancing down I now notice her legs are wrapped in something other than sweatpants or leggings. I take a step back and let my eyes feast on her curvy appearance wrapped in tight blue jeans.
“You look stunning,” I croak, realizing how long it’s been since she did something as simple as putting on jeans.
And I know it’s been awhile because I notice every single thing about her. Especially the change in her mood lately. Though she hides it well and you wouldn’t notice a thing when she’s around Queenie. I know I’m mostly to blame with work and the club eating away my time.