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It’s been a long, boring day with no recoveries to do. I made sure my room was clean so Miri wouldn’t have to do it, or give me an ear bashing for it.

Miri spent the day with Cilla before giving Jo an hour in the kitchen clearing counters, emptying the dishwashers, and doing general kitchen stuff. Miri spent some time helping Anna with the laundry, too.

Walking into the common room, I head towards Miri, who is sitting with Rory. I hadn’t seen Rory arrive, but she’s cuddling that German Shepherd puppy. It’s going to be spoiled if she’s not careful, and nobody wants a badly behaved pet around the place.

I dodge Trix who is doing her best to grab my attention, and if she doesn’t fuck off, I’m going to have to speak to her about disrespecting an old lady. That’s something we don’t let stand around here.

I notice that Miri sees Trix’s attempt, but she says nothing to me when I take a seat next to her. I wrap my arm around the back of her chair as I shuffle my chair closer. I’m earning a side-eye from Miri, and a small smirk from Rory, but I don’t care. I’m worming my way into my old lady’s affections.

Hot Rod walks into the common room and takes a seat with us. “I’ve been speaking to Trace. He’s gathering a few of the veterans together, and they are going to watch Snake. If he or his men attempt to grab a woman they are going to step in, but they’ll let me know so I can inform Pres. Cilla says my woman is going to get grabbed by them, and if she does I’m gonna kill every single one of the fuckers.”

Miri leans forward in her seat. “If you know they are going to grab her, why are you still here? You should be over there, at the ready. If that was Joker sitting here and I was in danger, I’d have nothing to do with him.” Hot Rod sits straighter in his seat while looking at Miri. It doesn’t faze her at all, and she continues. “If you want to be a knight in shining armor, then you need to shift your butt and get back over there, pronto.”

Rory nods agreement. “She’s right, Hot Rod. You need to get to where you will be on hand if, or when something happens.”

As Rory finishes speaking Hot Rod is out of his chair and out of the common room before we can say more. But five minutes later we hear a hog firing up. We look at each other smirking. Yeah, he’s gone after his woman. I just hope Cilla has given him enough information to save her.

Chapter 17

JOKER

It’s late in the evening on Saturday and I’m tired. I walk over to where Tracker is sitting at a corner table. It’s his favorite place in the evening before he retires for the day.

“Pres, the comment about rental properties. I think I’m on the same page as you, and that’s Miri. She has enough legal knowledge and experience in finding whatever needs finding to do a fuckin’ good job of finding, purchasing, and managing a team to flip houses. Or even for us to keep for brothers that join us like Jay and Tripp. What are your thoughts?”

“I was thinking along the same lines as you, Joker. If you are going to keep Miri as your old lady, she needs a purpose. She is used to being busy. She’s got a good brain inside that skull of hers, and we could make use of it for her sake and for the benefit of the club,” Tracker looks around the room before continuing. “If we are finding old ladies now, we need to be able to see their talents, and I mean like Rory who is checking all the businesses are working at their best financially. She is also spending time with Coin, and you know it’s working. Rory has settled into club life, and Truck’s life easily. We cannot have old ladies doing nothing if they have the ability and want to be busy. Cilla is more than happy to be a mother to Ayla. Finger is good with that too, and that is how it should be.”

Nodding because I totally agree with what he is saying. If Miri wants to work, we can put her in charge of this project, and it’s an important one she can get her teeth into, if she wants that.

“I’ll speak with her, Joker. Leave it with me. You take her out, get an actual relationship going with her. So far, it’s been a case of an old lady in name to keep her secure. If you want her as a true old lady you’ve gotta earn it.”

“I've already decided to give Miri my full attention. She’s my old lady and I’m not letting her go now, or in the future. I’m going to walk her around the compound and see where she fancies us building our home. It’ll be a joint venture, and she’ll have as much input as I do on what the house will be like,” I don’t waste more time. I step away from the table, give Tracker a two-finger tip to my temple, and head to my room where Miri will more than likely be asleep.

As I’m walking towards my room Echo comes out of his. “Echo, have you been working on your wooing technique?” I smirk as I ask. I know I’m an asshole, but who ever heard of a biker wooing?

“I’m not sure it’s working, Joker. Briony keeps telling me she’s not ready for a relationship, and she’s got too much going on trying to get herself right. She won’t let me help her at all,” Echo looks miserable.

“How about you just be her friend? Show her you are reliable, thoughtful, solid, and that she can count on you without you asking anything in return.”

Echo looks at me and I can see he’s thinking about what I’ve said. “I’m gonna do that, Joker. Thanks, brother,” Echo slaps my shoulder hard enough I take two steps forward but laugh as he reenters his room and slams the door behind him.

I quietly open the door to my room and close it just as quietly once I’ve entered. I slide off my cut, hang it behind the door, and step closer to the bed where Miri is blowing bubbles in her sleep. How the fuck cute is that!

As quietly as I can, I head into the adjoining bathroom and wash up, doing everything I can not to wake Miri. Once ready I climb into bed, keeping my boxers on because I don’t want her screaming pervert when she wakes in the morning. I turn to face Miri and smell the lavender or rose, or whatever it is she has on her skin, and think how it’s something that will always remind me of her.

Waking, I’m hot and there is no wonder when Miri is plastered against my side, leg over my thighs, arm around my waist and head tucked against my chest. I slowly raise my arm so I can push my hair out of my face. Looking down at Miri, I give a huge smile because she’s going to wake any minute and wonder why she’s got herself a hunk of a man in bed with her. A man who has morning wood too.

Fifteen minutes later, Miri is still sleeping. I need to piss so I slide out of bed and head into the bathroom to empty my bladder, shower, and get ready for the day.

Walking back into the bedroom, Miri is still out cold! I know she is fine, as she’s breathing lightly and has color in her face. I dress for the day, and standing next to the bed I’m thinking Miri needs to get a move on. I pull the cover off her, slap her ass lightly and shout, “Wakey, wakey!”

“What? What the hell, Joker. What are you doing?” Miri tries to grab the cover, but I drag it further away from her while tutting.

“Come on, Miri. We have a lot to do today, and you need to get your ass out of bed.” I turn to the door and as I reach out to open it, I chuckle. “You have a meeting with Pres today and I want to show you the plots, but we need a conversation before that. Come on, let’s get breakfast over and then we can talk.”

Nearly two hours later we are walking around the compound and I’m pointing out plots that are available for us to build a house. I stop walking and throw an arm around Miri’s shoulders as we look at one plot that has taken her eye. “What do you say to giving US a chance, Miri? A proper chance. A genuine relationship on which we can build a life, a life together?”

Miri looks up at me, studying my face. I keep calm and still while she comes to whatever decision she is going to make. Turning under my arm, Miri lifts onto her toes and places her lips softly over mine. “Yeah, let’s do that, Joker. But I need to know one thing first.”