Cole (Dirty Misfits MC Book 4)

All afternoon, I kept staring at her before one of the dogs would nudge me and cause me to look away. All afternoon, I kept running my eyes up and down her shimmering legs while drinking in the fact that her freckles were peppered across more than simply her face. Her thighs were covered in them. They painted themselves up and down her calves. And even though I couldn’t see her arms as much since she kept waving down the kids with them, I knew they were probably dotted all over them as well.

I found myself wanting to kiss every single one of them.

A dog nudged my ankle and I looked down to see Max dropping Opie’s ball at my feet. I looked around for my dog and I found him lounging in the sun on his back, and the scene made me chuckle. I shook my head as I picked up the ball and chucked it as far as my sitting position would allow.

And I watched as that border collie took off like a bat out of hell in order to chase after it.

“Good boy!” I exclaimed as he gathered the ball in his mouth.

I clapped my hands as he charged back toward me and set the ball softly in my lap.

“Oh, you’re such a good boy. Yes, you are. Good job for being so gentle.”

The dog almost seemed to smile at me as I scratched him behind his ears. But once I plucked that ball out of my lap, he was at the ready to peel off after it. I cocked my arm back and stood up, chucking it all the way across the damned dog park. Well, maybe not all the way, but pretty much all the way.

And he made a beeline for it without so much as stumbling around to find it.

My eyes gravitated away from Max and back toward Molly, and the smile she had on her face made my heart skip a beat. The kids had come rushing toward her to give her hugs, and I’d never seen someone so happy to hug children that weren’t theirs. That told me she had a good heart. A giving heart. A heart that made room for those that needed love.

I didn’t know much about her, but I already knew she was fucking remarkable.

Still, the afternoon passed much too quickly, and it was time to head out. Opie had practically fallen asleep in the middle of the dog park and even Max had worn himself out enough to pop a squat at my feet. But when I saw Molly usher the kiddos over toward the SUV, I stood to my feet.

Just give her your damn number, idiot.

I watched as Molly’s eyes met mine, then she walked toward me. Her hips swayed with every step and her tits jiggled in the softest fashion that made me want to wrap my lips around them and never let go. I drew in a deep breath to steel myself, forcing my cock to keep at bay. And as I sat back down on the bench, Max scurried away and went to go track down Opie.

Leaving Molly and I alone when she sat down next to me.

“I can’t thank you enough for what you did for me today.”

I gazed into her beautiful emerald eyes before I brought my fingers to my lips. I whistled, beckoning for the dogs to come running. And boy, did they rush us. I watched Max leap into Molly’s lap as Opie ran practically head first into my leg. And as I chuckled and scratched the top of his head, I watched her pepper Max’s neck and back with kisses.

I looked down at Opie and watched him flip over, so I rubbed his tummy. And all the while, I felt Molly’s stare against the profile of my face.

“Good boy,” I murmured as I pulled my hand away.

He jumped up into my lap and I smiled greatly before I buried my face against his fur, losing myself in his comforting scent. But it was Molly’s voice that brought me back to reality.

“Well, I need to head back home and get the kids fed before they pass out for the rest of the day.”

I looked back over at her. “That might throw a wrench into their sleeping plans for tonight.”

She shook her head. “You don’t know these kids. If you let them, they’ll sleep all day and then sleep all night like they didn’t just sleep all day.”

I chuckled. “Ah, to be young again. I was like that as a teenager.”

She snickered. “I can’t ever sleep past eight. If I don’t wake up until nine, that’s sleeping in for me.”

“Nope. When I sleep in, I do it like a professional. I’m lucky if I see lunch on time in the mornings I do get to catch up.”

She giggled. “Well, you get some sleep for the both of us, yeah?”

When she stood and put Max back down on the ground, my soul panicked. Well, I wasn’t sure if it was my soul, but it was something deep down that I couldn’t explain. I had dreaded this moment ever since I told her I’d watch her dog for her. I had dreaded the idea of parting ways, more so because I wasn’t sure if I’d ever seen her again.

But I couldn’t let her slip away.

Even though I knew I was dangerous.

“So, when can I see you again?” I asked as I stood to my feet.

Molly got Max back on his leash and she blushed. “I, uh, I don’t know. I wasn’t sure if you wanted to see each other again.”

I grinned. “A beautiful woman like yourself? I’d be stupid not to want to see you again.”

Her blush deepened, and the color suited her well. “Well, sure. I’d like that.”

I nodded. “Good. Hand me your phone.”

“What?”

I held out my hand. “Cell phone? I’m going to put my number in there.”

Her eyes widened. “Oh! Yes! Hold on.”

She dug around in her pocket before pulling it out for me.

“Here you go,” she said.

I looked down at the screen. “You going to unlock it for me.”

She sighed. “Jesus, I’m so sorry. I don’t know what’s going on with me today.”

I smiled as she unlocked her cell phone and handed it back to me. She was so cute when she was flustered, and I wondered what other cute little secrets of her personality she had locked away from the rest of the world.

“There we go,” I said as I saved my number, “but make sure you text me so I can have yours.”

I watched her type away on her phone before I felt mine vibrate. “Done.”

I nodded toward the SUV. “Now, go on. You’ve got kids that need food and naps, and I’ve got a dog that needs a bath.”

She giggled. “Sounds good to me. We’ll talk soon?”

I nodded. “I’ll call you sometime tonight and we can talk about what we want to do tomorrow.”

She blinked. “Wait, tomorrow?”

“Yeah. Unless you’re not off work tomorrow. Do you work Sundays?”

“Actually, no. I don’t. Are you off tomorrow?”

I grinned. “Sounds like a plan. I’ll call you tonight. Opie? Come!”

And as I walked away, leaving her tripping and stumbling over her own words, power rushed through my veins. Strength filled my tired muscles. For the first time in a very long time, I felt like my life was more than just the guys. Just the trade. Just the bikes, the rides, and the bullshit.

For the first time since I joined up with the Dirty Misfits, I felt like my life was finally moving forward.

And I couldn’t wait to talk with her this evening about our plans.