Train didn’t answer the loaded question.

“Shade doesn’t even know me, and neither do you. I’m a grown woman. When Shade was a mess because Lily wouldn’t give him the time of day, I was the one who kept him from making a mistake. My love life is none of your business, and I don’t need you tattling every five seconds. If Shade wants to know something I’m doing, tell him to ask me his own damn self.”

“I will.” Train stood, leaving the kitchen.

Penni looked at the swinging door Train had gone through. “I screwed up, didn’t I?” Penni asked Jackal, who had torn a cinnamon roll in two pieces, handing the other half to her.

“It could have gone better.”

“I better go apologize.”

“Sit still. You wanted Train to see you as your own person, not Shade’s sister. You’ve accomplished that. Don’t whine about it now.”

He was right. It was time Train recognized her as a woman. Whether that determined if they would develop a relationship or not, she had to find out. She couldn’t stay in limbo forever. Penni’s biggest fear was that life would pass her by in a blink. What if she died in a car accident or any other crazy shit she had a habit of finding herself in before she’d had a chance to make love?

“I finished breakfast,” Genny informed them. “I’m going home to get ready for church if none of you need anything.”

“No, thank you. I’ll see you in church.”

Genny didn’t seem overjoyed that she would see her there. Penni made a mental note to ask Shade about her.

Genny departed, leaving her alone with Jackal.

“I better go get dressed, too.” Penni rose, carrying her cup to the sink.

“What time does church start?”

Penni almost dropped her cup. “You’re going?”

“How would it look if I didn’t sit in the pew with you?”

“Shade doesn’t go to church with Lily.”

“I don’t mind church. Just don’t ask me to give witness or eat dinner with the pastor.”

“Too late. You had dinner with him last night.” When he looked confused, Penni explained, “Lucky is the pastor.”

“And he lives with The Last Riders?”

Penni nodded. “Yes. That’s his house they’re building next to Razer’s.”

“And he’s a pastor?” Jackal repeated. “He’s married to Willa, the woman who makes cakes and cupcakes?”

“Yes.”

“The one who makes the peanut butter candy?”

“Yes.” Was that a twitch of jealousy that had her clenching her nails against her palms at the rapturous look that came over his face?

“Rider had five pieces of it. Stingy fucker only gave me half of one. That woman knows the way to a man’s heart.”

“Really? Peanut butter candy and you’re for the taking?” Snidely, Penny wondered if her shoe would fit up his ass.

“Hell, nah. The way to my heart is through my dick.”

22

“Are you going to the diner for lunch?”

Jackal stood in the background as Penni talked to her friends. Strangely, he didn’t feel uncomfortable in his jeans and T-shirt. The parishioners were dressed in everything from their Sunday best to jeans and T-shirts.

“No, I’m going to drive to Cash’s house and see Rachel and the new baby. I want to introduce her to Jackal.” She waved her hand toward him. The pale, blonde woman stared at him curiously as Penni tugged him closer. “Beth, I know you’ve been busy with the boys having the stomach flu, so this is Jackal, a friend of mine. Jackal, this is Lily’s sister.”

Jackal shook her outstretched hand. The woman was surprised, and from the looks of the other women gathered around her, she wasn’t the only one.

“It’s nice to meet you.”

Jackal wasn’t given the time to say anything else before Penni led him to her rental car.

Viper gave him a glare as he ducked into the front seat, and Jackal pulled down the sun visor to shield Viper’s unhappiness that he had left the clubhouse despite his orders.

“If I disappear, make sure you call the cops.”

“That wouldn’t do you any good. Knox is the sheriff.”

“I should get hazard pay for pretending to be your boyfriend.”

“It could be worse; you could really be my boyfriend.”

“I’ve seen some of the men you’ve gone out with. You’d never pick a guy like me if you weren’t trying to make Train jealous.”

“Why not?” She took her eyes away from the road to shoot him a frowning glance.

“Because I don’t kiss your ass.”

“Don’t be stupid. Do you see Train making any effort to kiss my ass? That’s not my priority in a relationship.”

“So what about Train does it for you?”

“Train doesn’t talk a lot, but when he’s with you, you know you’re safe. I’ve known him since I was a kid, and he’s never treated me like I was stupid or an inconvenience. When I wanted to shoot a gun, he taught me how. When I wanted to ride on Shade’s motorcycle, he sneaked me out of the house and taught me.”

“You can ride a motorcycle?”

“No, but he tried. He made up reasons his bike was getting scratched up, and Shade found out. Then he talked Shade into letting him teach me. I gave up after a week.”

“So he was like Shade except nicer?”

Penni turned onto a smaller road that was off to the side. The house she pulled in front of was secluded. No one would even know it was there unless they had searched for it. Large trees surrounded the property, and the cabin blended into its surroundings.

“Nice.” Jackal got out of the car, walking beside Penni as they reached the front door.

“It’s Cash’s family home. When Rachel and him got married, they added a couple of bedrooms and the road.” Penni knocked on the door.

A gorgeous red head answered the door.

“Hi, Rachel. I heard you decided to have the baby a couple of weeks early.”

“Thank God, too. If I kept eating that cornbread Cash was making for our dinner every night, I would be as big as our house.”

The two women hugged before moving away from the door and entering the house. Jackal found himself receiving a curious stare as Rachel and Penni sat down on the living room couch.

“This is Jackal.”

Rachel gave him a welcoming smile. “So he’s your new boyfriend that everyone is talking about?”

“That was quick. The gossips must have texted you before I got in the car.”

“It gives them something new to talk about.”

“I thought The Last Riders kept the town gossips busy.”

Rachel shook her head. “They’re too afraid of them to gossip, but your fair game. You’re an outsider, and you tend to make a stir when you come for a visit.”

“They’re exaggerating. When I came to town the last time, nothing happened.”

“That’s only because you didn’t cook, and everyone refused to drink anything you made them. Sex Piston’s gang refuses to come to Treepoint if Beth tells them you’re in town.”