and pulled me over to it.
We settled on a bench, both of us engrossed in childhood
memories as we licked and scooped at our cones and I smirked at Bulk when he
seemed to have more ice-cream in his piercings than in his mouth.
“So, how long have you known Boss?” he asked eventually.
I eyed him warily, wondering where his line of
questioning was going.
He held up a hand and shook his head “Don’t panic, Jen.
I’m not gonna ask about your boyfriend.”
“My husband.” I rectified on a whisper.
He turned to stare at me with wide eyes and a deep sigh
rattled though him, “Right. Boss doesn’t know this. Do I tell him?”
I shrugged. “He told you what happened?” I asked
hesitantly as I turned to watch some small children play on the swings, their loud
giggles bringing a smile forward.
“Nope” he answered bluntly, “But it doesn’t take a genius
to work out the basics. After the way he fell apart in the tat shop and the way
he disappeared for three days after, came back blind drunk and shot to hell.”
I gazed at him as my heart clenched. “What?” I stuttered
out.
He smiled sadly and lifted his eyebrows. “Mmmm. He’s
spoke to E about you, I know that much. She had to drag him out of the pub and
made him talk, but they’re best friends and she won’t break his confidence. But
at the moment, I’m not worried about Boss, I’m worried about you, little lady.”
I frowned at him, not understanding his motives for being
so concerned. “Why?”
He pulled in a heavy breath and shrugged, “No fuckin’
idea sweetheart, just something about you.”
I fiddled with the scab on my lip as I wondered how to
voice my next words. “Bulk, uhh… I hope you don’t wanna… Well, you know.”
He frowned in confusion and shook his head, “What?”
“Well, you don’t wanna… sleep with me.”
His brows rose high and then he laughed. “Don’t worry
little lady, nothing like that, no. Just, I dunno, I kinda like you. And if
Boss feels the way about you like I know he does, then that makes you one of us”
he divulged as he pulled me in for a side hug.
I hissed through my teeth and stiffened as I closed my
eyes and tried to hide the pain but he reared back and narrowed his eyes.
I smiled hesitantly at him and picked up my bag. “I have
to go” I said suddenly.
He remained still on the bench, scrutinizing me before he
pulled something out of his pocket. “We’re giving a small private gig at The
Black Pod tomorrow night, here,” he said as he handed me two tickets “bring
Zoe, I know Romeo will be pleased.”
I stared at the tickets as I took them from him and
wondered how I could get away from Kyle for the night. I smiled at Bulk and
nodded, “Okay, thanks, I’ll see you then.”
“Promise?” he asked with a raise of a brow.
I nodded and smiled, “Yes, I promise.”
He stood and wrapped me carefully in his arms. “You need
to book in for some self-defence lessons, sweetheart.”
I lifted my eyes to his but nodded. There was no point
arguing, he knew and no matter how much I denied it, he would know.
“You won’t say anything to Ethan, will you?”
He gave me a pained looked before he sighed then nodded,
“Okay, but only if you start these lessons. I can recommend somebody if you
want?”
Could I do that? Stand up for myself?
“Okay, yes.”
His huge grin lit his face and he planted a huge wet kiss
on my cheek, “Good Girl. See you tomorrow night.”
I nodded and returned his huge smile before I turned and
walked away, and I knew his eyes were on my arse.
But, that’s men for ya’.
Chapter 5
“Where does Kyle think you
are?” Zoe shouted over the rock song Room 103 were already in the middle of when
we entered the private club.
“Bingo, you suddenly fancied giving it a whirl.” I winked
at her.
Her brows lifted high as she grinned, “Babe, do I look
like a bingo queen?”
I laughed at her as we placed our orders at the bar and