Page 12 of Cannon
Baron, Locks, Rascal, and Clara shook hands with the guys. He didn’t know Clara knew the guys, but she didn’t act like it was the first time meeting them.
“Are we ready to go?” asked Locks.
Before Cannon could complain, he didn’t have paperwork, a nurse walked in the door.
“Here’s your paperwork and your wheelchair is outside the door. I have a note on the chart that the nurse from the last shift discussed your meds and discharge with you. Is that correct?”
“Yes.”
“You’re free to go as soon as the orderly is here to take you down.”
Cannon tried to get comfortable in the back seat of the SUV but each bump Locks hit jarred every hurt bone in his body. Thank fuck he hadn’t drunk anything, so they didn’t have to stop and get him out to use a bathroom.
They were getting close to the turn to Bluff Creek from Coldwater, and he was so happy to be close to getting out of the car but also apprehensive to have to think about how he had to talk with Jesse. At least she’d answered his text, and he could figure out a time this week for them to meet. Maybe he should text her again tomorrow to set up a time so she wouldn’t think he was ignoring her.
Cannon leaned back against the pillow stuffed behind his back. Rascal and Baron had been acting strange since theypicked him up. Locks and Clara had chatted, but Locks seemed to be ignoring him. He was positive he wasn’t imagining it. He’d refused the pain meds before he left the hospital. They clouded his mind, and he wanted to be awake. He might have to use a wheelchair, but he was going to be in charge of his recovery.
He wished he could go back and shut his mouth when he found out Jesse was pregnant. He’d handled it so wrong. He’d seen her belly and known it had to be his.
He’d never allowed himself to think of kids. He wasn’t having kids. He’d decided in his twenties that it wasn’t going to be a part of his life, nor was a wife. Some people shouldn’t be part of a couple, and he was one of them.
He’d planned on just relieving his urges when he needed and enjoying life at the Bluff Creek Brotherhood MC. After leaving the police department, it had been a relief to be somewhere he made a difference. They had plenty of women come to their parties, so he didn’t even need to go looking.
Then, he’d laid eyes on the next to youngest Franks sister. Short compared to his six-foot height, but what she lacked in height, she made up for with attitude.
He dreamed of grabbing her ponytail and commanding her to her knees in front of him, but he’d held back. At least he’d held strong until last Christmas Eve.
Her hands gripping the headboard as he tasted each and every inch of her core was an image he couldn’t get out of his mind. Her sweet moans as he allowed her arms to wrap around him as he slid inside her for the first time echoed in his thoughts. For one night, he’d tasted a bliss he’d never dreamed of. She’d abided by his terms. One night, following whatever he commanded, never to be spoken of again.
So many times, he’d considered breaking the very rule he’d put in place. Each time, he’d reminded himself that it was for the best.
He grunted as the SUV bumped onto the road by the bail bonds office and through the gate to the houses behind. Locks parked in front of Jesse’s house. What was he doing here?
Locks got out without a word, grabbed two bags, and headed into the house. Rascal turned, staring at him over the seat.
“So, here’s how it’s going to go. You need someone to help you. You also need to get your shit together. Jesse and your child need you. Cannon, you’re a good man. I’ve seen that. I’ve also seen how you look at her. You’re staying here and you need to figure out what type of life you want with Jesse and your child. Until you’re better able to get around, one of us will be by to help you into bed, shower, etc. It’s time to decide what type of man you want to be from this point forward. I’m going to push you in there. If you treat that amazing woman inside who is carrying your baby with anything less than perfect fucking manners, brother or not, I will take you out back and break your other leg. You get me?”
Cannon had never seen Rascal so furious, but maybe time together is what they needed. He couldn’t be a husband, but maybe he could find a way to support her.
“I get you.”
Clara leaned over and patted his face. “It will all work out, Cannon. I have a message from Regina and me. Sometimes you have to leave it to fate. Other times, fate needs a little push. Consider this your family giving fate a little help.”
He tried to ignore how helpless he felt as Rascal moved him into the wheelchair and pushed him into the house. His first glimpse of Jesse had his heart pounding in his chest. Without her pink coveralls, he could see every inch of her delicious figure, including a baby bump underneath her top.
“So I guess we’ll be roommates. I was just getting ready to make supper. Are you hungry?”
He didn’t understand how she could talk to him in the sweetest voice after he’d been such a complete ass to her. She didn’t deserve how he’d treated her, but he didn’t know what to do. He’d start with trying to be the best houseguest and maybe if he ate something, he could take a pain pill. Then fall asleep and forget he was going to be around Jesse until he recovered.
“I am a little hungry. I want to say this wasn’t my idea. I didn’t know they were shoving me at you.”
“I’ll be back in a couple of hours to help you get ready for bed, Cannon. Call Locks or myself if you need something before that.”
With those words, Rascal, Baron, and Locks left him alone with a woman he’d done his best to avoid. Clara had stayed in the car. What the hell was he going to do now, and how would he survive this close to her?
Chapter Nine
Jesse walked over closer to the recliner Rascal had helped Cannon into, handed him the remote to her television, and then headed into her kitchen. She’d already heated up some chicken noodle soup Regina had dropped by, along with fresh rolls. Regina had said she wanted to make sure Jesse had good food that didn’t bother her stomach.