Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 96287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
Jonah nodded. “But even though I believe in everything I teach, and I hope it helps you, honey, I also know you must find your own path, to faith and to life. If you want to forgive George, that is up to you.”
“What if he hurts me again?” Larissa asked. “What if this is all a lie because of my child?”
“I’ve known George Erickson for a long time, and that boy is no liar. He is a loyal, hardworking man. He earned his place with the MC.”
He rarely called them the Hell’s Bastards MC. Her father very rarely swore.
“And he hasn’t given up on you, honey, has he? I have only heard good things about him. How he is always there for you and won’t let you out of his sight.”
“So people do keep talking?” she asked, laughing.
“It’s a small town. A lot of people talk.”
She glanced down at the time and wrinkled her nose. “I better go. I’ll be by to visit.”
“You better.”
She got to her feet and made her way toward the door, with her father following close behind. “I don’t know our plans for Christmas, but if we’re at home, would you come for Christmas dinner?”
“Honey, I wouldn’t miss it,” he said.
She chuckled, then went onto her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “I love you, Dad.”
“Love you too, Pumpkin.”
She made her way to the car and climbed inside, pulling out of the driveway and driving back to her own place. Before she had gone to see her dad, she had already texted Big Dick to let him know she was going to be a little late.
Big Dick’s bike was in the driveway, and she parked up alongside it. Larissa opened the door, and Big Dick was already there, helping her climb out.
“I can do this,” she said, laughing, because it was getting to be a bit of a struggle. Her stomach was getting larger with every passing day.
“I know, but I want to help.” He closed the door behind her, and he still had his hand at her waist as they started to walk inside the house.
The moment they walked inside, she was embraced by several scents, and she was pretty sure one of them was chocolate.
“What is that?” she asked.
“It’s my dad’s chili. He is a beef man, and it has two kinds of beef inside, and he also fries up bacon, which is what you can smell.”
“It smells so good.”
He winked at her. “Good, because I want it to smell good.”
“Why do I smell chocolate?”
“Because I decided to try my mom’s recipe for chocolate fudge cake. I have been craving it, and seeing as you’ve been wanting chocolate a lot, I thought why not?” He still had his hand at the base of her back as they entered the kitchen.
There on the counter was a thickly iced chocolate cake, and it looked so magical. Her mouth literally watered at the sight of it.
“That looks so good,” she said.
“It will be. First, though, do you want to try some chili? Dad literally has a bowl of chili, topped with crispy bacon, cheese, and sour cream. Sometimes, if he is feeling fancy, he’ll add some avocado.”
Larissa couldn’t help laughing. She walked over to the stove, where it was slowly bubbling away. It looked so thick and delicious.
He took out a spoonful and offered it to her. She took a bite and let out a moan.
“Is that good?”
“Oh, yeah, that is so good.”
“Excellent. Go and sit down. I’ll serve us up a bowl.”
Larissa looked at him, and the temptation to kiss him was so strong, but she held herself back. Now was not the time to start kissing him, or doing anything. It was the time to just step back and give them both some space.
She hung up her jacket and made sure the door was locked. Stepping into the dining room, she saw he had set the table once again. Big Dick was so sweet and thoughtful.
He entered the dining room, carrying the two bowls. “I think we have enough chili to keep us going for days.”
“It tastes so good,” she said.
He had already loaded up her bowl, and with the sour cream and cheese, it was perfect. There was no avocado in this one. The bacon was delicious as well. Who would have known?
She moaned.
“You know, those sounds are driving me crazy,” he said.
She looked over to him and smiled. Coming out and saying that she forgave him didn’t feel right. She didn’t want to dampen the moment with the memory of what had happened.
“How’s your dad?” Big Dick asked.
“He’s good. It felt good to go and see him. I don’t want to be mad at him anymore.”
“I get that.”
He reached out and took her hand. “Whatever you need, I am here for you. Anything.”
He squeezed her hand, and Larissa felt that comfort, that warmth. She didn’t want to lose this with him. This felt real. It felt raw.