The Biker's Fate Chapter 522

He waved his finger toward me. "Do I know you? I feel like I know you. Have you flown me before?"

"I can say with confidence I've never flown with you before, Mr. LRG."

"Call me 'G,'" he said with a chuckle. "All my friends call me 'G.'"

I nodded, forcing a smile.

Jesus, what a douche.

I waited for him and Lane to step into the elevator before I shoved the envelope in my jacket pocket, climbing back into the helo, and firing her up. It was a quick flight back to base, which meant I ran into Stick. Craig 'Stick' Brentwood was thirty-nine, single because he liked a variety of women (his words), and British. Not high-born British like my mother (also his words) but working class.

We were partners in the helo, and it meant we shared both the cost and the profits. The only thing we kept separate were any tips we received.

"Hey, brother," I said.

"Hey." He grinned and gave me a fist bump. "Short flight?"

"Yeah."

"Was he as much of a dick as he sounded?"

I chuckled. "More douche than dick."

"Better you than me, then."

"This is absolutely true."

He laughed. "Right, you want me to put her away?"

I frowned. "I thought you had a flight?"

"Fucker canceled ten minutes ago."

"So, money for nothin'," I said.

Clients were required to give a fifty-percent deposit, and a percentage of that was non-refundable, depending on when their flight is canceled. Because this guy canceled day of, he lost his entire deposit.

"Money for nothing," he confirmed. "I'll put her away, you can head home."

"Thanks, brother," I said.

Since I was early, I pulled my phone out, excited to see Tate early, but found a text from her canceling.

Tate: Got an interview. Raincheck on dinner?

Me: Sure. Call me after.

Forcing aside my disappointment, I dialed my sister. She answered on the first ring.

"Hey."

"Hey," I said.

"What's up?"

"Remember how you've been begging to—"

"Finally get rid of the shitty eighties crap in your house?" she squeaked.

I laughed. "How the hell did you know that's what I was going to say."

"What else have I ever begged you for?"

"You might have a point."

"I'll meet you at your place," she said. "When?"

I checked my watch. "One hour?"

"That'll work."

I rang off and started my truck, making my way home, pulling into my driveway right behind my sister. Her head was buried in the back of her SUV, and I heard Tenley's squeals of laughter from the inside.

I climbed out of my truck just as Poppy emerged from hers, carrying Tenley who immediately reached for me, and I pulled her into my arms pulling her close. "Hey, Tenny Penny."

Poppy locked up her car and grinned, slinging her bag over her shoulder. "How much money do I have to work with? And what was LRG like?"

I rolled my eyes. "LRG told me to call him 'G.'"

"Isn't he, like, twelve and a pasty red-head?"

"That he is," I confirmed.

"Ew, what a douche."

"Agreed," I said, unlocking the front door and pushing it open, stepping back and letting my sister walk inside before me. "And as far as budget… I'm still not sure where to start," I admitted, closing the door behind me.

"Mama." Tenley pitched toward Poppy who dropped her bag on the floor and caught her, settling her on her hip.

"What do you want to accomplish?" Poppy asked.

"Honestly? I want Tate to feel comfortable."

She smiled gently. "Then she needs a say."

"Yeah, I get it, but I can't bring her here with it lookin' like this, sissy."

"Well, I'd start with having Dad order a couple of the recruits to come in and clean it from top to bottom." She pointed to the recliner in the middle of the living room. "I'd trash that and buy a nice sectional. If she doesn't like it, you can put it in the basement. Second, buy me some gift cards and I'll shop for some nice towels and dishes because you're seriously lacking in that department."

"Jesus, that's an understatement," I hissed out.

"Are you guys official?" she asked.

I shook my head. "I haven't even convinced her to go to dinner."

Poppy gave me a sympathetic smile. "I'm sorry, buddy. Boy-girl stuff sucks."

"Yeah," I agreed.

She faced me. "You really love her, huh?"

"Yeah. Wish I'd figured it out earlier." I dragged my hands down my face. "Kinda been a dumbass."

She shrugged. "It's in your DNA."

I rolled my eyes. "Dad's not a dumbass."

"Yeah, but Devon was." She grinned. "Okay, we have a plan. You lock down Tate, then you can move forward on a full-scale reno."

I met my sister's eyes and finally voiced my biggest fear, "What if I can't lock her down?"

Poppy sighed. "Let me fill you in on a little secret. Tate isn't dating anyone. She never really did long-term."

"How do you know that?"

"Dude, I'm your sister, and I'm nosey as hell." She rolled her eyes. "You know this. She and I are all up in each other's business on social media, so I did a quick stalk after I saw you at the club."

"She could have dated a lot of people and erased any evidence," I pointed out.

"I can, with some authority, confidently say she didn't. Tate and I are of the same ilk, and we are the ilk that once we fall in love, little brother, we tend to pine. Trust me, when I say, that girl's been pining for you since the second her vagina had tingles."

I groaned. "Jesus, Poppy, Tate's vagina is not an approved subject of discussion for you."

She grinned as she shrugged. "Whatever. She might make you work for it, and she should, but you're gonna get her. Promise. And my kids are finally going to have little cousins to play with." She turned in a circle with Tenley and asked her, "Do you want a little cousin Tenny Penny?"

"Cousin!" she squealed, having no concept of what that meant.

I chuckled. "Okay, okay. I hope you're right."

"I am," she said.

For the next hour, Poppy and I walked around my house and she made a list of everything that needed to be done and bought to make my house habitable for Tate. I had a feeling my credit card was going to take a major hit before she was done.