Ride With Me (Paige and Jace) novel Chapter 74

CHAPTER 45-1

Chairs

CHAPTER 45-1

PAIGE’S POV

Sunday mornings moved at a completely different pace from every other day of the week.

Lawson Customs remained closed, my alarm stayed switched off and for once I didn’t wake

thinking about repair schedules or parts deliveries. Instead, I showered, brushed my teeth, pulled

on a pair of comfortable jeans and an oversized sweatshirt, then I wandered downstairs long

enough to check that the garage doors were locked before climbing into my truck.

The drive to the clubhouse had become second nature and a few months earlier I would have

questioned why I kept ending up there. Now I simply accepted it.

The moment I pulled through the gates, I caught the unmistakable smell of pancakes drifting through the cool morning air. Children were already running across the yard chasing one another

with foam footballs, someone had country music playing softly from the clubhouse porch and

laughter carried through the open kitchen windows.

I climbed out of the truck just as Hunter walked past carrying an enormous jug of orange juice and

he grinned the second he spotted me.

“You’re late.” Hunter said and I looked at my watch.

“It’s eight oh two.” I said.

“We started eating at eight.” He said.

“I see you’ve become very strict.” I said.

“We take pancakes seriously.” He said.

“I’ll remember that next time.” I said and he laughed and disappeared inside before I could think of

another comeback.

The clubhouse kitchen was already alive with activity. Emma stood at the stove flipping pancakes

with practiced ease while two of the other wives worked beside her preparing bacon, scrambled eggs and bowls of fresh fruit. Coffee brewed in two large pots, somebody had set the long dining tables with mismatched plates and the whole room felt warm in a way that had nothing to do with

the cooking. Emma looked over her shoulder and smiled.

“Perfect timing.” Emma said.

“I’ve learned that’s code for free labor.” I said.

“It absolutely is.” She said.

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CHAPTER 45 1

She handed me a mixing bowl before I had the chance to escape.

“need another batch of pancake batter.” She said.

“I walked right into that.” I said.

“You keep coming back anyway.” She said.

“I clearly don’t learn.” I said.

Clair

The women laughed and I tied one of the spare aprons around my waist before measuring flour into the bowl. Cooking in the clubhouse had become almost as familiar as working in my own

garage.

I knew where Emma kept the vanilla extract, which drawer held the measuring cups, and exactly

which spatula she preferred because she insisted the others were “pancake traitors.”

I had stopped asking where everything was weeks ago. That realization made me smile and

Emma noticed immediately.

“You’re smiling.” She said.

“I’ve been accused of that lately.” I said.

“It’s Jace.” She said.

“I was going to blame the pancakes.” I said.

“I’ve known him longer than I’ve known pancakes.” She said.

Before I could answer, Jace walked into the kitchen carrying a crate of fresh eggs from the

clubhouse refrigerator and Emma looked from him to me and then back again.

“You’ve been smiling more too.” Jace said and he raised an eyebrow.

“Have I?” Jace asked.

“Oh, definitely.” Emma said and Hunter wandered through at exactly the wrong moment.

“It’s honestly getting a little uncomfortable.” Hunter said and Jace shook his head.

“Nobody asked.” Jace said and Hunter helped himself to a strip of bacon.

“I answer questions nobody asks.” Hunter said.

“I’ve noticed.” Jace said.

༼

The easy banter drifted through the room while I whisked the batter and for the first time in a very long while, I realized I felt completely relaxed. No tension settled between my shoulders. No

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