He didn’t speak, only nodded his head.
Jackal’s expression became thunderous when he caught her captivated gaze. Penni just shrugged, leaving the three behind as she hurried toward the kitchen.
Genny turned her head at her approach. “Did you have any trouble?”
“No. He said thank you.” Or he would have if he had any manners.
Penni barely had time to pour a cup of coffee before Jackal showed up. She had just handed it to him when Train came in. Penni conveniently forgot Train as she hurriedly gave Jackal his coffee then went to the counter for the cinnamon rolls, putting them down in front of him.
“I thought those were for Shade,” Genny said as she carefully maneuvered a hot pan she had taken out of the oven.
Penni bit down the inside of her cheek to keep from flushing. “I forgot Shade’s on a diet.”
“Oh … What about Lily?”
Could the woman give her a break? Penni rolled her eyes behind the men’s backs.
“Uh … Okay …” Genny muttered. “I’m getting ready to add icing; you can bring Lily some of those.”
Penni took the opportunity Genny had given her to save face.
“They’ll be warm,” Penni agreed as if that had been the plan along.
Penni took a seat at the table. Neither man noticed. Jackal was too busy eating his food, and Train was watching them. Did he think they would make out at the table?
“Shade awake?” she asked Train.
Train lowered his coffee to the table. “How should I know?”
“I thought you might have texted him since you saw me kissing Jackal … the way you did last night.”
“He’s your brother. He wants to make sure you don’t get hurt.” Train didn’t deny it.
“I’m twenty-four, not sixteen and never been kissed.”
“There’s a big difference between Jackal and most of the men you’ve dated.”
“How do you know what kind of men I’ve dated?”
Train didn’t answer the loaded question.
“Shade doesn’t even know me, and neither do you. I’m a grown woman. When Shade was a mess because Lily wouldn’t give him the time of day, I was the one who kept him from making a mistake. My love life is none of your business, and I don’t need you tattling every five seconds. If Shade wants to know something I’m doing, tell him to ask me his own damn self.”
“I will.” Train stood, leaving the kitchen.
Penni looked at the swinging door Train had gone through. “I screwed up, didn’t I?” Penni asked Jackal, who had torn a cinnamon roll in two pieces, handing the other half to her.
“It could have gone better.”
“I better go apologize.”
“Sit still. You wanted Train to see you as your own person, not Shade’s sister. You’ve accomplished that. Don’t whine about it now.”
He was right. It was time Train recognized her as a woman. Whether that determined if they would develop a relationship or not, she had to find out. She couldn’t stay in limbo forever. Penni’s biggest fear was that life would pass her by in a blink. What if she died in a car accident or any other crazy shit she had a habit of finding herself in before she’d had a chance to make love?
“I finished breakfast,” Genny informed them. “I’m going home to get ready for church if none of you need anything.”
“No, thank you. I’ll see you in church.”
Genny didn’t seem overjoyed that she would see her there. Penni made a mental note to ask Shade about her.
Genny departed, leaving her alone with Jackal.
“I better go get dressed, too.” Penni rose, carrying her cup to the sink.
“What time does church start?”
Penni almost dropped her cup. “You’re going?”
“How would it look if I didn’t sit in the pew with you?”
“Shade doesn’t go to church with Lily.”
“I don’t mind church. Just don’t ask me to give witness or eat dinner with the pastor.”
“Too late. You had dinner with him last night.” When he looked confused, Penni explained, “Lucky is the pastor.”
“And he lives with The Last Riders?”
Penni nodded. “Yes. That’s his house they’re building next to Razer’s.”
“And he’s a pastor?” Jackal repeated. “He’s married to Willa, the woman who makes cakes and cupcakes?”
“Yes.”
“The one who makes the peanut butter candy?”
“Yes.” Was that a twitch of jealousy that had her clenching her nails against her palms at the rapturous look that came over his face?
“Rider had five pieces of it. Stingy fucker only gave me half of one. That woman knows the way to a man’s heart.”