Spark in the Dark

Chapter 21

Shawn had errands to run the next day. She normally spread out her running around between Saturday and Sunday, but spending the day with Juice was definitely worth it. Her phone started to ring as she walked out of the dry cleaners. Shawn saw it was Gemma.

"Hey, Gem," Shawn greeted her when she answered.

"Hey, sweetheart. You busy?"

"Just went grocery shopping and picked up some of my work clothes from the cleaners. Heading home now. What's up?"

"I'm going to have a dinner tonight. Want you to come."

"Sure. What time and do you need me to bring anything?"

"Be at my place around 7. Could you bring a salad?"

"No problem. See you then."

Shawn drove home and put her groceries away. After hanging up her clothes, she looked at Juice's hoodie sitting on a chair in her bedroom. She picked it up and sat in the chair. Bringing the hoodie to her nose, she smelled it again.

If Gemma was having a big dinner, Juice would probably be there. Shawn was nervous. Not about seeing him, but this would be the first time she would be around everyone and Juice since they became... whatever they were. Shawn wasn't sure she could act like he was just one of the guys. If she did something that gave them away, they could be in deep shit.

Shawn stood and put his hoodie back down. She had to run back to the store to get things for the salad, then come home and get ready for Gemma's. There was plently of time to do everything, but she decided to get started now. Hopefully being busy would keep her from getting stressed out.

* * *

It was 6:30 and Shawn was ready to go. Gemma's place wasn't far, but Shawn figured she wouldn't mind if she was a little early. As she pulled into Gemma and Clay's driveway, she noticed Luanne's Corvette was already there. Shawn knocked on the back door once and then let herself in without waiting for an answer.

"Hey, Shawn," Luanne greeted her.

"There's space in the fridge for that, hun," Gemma said, pointing to the large salad bowl in Shawn's hands. Shawn put it in the fridge and then looked around. None of the guys were there, yet.

"Need help with anything?" Shawn asked Gemma.

"Want to start cutting up those potatoes Luanne is peeling?"

Shawn got started on her task. Gemma gave Shawn a glass of wine and the three women started talking about the studio. The kitchen door opened and some of the guys started pouring in.

"I tell you what," Luanne said, the guys not distracting her at all from their conversation, "ever since I started having Shawn write all the scripts, dvd sales have tripled."

"So what you're saying," Jax said, interupting them, "is the sick and twisted apple doesn't fall far from the sick and twisted tree?"

"Hey," Tig protested.

"I'm holding a very large knife, Teller," Shawn said and pointed the knife at him.

"Tig, your kid is threatening me with a knife," Jax pretended to tattle on Shawn.

"Oh, please," Shawn said. "If I killed you, he'd be the one hiding your body."

"She's right, you know," Gemma told her son.

They all laughed, including Juice, who had come in with the guys. He wasn't sure if Shawn even noticed that he had come in until she glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. The guys all went into the dining room and a few of the club hang arounds came in. The women finished preparing dinner and everyone sat down around the table. Shawn sat in her usual spot next to Tig and Juice sat across from her. She looked up at him and they made eye contact. She gave him a sly, flirty smile and he winked at her. Shawn looked down and bit her lip to keep from smiling bigger. Juice looked around to see if anyone noticed, but it was obvious no one was paying attention to them.

Food was passed around the table and everyone began to eat. The room was filled with the sounds of voices and laughter. This is what Juice loved about the club. This is why he'd stayed. But he had never imagined he'd be on the receiving end of sexy smolders from an attractive girl across from this very table.

Everyone was just about done eating when Shawn decided to have some fun. She slipped off her shoe under the table and stretched her leg until her toes came into contact with Juice's ankle. He felt her touch and glanced up at her. She slowly raised her foot up his leg, causing Juice to shift in his seat. He looked away from her, but moved his hand under the table and grabbed her foot. Using his thumb, he started to massage her sole.

They stayed like that for a few minutes until Gemma started to clean up. Shawn gently pulled her foot back and slipped her shoe back on. She stood from the table and helped Gemma in the kitchen.

"Hey, Shawn," Jax said, coming into the kitchen. "Why don't you come back to the clubhouse for a real drink with us?"

Shawn glanced at Juice, who subtly nodded.

"Sure, why not?" Shawn agreed.

"Great, I just need a favor first."

"Dammit, how did I not see that coming?"

"Stop at the store for some more beer and shit? I'll come with you, I just need your backseat."

"Fine, whatever," Shawn said. After saying good bye to Gemma and some of the other's that weren't going to the clubhouse, Shawn headed for her car with Jax and a few others not far behind.