Twist the Knife - Page 176

I slide in next to her and ease one arm under her body, rolling her toward me. She hitches her leg over mine, just the way I like.

“How was your day? How was church?” she asks, tracing one finger over my cheek like she can’t get enough of touching me.

“Told the club about us.” I want her to understand how important she is to me.

She pulls back and stares at me. “Is that going to make things complicated?” Sadness or worry clouds her expression.

“No.” I run my hand over her hair, twirling her messy curls around my finger. “Club’s already vetted you because of the relationship the club has with your dad.”

“Vetted me?”

I cock my head. She has to know what I mean by that.

“Oh, they trust me to not ever speak of your nocturnal activities.” She tickles her fingers over my chest. “No worries there, I’m an excellent secret keeper.”

Of that, I have no doubt. But it suddenly feels like we’re talking about different things.

“What does this mean?” she asks. “What’s next?”

“I want you to come to the clubhouse with me. Hang out with all my brothers and their ol’ ladies.”

She ducks and presses her forehead to my chest, her soft, silky hair tickling my skin. “I’m not always good around people. You know, live people.”

“Hey.” I press my fingers to her chin and tip her head back. “That’s not true. You counsel people and get them through the worst time in their life. You had fun when we went to Zips, right? My sister loved you. You’ve already met a lot of my brothers. They all like you.”

“Really?” The surprise in her voice squeezes my dark, shriveled heart. “They don’t think I’m a weirdo for what I do and where I live?”

“No.” And I made it really fucking clear today that they better not make you uncomfortable.

“Will Rooster be there?”

I frown at her. “You got a thing for my brother?”

“No,” she answers in her even, patient tone. “I know you say they’re all your brothers, but he’s the one who’s closest to you.”

“Yeah.” I nod.

“And I feel like I know him the best. He’s nice to me.”

“Teller isn’t nice to you?”

“He is. But he’s all business.”

I snort-laugh. “Yeah, I’m aware. He’s even worse now that he’s about to be a dad.”

“Aww, I’d like to see the twins when they get here,” she says.

I study her face. “You like babies?”

She shrugs. “I don’t have a ton of experience around them, but yes.”

“Well, you’ll have more babies and kiddos than you’ll know what to do with, then. My brothers seem to be reproducing like rabbits lately.”

She laughs softly.

“Dex will be there with his girl, Emily. Her sister, Libby, will probably be there too. Shelby’s looking forward to seeing you again.”

“Really?”