Текст книги "Burning Ember"

Автор книги: Darby Briar

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Текущая страница: 32 (всего у книги 33 страниц)

Men are sexual creatures. As women, this is something we must never forget.

EMBER

The horrible feeling in my belly won’t subside and it’s getting worse every day. I try not to let it bug me that Mav is once again at the clubhouse, but the same questions keep tunneling through my mind, making it difficult to study for my GED test I take in two days.

What is so important that he needs to be there all the time? Is he sick of us invading his home and doesn’t dare say anything? Or is there simply someone else’s company there he prefers to mine? And if the answers yes, then who’s?

Because so help me God, if it’s Star’s, I will kill them both. Actually, I might just kill him no matter who it is. I know where he hides his guns.

Swallowing past the emotional lump in my throat, I push down my murderous thoughts.

All day I’ve had to scold myself that I will not . . . under any circumstances . . . do what Blaire did last Friday. Sneak into the clubhouse and kick open my old man’s bedroom door. The last thing I want to see is Mav with someone else. Or two someones in Bodie’s case.

When Lily told me that story during our Margarita Monday yesterday, I almost felt bad for Blaire except I really don’t like her. She was a complete bitch to me at Thanksgiving, and I’m actually hoping she won’t be at the HOC Christmas party.

Yeah . . . Christmas, days away. Not the most opportune time to have my relationship with Mav go up in flames. Considering Will hasn’t stopped bouncing off the walls since Mav put her first presents under the tree.

She counts them daily, and there’s ten now. I finally had to tell Mav no more.

I keep asking myself why he would do that, spoil her, if he doesn’t want us here.

Why would he keep telling me that I didn’t need a job, and to focus on passing this test and college, if he knew this wasn’t working?

“Ugh . . . for Christ sake, Ember, just ask him. Today. When he gets home. Then you can stop torturing yourself and start doing damage control. And do it now, before she gets more attached to him, and this house, and the damn dog, and the idea of us one day being a real family.”

I groan and rub my hands over my face. Peeking under the table, I nudge Saint, who’s curled up on top of my feet, keeping them warm. “See, this is what happens when I spend too much time alone. I start talking to myself. Why don’t you wake up and distract me? I’m going a little nuts up here.”

When I get no response, I check the clock on the microwave.

Lily and Will aren’t due back for two more hours, and knowing Lily like I do she’ll get so absorbed in shopping, she’ll forget about the time. So two hours really means four.

Pushing away from the table, I head upstairs. If I can’t study, then I might as well do something mind numbing, like clean. After stealing Mav’s iPod and headphones off his dresser, I go back to the kitchen. I unload the dishwater and then dust. When I’m still buzzing with anxiety, I attack the floor.

While singing Trapt’s “Headstrong” under my breath, I sit back on my heels and reach for the bucket to rinse the rag in. I’m just getting ready to finish the last section, when his dark boots catch my eye.

I let my gaze slowly walk up the sight of him standing in the doorway. He’s leaning with his shoulder against the wall, and his legs are crossed at his ankles. He’s wearing those damn ripped jeans he likes so much, and a heather gray Henley that’s tucked in behind his belt buckle.

He’s more built now than he was before because he works out nearly every day either running, boxing, or lifting weights. In fact his arms are pure porn. Porn that I actively appreciate at least a few times a day.

“Hey,” I say with a grin and pull down the headphones so they’re resting around my neck.

“Couldn’t study?”

“No. Too worried about . . .”

He runs his hand through his hair and just like that, my train of thought vanishes. I imagine for a second running my own fingers it, and grabbing on to it while he reacquaints himself with a part of my anatomy that misses him terribly. Because though his hair is still short, it’s now long enough to make my dream a reality.

He stares down at me. “Passing the test?” His eyes leave my face and roam further down my body. Ummm . . . yeah. I cringe because I look like a slob. My hair’s in a messy bun and my not-so-nice tank top and sleep shorts are pretty worn out. Also, as I was pulling the bucket out of the sink after I filled it, the lip of it caught on the faucet spout, and spilled down my front, instantly making me smell like a forest of pine trees.

I look up in time to see Mav rub his hand over his mouth. I’m not sure I hear him right, but he angrily growls something like, “Christ Almighty, do you have to wear that shit?” and then turns away. He leaves the kitchen like his pants are on fire and the next thing I know he’s flying up the stairs.

Really?

Heat crawls up my neck. I throw the rag I was using into the bucket and decide to follow him. Will isn’t home and it’s as perfect a time as any to figure out what in the freaking hell is going on with him. As I climb the stairs, I do my best to muster up the courage I’ll need. But he’s not in his room or mine. Then I hear the shower turn on. Taking a deep breath, I grab the knob, open the door, and walk in.

“Em?” he calls out.

“Yeah, it’s me.”

He clears his throat and asks, “What’s up, baby? What do ya need?”

I cross my arms, tap my foot nervously, and chew on my lip. Where do I start?

“Is me being here a problem for you?”

He lets out an amused chuckle. “Yeah, you could say that.”

“Do you want me to go?”

“You don’t have to.”

Jesus, how long has he wanted me gone? From the first month, the first week? He said he loved me that night at the hospital, but maybe he’s changed his mind because he hasn’t said it since. Maybe seeing me at my worst made him realize I’m not who he thought I was.

“But you don’t want me to stay?”

There’s a long pause and then he finally says hoarsely, “You can stay. I’m definitely not going to make you leave.”

“God, Mav. Why don’t you just make up your goddamn mind one way or another? How can you still be so hot and cold after everything we’ve . . . You know what, never mind. Just tell me if you want me to go.”

Mav slides the curtain open a bit. He sweeps his hand through his inky wet hair, and then slides his palm down his face, getting rid of the droplets there. It’s all too easy to imagine what the rest of him, tattooed and dripping wet, looks like. It feels like forever, and not months, since I’ve been able to view fully the mouthwatering masterpiece that is his naked body. And I’m sure with all the new muscle, he is truly a thing of beauty.

He cocks an eyebrow and my brain begins to stutter. “Wait, what exactly are we talkin’ about?”

The man has my panties wet, my core throbbing, and at the same time, he’s trying to let me down easy.

When I think about how much he’s been gone, and how many showers he’s been taking lately, it hits me what a fool I’ve been. This whole time I’ve been falling more for him every day. I’m not just head over heels in love with him—I’m practically obsessed. I steal glances at him whenever I can. I daydream about sex with him half the time when I’m supposed to be studying. I can’t watch him cook without staring at his back and butt and licking my lips like a creepo. I find myself constantly replaying in my head every time we touched and kissed. Fantasize about all the times we had sex, and the one and only time—that at least I remember—where he went down on me. I lay awake half the night listening to him breathe, wondering if I should just turn around already and wake him up by trailing kisses down his chest and abdomen because I so badly want to do that thing to him that I’ve always wanted to do.

I feel like an idiot now. Here I was watching him with Will and thinking all kinds of crazy thoughts about one day wearing a white dress, and looking down at my swollen belly, and holding a little boy in my arms with black hair and golden eyes.

I spin around, grab the first thing I can from the counter, then whirl back and hurl it at him. The can hits the curtain and drops to the floor. So I grab another. His shaving cream. “Just come out and say it! You don’t want us here. You’ve changed your mind. You’re fucking whores at the club because you’re not attracted to me anymore.”

“Are you fuckin’ kidding me right now?” he growls harshly and throws the curtain open.

Yep, he looks exactly like I pictured. Sexy enough to ride all day long and way on through tomorrow.”

He grabs his very hard, very red, angry erection. “Does this look like it’s bein’ taken care of? Or that it’s not turned on by you? Fuck, Doll, all you have to do is say one word. One goddamn word and I’m hard. Or give me a look. Or say my name. I’m hard for you so often that jackin’ off, like I was just about to do, doesn’t even help anymore. It’s like this fuckin’ constantly.”

He yanks a towel from the bar on the wall, steps out, and wraps it around his waist. It doesn’t hide his big problem though. Nope. Not at all.

“Is that why you’ve been going to the club? To have one of the clubpieces—”

“Christ! Is that what you’ve been so worried about? I thought you were—” he motions to my shirt—“and that you didn’t want to tell me.”

I look down. “What?”

“Doll, you couldn’t eat the pasta you ordered at the restaurant we went to the other night because you said it smelled funny, and your boobs are . . .” He gestures to me again.

“What?” I examine my boobs. “Bigger?” I’ve put on about ten pounds over the last few months and it seems it’s almost all going to one place.

“Yes.”

“And that’s a problem?” I eye him like he’s been body-snatched by aliens.

“No. Fuck, no.”

“Then what is?”

He steps forward in all his glory and grips both of my elbows. “Doll, are you pregnant or not?”

The question hits me like a freight train that’s packing a million tons of cargo. “What? No. Ahh . . . I don’t know. I . . . my period’s been weird. Funky since I was shot. The doctor said it would be.”

“Yeah, but . . .” I slap at his hands when he lets go of my elbows and cups my breasts, one in each of his hands because holy shit my stomach just went all aflutter, and my thighs tighten to ward of the ache building between my legs. “They’re bigger and they look really nice.”

I move his hands out of the way and test their size myself. “But they do that when I gain weight too.”

“Fuck, Doll. This is exactly what I’m talkin’ about. You do shit like this. Little shit that you don’t think about, and all of it turns me on. Makes me hard, and it’s drivin’ me fuckin’ crazy.”

“Like what?”

“Whisperin’ goodnight. Reachin’ for a glass and your shirt rides up. Bendin’ over right in front of me. And do you realize you chew on your pencil when you study?” He’s glaring at me like I’m doing this all on purpose. “This is why I can’t be home. Because this happens. And I can’t very well walk around the house like this. He unknots his towel and his hand circles his cock. “This is torture.”

I roll my bottom lip under my teeth to fight off the smile I feel bubbling up. “It looks angry.”

“It is angry.” He grips it hard and slides his hand up to the tip. Precum leaks from the head and spills over the side. “I’ve been trying not to put pressure on you, to give you time and space to get over what happened. And I sure as fuck don’t want Will seein’ me like this. But the truth is, yeah . . . it’s killing me. Painfully and slowly.”

He puts his finger over my lips when I open my mouth. “No, I’ve haven’t been with anyone else. I told you. You’re the only woman I want touchin’ me. That hasn’t changed. Won’t ever change.”

I can’t keep my distance any longer. I slide my hands up his chest behind his head and force his mouth to mine. I kiss him hard and push my tongue into his mouth. “I thought you were sleeping around,” I breathe out as his mouth attacks mine. He growls and backs me up, sits me on the edge of the bathroom counter.

“I would never . . .”

“I thought you didn’t want us here anymore.”

“I want you with me always. Will, too.” His lips press hard into my neck and my head kicks back as his lips devour my skin and I start to moan.

Sinking my hand between us, I feel him, all of him.

He hisses and his eyes close. “I’m gonna come. I mean it, Doll. It’s like I’m fourteen again. It doesn’t matter how many times I take care of it on my own, it won’t go away. Every night, I’m prayin’ for things I shouldn’t be prayin’ about.”

I smile and lift his face so that his molten eyes meet mine. “Are you waiting for a printed invitation? I’m pretty good at Word. I can draft one up for you, if that’s what it’s going to take. Because clearly, you’ve been oblivious to the fact I’ve been eyeing you like a lollipop for weeks.”

“Such a smartass mouth.” He kisses me again so deep and desperately. His lips brand mine with his name as it expels from my lips. He tangles one hand into my hair, and the other works over mine to jack him off.

He doesn’t last long like he promised, and he comes for way longer than he ever has before. Watching him come and hearing the noises he makes, sends a rush of moisture between my legs.

Afterward, he cleans us up the best he can, and then we’re both smiling and kissing, letting our hands roam where they haven’t roamed in months.

“I haven’t said this for a long time, because I didn’t want you to feel guilty for not sayin’ it back, but I love you. So goddamn much.” He rubs his thumb over my jaw. “I feel it a thousand times a day and it sits on the edge of my lips, and it’s been hell not to tell you how I feel.”

I lay my palm on his cheek. “I love you too, Mav.” Then I repeat his words, because they describe my feelings exactly. “I’ve felt it too, a thousand times a day, and yeah it’s been hell not to tell you these past few months.”

His smile widens. “Months?”

“I mean it. Every word.”

He threads his hands into my hair again and seals his mouth over mine. When he pulls back, his smirk is sexy as hell. “Do you think you could be pregnant? I know there’s a slim chance with everything that happened. But—”

“I don’t know. I guess I could go buy one of those tests.” My good mood waivers. My voice trembles as I think of the only reason why that would be a bad thing. “He used a condom, b—”

“Hey, if you are, it doesn’t matter whether it’s part of both of us, or only a part of you. It’ll be mine either way and I’ll love him or her the same. And I know you will too. So don’t think whatever you’re thinkin’.”

“You say that now, but what if—”

He silences my lips again. “I mean it. Every word.” He wipes away the lone tears on each of my cheeks and smiles again, pecks my lips.

A door slams below us and then Lily’s voice rings out, “Hello? Em, you home? Mav?”

“I’ll go to the store and get a test. I’m sure Lily will stay if you need to head out again.”

He shakes his head, “Nah, no reason to now.” He looks down and grins. “Plus, I promised Will I’d take her for a ride today.”

When I bite my lip, he laughs, and pulls it from my teeth. “Doll, calm down, I’ll go slow like I did last time, and only on these back roads.”

“Okay. Just be careful. I don’t want to have to maim you. I kind of like how sexy you are.” I slip off the counter and kiss him one more time.

When we break apart, he asks, “Do you think I can bribe Will to start sleepin’ in her own room? Maybe I’ll let her open one of her presents early.”

I throw him a cheeky grin. “She’s very bribable.”

His thumb caresses my cheekbone. “Are you sure you’re ready for that?”

“Luce, if your hand was in my panties right now, you would not be asking me that. If you knew how many nights I’ve stayed awake wondering if I should turn around and wake you up with my mouth—”

“Fuck. You’re kiddin’? ” Then he groans and looks down as his erection returns.

A knock on the door a few seconds later has us jumping apart and Mav scrambling for the towel he dropped. I open the door only as much as I dare and slide out of the doorway. As I do, my eyes land on Lily.

“I heard that by the way. Miss wants to be an elementary school teacher,” Lily teases. “What exactly do you plan to teach the little minds of the world? Mmmm . . .”

“Lily, seriously.” I smack her arm. “Where’s Will?”

She waves me off. “Downstairs eating a whole bucket of those mini chocolate chip cookies we got at the mall.”

She turns to head back downstairs, but I lay my hand on her arm. “Uh-mmm . . . I need to go to the store. Now that you’re back, do you want to go with me?”

Her eyes light up. “Of course. Like I’d say no to more shopping.”

“I need to go to the pharmacy. Get a couple of tests.”

Her smile disappears. “The drug store is not what I . . .” Her eyes widen. She clasps her hands over her mouth and gasps. “Are you pregnant?”

“Jeez, Lily. Shhh. What if Will hears you? I don’t know yet, okay? That’s why I need the tests.”

The door opens behind me. Spinning, I come face to face with Mav in dark jeans that hang loosely on him and nothing else. His cologne, a scent that makes my brain fuzzy with thoughts of sex, wafts off of him.

When both Lily and I simply stare for who knows how long, Mav quirks his eyebrow. His lips curl into a smirk. “Somethin’ you need, Doll?”

“Uh-mmm, I’m just going to go down and help Will with those cookies,” Lily says and hustles down the hall.

My eyes fall to Mav’s torso. It doesn’t take them long to latch onto the new tattoo. It has both an image and words circling it. His hand grabs mine and he moves my fingers so they’re touching the black and gold snake, and the red diamond it’s coiled around.

“When did you do this?” My eyes flicker up to his.

“A few days before you were discharged from the hospital.”

‘Why?”

“Because it’s a promise.” When I arch my brow, he explains, “Even though you’re as strong as a Diamond, I’m still always going to be here to protect you.”

I run my fingers over it again. The new tattoo lays on his abdomen in the exact same spot where my bullet scar is on my body. I tilt my head to read the words circling the image. My fingers dance over each word and Mav shudders. I look up to see he has his eyes closed. And God . . . he looks so at peace.

Silently, I read the words.

Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 1 Corinthians 13:7

Paying it forward is not always easy. But it’s always worth it.

EMBER

The three of us study the rundown brick building, and for the second time, I question if the old woman was yet again lying through her teeth.

She said that the day after stealing my bag, Ivy tracked her down and demanded it back at knifepoint. I couldn’t help but fight a smile. When Taz threatened to pull out his own knife if she didn’t tell us more about her, she gave me this address, and said she’s followed Ivy here once.

“What was it?” I ask, my eyes studying a few of the broken windows.

Mav, who’s standing next to me with his arm around my waist, shrugs and replies, “Don’t know.”

“Rhines Boxin’ Gym,” Taz mutters as he makes his way past us and heads toward the door. “Shut down a year ago when the owner was robbed and killed. Fuckin’ tragedy. The guy was the best boxin’ coach in the state.” He yanks on the door, but it doesn’t give. After reaching into his pocket and pulling something out, he kneels and works at the lock.

“Are you breaking in?”

“No, Doll. I’m admiring this lock because I want one like it for my very own.”

“How many times have I told you not to call her that?” Mav growls.

“Well what the fuck am I supposed to call her? She hates Pumpkin, and Little Stray gets me a fat lip. If you didn’t want us callin’ her Doll, then maybe you shouldn’t have put it on her property patch.”

I slap Mav’s chest and mildly scold him with the look I throw his way. “Doll’s fine.”

“No it the fuck isn’t.”

“It’s either that, or the whole club is going to call me Ginger Snack or Cherry Girl, both you also hate.” When Mav continues to brood about it, I sigh, “Mav.”

“Baby, I don’t want other people callin’ you what I call you when—”

“I guess I could call her baby instead.” Taz stops for a second and turns his head around to smirk at Mav.

When Mav’s arm drops from me and he takes a step toward Taz, I wrap my arm around him and haul him back. As Taz resumes his work on the lock, Mav glares daggers into the back of his head, and after a minute, he mumbles, “Doll’s fine.”

Taz stands and pulls the door open. “See, I knew you’d see it my way.” He enters the building, and Mav and I follow. We then stand side by side as we take in the dilapidated building.

There’s enough light streaming in through the dirty windows that you can see most of the interior of the space. It’s long and quite wide with a V ceiling that has all the scaffolding showing. The walls are brick and were once painted white, but the paint’s chipping and peeling away now. Boxing equipment, most of it in pretty bad shape, is hanging up or littering the floor. The floor itself is wood and is covered in a layer of dust and dirt. The only things in decent condition are the two boxing rings on the far side of the room, which look a lot like the ring the club has set up in the garage.

“What do you want?” A sharp youthful voice rings out, and three things happen. Mav moves his body directly in front of mine and Taz’s hand dips into his vest. Then Taz spots her and points to the form standing in a darkened doorway, halfway on the right side of the gym.

“Ivy?” I ask.

My question is greeted by silence. “It’s Em—it’s Red. Do you remember me? From the shelter?” I step out from behind Mav, though he tries to stop me, and when I’m finally successful, I see his hand is also inside his cut. I inwardly groan as I think about what she’s seeing. Two big, tattooed bikers ready to shoot her.

Yeah, there is no way she’s going to come any closer with these two right here.

“Mav. Can you and Taz wait for me outside? I want to talk to her alone for a minute.”

“No.”

Rolling my eyes, I grate out, “Luce. Do I need to remind you why we’re here? Why I’m here with you? It’s because of her help, so stop freaking out for a second and think about it. She wouldn’t hurt me and you two don’t look very friendly. If I have any chance of getting her to accept my help, you need to let me talk to her alone.”

“Yeah, but we don’t know if she’s here alone.”

We stare down each other for a minute before he bends over and pulls a smaller gun from inside his boot. He places it in my hands. I know how to use it now thanks to him and Griz, but I still don’t like carrying one around. Lily carries hers in her purse, but with Will, I don’t dare.

“I’ll be right by the door. You see anyone else, you call for me. You feel like somethin’s wrong, you get the hell out of here.”

“I will. Now go.” I tuck the gun away and then push him toward the door. “I’ll be fine.”

“She’s four months pregnant with your kid . . . you really gonna leave her in here alone?”

“Taz,” I hiss. “Not helping.”

As we get closer to the door, I push them both out of it and then shut it a little to at least give Ivy the sense that we’re alone.

I turn around and see that Ivy, if it’s even her, hasn’t moved from the doorway. But after a minute or so passes, she does ask, “What do you want? Your stuff?”

It’s her.

“That would be nice, but that’s not why I came looking for you. I owe you money.”

Again I’m met by silence.

“You said if I won the lottery, to repay the favor. I didn’t win the lottery, but I can pay you back. And I wanted to say thank you for helping me out when you did.”

“It was just five bucks, Red, not a kidney.”

Inwardly, I smile, remembering now her sassy personality. I didn’t realize I could miss something I didn’t necessarily like to begin with.

“Yeah, but that five bucks put me straight on the path to a better life. A good life. I met a good man and some good people. I have a home now, and a family. I have my daughter back and a baby on the way.”

More thick silence, and then she replies, “That’s real good, Red. I’m happy for you. Really. But I was just kiddin’ around when I told you to pay me back. I only said that to make you feel better about takin’ the money.”

“I know. It doesn’t change the fact that I can and want to pay you back, though.”

If I’m not mistaken, she disappears from the doorway. My heart falls and the hope filling me dwindles away. Even my shoulders lower in defeat as I exhale. But then I hear rustling. I startle as something hits the floor and slides across it. “It’s your bag,” she says. “Leave the money on the floor, if it means that much to you. I’ll get it later.”

She turns again.

“Wait!”

“What, Red? I’m growing old standin’ here.”

“I can help you. I can offer a whole lot more than five dollars.” Chancing it, I take a couple of steps forward until I see her back up a step. “My friend owns a bar and really needs a table busser. She also needs a sitter for her kids. I told her about you and she’s willing to give you a shot. My boyfriend and his friends own some businesses. If you don’t want to work for my friend, he said he’d find you another job that pays a decent wage. We also have an apartment above our garage and it’s yours—”

“People don’t help people out of the kindness of their hearts anymore, Red.”

“Not true. You helped me.”

“Not out of kindness. More out of guilt.”

“Does it matter? I still owe you. I’m offering you a chance to get yourself off the street for a little while. Maybe longer.”

“What makes you think I need your help?”

“Look where you are, Ivy? This building isn’t safe. You’re too young . . .” My voice trails off as she disappears.

I figured this would happen. I didn’t know what other way to offer her help, though. I know from our interaction at the shelter that she’s lived a hard life at such a young age, and that she doesn’t trust people in general.

“Ivy, your dad was right. It really doesn’t rain all the time. But I think . . . I think sometimes you have to accept help from other people when you really need it. I have a friend that did that for me, and I’d like to do the same for you.

“I don’t need a mother.”

“Good, because I have my hands full as it is. I could be a friend though, if you’ll let me.”

“And what about those bikers? The ones you came in with? Are you telling me there’s no strings attached to the help they’re givin’?”

“My boyfriend and his friend? No. No strings. They want to help you too, because you helped me. They won’t hurt you.”

“And I’m just supposed to believe you?”

“No, but if you’ll give us a chance, we’ll prove that what I’m saying is the truth.” I move closer and grab my bag, slinging it over my shoulder. As I turn and head toward the door, I say, “I’ll wait outside for ten minutes and let you decide. If you don’t come out by then, we’ll take off.”

I leave the dark interior and for a moment, I’m blinded by sunlight. Then Mav is there and he’s checking me over. He then pulls the bag from my shoulder, palms my face with his other hand. “How’d it go?”

I shake my head. “We’ll see. Can we wait for a little bit?”

He nods and says, “Yeah. Let me put this in my saddle bag.”

I ask Mav and Taz to wait by the bikes in case she comes out, and I lean against the brick building. Every few minutes, I check my phone. When eleven minutes pass, I head toward Mav. He pulls me in for a hug and whispers in my ear, “We’ll try again after she’s had some time to think about it.”

Taz throws his leg over his bike and starts it up. But then immediately he shuts it down. When I look his way, I notice his eyes are focused on something behind me. Turning, I see Ivy standing with one hand around the belly of a charcoal-colored cat, and the other clutching the strap of the gym bag she’s got over her shoulder. She’s standing in the open doorway again. Her gaze bounces from Mav to Taz, and then to me.

I approach her slowly. Her leaf-like green eyes are striking against her pale skin, even though there’s a ring of black eyeliner surrounding them. She’s dressed in black like before and wearing those same laced up boots.

“Hey,” I say, I didn’t think you we’re going to come out.”

“Neither did I.”

Her eyes roam over me. “You look good, Red. Healthy.”

“Thanks.”

“So you’re a biker chick now, huh?”

A slow smile spreads across my face. “Yeah, I guess I am.”

“And you’re really preggers?”

“Yes, just over four months along.”

Her mouth twitches. “So you didn’t really take my advice about buying some protection.”

I grin. “I was buying condoms when I found that friend I was talking about.” The cat wiggles in her arms and tries to get loose, but she adjusts her grip on him.

“Who’s this?” I ask and motion to the cat. Reaching out, I pet the cat, and it lifts its head to meet my hand.

“I call her BB. Black Betty” She rolls her eyes. “And yes, I realize she’s not black.”

She looks from me to Mav. “So is he the baby dadda?”

“Yes. That’s Mav. Or people call him Luce. He’s my boyfriend.” Mav mutters a hello to her from behind me. Her gaze swings back to Taz. “And that’s Taz, his friend,” I say. “They’re only here because they wouldn’t let me come alone.”

“For good reason,” Mav rasps in aggravated tone.

Dropping her voice, Ivy asks, “How come that one is lookin’ at me like he wants to gnaw on my bones and spit them out after?”

I shrug. “That’s just how Taz looks at everyone. But don’t worry about it. He’ll be on his best behavior. He owes me, so to collect I’ve asked him to give you a ride back to where we live.”

“You’re gonna have to leave the cat,” Taz states.

He pulls a toothpick from his pocket, but pauses when she says, loud enough for him to hear, “Look, I don’t know you from Adam, but fuck you asshole if you think I’m leavin’ my cat.”

Taz growls and the toothpick falls from his fingers.

I bite my lip to stifle my laugh.

Taz glares at her and then me. Mav comes forward and offers, “I’ve got one empty saddle bag if you think she’ll be okay ridin’ in there. It’ll be about a fifteen—maybe twenty minute drive.”

Ivy nods, but before she hands over the cat, she asks Mav, “No strings, right? If I want to leave—”

“You do as you please. Consider it my way of sayin’ thanks for helpin’ Ember when you did.”