I walk through the front door and am greeted by the women all laughing and chatting away at the table. I’m on my way to join them when a gruff voice stops me in my tracks.
“You’re not even going to say good morning, Blondie?” I used to love it when he called me by that nickname. Now it only makes my heart hurt.
I sigh, turning to meet him face to face. The sooner I get this over with, the sooner I can leave. “Good morning, Gabriel. Please don’t call me that. We no longer have the sort of relationship where nicknames are required.” I turn to walkaway, only to have him grab my hip and pull me until my back is firmly against his chest.
His mouth tickles my ear as he whispers, “What about Hellcat, or Foxy, or Vixen? Are we in the type of relationship where I can call youthosenames? Because I seem to recall saying each of those at least once or twice while you were naked, sated, and screaming my name.”
Fuck me. Please.
No. No. We are not going there. No matter how hard I must clench my thighs to stave off the way his dirty words always manage to make my clit throb.
“No, Gabriel,” I manage to get out. “We no longer havethatkind of relationship either.”
He chuckles in my ear. Gabe releases my elbow and snickers. “We’ll see about that.” I scurry away and sit on the couch with the girls, who are all staring at me with intense interest.
“Everything okay, Linzie?” Skyler asks, smiling while she burps her daughter.
“Hmm. Yes. Everything is fine.”
“You sure?” Sadie teases. “You don’t want to go change your panties before we go? That exchange looked pretty …heated.”
“It’s nothing I wish to discuss,” I lean in and whisper conspiratorially. “Definitely not here.” I say, shifting my eyes to the recently installed camera in the corner of the room. Gabe took more precautions after the Feds came through here. Ones Hawk seems to use to his advantage, listening in on people’s conversations. Mostly Sadie’s since she’s been known to cause trouble for the guys.
“Yeah, you have a point there. These assholes gossip worse than the old ladies that have that dirty book club down at the library,” Jayde adds. “If Hawk overhears anything juicy, he’ll run straight to Gabe and tell him everything.” We all laugh because it’s true. They meet once a week to discuss a new dirty romancenovel. It’s hilarious to hear them talk about it. They think they’re whispering, but they’re all hard of hearing, so everyone knows every word they’re saying about the billionaire playboys and their nine-inch cunt-splitting cocks.
“I thought snitches got stitches,” Avery teases.
“That asshole was shot and still stuck his nose in other people’s business. The man does not give a shit,” Sadie sasses. Her phone chimes. She looks down at it and makes a disapproving face, then flips it over for all of us to see a text from Hawk that reads, “And whose fault is it I got shot, Sapphire? Hmm?”
We all laugh. Sadie, however, turns to the camera, flips it the bird and shouts, “Fuck you, Nathaniel.” Her phone chimes again, but this time she doesn’t show us what it says. Her cheeks turn pink, and she smirks back at the camera while texting her reply. I can only imagine the dirty messages those two share. Both Hawk and Sadie are a little on the wild side.
Violet comes walking out of the bathroom looking worse for wear. Her face is pale. Her skin looks sweaty. And she has bags under her eyes. She looks like she’s not feeling well at all.
“All right. Everyone ready to go?” she asks the group, putting on a brave face. We all stare at her as if she has three eyes on her head.
“Are you sure you’re in any kind of condition to go out? You look like you’re feeling under the weather, babe,” Sadie asks, pointing out the obvious.
Declan comes up behind her, having heard Sadie’s concerns. He looks over Violet, cradling her face with his hands and scanning over her face with concern. “Dove, are you all right?”
Violet’s eyes shine for this man. She smiles, placing her hand over his, leaning into his touch. My chest hurts just watching them together. They’re so sweet, and he’s just so loving and attentive when it comes to Violet and her son, Carter. All themen with wives or significant others in the club seem to be the same way. Their women are their primary concern.
To all the men except yours.
No. Not mine. Gabe is free to be with whomever he likes.
“I’m fine, baby. I’m just a little tired. Last night’s dinner didn’t agree with me, and I got little sleep.”
“Then you should go home and rest while Carter is up at the farm with Liz,” Declan admonishes.
“I’ll be fine. Besides, this is the only day we have to go dress shopping and pick up some supplies and decorations for the wedding. And I want to pick up a few Christmas gifts while we’re out for you and Carter,” Violet pleads. “I promise, if I start to feel any worse or I get any more tired, I’ll have one of the girls bring me straight home.”
“No. You’ll call me, and I’ll come take care of you.” He leans in and kisses her on the lips. “That’smyjob, remember?” She returns the kiss, and he lets her go.
We all make it to the mall and find my best friend Andi and Everly, the town stylist, along with Everly’s little sister Kaylie waiting for us inside. Andi is doing all the catering and baking the cake for Avery, and Everly is in charge of everyone’s hair and makeup. She ownsJust Off the Topsalon near my café in town. Avery decided that since they were helping with the wedding, they are invited to all the festivities, including shopping and her bachelorette party.
We hit three dress shops, and everyone seems to have found what they’re looking for. We stopped at the food court for a bite to eat and talked about what we planned to wear to Avery’s bachelorette party. It’s being hosted at the Velvet Pearl, an upscale club on the outskirts of town. I thought it was strictly a gentlemen’s club, but apparently Skyler pulled a few strings along with a little help from Sadie and convinced the club owner to have a ladies night novelty act in honor of Avery’s wedding,and he agreed. But the club itself is not casual, and I have nothing to wear to such a place.
“What style of outfit are you looking for, Linzie? Maybe we can help you,” Jayde offers. “Do you want short? Long? Off the shoulder? Long sleeve? Give me some hints and I’ll find you the dress.”
