“Guilty as charged,” Hallie replied with a grin.
Sophia glanced around the main room.It was decorated with red, gold, and black balloons and streamers.There were vases of red dahlias scattered about, and the ever-present buffet table was laden with red and black cupcakes, each with small gold embellishments, various snack foods, and a bowl full of punch.
“This place looks great,” Sophia told Indi.
“Thanks.I did what I could in the time I had,” she replied.
“Well, you did fabulous.Thank you for this.”She hugged the other woman before she found herself surrounded by the other old ladies wishing her a happy birthday.
She spotted Axel watching her and gave him a small smile.She hated that she couldn't just go over to him and kiss him.Maybe they needed to take the plunge and tell her father.
With that thought at the forefront of her mind, she bided her time until she could get him alone.She was fairly certain it would happen at some point in the night.
“The other old ladies and I each got you a little something,” Indi told her.
“You didn't have to do that,” Sophia said.
“We know that, silly.We wanted to,” Ivy said before anyone else could.
She was dragged over to a table where ten wrapped gifts were.She opened each one and couldn't help but gasp.“Are you serious right now?”They'd all gotten her a paperback by C.M.Youngren.She now had the entire No Surrender series as well as the Soul Sisters trilogy.
“Happy birthday,” Hallie said, hugging her shoulders.“The way you lit up talking about them, we had to get them for you.Since there are eleven books and only ten of us, the last one is from all of us.”
“Thank you all, so much.This is amazing.”She was genuinely touched.
When Rose, Ronnie, and Liria stepped away, Sophia wondered what they were up to.When they returned, they had trays of drinks.Each one was a creamy yellow and she arched a brow when one was handed to her.
“What is this?”
“It's called a Painkiller.It has pineapple juice, dark rum, cream of coconut, orange juice, and a dusting of nutmeg,” Liria replied.“This one is yours, Hallie.It has everything but the rum in it.And yes, I'm drinking the same thing,” she added, handing a glass to her.
“Thanks for thinking of me,” Hallie replied.
“Oh, this is tasty,” Sophia admitted after her first sip.
Music started and they dragged her off to the dance floor.“Should you be dancing?”Sophia asked Liria.
“Maybe it'll make this kid decide to come early,” Liria grumbled.
“You are definitelynotmaking me want to be a mother,”Sophia told her.
“Good.You're too young.I ain't ready to be a grandpa,” her father grumped before he twirled Hallie into his arms.
Sophia decided to take the opportunity presented with her father so distracted to slip away from the others.As she passed Axel, she murmured, “We need to talk,” and continued to the hall leading to the individual rooms all of the bikers kept there.
She stopped halfway down the hallway and waited for Axel to join her.
“Hey, babygirl.What's on your mind?”he asked when he reached her.
“I want to tell my dad.About us.Tonight.”
“Are you sure?I don't want you to feel rushed.”
“I'm sure, Axel.When the ladies were all hugging me, I looked over at you and realized I wanted to be able to kiss you when I want to.”
“If this is what you really want, then I'm behind you all the way.”
When he dipped his head down to kiss her, Sophia gripped his shirt and tugged him closer until she was leaning back against the wall.A soft sound escaped her as she lost herself in the feel of his lips on hers.
