“Why are you looking under the table? Your kids are still fast asleep upstairs,” Talon asked, watching me stick my head under the table.
“Just checking,” I muttered, my face feeling numb.
I’d had too much to drink. Five shots were too much for me. I hated tequila. But the guys looked so hopeful when I came back down. And then they offered me alcohol, and it felt rude to say no.
“Checking for what?” he asked, looking under the table as well.
“The orgies?” I said and slapped a hand over my mouth. That thought was supposed to stay in my head.
“Orgies? We don’t have orgies in the main room. And definitely not under the table. Not enough space,” Talon said and then broke out into roaring laughter.
I pushed him, his tall frame not moving an inch. “That’s not… I meant… it was just…”
“I think you’ve got bad reception. You’re cutting out,” Talon said, watching me with a twinkle in his eyes.
“You really thought we’d just all get down to business right here?” Gears asked, amusement evident on his face.
“I read books,” I said, blinking to clear my vision.
“Books of what? Orgies?”
“Bikers.”
Talon shook his head, his eyes still beaming with mirth. “You might see someone’s naked ass by the end of the night, but we keep the rest in our rooms. Sorry to disappoint.”
I’d come to realize that everyone was really easygoing. They all seemed to care about each other, liked to joke around, and welcomed me like I was their long-lost sister.
Being part of something meant a lot to me. Being part of a family, even if it wasn’t by blood, meant even more, especially since my own had discarded me so easily.
“I love you guys,” I declared, throwing my arms around Talon’s shoulders and my body into his arms, orgies forgotten.
He caught me, squeezing me around my middle. “How are you this drunk already?”
After hugging the other guys in the group that consisted of Gears, Grim, and a man they called Smoke, I settled back in my seat. I had a permanent smile attached to my face, my cheeks aching.
“I’m not drunk, you are,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest.
“You’ve had five shots over three hours and you can’t even figure out how to cross your arms. That’s the definition of a lightweight,” Gears said, taking a drink of his beer.
I looked down and noticed I hadn’t crossed my arms but instead was holding my own hand over my chest.Huh, I really thought I’d crossed them.
I squinted at the monitor sitting on the table. The image was grainy, but when I saw Luca and Lena still fast asleep, I relaxed back into the couch.
“So how did you meet Ace?” Gears asked. “You don’t seem like his type.”
“You mean he doesn’t like a woman with a brain? Or is it the kids? The half-Asian thing? You gotta be more specific here, dude.”
Grim smacked Gears over the head and murmured something to him, causing his face to blanch.
“Sorry, Nora, that’s not what I meant. Forget I said anything,” Gears said, his eyes shifting from me to Grim and back.
I waved him off, too drunk and happy to be offended by the comment. “Don’t worry about it. I know I’m not exactly a catch.”
Grim heaved himself up and squeezed in next to me. “Girl, if I was twenty years younger, I’d ask you to marry me today. You are the full package. You can cook, you’re beautiful, you’re funny and smart, and did I mention you’re beautiful?”
I leaned my head on his shoulder. “Thanks, Grim. That’s a really nice thing to say.”
“Don’t let Ace hear you,” Talon said from Grim’s other side. “He’ll make you disappear faster than you can say ‘wedding.’”
