“Some of the old ladies are hanging out downstairs. Want to join them?”
My grin widened as I nodded. “Yeah, I’d really like that.”
I stayed in his room the first day, spending most of it tangled up in bed with Lucas while I recovered from my scare. But the past couple of days, I’d had the chance to meet most of his club brothers, along with their wives and a couple of the babies. I’d spent the most time with Stella and Cadell since King and his family lived in a private addition off the back of the clubhouse.
“Cut stays on,” he reminded me.
I couldn't explain the warm flutter in my stomach. It felt so natural to listen to Lucas and do what he asked. And this was one of my favorite requests. I’d gotten comfortable wearing his extra vest around the clubhouse. When the leather settled on my shoulders, I felt safer.
“Okay,” I whispered.
Something in his eyes softened before he brushed his knuckles down my cheek and stepped past me to grab a pair of jeans and a top. I’d borrowed clothes from Stella at first, but when I’d insisted on going back to work for my next shift, Lucas had taken me home to pack a bag so I’d have my spare uniform.
I got ready in the bathroom, and when I stepped out, he was waiting. Lucas lifted the vest and settled it over my shoulders himself before we walked out of his room together.
He kept his hand at the small of my back as we walked downstairs toward the kitchen. Every club brother we passed gave a subtle chin lift. I got respectful looks with a strange kind of deference and assumed it was because of the leather vest I was wearing. Although a tiny part of me wondered if it was more than me being under his protection.
Lucas was important to the Hounds, and I was proud to be the woman at his side.
We stepped into the kitchen, and I grinned when I spotted Stella at the long table with Cadell. The toddler was stuffing pieces of pancake into his mouth by tiny fistfuls. Cerberus lay sprawled under him, inhaling every dropped crumb. The Cane Corso was bred to be intimidating, but he looked like a giant, happy puppy at the moment.
Stella looked up with a smile. “Morning!”
Annika sat beside her, resting a hand on her very pregnant belly. “We came so Matteo could meet with King, and I was drawn by the scent of coffee that I can’t even drink. Stupid caffeine.”
“Would a pancake make it a little easier?” I asked, laughing softly.
Annika nodded. “Yeah.”
Stella started to stand, but I waved her off. “Sit. I’ll grab breakfast.”
Annika blinked at me. “Kevlar didn’t bring you into the clubhouse to put you to work.”
Stella lifted a brow and shot Lucas a knowing look. One he ignored completely. Then she winked at me. “Yeah, I’m sure your serving skills are exactly why he brought you here.”
Lucas gave her a deadpan stare that managed to be both warning and bored at the same time. Stella just grinned, unbothered.
He shook his head and brushed his lips against my temple. “Gonna see what Ink and King are up to.”
“Okay,” I murmured, pressing my lips together so I didn’t tease him about escaping from Stella’s ribbing.
After watching him walk away, I heated leftover pancakes in the microwave and plated them to bring to the table. When I set the food down in front of the women, Stella reached for my hand and squeezed. “Thanks.”
“I didn’t do much,” I insisted.
Annika smiled over a forkful of pancake. “But it’s very much appreciated.”
We chatted while eating, and I didn’t mind that Lucas hadn’t returned yet, because I felt like I belonged at that table with them.
When footsteps echoed from across the lounge area, my head lifted before I even thought about it. My pulse sped up, like my body already knew exactly who was coming.
Annika’s soft laughter floated across the table. “See? Completely attuned.”
My cheeks warmed. “I’m not…I mean, it’s not like that.”
Both women gave me a disbelieving look. Then Stella leaned in conspiratorially. “Don’t fool yourself. It’s absolutely like that. My favorite part is watching one of the guys fall just as fast as I did for Connor.”
My breath caught in my chest. “You really think he has?”
