Lyssa’s expression brightened.“Great.I thought we could meet tomorrow, go over supplies and numbers.It’s the first big gathering since…” She trailed off, but I knew what she meant.Since Davis.Since the courthouse.Since I’d officially become part of the Kings’ extended family.
“Since I arrived,” I finished for her.“It’s okay to say it.I’m not fragile, Lyssa.”
She studied me for a moment, then nodded.“No, you’re not.Never really were, I think.Just needed time to remember it.”
The truth of her words settled into me, quiet affirmation of something I’d been slowly relearning.I hadn’t been broken by what happened -- bent, perhaps, scarred certainly, but never truly broken.Every morning I spent on this porch, every day I worked in the office, every night I slept peacefully beside Samson proved it.
“We’ll make it the best gathering the Kings have seen,” I promised, already mentally calculating supplies and costs.“I bet we can even convince Beast to approve the band you want.”
Lyssa’s eyes widened.“How the hell do you plan to manage that?He’ll say they’re too expensive.”
I smiled innocently.“Turns out their manager owes the club a favor.And I plan to point out that the garage profits are up twenty percent since we reorganized the parts inventory.”
“Damn, woman.”Lyssa laughed, shaking her head.“Remind me to have you negotiate my anniversary present.”
The cabin door opened behind us, and I turned to find Samson filling the doorway, his hair still damp from the shower.He wore only jeans and a faded T-shirt that stretched across his broad shoulders, but the sight of him still caught my breath -- this man who had found me broken on a dark road and never once made me feel less for it.
“Morning, ladies.”His deep voice carried easily across the porch.His gaze found mine immediately, warmth kindling in their depths as he took in the scene -- me on the swing, coffee in hand, comfortable in the home we’d built together.
Lyssa rose smoothly, the swing rocking gently with her departure.“And that’s my cue.I’ll see you tomorrow about the gathering, Callie.Thanks for the gardening tips.”
I hadn’t given her any gardening tips, and we both knew it.But Samson just nodded as she passed him, his attention already fixed on me.The look in his eyes was the same one I’d seen that morning, when I’d finally said the words out loud:I love you.
“Was I interrupting something?”he asked, crossing to take Lyssa’s abandoned spot beside me.
“Nothing that can’t wait,” I replied, leaning into his solid warmth as his arm draped naturally across my shoulders.The herbs could wait.The planning could wait.For now, this was enough -- the morning sun, the scent of coffee and clean soap, and the man who had shown me what safety really meant.
* * *
I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear as I sorted through the stack of gas receipts, organizing them by date and location before entering the numbers into the spreadsheet I’d created.The clubhouse office -- my office now, in all but name -- had transformed from a paper-strewn disaster into an organized space where I could actually find things.Sunlight streamed through the window I’d insisted on uncovering, illuminating the desk where ledgers and folders now sat in neat stacks rather than haphazard piles.The club’s finances were slowly coming into focus under my hands, revealing patterns and possibilities the brothers had missed for years.Numbers didn’t lie, didn’t hide, didn’t threaten -- they simply waited for someone who could understand their language.
Since starting my work for the club, I’d uncovered both problems and opportunities hidden in the club’s haphazard bookkeeping.The legitimate businesses were profitable but inefficient, bleeding money through inventory mismanagement and untracked expenses.The brothers were brilliant at many things, but systematic record-keeping wasn’t among them.That’s where I’d found my place -- the quiet power of organization, of bringing order to chaos.
“Knock knock,” Lyssa’s voice came from the doorway.“Got time for a cookie break?”
I looked up to find Beast’s old lady holding a plate of chocolate chip cookies, still warm enough that I could smell them from across the room.She’d changed from her casual morning outfit into slim jeans and a fitted blouse, her club role as visible in her appearance as the men’s cuts were to them.
“For homemade cookies?Always.”I set aside the receipts and cleared a space on the desk.“Those smell amazing.”
“New recipe.”She set the plate down and took the chair across from me.“Whisper’s been teaching me to bake.Says it’s good therapy.”Her eyes sparkled with mischief.“Beast says it’s not good for his waistline, but he’s not complaining.”
I laughed, taking a cookie.“I’ve seen Beast throw a two-hundred-pound Prospect over his shoulder like a sack of flour.I think his waistline can handle a few cookies.”
“That’s what I told him.”She glanced at the papers spread across my desk.“How’s it going in here?Still finding ways to save the club money?”
“Actually, yes.”I turned my laptop so she could see the spreadsheet I’d been working on.“The garage is doing better than anyone realized.Parts costs were being miscategorized, making it look like they were losing money on repairs.And the property management company has three rental units that weren’t even on the books.”
Lyssa whistled, impressed.“No wonder Beast says you’re worth your weight in gold.”She leaned forward, examining the screen.“Holy shit, is that how much we’re making on the detail shop?”
“When it’s properly tracked, yes.”I felt a flash of pride at her reaction.“I’ve got some ideas about expanding that side of the business, actually.There’s a demand for high-end detailing in this area that no one’s really tapping.”
The door opened again, and Hayley and Whisper entered, deep in conversation that paused when they saw us.
“Office party?”Whisper asked, raising an eyebrow at the cookies.
“Just refueling the financial genius,” Lyssa replied, waving them in.“You should see what she’s figured out about the detail shop.”
Hayley perched on the edge of the desk, her hand automatically reaching for a cookie.“Does that mean we can finally get that new security system?Hawk’s been saying we need to upgrade for months.”
