His voice dropped deeper, to that voice that had always made her go still. It was good to see not everything about her had changed.
She stilled, now looking every inch the Little he remembered. There was that new weariness in her eyes again. “We both know you don’t want to go down that road with me.”
Conn wasn’t sure what he knew anymore. He knew she was a perfect fit for his arms. He knew he liked her there. He’d told himself she was off limits now that she had kids, buther nearness had him questioning that, too. She affected him, unsettling in the best and worst ways.
She wasn’t taking care of herself, and that didn’t sit well with him. He didn’t know much, well, anything, about taking care of a baby, but he knew it was a twenty-four-hour-a-day job. That was for one baby, and she had three. Three small humans were depending on someone who looked like she hadn’t slept in weeks.
He clenched his jaw to hold his words back. Words he didn’t need to say, but someone sure did. Why wasn’t Reid looking out for her? An ugly possessive streak he had no right to feel rose up fast within him. The thought of anyone else taking on that responsibility made him want to punch something.
Once inside, he headed straight to the sunken living room. Bliss sucked in a breath when she spotted their big Christmas tree. Yeah, the smaller one in the window was just for show. Between the lower floor and the cathedral ceiling, Connor was pretty sure this one was thirteen feet at least.
Winnie moved in the second Connor had Bliss seated on the couch facing the lights shimmering from every branch of the Christmas tree, ornaments catching the glow like little bursts of color. Within seconds, Winnie, Georgia, and Breezy had her surrounded, voices soft and excited as they started firing questions.He knew Trouble was in good hands as they’d gather around her and chat about all things Christmas and babies.
He moved to the kitchen to grab her a plate of whatever food he could find and a large mug of hot chocolate. He should have known as soon as he entered the kitchen that his brothers would descend. They had better radar than airport security.
As usual, Deke Winters was the first out of the gate. He’d gotten even worse since he and Suzi had worked everything out. It was hard to decide which one of them was nosier. “So, Conn, is there something you’d like to share with the class?”
“Not really, no.” Connor wasn’t one for playing twenty questions.
“So, you were alone with Bliss for over an hour, and nothing interesting happened? This is the same Bliss you rescued, lost, searched until you found again, and worked your sources to death to keep tabs on, right?” Gage asked.
Connor didn’t appreciate Gage’s tone, so instead of an answer, he gave him his happy middle finger. Gage laughed and gave it right back.
Reid, however, still had business on his mind. “I need you to stop by the garage tomorrow and get caught up on what we discussed at the meeting.”
Connor nodded as he put a few pigs in a blanket on a plate for Bliss, along with some carrot sticks and broccoli with some kind of dip in a bowl close by. “That works. I need to drop Bliss’s car off anyway. It needs four new tires and a spare. You might as well check over the whole thing. She’s driving a piece of shit 1979 Nova.”
Reid scowled. “What do you mean it needs four new tires? She’s been driving around for two months and didn’t tell me she needed tires? Why the fuck not?”
“That’s a good question.” One of the many Connor wanted answers to.
Lucky for one naughty Little girl who kept secrets, he couldn’t ask right then because Zane Thorne drifted into the kitchen, summoned by the scent of food, drama, and conversation.
Connor still wasn’t sure about that kid. He’d left the Lawless Warriors MC when everything went down with Suzi, but Connor wasn’t sure he was settled yet. Lawson Young had taken him in, and they seemed to be tight. Still, Connor kept an eye on him out of habit. He signaled Zane to go ahead with a lift of his chin.
“Is it true that Nova means ‘it won’t go’ in Spanish?” Zane asked.
For a minute, no one spoke. They all stared at Zane, whose face had turned so red it was almost purple. Then Law slapped him on the back of the head. “Do you think a company the size of Chevrolet would pick a name that stupid for one of its cars?”
“Hey!” Zane rubbed his head. “What happened to there’s no such thing as a dumb question?”
Law glared at him. “I stand corrected.”
The room erupted in laughter. Connor was just thankful everyone’s eyes had found a new target. Everyone hung around and chatted.
When one of the babies started crying, they took it as their cue to leave. Connor listened to the thin wails and tried not to break out in hives like a dumbass. The sound tugged at him, something instinctive and unfamiliar tightening in his chest. He wanted to pick up whichever of the girls was crying, but he’d probably break her.
Once everyone else had gone, Reid motioned him over. “Conn, before you go, I’d like a word,” he said, then leaned one shoulder against the counter, arms folding across his chest in that big-brother stance Connor knew too well.
Wary, Connor nodded. “What’s on your mind, bossman?”
“I think you can guess,” Reid said, his tone serious. “It probably doesn’t need saying.”
Connor’s every instinct had him on high alert. “And yet you are saying it.” Connor didn’t want to end the evening in a fight with one of his brothers. He rested his hip against the kitchen island and crossed his ankle.
With a shrug, Reid got to his point. “It’s my job as her big brother. We both know Bliss has been through a hard time. I don’t want her to be confused about any attention you show her.”
Connor narrowed his eyes. “She’s not easy to confuse, brother. Especially since no one is trying to confuse her.” He kept his voice even, but irritation scraped the back of his neck.
