“Yeah,” she croaks out the word, agreeing even though it costs her.
“It’s not forever,” I tell her.
A tear slides down her cheek while her fingers play with the edge of my cut. “I know,” she says, but her voice is so flat that I’m not entirely sure she believes it.
Which just won’t do.
As my mind starts going over options to make this right, to find a compromise somewhere between her safety and her sanity, my woman turns toward Lara, her voice wobbly, “I’m so sorry, Lara. For putting you in danger.” She swallows hard, her tone tinged with regret, “For putting Vanessa in danger.”
Lara grabs my woman’s hands and shakes her head. “I don’t want to hear that, Graycie,” she tells my woman straight out. “Don’t apologize for things you haven’t done. You don’t control anyone else.” She eyes me over my woman’s shoulder before amending her words, “Well, you control someone, but only one person and only because he chooses to be that for you.”
Graycie looks confused before she follows Lara’s line of sight up to me and turns a pretty shade of pink as she blushes.
“I don’t know about that,” my woman tries to deflect.
Ryker barks out a laugh from his position along the perimeter of the room. “She’s not fucking wrong,” he tosses out there.
I swear I hear Sidewinder snicker, but when I glance at him, he’s scowling at the floor like it owes him fucking money.
Even though I feel the tops of my ears heat slightly, I ignore it and my brothers. I put all of my focus on my woman.
“Could she bake some things at the clubhouse?” I blurt out the question, not expecting it to be a real possibility.
Lara tilts her head slightly. “Is it a commercial grade kitchen?”
“Yeah,” Ryker is the one to answer her as he straightens up slightly. I’m not sure if he’s intrigued by the question because of the possibility of readily available baked goods or for some other reason.
Either way, I’m not inclined to step in. Yet.
“It would need to pass an inspection,” she muses, “I’m pretty sure.”
“We could swing that,” Ryker throws out there.
Lara flashes my Prez a small smile and I swear I hear Playboy growl under his breath.
I’m too busy soaking up how good it feels to have my woman tucked into my side. She fits against me perfectly.
Graycie leans into me and whispers, “Thank you.”
I look down at her and smirk. “For what?”
“For finding a way, one I never would have pursued or even considered.” She gives my waist a squeeze. “You did that. For me.”
“And for my own sanity,” I tease her.
“So, you really did it for you?” The teasing note in her voice has me swooping down and kissing her again.
“I really don’t think this is sanitary,” Lara points out, but I can hear the laughter in her voice.
My woman turns toward her friend and boss with a huge grin on her face. “Once everything is approved, maybe I can do special orders at the clubhouse. It would free you up and still give you time with Vanessa.” Her face falls slightly as she adds, “And it will make sure you and her are safe.”
Lara’s face softens. “You’re always thinking about everyone else, Graycie, and I love that about you.”
“Yeah,” Playboy scoffs, “because everything is about you.”
Lara spins around to face him, her hair flying around her head. That’s when I realize it’s down instead of pulled back like it normally is. She’s clearly wearing pajamas if the tight shorts and oversized shirt are any indication.
The look she levels my brother makes me wince. But Playboy’s face remains a neutral mask except for the way his eyes burn with words unsaid and judgements rendered.
