A smirk spreads across my face as I lick my fingers again, and Phoebe blushes as she pulls away. Yep, Phoebe’s my favorite dessert. So. Fucking. Sweet.
“Why do you ask?”
“Just wondering if we’ve ever made it,” Sarah says, her eyes widening. “Oh, gross! But also, get it, girl.”
Phoebe laughs uncomfortably and turns to me. “What is your favorite? Besides me, I mean. Are you a cake or cookies type of guy? Or maybe pie?”
“I was never a sweets guy until you. Mostly because you shoved those donuts down my throat when we first met.”
“She makes great donuts, doesn’t she?” Sarah joins in.
I laugh and nod. “Yeah, she does.”
“Don’t think you’re getting out of this,” Phoebe says.
Sighing, I think for a moment. “Um, when I was younger, my mom would make these carrot cake bars. I loved those. My brothers didn’t, so she made them for me.”
Mom. I haven’t thought about her in too long. Moving away from Vegas means I haven’t been out to visit her grave for longer than I’d like to admit. And I doubt Father keeps up with the maintenance.
“Walnuts or no?”
I frown and lean against the table. “Um, pretty sure no. God, it’s been so long that I don’t really remember. She died when I was twelve, and the last few years she was too sick to do much but rest in bed.”
Twelve. It’s the age both of us lost our moms. Another thing Phoebe and I share. We’re proof that going through traumatic situations can result in vastly different outcomes.
My phone chimes, and I see Capone’s name on the screen. “I gotta go to Velvet Desire, but Scotty will be posted up here to make sure nothing happens.”
“Do you think it will?” Sarah asks, her eyes wide.
She doesn’t know the full extent of what happened here, but she knows there was an attack on Phoebe that resulted in damage that needed repairs.
“No, my brother coming back here, especially with all of the businesses around you open, would be suicide. I have some of them keeping an eye on you, and they’ll let me know if anything suspicious happens.”
Looking relieved, Sarah sighs. “That’s good to hear.”
Phoebe doesn’t look relieved. In fact, she looks a bit sick.
“Hey, Sarah, can you give us a moment?”
Her eyes lock on Phoebe before she agrees, and then she slips out front. To do what, I have no idea, but it doesn’t really matter.
“It’s just business,” I say.
“Okay.”
Pulling her into my arms, I cup her face and tilt her head to look into my eyes. “That was Capone. We’re going together.”
Her jealousy is adorable. To have her worried about me going to see someone else makes me want to kiss her and never stop.
“He’s one of the others who gets to participate in the loophole to the rule, right?”
“Yeah.”
“You both could visit your… friend.”
Kissing the tip of her nose, I smirk. It’s kind of nice having her care this much about what I’m doing with other women. “I told Queenie I’m done with that. Capone might stay and get some affection from her, but I don’t need it. I need you.”
“But—”
