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Story: Reclaimed

“Well, Iaman enforcer, so the lurking is my job.”

“Nice try,” Cassidy said. “We’re not done talking about this, but right now, I need a latte and a pedicure more than ever.” She turned to stomp back up the stairs, then paused, and brandished her forefinger at me. “You’re not off the hook either. You knew about this!”

I raised my hands in surrender. “We’ll talk about it over pedis. They’re on me.Andthe coffee.”

“It’s a start,” Cassidy huffed as she went back upstairs.

“Huh,” Striker said. “That went better than I expected.”

I snorted. If there was anyone who could handle my firecracker of a best friend, it was Striker. I grinned. “Well, that was exciting, but it looks like I need to get ready to head.”

Steph wound his arm around my waist and pulled me close. “Be careful out there.”

“You know I always am,” I said, and sealed the promise with a kiss.

I caught Striker watching and knew he was imagining sharing a similar moment with Cassidy.

“Call me if anything happens,” Steph said to Striker. “I’ll be there.”

“I know you will,” Striker said with a salute.

There was still a lot of danger out there, but it was easy to feel safe with Steph and his clan watching my back.

After I got dressed, Cassidy and I went on our way. Rome drove us into town, and Striker followed on his bike. The nail salon was on the main strip of downtown. I bought coffees for all four of us, then Cassidy and I ambled into the salon. Rome stayed posted out front, just like he had when I met with Blakely, but to my surprise, Striker followed us in.

“You getting your toes done, too?” I asked with an eyebrow quirked.

Striker snorted. “Maybe next time. I’m just here to keep an eye on things, not interrupt girl time.”

“That could be a good punishment,” Cassidy said. “Full mani-pedi? Maybe an eyebrow threading? See what us girls really go through.”

“If that’s what you want,” Striker said with his dark eyes fixed on Cassidy.

Her cheeks flushed slightly, and her lips parted as she locked eyes with Striker. A second later she snapped out of it, then huffed and turned on her heel. “We’ll see,” she said as she marched toward the pedicure chairs at the back of the salon.

We dunked our bare feet in the warm foot baths, and the nail technicians came over with their rolling cart of supplies. I sipped my coffee and sank deeper into the cushy massage chair with a happy sigh. It’d been way too long since I’d had a proper day of pampering, especially with my best friend—even if she was in a mood. It was a little funny to see her obviously pissed at me and Striker while still sneaking glances at the man leaning against the front door.

“I can’t believe this,” she huffed.

“What part?”

“I came up here for you and Dylan, not to get all wrapped up with a dragon of my own.”

I smirked. “Oh, so he’syourdragon now?”

She blushed again and tossed a napkin at me. “You know what I mean.”

“I really am sorry, though,” I said. “I thought about telling you, but….”

“But it’s not your business,” Cassidy said. “I know. Striker should’ve told me ages ago, not because I happened to overhear him talking about how he’d tell me eventually.”

“Yeah, I’m with you there,” I said. “He was probably planning something romantic. Waiting for all this bullshit to blow over.”

“God, imagine if I was getting ready to head back to Atlanta and he dropped that on me… I would’ve killed him!”

I giggled at the image of Striker putting together some dramatic airport confession, and Cassidy immediately chewing him out for the theatrics of it. She liked a romantic gesture, but it needed to be onherterms. Cassidy was a woman who knew what she wanted.

“So what now?”

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