Page 3

“Okay, guys. That’s enough. Pyro, if you keep this up, I won’t take you. I’ll ask Lynch to go with me instead.”

Cotton stands there smirking, while Pyro is looking thunderous.

Loki is grinning like he has won the lotto. “Sis, let’s go swimming before Stella hollers at us to come eat, yeah?” I nod and follow him down to the beach area.

There are several brothers and a few old ladies down here swimming, some of them watching kids, of all ages.

“Sai! Sai!” I look up as the cutest little girl comes waddling towards me as fast as her little legs will go.

“Hey, sweetpea! Have you been playing in the sand?” I pick her up and kiss her cheek, hugging her.

“Yeth. Momma saith that I can. I buil a cathle.”

“You built a castle? You’ll have to show me.” I put herdown and we follow little Bethany over to her castle and her mom, Beth. Bethany had stolen my heart from the time she was born. Beth and I are good friends, her dad is another brother in the MC, and I babysat Bethany while she went to classes to finish up her schooling. We chat for a bit, then Tires and I go over to a spot by ourselves.

“There are just too many people here today, Coop. My anxiety is so high.” I melt into him as he pulls me to him and hugs me.

“That’s what I was afraid of. Did you take your meds to help ward off a migraine? I told Dad you may very well end up with one because of all of this.” He pulls back and looks into my green eyes, so much like his own.

I smile. “Yeah.” The last thing I want, or need is one of those vicious things to pull me under right now.

“Good deal. Hopefully it’ll keep you from getting one.”

“I don’t know, all the stress from Pyro acting like he is lately, Cotton acting like he hates me but still looking out for me, trying to get my bakery up and running. It’s getting to be too much.”

“I can talk to Cotton and Pyro for you.”

“Don’t you dare! I am a Farrell. I can handle them. If I feel like I need help, then I’ll come to you.”

He grins at me. “Yeah, okay. Let’s get in the water.” He already has his swim shorts on and waits for me to strip down to my bikini. “Holy shit, Sis! Where did you get that? Has Dad seen it?”

“Um, no, not yet. It’s part of the new wardrobe Aunt Stella bought me. What’s wrong with it?”

“Nothing really. I’m just not used to seeing you in something that revealing, and you know that Dad will probably go berserk on Stella. Hahaha. You look beautiful. You always do. It just shows that you truly are a woman now. And it means I might have to kick a few asses if these guys don’t put their eyes back in their heads!” I smile and run into the water with him following me.

Cotton

I’mabout ready to break this little punk’s hands if he doesn’t get them off Saige! And who the hell is he to question me like that! I may not be assigned to protect her anymore, but I’ll always protect her. Thank God Tires took her over to go swimming. Stone gives me a chin lift to follow him.

“What’s up, Pres?” I ask when we are a good bit away from the others but can still see Saige and Tires.

“Care to tell me what that was all about back there?”

Sighing and running my hand through my hair, I look at him. “I honestly don’t know. I have so many feelings going through me right now. The biggest one being rage when I see anyone touching her. I don’t get it. I know I’m not good enough for her. I’ve done things I’m not proud of, and I know she deserves better than me. But I also know that she deserves better than that ass clown who is likely to blow himself up one day too.”

“Cotton, I want to tell you something. God forgives us for our sins, all we have to do is ask. You must learn to forgive yourself as well and let go of this guilt, because it wasn’t your fault, Son. There was nothing you could do. You have to believe that. Now as for not being good enough for my daughter, I must disagree with that as well. If you decide to follow your heart and go for her, I give you my blessing. But if you hurt her….”

I look up at Stone and nod. “Understood, Sir. Thank you. “

“Now let’s go and talk to Cruz and Lynch about that run we have coming up…. What the hell is she wearing?”

I look over to Saige as Stone explodes and all I can do isstare. She is gorgeous. Standing there in a dark green bikini with skulls on it. She’s covered completely where it matters, but oh man, her body is banging! Just looking at her I am instantly hard. I turn away and start counting in my head. Finally, I hear a splash and I know that she’s in the water. I walk over to Cruz and we go get Lynch. I need to get my thoughts and feelings straightened out, and I sure as hell can’t do it while staring at her.

Two

Saige

“I don’t knowhow to thank you all for all these gifts. Y’all didn’t have to do this. Just being here with us to celebrate was the greatest gift you could have given us,” I say to the clubs that are present.