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“How did the club get started?” I ask.

“My old man started the founding chapter thirty years ago, here in Montana.” Nina beams with pride. “He saw a need for it when one of his biker friends tried to protect his son from his ex-wife’s abusive new husband. He tried every legal route first, but nothing worked. The cops didn’t want to take the kid away from his mom, despite overwhelming evidence that he wasn’t safe in that house. We finally had to take matters into our own hands.”

“What happened?” I ask, riveted.

“Winchester, my old man, got a group of guys together. They all rode together on the weekends. It was an unofficial brotherhood that became official on August 1, 1992. They knew they had to protect the kid. The club’s mission was clear. We’re dedicated to protecting the innocent when the law won’t step in and do what’s right. We’re not above the law, but if they don’t do their job, it becomes our job.” Nina’s chest puffs with pride.

“What happened to the kid? The first one?”

“Trainwreck was seven at the time. He’s thirty-seven now and the president of the Louisiana chapter.”

“Trainwreck?” I can’t help but laugh.

“That’s his club name.” Nina smirks.

“Please tell me there’s a story behind it.”

“Oh, yeah. When we were smuggling him out of Montana and down to Louisiana, Winchester thought it would be best to go via train. Once we took the boy, we knew they’d be looking for us. They’d be expecting us to be on bikes, so Winchester thought up the train idea. There weren’t any passenger trains going through the area, so they hopped on a freight train.”

“Wild!”

“Yeah. They made it as far as Kansas when the train they were on hit a tanker truck that stalled on the tracks. Poof!” She makes an exploding motion with her hands. “Giant fireball. They were lucky they were at the end of the train because that fireball killed several nearby motorists.”

“That’s terrible.”

“Very sad.” She nods in agreement. “They had to jump off in Kansas and wait until the accident was cleared before they could get on another train. It took days. The whole place was a crime scene, so they had to lay low. But eventually, the trains started running again, and they made it to Dallas.”

“But not Louisiana?”

“Not yet. In Dallas, the train derailed because of faulty tracks that hadn’t been repaired correctly.”

“Two trainwrecks back to back is almost impossible,” I say.

“Which is why we named Michael ‘Trainwreck.’ Trust me, the nickname is perfect. His relationships are just one disaster after another. One day I hope he settles down with a good girl. Someone like you.”

“I don’t know why everyone seems to think I’m a good girl,” I mutter.

“Because you are.” Nina grins. “Now, help me get all the colors of the rainbow.”

After gathering the correct dyes, we return to the kitchen and begin mixing multiple bowls of frosting to keep the colors separated. Max and Scar are going nuts in the blanket fort, playing and laughing and having so much fun I want to join them. But I don’t. Max needs to see that not all men are jerks like his father.

The more I watch Scar with Max, the more I wonder what Scar wants in the future. Does he want a family? Does he want kids of his own? I haven’t thought much about having a family, but being with Scar is changing me in subtle ways. It’s got me thinking about what I want in the long term, and if I do want a family, do I want one with Scar?

The cupcakes are so pretty when they’re finished that it seems almost criminal to eat them. I snap a photo with my phone before handing one to Max, who shoves it into his mouth without pause. Scar does the same.

“You guys! Nina and I worked hard on those!”

“And they’re tasty,” Scar says with his mouth full. It would be completely disgusting if he weren’t being so damn cute. I love seeing this younger, playful side of him.

“Can I have another one?” Max asks while attempting to swallow the first one whole.

“Chew! You’re going to choke,” I tell him.

“Don’t be jealous of our skills,” Scar whispers in my ear. “If you need some more practice, I’ll be happy to give it to you later.”

My entire body flushes under his seductive gaze. I can’t believe what he does to me. All it takes is one little look, and I’m burning up with desire. He’s being so evil. He’s getting me all hot and needy even though he knows we can’t run off to his bedroom to put out the flames.

As he watches me, his wicked grin widens. He’s enjoying my torment. Ugh! So not cool, but damn, if this isn’t the best foreplay I’ve ever had. Well, he’s in for it now because two can play at this game.