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“I’m glad to hear that.” The guys had fucked him up pretty bad, leaving him with busted ribs and broken fingers, never mind all the bruises and cuts everywhere.

“Do you think Talon would mind if I stopped by? I have some things for her, but I don’t want to intrude.”

“Are you kidding? She’s bored when she’s not at the restaurant because Mick won’t let her do anything but sit around wrapped in cotton. I’m headed there now, why don’t we go together?”

“Oh no, that’s all right. I just wanted to thank her for saving Dagger’s life. He finally told me he went over there and she helped him without question.” Tears pooled in her eyes. “I owe her so much. I just…” She turned her head, looking around as if someone could hear us. “I just don’t like all the bad things that happen around the club,” she said, practically in a whisper.

“Come with me.”

“No, that’s all right. But you can take it to her. I’ll wait for you in the parking lot.”

I frowned but agreed. I guessed I shouldn’t judge her too harshly because I might not act all that different if my man had nearly died. I shipped my packages and grabbed the cooler from Trudy before I got in the van and headed to the fabric store for some new fabric for a few patterns I had in mind. I put everything else out of my head—or at least tried to. Cash, my secret wish for my own little boutique. Cash. My future in Brently. Cash.

Dammit. Cash.

After I left the fabric store, I drove over to Talon and Mick’s. I pulled up in the drive and kicked up dust with my cowgirl boots before I climbed the wooden steps and knocked.

Talon pulled the door open with a wide happy grin. “Oh perfect, you’re here!” She pulled me inside and pushed me toward the kitchen. “I thought we could have lunch and look for dresses in San Diego today.” She rushed around and laid out muffins, fruit, and coffee. “If I ever find a thing to wear!”

I pushed her into a chair. “Sit down somewhere, woman, before that baby falls right out of you.” I dropped the bag with her new dress in it on the table and unpacked the cooler. “Wear that, I just finished it a few days ago. And this is a thank you from Trudy for saving her man’s life.”

Tears pooled in her eyes and I glared at her, completely uncomfortable with her hair trigger emotions. “Sorry, but you both are so sweet.”

“Yeah, I’m a real lollipop,” I told her. “If you stop crying, we can go shopping,” I bargained with her.

“And you’ll drive because I can’t fit behind the wheel?”

“Of course, I will. But shouldn’t we wait to look for dresses until you have less belly?”

She grinned. “No. Mick wants to get married sooner rather than later, and I’m going to surprise him with it.”

Fuck, they were so sweet it made my chest ache. I shoved that shit deep down and helped my friend into the passenger seat. It took about an hour to get to the bri

dal store, but when we arrived, there was air conditioning and champagne we couldn’t drink since Talon was pregnant and I was the designated driver.

“This is a lot more than I was thinking it would be,” she whispered to me as the shop chick went to get a few dresses.

“It doesn’t have to be. What kind of dress do you want?”

She shrugged. “Something simple. Off white or maybe a very light blue.”

I hopped up and began rifling through wedding gowns and bridesmaid dresses until I found a few dresses that met her criteria. “Here we are. Let’s get you a dressing room.”

“Excuse me,” the tiny blonde crept up with a frown. “You’re not supposed to do that.”

“Yeah, well, you’re not supposed to just pick out dresses without asking the bride what she wants. We need a room. Can you help with that?”

“Yes,” she huffed and rolled her eyes, but did as I asked.

I pushed Talon inside. “Holler if you need help, and don’t think you’re not coming out to show me every dress.”

She sighed heavily, but she tried on four dresses before finding one she loved. “What do you think?”

“Beautiful.” She had on a silk empire waist with a jeweled bodice. “Like a princess. A light blue princess, but still.”

She laughed and pulled me in for a hug. “Thanks, Minx. You really are the best.”

I turned away from her compliment because I didn’t like to hear it. Probably because I wasn’t used to them, but they just made me uncomfortable. “How about this for me,” I asked when I spotted a strapless blue dress that was a distant cousin to her gown.