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As if that wasn’t enough, the pool had been completed last spring.

It was a godsend on these hot, humid summer days.

There was splashing and laughter coming from it right now.

I kept looking out and around the compound, or as much as I could see.

I wound my way through the people. I gave nods, chin lifts, and smiles to plenty, but I didn’t stop to talk.

Instead, I wanted to cheer myself up by seeing everything we’d accomplished again.

It was easy to look over the past two years since Mace and Jessamy met and feel depressed that no one else has been lucky enough to do the same.

However, that was doing a disservice to the club.

We worked hard and did our damndest to ensure our home was secure and met everyone’s needs and desires.

We were prosperous. We helped out our community and friends in any way we could.

Our friends did the same for us. We were fortunate.

I smiled at where cinder blocks had replaced the old chain link fence.

That had cost a small fortune, even with our discount for being friends, but we’d done it and felt better about the safety of ourselves and our families.

In addition, three houses had been built.

Hulk’s was first. His place wasn’t quite a year and a half old.

It sat behind Dare, our VP’s house, and Agony and Twisted’s houses were behind Hulk’s.

Five months after Hulk got his house, Pope’s house was finished.

His place was behind Mace’s and off to the side of Wire’s.

The last one to be completed six months ago was my beauty.

I loved living in a house. I didn’t know why I waited so long to build one.

It was on the same half of the compound as Hulk and most of the others, but mine sat closer to the front wall, in front of Knight’s house and diagonal to Dare’s.

I’d poured a lot of thought and time into getting the plan I loved and choosing the materials and features I wanted.

It was to be my only home for the rest of my life.

I refused to be hasty or skimp on it. Was it way too big for a single person?

Without a doubt, it was, but I didn’t care.

It was what I always wanted. It was a modern farmhouse, all on one level.

If I were fortunate and had a family one day, I would have enough room for a good-sized one.

It was painted medium forest green with rust-colored trim.

The shutters, porch posts, and front door were stained a medium pecan.

Inside, the paint was based on five colors.

The cabinetry and wood flooring in every room, except the bedrooms, were the same as the accent wood of the door and trim outside.

The walls were painted a darker green, a medium green in the same tone family, as well as off-white, a light tan, and a dark brown.

You’d think it would make the inside dark and gloomy, but it didn’t. There was no lack of windows.

On one side was the owner’s suite, as it was called, complete with a huge walk-in closet with built-in cabinetry and an island.

The bathroom had a double vanity, a separate shower, a tub, two small linen closets, and a toilet area.

Outside the suite was the laundry room, which had tons of cabinets, ample counter space, and a deep sink.

The rest of that side of the house had two more bedrooms and bathrooms, each with a small walk-in closet.

At the front was the porch leading into the foyer, with an office off to the left.

Past the foyer was the family room and dining room, which were combined into one ample space with a vaulted ceiling.

The family room had built-ins on either side of a fireplace.

The other side of the house had an open kitchen with the most enormous walk-in pantry with storage galore and more counter space than I’d ever seen, a fourth bedroom and full bath, a half bath, a short hallway that led to a small side porch.

There was a mudroom that led to the three-car garage, which had extra storage.

It offered the option of a small second-story addition over the garage with a fifth bedroom, a full bathroom, and a bonus room.

Although it was cool, I didn’t opt for that.

I had more room than I needed. The ladies had gone gaga over it.

Not that their houses weren’t fantastic, too.

They teased me when it was done, saying that I’d have no trouble attracting a woman.

As I stood there, letting the sights, smells, and sounds of the compound in to center me and clear my mind, I had to ask, though only to myself, Where are you?

I’m waiting. Come to me. I hoped the universe would direct my request to the perfect woman so she would find me.

She had to be someone I could trust implicitly.

I snorted after thinking about it. Yeah, you’re crazy, Bones.

I turned to join the others. It was time for fun.