Page 14 of Burning Ember

“Mav said he wanted to do something special for Edge.”

He grins and says, “Yeah, but I don’t think a little redhead is what he had in mind.”

“Baby, she’d be a perfect welcome home gift. And with the party and everything, we’re gonna need some new blood around here. We can’t throw a party with just the four clubpieces on tap. Even if we invited a couple of the girls from Wet Tips, that’s still not going to be enough. And not enough girls equals trouble. Talk to him. See if he’ll give her a chance. A few days. That’s all.” She rubs her hands up and down his arms.

“I don’t know, Little Bird.”

“Please . . . Finn.” She brushes her lips over his.

He visibly shudders. Then closes his eyes for a second and does that growl/groan again.

She places her hands on both sides of his face. “If we get the guys on board, Maverick will listen. He’ll have to. I’m tellin’ you, she’ll fit in perfectly. The guys will love her. I know it, baby.”

Goose pulls back and studies her for a moment. Then shakes his head. “You’re right about us needing new blood. But Mav wanted to wait until after the vote.”

“And that will be too late. Pleaaassseee!” She leans forward and whispers in his ear for a moment.

He sighs, “Fine.” Then smirks at her. “You’re gonna be the fuckin’ death of me.”

With a giggle, she hugs him and gives him one quick, deep kiss on the lips. When they break apart, she turns to me and yanks me forward. “Pumpkin, this is my old man, Goose. Goose, Pumpkin.” I inwardly wince at the tragic new name I’ve been given.

He pumps his chin once. “Hey.” To her he says, “Mav’s not gonna go for it, but maybe if you talk to Dozer and get him on board . . . But if Dozer says no, there’s nothin’ I can do.”

“Where’s D?”

Goose peers behind him, points to the far side of the room. “At the bar. See that big ox, Pumpkin? He’s the man you gottapersuadeto let you stay.”

My nerves ratchet up as I search for Dozer.

At the end of the bar stands an enormous man. A man that does in fact resemble a bulldozer . . . if a bulldozer had flesh and muscles upon muscles, and dirty blond hair. The guy has to be close to six and a half feet. He has overly broad shoulders, pecs and ropy biceps, which stretch his gray T-shirt and a black, leather vest to their max capacity.

“That’s Dozer? The big blond?” I don’t know why I bother asking.

Lily laughs, “Fitting, right?”

Yeah, fitting.

Dozer raps his knuckles on the bar. Rigor who’s now serving drinks, places a beer in his hand. After taking a swig, Dozer surveys the room. His gaze stops on our little group, possibly because we’re all staring at him. His brows pucker, and his head tilts slightly. Goose waves him over. After a second, a grin spreads across Dozer’s face and he crosses the room.

As he approaches, I do my best to fight my instinct to flee.

In no time, Dozer stands in front of me. A giant wall of muscle and testosterone. “Well, well, well, look at what the little bird dragged in.”

I force a tentative smile to my lips. Not that he’s not gorgeous with his slate blue-gray eyes, clean-shaven face, and flawless bone structure, because he is. It’s just . . . I’m not usually attracted to guys who tower over me, who can easily overpower me. He’s more Sunny’s type than my own.

I do like that he’s blocking my view of the rest of the room.

“What’s your name, babe?” he asks.

“It’s um . . .” I’m so intimidated by him I nearly spit out my real name.

Thankfully, Lily tightens her hold on my arm and interrupts me by saying, “D, meet my friend Pumpkin.”

He arches an eyebrow and his smile widens. “Pumpkin, huh? Whatcha doin’ in a place like this, Pumpkin?”

Pumpkin. Ugh.

Goose lightly smacks Dozer’s arm, getting his attention. “She’s lookin’ for a place to stay for a few days. Lil’ thinks she’ll make a good replacement for her. Wanted to see if we’ll let Pumpkin stick around. Long enough to see if she fits in.” He shrugs. “Think the boys would like her and she’ll make a nice welcome home gift for Edge.”