Page 73

I glanced at the back porch, where Striker was still absorbed in his book.

He really was handsome with his broad shoulders, dark hair, and that slight bend in his nose where it’d probably been broken.

He was definitely Cassidy’s type, too—she always went for guys who looked like they could lift a car over their head.

Cassidy rolled her eyes, but her ears turned a little pink. “Don’t be ridiculous. That guy won’t stop staring at me, even when we’re just having a normal conversation. Honestly, it’s giving me the creeps.”

“Probably because you’re knockout hot. I know you caused a real stir at the clubhouse.”

She laughed and smacked my arm. “Not because of my obvious bombshell looks, but because I went in there and started yelling at Ace.”

“That probably only made him like you more,” I said.

We finished breakfast and moved on to less serious topics once Hawk and Dylan came back grinning and drenched in sweat.

I was glad for the distraction, especially when Striker joined us.

It wasn’t my place to tell Cassidy why Striker was so obsessed with her.

Striker would have to tell her she was his fated mate himself.

I didn’t envy him that. Cassidy was so fiercely independent, I had no idea how she would react to finding out she was fated to a dragon.

Halfway through breakfast, my phone buzzed in my pocket.

“Who’s that?” Dylan asked through a mouthful of grits and sausage. “Is that Dad?”

I frowned at the screen.

Mom flashed across it, along with a picture of me, her, and Dylan all hugging cheek-to-cheek on our first and only beach vacation during one of her brief windows of sobriety.

My heart ached at the sight. More than anything, I wished we could go back to that and be a little happy family again.

As long as my mother kept drinking, though, that’d never be possible.

I didn’t have the energy to talk to her right now, especially after our last conversation. “Nothing important,” I said to Dylan as I rejected the call.

Cassidy gave me a knowing look. I pressed my lips together, then plastered a smile back on my face. Dylan had been through enough. He didn’t need to be reminded of his messed-up grandmother, too.

“So what’s the plan for this evening?” Hawk asked. “You two have been cooped up in here for a while.”

“Well, not all of us can go for a nice little flight whenever we want to,” Cassidy said. “You dragons have it made.”

“Hey, say the word and you can go out with me,” Striker said. “I’ll carry you wherever you want to go.”

“Really? Because I’ve been thinking of taking a vacation in California…”

Striker blanched, and Hawk and I burst out laughing.

“Listen, how about you come to the clubhouse tonight?” Hawk said. “We’re having a chill night in, but a lot of the clan should be there.”

“I don’t know.” I rubbed the back of my neck. “Last time I showed up at one of those parties, I didn’t really like what I saw.”

“I know, which is why you should come,” Hawk said. “I want you to see we’re not always like that. Honestly, we’re rarely like that.”

“Yeah, that party was kind of like reverting to high school,” Striker admitted. “We didn’t realize exactly how well that Night Shift booze would work.”

“And now you do?” Cassidy said with a smirk.

Hawk grinned. “Yep. Now we know exactly how many shots it takes to get Striker dancing on the tables.”

“Mom, can I try shots?” Dylan asked.

“Oh my god.” I laughed. “No one’s doing any shots. Come on, help me clean up the kitchen.”

As if right on cue, Steph stepped into the house. He looked tired but handsome as ever in a grease-stained white tank top and paint-stained jeans. “Any chance of leftovers?” he asked.

“Dad!” Dylan rushed out of the kitchen, chores forgotten, and barreled into Steph.

Steph wrapped his arms around him, then ruffled his hair fondly. “Morning, kiddo. Don’t think you’re getting away with skipping the dishes.” He led Dylan into the kitchen, then grabbed me by the waist and pulled me in for a brief kiss. “Hey, you.”

“Hi. Everything okay?”

“Yeah, just checking in on things at the shop.” I could tell from his tone that he wasn’t telling me everything, but I wasn’t going to press. Not right now, at least. “I’ve gotta get back, but I wanted to come by for lunch.”

“There’s plenty,” I said. “Cassidy even made her famous grits.”

Hawk and Dylan cleaned up the kitchen, while Cassidy, Striker, Steph, and I all sat around the table and caught up.

For a moment, I could almost imagine we were a normal family, and that Steph had popped over between jobs at the garage, Dylan was on summer break from school, and I had nothing more important than to ponder what I wanted to eat for dinner.

No alcoholic mother trying to get back in touch with me, no psycho brother-in-law trying to kidnap me and my son.

Just us. Together. With the rest of our lives laid out like a road in front of us.

Much sooner than I wanted, Steph headed back to work.

Striker stuck around as security detail, but Hawk headed home to Mia and Bella.

As the sun began to go down, Cassidy, Dylan, and I all headed to the clubhouse, with Striker and Tank as our security detail.

Even though we were only going a short distance from Steph’s home to the clubhouse, the guys insisted on the security.

And for that, I was grateful. After what had happened, it felt like Sean was lurking around every corner, and the woods surrounding us were a great hideout.

The rational part of my mind knew the dragons would sense him, but I was anxious and on edge.

Being around the clan would boost my mood, though. It was early enough when we arrived that it was still quiet, with just a few members shooting pool.

Usually Striker worked the bar, but tonight, an unfamiliar older woman served the drinks.

She was short and stocky, with broad shoulders and cropped silver hair.

Her black tank top showed all the colorful tattoos snaking down her arms to her fingers.

She was buff, too, and would’ve been intimidating if not for the enormous smile she greeted us with.

“You must be Harley,” she called as we strode in.

“And is this Dylan, the young man I’ve heard so much about? ”

“That’s me,” I said, tilting my head. “I don’t think we’ve met yet.”

“Sure haven’t,” the woman said. “Come on, take a seat. I’m Tammy. I just got back from a big-ass road trip with my sister, so I missed your grand return. Heard all about it, though.”

“Oh, God,” I winced and rubbed the back of my neck. “Hope it wasn’t too bad.”

Tammy threw her head back and laughed, the sound loud and boisterous. “Not at all. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you. You want a soda, Dylan?”

“Sure,” Dylan said, a little shyly.

At the back door, a dog started barking.

Tammy nodded toward the door. “I think one of your friends is here.”

“Zoey!” Dylan shouted. The German Shepherd puppy, now a hell of a lot bigger than she was when we first met her, started yipping and bouncing excitedly.

“We’re on babysitting duty right now,” Tammy said with a laugh. “Just the dog, though, not the actual baby. Hawk and Mia needed a date night.”

“Let’s go throw the frisbee with Zoey, shall we?

” Tank said with a grin. Dylan grabbed the soda Tammy had set on the counter for him, then rushed outside with Striker right behind him.

Striker went over to the pool table with the other clan members to give us some space, but his eyes were still glued to Cassidy.

Tammy glanced at him, then at Cassidy, but didn’t say anything.

I wondered if Tammy could pick up on Striker’s connection to her, too.

“This is my best friend, Cassidy,” I said as we slid into the seats at the bar. “You have any wine back there?”

“Love the tattoos,” Cassidy said.

“Love the hair,” Tammy said, gesturing to Cassidy’s bleached bangs.

She pulled out a chilled bottle of white wine and poured us each a glass.

“I’m glad you’re up here. I’m sure it isn’t easy dealing with this mess, Harley.

I heard about what Sean did. He’s always been a real piece of shit, but I never thought he’d go that far. ”

“I don’t think anyone did,” I said. “Cass came up here immediately. I didn’t realize how much I needed my best friend until she got here.”

“True, I’m the best,” Cassidy said, flipping her hair. “But seriously, of course I came. It was a terrifying phone call to get.”

“How are you doing now?” Tammy asked. “Sleeping all right? Feeling safe?”

“I think so.” I took a sip of my wine, then propped my chin in my hand. “It’s nerve-racking knowing Sean’s out there trying to get to me and Dylan, but this is the safest place I can be. So, I’m taking it one day at a time.”

“Smart girl,” Tammy said. “One day at a time will get you through your whole life.”

“Did you hear about the bitch Blakely?” Cassidy asked.

“Did I ever,” Tammy said. “Unfortunately, I wasn’t surprised to hear that part.

Blakely’s always been delusional, especially when it comes to Ace.

Even when you weren’t around, she was jealous of you.

” Tammy shook her head. “I’m glad you’re back in Lakeview.

Ace needed you.” She glanced over her shoulder at the glass doors to the backyard, where Dylan was wrestling with Zoey. “Both of you.”

“I think we needed him, too,” I said. “Even if I wasn’t ready to admit that.”

“Tale as old as time,” Tammy said with a laugh. “I’ve got some prep to do before these rabble-rousers start coming in. You girls just shout if you need anything, okay?”

“Thanks,” Cassidy said. “This wine is fantastic.”

“Of course it is, I’m the wine buyer.” Tammy made her way to the other end of the bar to review the prep list.

“She’s nice,” Cassidy said.

“Mm-hmm,” I agreed, taking another sip of my wine.

“You okay?”

I sighed. “Yeah. Just tired. A lot going on, you know?”