“Um, you’re older, that’s why,” she threw right back.
“And awesome. Don’t forget that.”
“Kallie is awesome,” Penny defended.
Brendon grinned. “Oh, I know. I just want her to prove it to me.”
They raced the rest of the way down the steps to the boardwalk. Austin and Edie stood to keep an eye on them as they tumbled into the sand.
Ash gave an amused shake of his head. “Hoodlums. All of them.”
“Yeah, and let’s just hope all those terrible crimes they are committing continue to consist of glasses of spilt milk and a few wrestling matches on the floor.” Sebastian had slipped out onto the deck, his voice a casual rumble as his gaze took in the kids tackling each other to the sand.
Tamar stepped out behind him, carrying a platter of steamed vegetables. “You do know they actually started betting on those matches the other morning? It’s escalating. Anarchy is descending. Like father, like son.” Her mouth tipped into a playful, sultry smirk as she glanced over her shoulder at Lyrik who had followed her out, carrying another tray.
He shook his head. “Uh, no. Swear to God, I’m going to lock that kid up from thirteen to twenty. Won’t even take the chance of him following in his daddy’s footsteps. That’s a no go.”
Tamar giggled. “You do realize that is in like . . . six months? I think you might have to rethink these plans, Rockstar.”
Lyrik curled an arm around her waist, tugging her back to his chest, his voice going deep. “Protect what’s mine. However I have to do it.”
She spun around, the fingers of her free hand crawling over his shirt up to the tat on his neck. “I think you’ve done a fine job of that. You’ve shown him how to be a good person. How to act. I don’t think a padlock on his door is required.”
“Yeah? Speak for yourself. Kallie is sure going to get one,” Baz piped in.
“In your dreams, Daddy Bear.” Baz’s wife, Shea, stepped out. I recognized her from the tabloids.
She and Tamar seemed to be the two that always seemed to pop up in magazines and stories, Shea an old country singer who’d left her mark on the music scene years ago, and Tamar refusing to miss a single show when the band was on tour.
Self-proclaimed as Sunder’s biggest fan.
“Don’t you know when you try to hold your kids back is when they stage a revolt?” Shea’s voice was pure southern persuasion.
“She turns thirteen, and you’ll see who’s staging a revolt.” Baz’s brows lifted to the sky. Clearly, he didn’t agree.
Ash cracked up. “Thank fuck I had a boy. I would lose my damned mind if I had a girl.”
Lyrik chuckled low. “Got one of both. Believe me, man, doesn’t change a thing. Worry’s gonna be there in one form or another. Worth every fuckin’ gray, though.”
A stake of agony pierced me, right at the center of my ugly, depraved soul. Wound bleeding hatred and vitriol.
My eyes squeezed closed like I could block out the assault of the past.
Then my lids were peeling open when awareness skimmed my skin.
Fuck.
Mia.
Mia who was looking at me like she was surprised to see that I was there while somehow not being surprised at all.
Her small son was tucked to her side, pointing his finger like mad at the mess of kids down on the beach, wanting to take part.
A literal handful as she struggled to keep ahold of him.
Hadn’t seen her since last night.
Not since I was touching her and tasting her and making a litany of mistakes.
But with her, I wasn’t sure how to stop it. How to stop the consuming intrigue that hit me every single time she got in my space.
No different today than it was yesterday except for now I had the distinct memory of knowing exactly how good she felt.
“Aww . . . look who is up from his nap. Come see Auntie, my handsome little man,” Tamar cooed, moving to Mia and taking Greyson from her arms.
Mia rolled her eyes. “Up from his nap? He never went down. I swear, Greyson can smell fun, and if he thinks he’s going to miss a minute of it, he’s going to find his way back to it.”
“Well, I wouldn’t want to miss out on an afternoon at the beach, either. Can you blame him?” Tamar asked with her lips pressed against his chubby cheek.
He giggled and planted a sloppy kiss on her chin. “No blame me, Auntie TT!” Something tugged at my chest. Kid was cute, that was for sure.
“Get ready, this deliciousness is done!” Ash began to pile the chicken breasts onto a platter. “Time to eat, my love bugs!” Ash shouted toward the beach. “Come and get it while it’s hot.”
Badass rockstar, all right.
Shea headed back inside to get the rest of the sides, and Mia volunteered to help.