“Two minutes. I’ll meet you at the door.”
Lily watched as, releasing her hand, Shade went around the fringe of the crowd, trying to circumvent being drawn into a conversation. She was just as anxious to leave.
Her lips curled in a smile as she approached T.A. Usually, it was T.A.’s friends who stood out when they were together. Today, it was T.A.
The woman was glowing with happiness. Her dress was white and sexy, making Lily wish she had worn something special for Shade.
Coming closer, Lily hugged her. “You look so beautiful. Dalton is lucky he was able to convince you to marry him.”
T.A. gave her a surprised glance. “Everyone else has been telling me how lucky I am.”
Lily shook her head, releasing her friend. “Dalton is blessed to have you. You’re the most open-hearted person I know. You put yourself out there despite knowing Sex Piston, Killyama, or Crazy Bitch would give you grief for trying. You’re one in a million, and Dalton recognized how special you are.”
“Please don’t make me cry. You’ll ruin my makeup.”
Lily gave her another hug. “Don’t cry. You’ll make me cry.”
The two broke apart, laughing.
“I came over to tell you that Shade and I were leaving….” Lily looked at how stunningly gorgeous T.A. was and came to another decision. She had come up with the perfect Valentine’s Day present for her husband… if she was brave enough to see it through. “But I changed my mind.”
“You’re going to stay a little longer?”
“Would you mind doing me a big favor? I know it’s your big day, but it would only take a few minutes.” Lily lowered her voice, seeing Sex Piston and Crazy Bitch approaching them.
T.A. conspiratorially lowered her voice. “What do you need me to do?”
“Keep Shade occupied for a few minutes while I slip out.”
“Sure thing. No problem.”
Smiling, Lily used the opportunity to slip out through the crowd while Shade’s attention was focused on Dalton.
“Of course I’m going to want a favor in return.”
Lily didn’t miss the cunning look in T.A.’s eyes. Greer Porter always had the same expression when he wanted something.
“What do you want?”
“Just how far do Shade’s tattoos go down?”
CHAPTER 6
Shade stood at the doorway, sweeping the room with his eyes one more time. Lily was talking with T.A. one second, and the next, she had disappeared when Sex Piston, Crazy Bitch, Killyama, and her mother Peyton circled her within their group. He had lost sight of her when he left Dalton’s side to go around the crowd, and when he looked again, the women had dispersed into other small groups.
Had she gone outside to wait for him by their SUV?
Opening the door, he went outside, seeing their car was missing. She left without him.
He took out his phone and texted her, not understanding her reasoning for not to waiting. Not expecting her to reply, though, when she was driving, he went back inside the house. No one seemed ready to leave as the music from a band floated inside from the backyard.
Feeling the vibration of his phone, he saw that Lily answered his text. There was no way she could have reached their home so soon.
Didn’t want to wait.
Staring down at the message, his worry switched to irritation.
Not wanting to send another text while she was driving, he texted the only brother who wasn’t here and didn’t have any plans for the day.
Need a ride.
Ask someone else.
Come and get me from the reception.
I can see where you are. Give me five.
“Shade, would you mind helping Dalton pack my suitcases downstairs?”
About to go outside to wait, Shade gritted his teeth at T.A.’s request.
“He just went upstairs. I can’t have him throwing his back out. He’s going to need it tonight.” She winked.
“Sure.”
Impassively masking his irritation, he went up the stairs.
“I told T.A. I didn’t need any help,” Dalton said, coming out of the bedroom carrying two suitcases and a duffel bag.
Shade took one from him. “She’s worried about your back.”
At his comment, Dalton handed him the other suitcase, too.
Shade lifted a mocking brow.
“I’m just being cautious. I’m not a young man anymore.”
“You look in pretty good shape to me.” Shade nodded toward the steps, motioning for him to go first.
“I used to think so. Now I think she’s trying to cash in on my insurance policy.”
“Both these suitcases hers?”
“Yes. My things are in the duffel bag.”
“Could be she’s competing.”
Dalton came to a stop on the stairs to look back at him. “Competing against who?”
Shade shrugged. “Take your pick. Can’t be easy for her having so many women chasing after you. This isn’t your first marriage either. Not only does she know that it was very happy, but she was a famous model. What would you do if the shoe was on the other foot?”
Dalton paled at the thought that he might be right.
“Jesus,” he muttered. “What should I do?”
“You’re asking the wrong person. I don’t have a bad back.”
When Dalton remained unmoving, Shade sighed irritably. He wanted to get home to Lily and see why she had left him behind.
“Do you eat every time you’re hungry or do you space it out?”
“What?” Confused, Dalton stared up at him blankly.
“Do you eat pancakes every time someone offers them to you? Even when there’re nuts and whipped cream tempting you? Just because she decides those pancakes are too damn good to pass up, it doesn’t mean you have to break.” Deciding to be even more blunt to save himself further irritation, he explained, “When T.A. wants to fuck, you don’t have to give her a full meal every time. There’re other ways to keep T.A. satisfied without fucking yourself to death. If that doesn’t work, Greer Porter sells a protein drink that will give you the stamina of a rabbit. Knox swears by it.”
Doing his one good deed for the day, he gave Dalton a sharp nod of his head. “My ride is waiting.”
“Sorry.” Dalton finally started moving.
When they reached the bottom of the stairs, Shade paused briefly by Gavin. “I’ll be right back.”
“I don’t have all day.”
Shade ignored the rude comment, carrying the suitcases to the garage. Then, leaving Dalton to store the luggage in the trunk of his rental car, he went back inside to find Gavin no longer standing where he had left him.
Thinking that Gavin had gone outside, he was about to go out there when he saw him heading outside the patio door. Turning in his direction, Shade trailed after him, registering that Gavin must have been drawn outside by the music.
“I’m searching for you
Calling for you
Hoping for you
Praying for you
Can you hear me?
Oh, why can’t you hear me?”
Stepping outside, Shade saw Mouth2Mouth had set up at the end of the pool and the wedding guests were outside listening.
Spotting Gavin, he made his way to his side.
“I’m ready.”
“She’s the one you and the brothers have been protecting?” Gavin rasped out without taking his eyes off the woman singing.
“Yes.”
If asked, anyone in Treepoint would say Shade was a coldhearted bastard, but even his cold heart felt sympathy for the damaged man by his side.
Gavin had lived through years of hell and humiliation, only to find the freedom he had fought so hard for wasn’t a balm for the jagged cuts that had permanently scored his soul.
“I can see why he wants her.”
Gavin hadn’t shown any interest when The Last Riders had their meeting discussing Ginny’s protection. Not that he had attended any of the meetings. Even though he lived in the clubhouse, Gavin either remained reclusive in his room or went on motorcycle rides that would stretch to several days’ absences.
The days he was gone were torture for Viper, not knowing if Gavin would come back or if he had ridden his bike off one of the mountains that surrounded their small town. Each member of the club had unsuccessfully tried to breach the wall Gavin had surrounded himself with.
Shade waited until the song was over before speaking.
“You want me to introduce you?”
Gavin turned his attention to him. “No. You ready?”
Shade raised a mocking brow. “I told you I was.”
Shade was used to most people giving him a wide berth, but with Gavin, they practically froze, as if afraid a wild lion would break free of his cage, finding themselves on the dinner menu. What they didn’t know was that unless he was protecting someone else, Gavin wanted to stay far away from them.
The brother who had been dragged out of the hellhole he had been forced to survive in wasn’t the same one who he had served with in the military. Back then, Gavin had been happy and carefree, always ready for a good time, yet there had been no better to turn to when shit hit the fan.