Taking a steadying breath, I moved inside to find myself in a space that went off in two directions.
To the left, there was what must have been originally designated as the dining room, but was now dominated by a beer pong table, a big Costco-sized bag of Solo cups sitting in the center, flanked by an assortment of beer.
Right inside the door where we were standing and to the right was the living room. The leather sectional took up most of the space, the material torn in some areas. Judging by the assortment of dogs hanging around, watching me with curious eyes, the rips were likely from their nails. It was a bare bones sort of room with no actual decor, unless the massive TV and the recently repaired holes in the wall counted.
And, you know, they didn't.
The bikes and the one expensive SUV out front must have belonged to the men gathered around.
Huck, who'd answered the door, and was still watching me with disbelieving eyes.
Then there was a guy on the couch covered in tattoos with a big pittie laying her big head on his leg. He had boyish charm and heartbreak written all over him.
Beside him, was a little person wearing a pricey-looking suit and a flat hat on. Like the others, he was watching me, but I felt a lot more exposed under his keen gaze.
There were two others. One was younger, dark-haired, tattooed, with the kind of eyes that spoke of a rough life, even if it hadn't been a long one.
Then there was a dark-skinned man with loc'd hair and a guarded, but curious look.
This was Che's old chopping crew.
At least I thought all of them but the little person and the kid were.
Turning away from them, I found Che standing off to the side.
He'd always been beautiful. The kind of attractive that could have landed him six-figure modeling contracts if that had been the kind of man he was. Time had only served to make him even more attractive, something I never would have figured was possible if I hadn't seen it myself.
He was tall, though not quite as tall as Huck.
And while he was wearing a white tee and jeans that didn't make it obvious, I just knew his body was as sculpted as ever. Not bulky, but very, very fit. I hadn't seen very many men who pulled off black board shorts and nothing else quite as well as he did. All those lean muscles under his tanned skin. Eyes followed him wherever he went.
Then there was the face.
God, that face.
Sculpted by the gods, it was.
With that sharp, angular jaw covered in a close-cut beard, those full lips, that perfect nose, the dark eyes under stern brows that gave him a perpetual bedroom-sexy look.
His inky black hair was a little longer on top than it had been when I'd known him, kept pushed back away from his forehead.
I'm not too proud to admit that I felt a little sizzle of attraction coursing over my overly-tired system. I wouldn't have been human if I didn't have that reaction to a man like Che.
"Sass," he greeted me, his tongue rolling over my name in a way that used to make my very young heart skitter.
Alright, fine, it still had more impact than it should have.
"Che," I greeted.
"Well, I see why the marriage didn't work out," Huck interrupted, tone teasing. "Your name is Sass?" he asked, eyes pinning me, forcing my gaze away from Che.
"Saskia. But, yeah, everyone calls me Sass. You're the president here, right?"
"Yeah. So you gotta understand my confusion in finding out one of my men that I thought I knew everything about was hiding a secret wife from me," he said, shooting a hard look in Che's direction.
"Hey, Huck," a female voice called, coming down the stairs. "Did you guys notice the white car parked on the... oh," she said, coming to the bottom landing, noticing me.
She was insanely gorgeous with her perfect skin, amazing makeup, and bright blue hair. She was also very pregnant.
"Harm, babe. Meet Che's wife, Saskia."
"His... what?" she asked, brows drawing together, looking between me and Che.
"Yeah, that's where we're at," Huck agreed when his woman's gaze slipped to him again, a question in her eyes.
"Well, uhm, it's nice to meet you," Harm said, giving a slight grimace. "Even if I didn't know you existed until right now."
Why was Che being so silent?
Even when I was looking at the other players in the room, I could feel his intense gaze on me, making me once again upset that I hadn't gotten a chance to shower and change before I showed up. Not that it mattered that I looked a wreck. I wasn't here to claim my wifely rights to bed the man. I was here for help.
Because of psychos with guns and whatnot.