The memory assaults me, and my nose turns up in disgust. “It was a pink robe. And it was short. Very short. And he neglected to put on underwear.”
Kade bursts out laughing, and Raya groans again, burrowing her head further into my arm.
“Sorry. He’s still adjusting to so much… freedom.”
“He didn’t tell you he was dating her?” I ask, curious as to why he’d withhold that information if he has good intentions with my mother.
Angel moves to sit with them, and in an instant, Ray has her spellbound with his charm. At least he’s wearing a suit instead of a damn pink robe.
Brin and Rye also seem to gravitate toward them, sitting down within range of whatever story they all find so riveting.
“We have a don’t ask, don’t tell policy. I don’t ask who he’s sleeping with, and if he wants me to keep visiting him, he doesn’t tell,” Raya finally says.
I curse, prompting Kade’s laughter to start up again, and Raya snickers as well.
“Sorry,” she mutters insincerely. “You aren’t worried he’d con her?” she asks more seriously, looking up at me with those please-don’t-hurt-my-feelings eyes.
I hate it when Raya looks at me like that, because I don’t want to say the wrong thing.
“You think he would?”
Raya tends to see the best in him, but she always admits his faults, too. Maybe she can help me at least try to deal with this.
“Hell no. Even if he were still conning—which he’s not—he wouldn’t mess with any of my friends or their families. You know how much he loves me. That alone should give you peace of mind.”
Kade smacks my back, grinning like the asshole he is. “Don’t worry, Wren. The only thing he’s conning her out of is her underwear.”
Raya groans, I curse him, and Kade laughs all the harder. Dane comes up, chuckling like he caught the tail end of that.
“That’s priceless. Really. And as much as I’d love to stay, Rain and I have to get back. Eleanor is babysitting for us, but Rain is ready to go get our girl. We’ll see you guys later.”
Rain comes up, laughing as though she’s enjoying my torture as well, and she hugs me before moving over to hug Kade. She and Raya talk for a moment longer, and Raya promises to fill her in on anything she misses, which earns a glare from me and elicits more obnoxious laughter from the guys before Rain and Dane make their exit.
Bella goes to sit closer to my mother and her attention-hog of a companion, apparently just as entranced by the charismatic man as everyone else.
“He can do about fifty different accents with effortless ease,” Allie says, startling me from behind.
When did she go inside? And why didn’t I hear the door when she walked out here with us?
She closes the door behind her, and Raya moves to Kade’s side so that Allie can stand beside me. I try not to tense, but I feel like I’m constantly walking on eggshells.
“He can speak a lot of languages, too,” Kade inserts, taunting me. “Women love a man who knows French.”
I growl. Literally growl. And Kade’s mocking laughter turns brutal.
“Did I miss something?” Allie asks, looking at me like I’m something other than the enemy.
Deciding I’d rather be friends than enemies, I keep the conversation going, including her and filling in the blanks. Raya quickly interjects all throughout the story, making sure everyone knows her father is a good man who made some mistakes, but that his past is far behind him.
“O…kay,” Allie says in a long breath. “Wow. And you don’t like them dating,” she surmises, looking at me again.
I shrug, trying not to freak the hell out the way I want to. “I don’t, but it’s her life. Mostly, I really don’t want Raya for a sister.”
Raya slaps my arm, and I laugh lightly while Allie smiles.
“Josh wouldn’t deal well with not being her only brother. Maybe he’ll take you out shooting,” Kade says, grinning when Raya shoots him a glare.
Rye moves from the table to make his way toward us, tilting his head.
“Two parties? How about we consolidate the crowd?”
I shrug while ushering Allie out in front of me. She takes the lead, and I let my eyes drop to her ass. Damn. Those jeans have been torturing me for most of the day. Her blonde hair is loosely bound on her head in a way that shouldn’t be as sexy as it is.
“Saw that,” Kade whispers, and I flip him off as Allie sits down.
Deciding to be bold, I take the chair next to her. Before I know it, we’re in one big circle around a large outdoor, bronze colored table, while Ray spills on about his traveling days, omitting the cons along the way.
Rye Clanton curses, spitting beer from his mouth, and everyone looks at him.