She’s already been looking for patches for me? As if I’m already a member of their close-knit little group? I’m close to drowning in the tears I’m holding back. “I like sunflowers and yellow roses.” My voice is raw and scratchy. “Thank you, Heidi.”
“I know the hammer isn’t very girly.” She laughs. “Charlotte keeps saying it should be a unicorn with a hammer.”
The tension breaks and I burst into giggles. “Now that would be something.”
“Right?” She shrugs again. “Anyway, I wanted you to have it before our trip downstate.”
And I’m right back to wanting to cry again. Is that her subtle way of trying to protect me from Tawny? A bold advertisement that I’ve been accepted by at least one of the old ladies? Is Heidi that complicated? As Teller’s little sister, she’s always had the acceptance of Tawny and the rest of the club. Sure, behind Heidi’s back and when Teller wasn’t around, Tawny always referred to Heidi as a “bratty little princess” but to her face, the Queen Bee was always sweet as honey, almost motherly even, toward Heidi. So she might not realize how nasty Tawny can be when she unfurls her claws.
“Thank you.” I stare at the patch and fiddle with it for a few seconds. My gaze lifts and scans the room. I lean closer to Heidi. “So, am I allowed to put this on my vest or does Gray have to do it?” I ask.
She bursts into giggles and bumps me with her shoulder. “Have him do it. You may be property of Grinder, but the cut is property of the club, so a brother should be the one to alter it.”
Wow, if that sentence was uttered outside of this clubhouse, it sure would raise some eyebrows. “That makes sense.”
The front door opens and brothers stomp into the clubhouse. I scan each one to see if Gray returned with them. The volume of chatter in the room increases.
Heidi pats my leg. “I’ll catch you at the party.”
“Okay.” I hold up the patch. “Thank you.”
I stay on the couch, watching everyone hug hello or tap fists. Gray finally parts the crowd like a mythical hero coming to my rescue. I sit straighter, happiness tugging at the corners of my mouth.
As he gets closer, I jump off the couch and meet him. Cool spring air clings to his shirt and I inhale as I wrap my arms around him.
“I wasn’t gone that long, buttercup.”
“I know. I still missed you.”
He kisses the top of my head. “It’s nice to be missed.”
I pull away and lift the patch. “Think you can put this on my cut before we leave tomorrow?”
“Whatcha got there?” he asks, plucking the patch from my fingertips.
“Um, it’s Heidi’s patch.”
His lips quirk. “I always thought that would’ve been nice for the ol’ ladies to give each other patches too.”
“I guess Heidi’s the only one who has one right now but they’re working on getting them for the other girls too.”
He studies it with a smile. “A hammer, huh? Bet that’s quite a story.”
“Oh, I should’ve asked.” I’d been too overwhelmed to question why Murphy chose a hammer to represent Heidi. Every symbol or nickname in the Lost Kings’ universe seems to have a funny story behind it, but you have be careful how you ask for details.
“Yes, I’ll do it tonight.” He pulls at the left side of my vest, slipping his hand between the leather and my body. He laced it up tight, so there isn’t much room. The back of his hand grazes my breast as he tucks the little patch into my inner pocket. “Safe keeping.” The intensity of his stare burns me from the inside out.
He shifts his hand, rubbing his thumb over my nipple.
“Gray,” I whisper.
“Couldn’t help myself.” He slips his hand out and pats my vest into place. He leans in closer. “I want your nipples in my mouth, now.”
“Here?”
“Fuck no.”
Rav jumps onto the bar and curls his hands around his mouth to form a megaphone. “Move it along to the dining room, people!”
“Let’s go!” Jigsaw shouts.
Brothers mouth off in response but the crowd seems to be shifting toward the hallway.
“Hurry up!” Steer bellows from behind us.
“Uh, I guess there’s no escaping now,” I whisper to Gray.
“Hmm,” he growls in that sexy-annoyed way that he has.
“Come on.” I tug him into the flow of traffic. As uncomfortable as I am tonight, I don’t want Gray holding back from club activities because of me.
The whole left side of the dining room is set up as a long buffet. I recognize Swan and a few other girls hustling back and forth between the kitchen and table. Trinity ducks away from Wrath and heads toward the kitchen as well.
I lean up on tiptoes and whisper in Gray’s ear, “I should probably go help the girls too.”