While she finishes up her call, I think about his words.
One minute, I’m making friends with the cute little badass bartender on our first night here, only to insult her and then beg for forgiveness. Now I’m her savior. It’s enough to give me fucking whiplash. And then I realize it—Karma is right.
Cora has gotten underneath my skin. Admitting that to myself is hard enough, but admitting it to Karma was not fucking happening today.
CORA
“It’s okay, honestly,”I say, pulling Harrison from his seat and placing him on the sidewalk. “My mom and dad will be home soon. Besides, Big Dick doesn’t know where I live, and there’s no way he followed me here with my leather entourage.”
TK shakes his head. “I don’t feel comfortable just leaving you. We’re gonna stick around, at least until your parents get home.”
I look past him to the others, but they’ve already parked their motorcycles and are walking toward us. My cheeks burn as I meet his eyes once again. “TK, for real. You guys don’t have to stay.”
He shifts his attention to Harrison. “Your mom’s very stubborn.”
Giggling, Harrison nods his head in agreement and grabs TK’s hand, dragging him up to the house. “Wanna see my race cars?”
TK looks back at me and answers, “Absolutely.”
Emotions war inside my mind, freezing me in place. Why is he doing this? Him and the Black Hoods scared Big Dick off, for now, so why is he still here helping the fat, mouthy bartender?
“Momma, unlock the door,” Harrison demands from the front step.
“Yeah, Momma,” the one named V drawls, “Let us in.”
The group of enormous men and their women standing in front of my house has me grinning at how ridiculous they all look. Stalking toward the door, Harrison shoves past me as soon as it’s unlocked, pulling TK with him.
“Come to my room! I’ll show you.”
“Got any beer?” V asks, stepping through the door.
“Kitchen fridge.” My eyes widen as the group piles inside, leaving me alone on my own front step.What the fuck is happening?
A beautiful brunette smiles at me from the foyer and motions for me to come in. “Welcome to the insanity,” she says with a laugh. “Once one of the boys takes a liking to you, you’re forever tethered to the rest of us.”
“Oh, it’s not like that,” I assure her, closing the door behind me. “I just didn’t know who else to call.”
The woman assesses me. “How’d you get his number?”
“He put it in my phone.”
She nods knowingly. “Oh, honey, it’s definitely like that. My name is Lindsey, by the way. The big one with the name Karma on his patch is mine.”
I’m at a loss for words, so all I say is, “Cora. Nice to meet you.”
I make my way into the kitchen and am surprised to find the ladies already in there. I can see the men out on the back deck through the patio doors. What the hell?
“Momma,” Harrison squeals, entering the kitchen with TK’s hand still in his. “We’re going out back. Jonas is gonna check out my treehouse.”
I look at TK. “You’re going into a treehouse?”
He nods, but says nothing. Harrison leads the way outside, with TK hot on his heels. As soon as the door closes behind them, all of us burst out laughing.
“Oh, I gotta get this on video,” Lindsey says, moving toward the door. “A six foot six man climbing up a ladder into some little treehouse? It’ll go viral in a heartbeat.”
The rest of us head outside and watch as first Harrison, then TK, then V, Priest, and even Karma climb the wooden ladder into Harrison’s treehouse.
“It’s like a clown car,” Lindsey howls, her camera recording every hilarious second.