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“I’m safer with Z than anyone I’ve ever been with.”
“You honestly believe that? Because I’ve known guys like him, Lilly. They don’t think twice about passing their women around. I don’t want that—”
I snort, cutting him off. “You haven’t spent any time around Z or his brothers. Trust me, that’s not a thing in Z’s club.”
“All right.” He holds up his hands. “So, what was so important today?”
“I have some errands to run.”
“And where’s baby daddy?”
I shoot a glare at him. “Work.”
“Shaking down more people for money?”
“You really need to stop that.” I cock my head. “Did it occur to your judgmental ass that it’s a good thing Z stepped in?”
“Why’s that?”
“You really think Dad had the money to pay back the debt?”
“What are you trying to say? He paid it back for Dad?”
I continue staring him down, which isn’t easy since my brother’s almost a foot taller than me.
“Why would he do that?” He sneers.
My temper flares. “Well, he already has an all-access pass into my panties,” I hiss, low enough that Chance can’t hear us. “So that’s not the reason.”
“Thanks for that nightmare-inducing image.”
I shrug. “It’s my father and his son’s grandfather. That’s why he did it.”
For once my know-it-all brother has nothing to say.
“It’s a one-time thing, Alex. If Dad screws up again, he’ll have to figure it out on his own.”
Still, he’s quiet.
“What’s wrong? No witty comebacks?”
“All right, all right. I’m sorry. If he really did that for Dad, then yeah, I guess I owe him.”
“Knocking off the thug and baby daddy jokes will be thanks enough.”
An almost guilty expression crosses his face. “We’ve always teased each other, Lilly.”
“This is different, and you know it.”
“Why? Are you gonna marry him?”
I stare at my brother. “Yes.”
He blows out a breath. “Is that what you want?”
It doesn’t feel awkward to admit it out loud. “It is.”
“Good. All right.” Slowly, he holds out his arms. “Come here.” He envelops me in the kind of brotherly hug I remember from when I was younger and pats my hair. “I really do worry about you. And Chance. Whatever Z’s involved with, I don’t want it to ever hurt you.”
I heave out a deep breath. Nothing could hurt me more than I’ve already been hurt. “Z’s very good to me. He’s a good father to Chance. That’s all that matters.”
“I hope so.”
Once I’ve dealt with my brother, it’s time to deal with Ted. After I track him down at his hotel, I push my way in the door, slamming it behind me.
“How could you, Ted?” I’m still fuming. We’ve only been friends for a few years, but he’s been there for me through some of my darkest moments. Apparently, I didn’t know him as well as I thought.
“I didn’t mean for it to come out like that.” The palpable disappointment in his voice might be the only thing that stops me from kicking him in the shins. “I knew when I saw him. You’re not coming back to California, are you?”
“That’s your excuse for coming to my house in the middle of the night and trying to blow up my life?”
“I wasn’t trying to—”
“I told you things were complicated, and I needed to sort things out with Chance’s father before I could give you an answer.”
“Yeah, and I guess I was selfishly hoping he wouldn’t care.”
Of course, he was. “That’s not who he is at all.”
He nods and shoves his hands in his pockets. “How’d he take it? Must’ve been rough.”
Tears prick my eyelids as shame washes over me. Z’s been nothing but forgiving and all I’ve done is lie. “Rocky at first, but he’s been more understanding than I would’ve been.”
“Yeah, I got the impression he cares for you deeply.” He sighs. “Chance is happy?”
An image of Chance hugging Z and calling him Daddy springs into my mind and I smile. “We told him a while ago and he accepted it pretty quick.” I wobble my hand back and forth. “A little jealousy here and there if Z and I get too close.”
Ted throws his head back and laughs. “Well, he’s had your undivided attention his whole life so that makes sense.” He stops laughing and holds my gaze again. “Your parents?”
“Same. Judgmental and critical.”
“I’m sorry. Lots of lousy parents somehow come through for their grandchildren. I was hoping that’d be the case for you. That meeting their grandson would warm them up.”
“Not so much.” I snort and shake my head. “I tried bringing Z over and that didn’t go over well either.”
Ted actually huffs out a laugh. “He didn’t seem like the type to tolerate anyone treating you unkindly.”
I snort, because boy is that an understatement. “You would be correct.”
He reaches out and squeezes my shoulder. “Good. You need someone to stand up for you with them. I understand why it’s difficult for your brother. Even so, someone should’ve done it a long time ago.”
“Thank you. For understanding. I’m sorry—”
“Don’t be. I just want you to be well. I want you and Chance to be happy.”
“We are.”
“That’s all I want.” He glances at the clock. “Have you had lunch? I’m starving. Show me someplace good around here.”
I’m still upset he flew across the country to get an answer from me—not that he can’t afford it. Maybe my irritation shows on my face.
He settles his hand on my shoulder. “I’m always here for you. If you change your mind or anything.”
“I appreciate that. Everything you’ve done for us. But I won’t change my mind about Z.”
Chapter Six
Z
Rock’s right. I can’t wait much longer to extract some answers from my girl. I also can’t leave the club I’ve taken over in the lurch.
Everyone’s waiting for me inside Sway’s clubhouse. I may be president now, but this place will always feel like “Sway’s clubhouse” to me. Rooster greets me as soon as I step inside and loudly asks to speak to me in private. “Got some of those house listings you asked about.”
I glance around at the brothers waiting outside the chapel. “Give us a minute.”
“Take your time, brother,” Jigsaw calls out. He’s a brother around my age. Spent a lot of time on the road before taking over as Sway’s Road Captain. Obviously, he isn’t sure how he feels about me taking over as president. Since I’m not sure how I feel about it myself, I don’t take it too personally.
Rooster shuts the door to Sway’s office behind us.
“A bit dramatic to go over some house listings, brother.” I nod to the closed door.
Rooster shakes his head and steps aside so I can move behind the desk and shuffle through the few papers that piled up while I was away.
The first stack on top is indeed the house listings. “This right in the same neighborhood Teller and Murphy are moving into?”
He taps the top sheet. “Right next door to their place.”
“Perfect.” I’m not sure how they’ll feel about having me up their asses, but too bad. I want Lilly to have familiar people around her and when Heidi visits, it’ll be nice for the kids to play together. “I’ll take a look at it later.”
“The agent said you can drop by this afternoon. Give her a call and she’ll meet you there.”
“Thanks.” I set the folder to the side and raise an eyebrow at Rooster, who’s still blocking the door.
