Maddox had explained to me how close his mother was with the first-generation wives of the club. Their bond was plain to see, just as it was clear that trend had continued with the women of the younger generation. The fact that I had the opportunity to be a part of something so incredibly special wasn’t lost on me, or taken for granted.
Scarlet reached over to embrace me. “You doing okay, honey?”
“I am.” I nodded, swallowing back the emotion being held by her raised. She’d seen me at my lowest, my most vulnerable, and she’d cared for me as no woman had since my own mother. “Thank you.”
Her green eyes warmed. “You’re most welcome, sweetheart.”
She pulled back but kept an arm around me as she appraised the work being done. “These men working hard enough?” she demanded lightly, her eyes on her husband as Cole worked alongside Axel.
“I’m sure they could use some direction.” The woman I hadn’t met yet laughed. “I’m Piper, by the way,” she introduced. “Ryker’s mine.” She pointed to a dark-haired man I’d seen but not met. The pride in her tone made me smile. The women claimed their men just as much as the men claimed them right back.
It was as romantic as hell.
“We better roll,” Piper announced.
Scarlet squeezed me gently before letting go. “Yep. We’re doing a little shopping,” she explained with a grin. “Ready, Jilly? I think Connie’s already there waiting for us,” she mentioned. “Soph?”
Both women nodded, saying their goodbyes before wandering over to their husbands to do the same.
“Gross.” Liv groaned dramatically as Axel wrapped his wife up in a passionate embrace. “After more than twenty years you’d think they’d tone it down.”
“I think it’s sweet,” I murmured, catching Mad’s eye across the room. When he winked, his muscular torso gleaming with sweat, I nearly lost the use of my legs. I didn’t think decades would do anything to quell my hunger for the man, nor did I want them to.
“And another one bites the dust.” Liv laughed, hooking her arm with mine.
“Just you wait.” Wren grinned at her knowingly.
“Right,” Liv muttered with an eye roll.
Judging from the amount of passion I’d seen demonstrated by the Black family, I didn’t doubt that when Liv fell, she’d fall hard.
Chapter 21
FRANCESCA
“Baby, you don’t bring pastries to a biker bar.” Maddox chuckled later that night as he drove me over to Mad’s to meet up with the girls.
“It was either that or eat them all myself,” I replied, eyeing the lemon bars in my lap that even now I was having a hard time resisting. “It would help if you had any sort of sweet tooth.”
He grinned at my affronted tone. “I’ll work on that, sweets. And I’m sure you’ll have no trouble finding willing takers. Between Cash and Gun, they’ll be polished off before you even sit down.”
I snorted. “Like you need to remind me. When I was experimenting with that scone recipe, Cash ate three before I’d even turned off the oven.” I turned to Mad, trying to look stern. “He is not allowed over when I’m baking.”
He shrugged, biting back a grin. “Good luck with that, babe. Man has a nose like a bloodhound. I swear he smelled that shit from a block away.”
I wouldn’t doubt it. Both Cash and Gunner had the uncanny habit of “dropping by” when I was baking.
“I’ll fend him off for you tonight so some of the girls can have those,” he added, his eyes on the pan in my lap.
I wrinkled my nose. “Why are you staying? I thought this was girls’ night?”
He placed a hand on his chest. “Careful, sweets, you’re gonna wound my fragile ego.”
I rolled my eyes. We both knew Mad’s ego was in no danger.
“And it is girls’ night,” he continued. “But with the way things stand, across the room is about the most space you’ll be gettin.” He reached over to cup the back of my head. “Plus, you weren’t asking for space this morning.”
My full body shiver at the memory of the hours we’d spent in bed together that morning was completely involuntary. “It’s not my fault you’re so good at all the stuff,” I protested. “And anyway, how am I supposed to talk about you when I’m with you?” I demanded.
