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My house wasn’t done. Hell, there wasn’t even a kitchen installed. As I brought Meadow home, there was hustle and bustle as the plumbers sought to get plumbing in one bathroom rigged up. The rooms weren’t painted—just bare drywall. Wooden flooring was going down tomorrow, and I knew they couldn’t stay here.

“This is… nice,” Meadow murmured as she looked at the construction site my home was.

“Cassian wished to be close to the club. That property there is Prez and Nanci’s. That one is Vortex and Amy’s. Over there is Lasher, Oil and Daisy-Duke. The three of them live together. That’s Razor’s,” I said, pointing.

“You’re all pretty close,” Meadow replied.

“Didn’t know I’d be having guests, or I’d have cleaned up,” I said, and Meadow laughed.

“Bit late now. Please tell me there’s furniture inside.”

“A settee and a couple of armchairs. The kids scavenged some beanbags from somewhere, but there’re beds and drawers,” I stated. I shook my head. “What am I thinking? You shouldn’t be roughing it. Let me move you all to one of the hotels in town.”

“This is fine,” Meadow cut me off and opened the car door. “Gerard won’t look at a half-constructed house.”

“He would check the hotels,” Cassian agreed.

“It’s not going to be comfortable,” I argued.

“We’ve had worse, and far more recently. Why don’t you let me inside to judge?”

“Mom’s right. Dad wouldn’t dream of us living here. No offence, but it’s currently a shithole,” Cassian agreed.

“Language,” Meadow chided.

“Whatever, Mom. I’ve earned the right.”

Cassian helped Meadow out as I came around the car to help. Getting down hurt her, and I went to pick Meadow up. “No!” she cried. “Folding me like a pretzel will hurt more. I’m okay upright.”

I stepped back with a nod. Anxiously, I waited as Meadow slid to her feet, and I held her elbow as she struggled for balance.

“It’s starting to rain, come on,” I said. “The good thing is, the roof is finished.”

“Well, at least I won’t wake up wet in bed,” Meadow quipped.

“Yup, that’s something.” I shoved away the image of Meadow emerging from the shower naked. Although my cock twitched in response.

Meadow

I couldn’t make Chill out; he blew hot and cold at the drop of a hat. Right now, he was being overly considerate, but tomorrow he’d probably ignore me. As we entered his house, I winced. It literally was bare-bones. The drywall was up, but that was it. I was thankful there weren’t bare wires dangling, although I could see them running along the joists of the ceiling, waiting to be tacked and covered up.

“Nice,” I murmured, gazing around the huge open space. There was nothing apart from the staircase.

“This is a bad idea,” Chill grumbled.

“Take me upstairs,” I said.

I took them slowly, aware of each jar, and managed not to cry like a baby. Chill held his hand out as I made the last one, and I grabbed it and let the pain subside. I shuffled along to the room Chill pointed at and hid my wince. It had a bed and a set of drawers.

“Nah, not doing this,” Chill growled out. “We’re heading for the hotel.”

He didn’t argue but turned me gently around and led me away. “Don’t I get a choice in this?” I demanded.

“No,” Cassian and Chill both spoke together. How damn rude. Chill helped me downstairs and then back into the car. He was typing on his phone and frowned at whatever reply he’d received before sighing and rubbing the nape of his neck.

“Seems we’ve been set up. There’re rooms for you at the clubhouse. Nanci and the others have them ready,” Chill said as we drove towards the parking lot for town.

“We can’t stay there. That’s for the club,” I replied, and Chill shrugged.