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“God, I hope not. I can’t imagine anything worse than what I saw.”

Diamond pushed the nuts away, staring toward where Reaper had joined Wizard and Knox at the pool table. “I can.” Sorrow darkened her eyes. “Count yourself lucky that you came away with only a concussion. Some of The Last Riders haven’t been as fortunate.”

“Believe me, I’m thankful every day. I thought I was going to watch them die.” Emotion clogged Natalia’s throat at the memory that still gave her nightmares two weeks later.

“I’m going to miss having you here.” She reached across the table to touch Diamond’s hand. “You’re easy to talk to. Other than Arden, I don’t have many close friends. You’ve given me a shoulder to cry on when I think about what I did to Marco and Bruno.”

“I’m glad I helped. You helped me, too. I haven’t been able to let people get close to me for a while. You’ve made it easier for me to have fun again.”

Their time alone was interrupted when Wizard slid into the booth beside Natalia. Knox didn’t attempt to squeeze in. Taking a chair from a nearby table, he placed it at the end of theirs.

“Damn, it’s hot in here.” Knox wiped the sweat from his bald head.

“The air conditioner is broken,” Wizard said. “Tink refuses to fix it for me. She told me to hire someone. Winter is only a couple of months away, so it can wait until next year.”

“Wizard, Arden told you she won’t be coming here to fix anything anymore. She just found out she’s pregnant, so you might as well find someone to replace her.”

“She’s irreplaceable,” he moaned. “She didn’t charge me. Do you know how much air conditioner repairs cost?”

“I don’t know what you’re complaining about.” Wiping more sweat from his head, Knox glared at him. “Doesn’t your room have its own air conditioner?”

Wizard perked up. “Yes, it does. Thank you for reminding me. Do you two want to come to my room and have some beers?”

“Not if beer is all you have.” Natalia scooted away and gave him the cold shoulder.

“I might have bought a couple of bottles of wine when I went on the beer run.” Standing, Wizard held out his hand.

Natalia took it and nestled against his side. “Have you been holding out on me?” she teased as they walked through the clubhouse.

“I’ve been saving it for a special occasion.”

“What’s the occasion?”

Was he planning to give her the ring in front of Knox and Diamond? She had already decided to accept his next proposal, regardless of whether he was joking.

“Wait and see,” he said mysteriously.

Once inside his bedroom, Knox and Diamond sat on the sofa while Wizard motioned for Natalia to take the matching loveseat. She assumed Knox would be more comfortable on the larger piece of furniture.

“I thought I was going to bake alive if I stayed out there another minute,” Knox complained, taking a beer from Wizard.

Returning to the mini-fridge, Wizard took out a bottle of wine. He filled a beer mug for Natalia then poured a smaller amount into another mug for Diamond.

Diamond accepted it with a wry glance at the difference. “Now you’re being stingy with the wine?”

“No. Knox can refill it whenever you want more. Drink as much as you like.”

Natalia stared suspiciously at Wizard. He was being nice—too nice.

He turned on a movie no one watched. They sat and talked until it was almost over.

Lifting her mug, Natalia saw it was empty. Rising, she went to the mini-fridge to pour herself more. “Would you like some more, Diamond?” she offered.

“Thank you.” Diamond held out her mug.

After refilling it, Natalia carefully carried it back to the loveseat, not wanting to spill any. Instead of letting her sit beside him, Wizard pulled her onto his lap.

“Careful,” she warned.