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What the hell had kept Hammer out late this time?
The door between the garage and the kitchen banged shut, rending the silence.
So Macen had finally come home.
Liam eased away from Raine, leaving her with a soft kiss on the forehead. Then he pulled on his boxers, squared his shoulders, and left.
Would Hammer care if the bedroom smelled like the sex he hadn’t come home to share?
A few months ago, nothing and no one had been more important to the man than their girl. After denying how he’d felt about her for six years, Macen seemed ready to make up for over half a decade of denial and misery.
Everything had changed the terrible morning Bill had taken her.
As Liam marched down the stairs, the kitchen light flipped on. A cabinet door slammed shut. Hammer hissed a curse.
Ready to remind Macen of everything they stood to lose if he didn’t stop wallowing in the past and start focusing on their future, Liam trekked into the room. The sight that greeted him stopped him short. His friend wasn’t dragging in, tugging off his tie in exhaustion, full of excuses about how crowded Shadows was on a Friday night. No. Hammer was slumped against the cabinet wearing only gym shorts, athletic shoes, and head-to-toe sweat. He chugged from a fresh bottle of tequila in his fist.
“Your disapproving-parent face says you’re itching to give me a lecture. Don’t.” Hammer lifted the bottle.
“You’ve left me no choice. I haven’t said a word until now, and we’ve got problems.”
He jerked the tequila to his side. “Raine? The baby?”
“Both fine, but—”
“Good.” Relief filled Hammer’s face. “Then let’s talk later. I need a shower. I’ll see you next to Raine.”
Liam blocked his path, snatching the bottle away. “This won’t wait any longer.”
“I’m not done drinking.”
“You are now.” Liam shoved the booze onto the counter behind him. Reasoning with a sober Hammer was much easier. “You’re absent every night, Macen. I don’t like it.”
“I’m working. You could cut me some slack, you know.”
“When you cut us some, I will.” Liam rummaged Hammer’s phone from his gym bag and shoved Raine’s sexy video in the man’s face. “I know you saw this. Raine was waiting for your reply. Your silence crushed her.”
“I meant to come home when I got it and surprise her. But…shit got in the way.”
“You let it, more like.” Liam slapped the mobile on the counter. “What’s going on with you?”
“Nothing. I’m just swamped.”
“Stop with the excuses.”
“Seriously. When we moved to the house, it was Christmas. I didn’t realize how many things I did for the club after hours that I couldn’t walk into the next room to finish or ask Raine to handle. The renovation to the private rooms still isn’t done. I’m short a couple of DMs.” Hammer sighed. “I’m being pulled in twenty directions, but I’m hoping to find some fucking normalcy soon.”
“You mean if the stars align, pixies fly out of your ass, and karma plays nice?” Liam snapped. “Why don’t you let me help?”
Hammer shook his head. “I want you here with Raine, just in case.”
“In case of what? Her pregnancy is going well. She’s young and strong, and she doesn’t need a babysitter. She’s busy remodeling the house, setting up the nursery, and shopping for furniture. Hell, I’d be happy for a break from comparing paint swatches.”
“I don’t want her alone in the house with a bunch of strange men.”
“Raine spent six years in a club full of men dedicated to kink. I think she can handle herself with a plumber. Why don’t you spend a few days with her? I’ll take care of Shadows.”
“No.”
Liam raised a brow. “Because…?”
“Because there’s a lot going on and I should handle it myself.”
More bloody excuses. “Are you even in this relationship anymore?”
“What kind of question is that?” Hammer gaped. “I’m in. I’ve been in since we claimed her together. Jesus, a few late nights doesn’t change that.”
He wasn’t only lying to Liam but to himself.
“A few?” Liam scoffed. “That’s a bloody understatement. Is it the baby?”
“No, I’m happy she’s pregnant. Thrilled!”
“You should be. When you thought she’d gotten her period on Thanksgiving Day, you cried like a bleating nancy. But you’ve missed the first three months.”
“Bullshit. I’m with Raine every day. We eat lunch. We talk.”
“Is that what you call it? You prop her feet up, shove prenatal vitamins in her mouth, then tell her to nap as you’re walking out the door.” Liam grasped for his patience—and failed. “She needs a man, not a nanny. What the hell is wrong?”
“Fuck you. I’m not dealing with this now. I’m exhausted.”
“I want answers.” Liam gritted his teeth. “Raine deserves them, and we’re both tired of living with a ghost.”
Hammer blanched. “I’m not—”
“Yes, you are. Are you bothered that we’ve no idea which of us fathered the child? It’s probably yours…”
