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I help her into her property patch and then zip it all the way up. “There. Your rogue tits can stay safe.”
She snort-giggles. “You like the dress otherwise?”
“I love it. I feel like you should be twirling around in a field of wildflowers, though. Not hanging out with a bunch of beer-guzzling bikers.”
“Oh, stop.”
I plant a careful kiss on her cheek and take her hand. “Are you comfortable in those shoes?”
“For now.”
“Well, tell me if they bother you and I’ll run down here and grab something else for you.”
“Thank you.”
We run into Rooster and Shelby in the hallway.
“Oooo, Lordy. Now that is an Empress dress if I’ve ever seen one,” Shelby drawls. “Look at you, lil’ momma.”
Serena blushes. “I thought it was pretty.”
“Pink sure is your color. I’m so glad you’re here tonight. My momma’s coming and I want you to meet her.”
I lift my gaze to Rooster, and he shakes his head.
“I can’t wait,” Serena says.
It’s not Shelby’s mom we run into first, though. It’s Chaser and Mallory.
“Grinder.” Chaser holds out his hand and pulls me in for a slap on the back. “Good to see you again.” His gaze strays behind me and his mouth curls up. “This your girl?”
The one I had to get involved in my brother’s gang squabbles for? his smirk seems to say.
“This is Serena.” I pull her forward. “Serena, this is an old friend of mine. We go way, way back. Chaser Adams.”
Serena dips her chin and offers a quiet hello.
Mallory squeals and runs up behind Chaser with her arms out. “Grinder, you’re here.” She gives me a fierce hug. “It’s so good to finally see you. How are you? You look good.”
I hold her at arm’s length. “Well, god damn. You haven’t aged a day, sweetheart.”
“Oh, stop.” Mallory ducks like I’m embarrassing her.
“I’m serious. Same as the first time I met you.” I peer at her closer, making her laugh. “A little more wisdom and less tolerance for bullshit in those eyes, but otherwise, same.”
“You have no idea.” Her gaze lands on Serena and her face brightens. “I see you’ve patched your ol’ lady. Congratulations.”
“Damn right. Serena, this is Mallory. Mallory, Serena.”
Mallory squints for a second, like maybe she recognizes Serena from previous visits. But she has too much class to say anything rude. Instead, she pulls Serena in for a gentle hug. “Congratulations to both of you.”
“Thank you,” Serena says, returning the embrace. “I’ve heard so many nice things about you from Shelby and the others, I’m so happy to finally meet you.”
“That’s so sweet to hear. Thank you.”
Mallory’s gaze strays to Serena’s stomach but again, she’s too classy to ask.
“How long have you been out?” Mallory asks me.
“Not long enough. Still dealing with bullshit.” I catch Chaser’s eye. “You know how it is.”
“Unfortunately, I do.”
Serena
“They were nice,” I say to Gray after Chaser and Mallory move on.
“Yeah. She’s a sweetheart. Glad they’re still together after all this time.”
I’m not sure how I feel about his obvious affection for Mallory. Then again, it doesn’t seem like her husband takes his eyes or hands off of her, so I’m being silly.
“Grinder, may I borrow Serena?” Shelby asks. “I want to introduce her to my momma.”
“Of course. Where’s Rooster at?”
“Kicking Jiggy’s ass last I saw.”
Gray chuckles as Shelby pulls me over to the bar.
“Momma, this is my friend, Serena,” Shelby introduces. “Serena, Lynn Morgan.”
“Shelby’s told me so much about you, it’s nice to finally meet you,” I say.
She leans in for a quick, stiff hug. “Nice to meet you.”
“You never told me Chaser was still so fine,” Lynn says to Shelby in a hushed voice but still loud enough for me to hear.
Shelby’s cheeks turn pink. “Momma,” she scolds. “Please.”
“What? It’s a compliment. Lotta them rockers didn’t age well. At all. He more than aged well. Doesn’t hurt his wife is still so pretty. You know, when we first started dating, your father had the biggest crush on her—”
“Lordy, please take me now,” Shelby mutters to the ceiling.
A laugh slips out of me and I cover it with a cough. Shelby squints in my direction. “It’s not funny.” Her lips quiver like she’s trying to hold in her own laughter.
Jiggy saunters over to us, stopping in front of Lynn. He leans in and says something to her too low for me to hear.
“Sure, Jensen.” Lynn slides off her stool and promises Shelby she’ll be back.
“Stay outta trouble,” Shelby warns. When Lynn turns, Shelby reaches and snags the edge of Jiggy’s cut, gently tugging him backward.
He turns and flashes an utterly deviant smile at her. “What’s wrong, songbird?”
“Jiggy.” Shelby spears him with a serious stink-eye. “I’m watchin’ you.”
“Watch away.” He waggles his fingers at her and takes off after Mrs. Morgan.
After he’s out of earshot, she shakes her head and laughs. “I can’t tell if he’s tryin’ to get my goat, genuinely likes my momma, or has a runnin’ bet with his brothers to see who can bed her first.” She lifts her gaze to me. “I ain’t a fan of any of those options.”
