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“Yes, I am,” I agreed, wiping the mustard off my cheeks.
She lost all interest in me when she looked across the lawn and bellowed, “Uncle Colt!” She climbed down from her seat and ran toward him.
I watched in amazement as the broody biker lifted the little girl high in the air above his head. His face was soft and open as he carried Lily back to her seat and plopped her down. She began eating again, a wide smile across her face as she chewed.
“What happened to your eye?” she asked Colt.
“I walked into a tree branch,” Colt said, not missing a stride.
“Really?” Cam piped up. “Mia tripped on a tree root. You guys are clumsy.”
“Yes, we really are,” I agreed. I bit my lip to stem a smile.
Colt grinned at me and reached up to wipe something off my cheek.
“Mustard?” I guessed.
“Yeah.”
“Did you stop off and get beer and chips?” I asked him, spearing a piece of watermelon and putting it in my mouth.
“Nope.” Colt piled his plate high with potato salad, a hotdog, and a cheeseburger.
“What? Oh man, now everyone will think I’m a bad party guest.”
Colt looked at me in amusement. “This party is for you, you know.”
“Really?”
“Yeah,” he said, taking a bite of the cheeseburger. “The guys wanted to meet you.”
“Why?”
He grinned. “Why do you think?”
“Because I’m a novelty.”
Looking up from his food, he stared at me. “One of a kind.”
Happiness curled through me and I couldn’t stop the grin from spreading across my face.
Chapter 11
Afternoon sank into evening.Gray lit the bonfire and Darcy brought out the ingredients for S’mores. Lily and Cam sat on either side of me on a log, asking me to make them dessert. I looked to Darcy who told them they could have one each. They grumbled, but when I promised I’d only eat one too and then smeared melted chocolate on all of our faces, they giggled and didn’t care.
I caught Colt’s gaze, flickering and dark in the firelight. Looking relaxed, he sipped his beer, nodding every few beats to something Zip was saying. Throughout the barbecue, I’d sought him out. Even when I was talking to Joni or Rachel, and some of the other Old Ladies, my mind and gaze wandered to Colt. There were a few times that I’d caught him looking at me, too.
Studying him in his element with his club showed me a different side of him. Though he was always in control, this was Colt around his tribe. I gave myself the luxury of a fantasy of what my life would look like if I chose to stay.
Acceptance. Family. Home.
Was I knowingly going to walk away from that?
The more time I spent with Colt, the more I was beginning to think he was right. We did fit together, we did understand one another, we were both looking for something more out of life than to just get by after the deaths of loved ones.
My thoughts were heavy as the night wore on. Those with children were gearing up to leave. Cam and Lily hugged me goodnight and then Darcy took them home. The kids who were siblings of members or girlfriends had their mothers come get them and then it was just the adults. Conversations turned low, and people split off into couples. I watched Joni and Zip sit next to each other but not touch or talk.
Wanting to be just a little bit closer to the fire, I got up off the log to sit on the ground. I felt someone at my back, and then the sweep of my hair off my shoulder. Colt’s large, warm hand rested on my neck, his thumb stroking the curve. I leaned back against his knees and closed my eyes, the heat of the fire warm at my front. A slight spring breeze tickled my ear and I let out a sigh.
