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“We missed you,” Gunnar grunted. He was a loveable guy; he just wasn’t big on overt displays of emotions. “You plan on coming home now that you’re done?”
Shit. That was one question I hadn’t counted on, which I realized too late, was silly of me. “Uhm.”
Peaches smacked him on his massive arm. “Give her a break, babe. She needs to get out there and spread her wings unless you want her to manage The Barn Door?”
His expression turned thunderous and both Stone and I took two big steps back. “Prepare to run,” I stage-whispered to Stone, who flashed a smirk that was one hundred percent Gunnar.
“Don’t go anywhere,” he growled at us but his gaze never left Peaches. “She’s not working at the club. Period.”
“Exactly,” she said with a defiant smile. “So let her do her thing. And when she’s ready to come home, if she’s ready, she will. Right, Maze?”
I nodded wordlessly. “Absolutely.”
“See? Quit giving her shit and go have fun with your buddies.” Peaches, the biker wrangler that she was, gave Gunnar a hard shove toward Cross and a few other Bastards before turning to Stone.
“And you my handsome son, Vivi’s kids are around here somewhere and I fully expect you to be best friends with one or married to the other. Got it?”
Stone frowned. “Pass. But kids would be nice. There are more old people here than on the ranch,” he grumbled and walked off, all long arms and legs.
“That kid is going to force me into the matchmaking game.”
I laughed. “You’ve had a toe in it for years.” And it was probably the only thing Peaches wasn’t good at.
“Yeah but I’m his mama. This time I have a chance at making it work. Go have fun, but don’t go too far. We’re leaving tonight on a charter flight. Club business,” she explained and walked off to join her best friend Vivi in the backyard, leaving me to my own thoughts and devices.
With everyone busy mingling, I decided to sneak upstairs for a quick breather. I loved my family, but all of them together, well most of them together at once could be a bit overwhelming. The music faded once I was upstairs, and I took a big breath. Today had been a long day and a momentous one, but it was over and done with. I was an adult now.
A college graduated adult.
And someone else apparently thought so too because when I opened the door to my room, a gorgeous black box with a white ribbon sat on the middle of my bed. My curiosity was piqued and I stepped inside, closing the door behind me. I grabbed the box, wondering what trinket Gunnar and Peaches had gotten me, in addition to the brand new car that had arrived earlier this week. It was too much.
And yeah, I might have cried. But only a little.
The box called my name and I opened it slowly as if it might bite me. Carefully I lifted the tissue paper and gasped at the piece of jewelry inside. It was a choker made of black diamonds and it was sexy as hell. A black rose was in the center, sparkling when it hit the light.
“Holy shit, it’s gorgeous!”
I looked around for a note, for anything that would tell me who I owed for this spectacular gift. I found the note, a small black card with silver script in handwriting I didn’t recognize.
Can’t wait to see you wearing nothing but this.
The grin stretched from one ear to the other and I felt my skin heat, thinking of the look in Virgil’s eyes when he saw me in this necklace. Nothing but this necklace. An idea came to me but the knock on the door interrupted it. Temporarily. “Come in.”
Charlie pushed the door open with a smile, his black hair swept over his forehead adorably. He looked exactly like Max when he was young, the only trace of Jana was his sweet nature. “We goin’ out tonight, right?”
I wanted to say yes, but I couldn’t. Not with my family in town and that damn note stealing all my attention.
“Not tonight. Gunny and the crew are heading out tonight, and I want to soak up the family time before they leave.”
He nodded his understanding. “Tomorrow, Maze, we party. Hard.”
“Harder than hard,” I clarified.
Charlie groaned. “Sounds like trouble. I’m in. See ya.” With a short wave that reminded me of what Uncle Max was like before became a grumpy old man, Charlie disappeared.
Leaving me alone with my thoughts. And the choker.
That fucking choker was the hottest thing I’d ever seen and ever owned, which of course meant I had to do something about it. Stripping down to the black and white lace under my little black graduation dress, I touched up my hair and makeup, put on the necklace, and put on my best smile.
