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“Have you missed me?” She giggled as she acted like she was munching on his neck.
He leaned back and placed his hands along her cheeks. Oh, she knew where he was going with this. He was already a heartbreaker with his long lashes and blue eyes. “Memi, vroom?”
“Were you good while I was gone?”
His exaggerated nod almost knocked her in the chin. “If I ask your daddy, would he say you’ve been good?” He paused, peeking underneath his lashes to see if Roam was close. He only did that when he’d gotten in trouble. She couldn’t wait to hear the story. Grant was like a little monkey climbing on everything. A couple months ago, right after they’d moved in, he’d shoved his little table and chairs close to the cabinet to climb up on the counter. Regina had said no more cookies until after supper. When she’d gone to do laundry, he'd decided he wanted more. Roam had been adventurous, too, growing up so it’s not like he could blame anyone but himself. He finally nodded slowly.
“I be good.” His smile was mischievous, but she wasn’t his mom, so she wasn’t going to call him on it.
“Okay, here’s your present. It’s a 1970 GTO this time.”
He grasped the car, smacked a wet kiss on her cheek and shook to be put down.
“Daddy, lookie!” he screamed.
Her stomach churned at the thought of dealing with War. She bypassed the large table and chairs set up in the middle, heading toward the bathroom. Maybe running cold water on her wrists would help her calm down. Why did he have to affect her so much and why did she still care what he thought of her? She wanted him to see her as a strong, capable woman. His digs about her being a princess hit at the heart of her ego. She could take care of herself and quite well. She didn’t need rescued.
“Lunch, everyone!”
She loved Regina but she wished lunch would have taken longer. Maybe she could sit as far away as possible. The Sunday lunch group was large with all the MC, her family, and Regina invited any of the bail bonds or security company employees also. She should have made a plan with her sisters before lunch to sit on both sides of her and across from her. Not that she needed protection, but a buffer zone would be great.
Glancing around the table without meeting anyone’s eyes, she considered faking an illness. The only freaking seat still open was across from War and between Bear and another MC guy she didn’t know. Thank goodness, Regina had made fried chicken. At least she’d have good food. Settling into her seat, she made it a point to not look across from her. She’d gotten the whole looking beside or through someone down to a fine art with her security work. If only she could leave her sunglasses on at the table.
Baron sat at the head of the table with Regina beside him. Noah, her dad, or Locks as the MC called him, was on the other side. Baron said a blessing and then the clatter of dishes being emptied filled the space. Bear handed her the platter of chicken with a nudge.
“Please note, I only took one drumstick since I know that’s your favorite.”
She giggled. She didn’t freaking giggle, but she’d completely forgotten the drumstick incident. Bear was pessimistic on a good day but downright grumpy on most days. She’d taken the last drumstick off the plate and passed the chicken to him. Of course, Regina always fixed more than one chicken, but he’d assumed it was the last one. If she remembered right, they’d been in high school. He’d really wanted the drumstick and had immediately started offering her things. First, it had been a free oil change. She’d replied with she changed her own oil. Her dad had taught all the sisters vehicle maintenance. He’d then offered more things and she turned each down. She’d been interested in how far he would go. He’d finally offered to give her lessons on bike maintenance. She’d been saving to buy her own bike, but her dad said no motorcycles at the house besides his unless they knew how to take care of it. He hadn’t had time in his schedule to teach her. She’d said yes, handed him her drumstick, then walked in the kitchen and grabbed one from the extra chicken Regina had been warming in the oven. She’d never seen his face so red, but he’d stuck to the bargain. A couple months of lessons and she’d been able to buy her motorcycle.
He'd given her way more than the drumstick was worth so a couple months later after she’d saved her money up, she’d bought him the special saddlebags he’d been wanting. She’d enjoyed being around Bear despite his grumpiness. She sometimes wondered if it was more than grumpiness, but she’d never suggested it could be depression. Bear was like a brother. She wished she could think of him as more instead of being attracted to the jackass sitting across from her.
“Oh yeah, our princess always had to have the food she wanted.”
War’s tone had her hackles rising but she was sticking to the plan and not letting him bait her.
“Dang, brother, the city teach you to be a jackass?”
She didn’t want to cause dissension between Roam and War, but she appreciated him standing up for her. She’d defuse the situation and not give an argument a chance to brew. She was on her best behavior today.
“Not a princess but anybody who says they don’t have a favorite of Regina’s fried chicken is lying, and the mashed potatoes and gravy...nobody makes it like Regina. Thanks for fixing the meal.”
A chorus of voices echoing her sentiments distracted the group from War’s words. She turned toward the man on her right.
“Hi, I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Remington.”
He wiped his mouth, adjusting his glasses. “Scoop. Nice to meet you.”
“Scoop? Like ice cream?” Sarah asked from across the table.
He blushed a little, adjusting his glasses again. “Umm, no. I do tech work. Finding data about individuals.”
“Nice. That’s what I do for the bail bonds company, Rocky Road,” Sarah sassed.
She didn’t care what Sarah called Scoop as long as all eyes weren’t on her, and she wasn’t listening to War call her princess again. If he’d keep his mouth shut, she could enjoy and appreciate the man War had grown into. As a senior in high school, he’d been cute but now, he was swoon worthy. Angular jaw covered by a closely trimmed beard. A tight white t-shirt underneath his cut hugged what she could see of his chest. He was a little thicker around the waist, but he was someone she’d take home if she saw him in a bar. His arms with the tattoos just begged to have her tongue tracing them. She glanced up and his eyes caught her checking him out. His lips quirked in a smirk. She’d love to be kissing them but then he’d freaking open his mouth and irritate her.
“Like what you see, Princess?”
His words were soft enough only those directly beside them heard. Sarah paused as did Winnie across the table. They both knew she had a temper. She did quite well holding her temper and putting up with a lot on jobs but sometimes, she was pushed too far and then exploded. War was tramping on her last nerve.
