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“Well, if we’re being precise,” Bryce says, “I saw her first.” She quirks her lips at me. “But you can have her. She’s too tall for me.”
It’s true. In my heels, I’m at least a foot taller than Bryce. “And you’re too short. We’d look like a circus side-show next to each other.”
Chrissy scowls at me, then past me and I turn to see what she’s looking at. Most of the men are eyeing me, though surreptitiously. Rocky and Coyote are disinterested, Coyote watching Bryce as if she’s going to bolt any minute. Eight has his back turned, Hangman’s frowning, and Dicer’s practically sliding off the chair he’s sitting on. I catch Red’s eye and we smile at each other, then Trigger draws his attention by lightly punching him in the gut. There are a couple of men I’ve seen before but not been introduced to, and several other men I haven’t met.
Chrissy finally speaks up but changes the subject. “Fender says you’re a vet.”
I nod. “Yes. I’ve set up shop in Sagebrush. Sweet Tidings Animal Hospital.”
“Gag,” says Slag.
“Hmmm. Didn’t bring mine. Didn’t think I needed it tonight,” I reply lightly, then return my attention to Chrissy. The woman has no light in her eyes and I have this sense that her story is more tragic than anyone else’s, but that is none of my business and so I don’t ask. “I’ve only been opened a month, so business is slow. I try to match rescues and people, so think about adopting.” I look at all of them, including Slag, though I wouldn’t let her raise a badger. “All of you. There are so many animals that need good homes.”
“I wouldn’t have thought you a bleeding heart,” Verity observes. “Not with the amount of leather you wear.”
I decide I’m going to try to understand this angry woman. Slag is a bitch for the sake of being one, but Verity seems more complicated than that. “I wear leather, I eat meat, but that doesn’t make me a hypocrite. I’m a small animal vet and I see horrific abuses of some of the animals I treat far more than I should.” I blink rapidly because if anything can move me to tears, it’s having to euthanize an animal that’s been through hell. “So back to what I was talking about. Yes, I’m a vet and you all should consider adopting a rescue.”
Speaking of rescues, Trigger comes up behind me and slides his arms around my waist. The heat of his body on my back makes me shiver. “Quit hogging my fiancé. I gotta introduce her to the rest of the brothers.”
“Fiancé!” Leslie and Chrissy say in unison. Leslie grabs my hand and holds it up. “Fuck! Look at the size of that stone.”
“Almost as big as Trigger’s stones,” Slag sneers.
She doesn’t know Trigger if she thinks she’s being insulting. He pumps his groin into my backside as he kisses the side of my neck. “Babe, you gotta quit bragging about me or you’re gonna make these girls jealous.”
Bryce snorts but otherwise stays silent, while Haley and Jess giggle.
“You’re an idiot,” Verity says in disgust.
I’m starting to get my back up, but Trigger affects a grimace. “Ouch. Good one, Verity.”
He takes my hand and drags me away.
CHAPTERTWENTY-EIGHT
Trigger
I’m second-guessing lettin’ Evanee wear her little black dress. She doesn’t seem to notice or maybe doesn’t care that she’s the only one dressed up like she’s going to a nightclub. I don’t care either because that’s my girl and I wouldn’t want her lookin’ any other way. The problem is all eyes are on her and it ain’t easy not to punch the lights out of a few of the guys – the ones that keep grinning when they look her way.
The women are different. Their responses are varied from acceptance to discomfort to downright hostility. The look on Raven’s face is murderous and the rest of the passarounds are backing her up. Verity and Slag are their usual bitchy selves, and Leslie seems to be siding with them even if she pretends otherwise. Chrissy is Chrissy – can’t tell what she’s thinkin’. Jess, Haley, and Bryce are behind Evanee 100 percent.
Evanee’s smart enough to pick up on the general vibes but the only time I’ve seen her phased by anything is when she met my dad. I liked that she cared enough to want to make a good impression and she did. Dad liked her a lot and told me not to fuck it up. I told him I wouldn’t.
And I won’t. Evanee is who she is and I love her for it. She’s the only person in the entire room that’s truly at ease with herself. She’s a miracle and the best part of it all is that she’s mine.
“How you doin’ babe?” I ask her after I drag her down the hall that leads to Hangman’s office and the bathroom.
She presses me against the wall and gives me a lingering close-mouthed kiss. “I’m doing fine. It’s great to see you and everyone else in their natural environment.”
“As opposed to a zoo,” I laugh. “The women treating you right?”
She nips my neck. “Nothing I can’t manage.”
“Of course, it ain’t.” I’m beginning to think my woman can handle any situation.
“Let’s go back to the party. We can have a private one when we get home.” She takes a sip of the drink she’s holding. “I’m going to be hammered after I finish this and when I’m drunk, there’s nothing I won’t do.”
My dick swells up as I think of all the possibilities, and I adjust myself to give it some relief. “You keep talkin’ like that, and we won’t make it home.”
