Page 69 of Declan's Dove

We walk inside and find that almost everyone is here. All the women, except Lisa, Mack’s wife, are seated on the couches laughing and talking among themselves. Hawk is sitting at the bar with his laptop, scowling at the screen. Jake, Gabe, and Caleb are all seated across the room from the women, looking angry and frustrated. Gabe, in particular, looks like he’s ready to burn shit down. Jameson is over at the pool table with Ghost playing a game and Ethan is hovering close to where Skyler and her pregnant belly are seated on the couch.

“Hey, Sadie!” Carter shouts. “You want to play Pacman? Bet I can beat your high score.”

“You’re on, kid.” Sadie gets up from her seat, catching all kinds of attention in her skintight blue jeans and long-sleeved low-cut t-shirt. Well, she has Hawk’s attention, anyway. He catches one of the prospects staring and slaps him on the back of the head.

“Not on your life. And that’s exactly what it will cost you if you try.” I hear his reprimand. I look to Declan for explanation and find him trying to fight a smile.

“Why is it not okay for the prospect to look at Sadie?” I’m genuinely curious. She seems a bit young to be someone’s ol’ lady, but then again, Avery is Jake’s ol’ lady and fiancé and she and Sadie are the same age.

“The easiest answer is she’s Gabe’s niece and Caleb’s granddaughter, and a prospect isn’t a brother until he earns his patch.” Declan leans down near my ear and whispers, “But the real reason, if you ask me, is because Hawk has a hard on for her but doesn’t seem to have the balls to make it work.”

Declan uses two fingers to lift my jaw and close my mouth. “Close your mouth, baby. Unless you want me to fill it for you.”

I slap his arm and he laughs. “Don’t say shit like that in here.”

“Dove, you’re going to hear a hell of a lot worse in here the more you get to know the club. Trust me. My brothers are no saints. Quite the opposite, actually.”

“Hey, Dec,” an exaggeratedly sweet female voice says from behind him. With his broad shoulders and hulking body, I can’t quite see who it is, but I know the voice. Melanie. She’s one of the club girls. I’ve heard Skyler and the other girls talk about her at the gym. She’s been sleeping with everyone, from prospects to officers and any visiting brothers in between trying to get herself a patch.

I fight the jealousy I feel clawing at my insides when I watch her hand snake around Declan’s shoulder as she leans her very large, and not very covered, tits against his arm.

“Haven’t seen you around in a few days. We should get caught up.” She brings her hand to her mouth, sucking on the tip of her index finger, then biting down on the tip with a suggestive smile.

“Melanie. You’ve met my ol’ lady, Violet, before.” Declan shrugs out of her hold, pulling me to him, my back to his front, wrapping his hands firmly around my waist.

“Your—? When did this happen?” Her voice is a little shrill, and I’ll admit I’m biting the inside of my lip to keep from smiling.

“Yo, Snatch-for-Patch!” Sadie shouts from her seat at the Pacman game, where my son is heavily engrossed in his turn. Melanie’s head snaps up, her eyes narrowed, and her lip curled over her teeth in a snarl.

I didn’t know people could actually do that.

“What did you say?” Melanie growls.

Maybe she’s part rabid.

“Snatch-for-Patch. It’s what you do, right? Give up the snatch, hoping to get a brother’s patch. Or do I have the job description confused?” Sadie’s brow creases and she taps her chin with her finger, as if she’s deep in thought over her own question. This time, I cover my mouth with my hand. I don’t know what makes Sadie act so boldly toward the women who live in the clubhouse, but I won’t say it’s not entertaining as hell.

“Declan’s taken. He’s claimed Violet and her son as his. Which means you’d better keep your damn hands to yourself. Got me?” Sadie stands with her arms crossed over her chest and a raised eyebrow, daring Melanie to challenge her.

Melanie raises her hands up in front of her. “I meant no disrespect. I didn’t know you had an ol’ lady. I thought she was just a friend of the club. The last time she was here was months ago.” She looks me over from head to toe. When her eyes shift to Declan, she gives him a coy smile and says, “But you’ve been coming here nearly every night after work.” She shrugs, batting her eyes and twisting a piece of her hair on her finger. It’s all I can do to keep from rolling my eyes. “What’s a girl to think when you’re here with us all the time?”

Declan starts to say something but doesn’t as we’re both nearly knocked to the floor by the force of a ten-year-old little boy slamming into my side, wrapping me and Declan in a tight hug. When Carter lifts his face, his smile is wide, and his eyes have a sparkle to them I haven’t seen in such a long time, it takes my breath away.

“Is Sadie telling the truth? Are we going to be a family now? You, me, and Mr. Declan?” Carter looks from me to Declan, anxiously waiting for us to confirm. Declan leans in, brushing a kiss to my temple as he reaches down and scrubs the top of Carter’s already disheveled head.

“Yeah, kid. We are. You, me, and your mama are moving in together just as soon as I can get some sh—stuff sorted.” I glare over my shoulder at Declan for his near-curse in front of my son. The devilish grin is back. Declan shrugs. “Bad habits die hard, babe.”

“Wait. Does that mean you can’t cuss in front of my mom now either, Mr. Declan?” I spin around in Declan’s arms, my hands firmly on his chest, and my brow raised. “Can’t cuss in front of me, huh? Am I to assume you told my son he could cuss when he isn’t in front of me?”

Declan freezes. His eyes shifting over my shoulder. Out of the corner of my eye, I see a small hand waving and move to look over my shoulder when Declan’s hand grips my chin and his mouth lands on mine in a firm, fog inducing kiss.

The room fills with cat calls and women shouting, breaking through the momentary haze his wicked tongue always seems to leave me in.

“I see how it is,” I tell Declan, keeping my voice low.

“How what is?”

“When you plot against me with my son, you’ll kiss me stupid to keep me in the dark. And when we argue, you’ll fuck me into giving you your way.” I drop my head against his chest. “Either way, I’m screwed.”

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