Page 36 of At Last

“Boys voted, it’s Caity now.”

“Okay. Well we’re about to ride, got to find a place to stay for the night. So whatcha need?”

This time Tommy answers. “Sneak’s feeding your kid.”

“He probably should get the practice. Just keep him off your tit, Sneak.” The brothers and Tommy, and all the women laugh. It’s good to hear so much laughter in my house again.

“Elise here says you wear that Snugli carrier more than she does,” Tommy says.

“Sure do. She carried him the first forty weeks. Can’t wait to get home, so I can fuck my wife then snuggle with my boy. He loves Westerns.”

“See.” Sneak shouts, startling a half-asleep Gun. He points around at all the men, then presses one of Gun’s ears against his chest and covers the other with his hand. “Fuck all y’all.”

“Gotta go.” Boss chuckles. “Night baby girl,” he calls to Elise. “I’ll call when we settle.”

“Love you, Beau.” She calls back.

Carver ends the call then shoves his phone back in his pocket and picks up his plate to dig back in eating.

Everyone but Trish and Peaches continue to consume beers, the peppers, salad and breadsticks get decimated. And the dessert. Fuck. I ain’t ever tasted anything like it. She’s a goddamn culinary genius.

Tommy goes back for his, like, third piece, which also happens to be the last piece, which means I’m ready to kick his ass. Doc must see me glaring ’cuz she struts over to slide onto my lap, wraps her arms around my neck and whispers in my ear, “Don’t worry, Chief. I made a second pan.”

Hearing that just might be sexier than any dirty talk she could throw my way.

At the end of the night, after Elise, Gun, Trish and the brothers head back up to the clubhouse where they’re staying, and Tommy and Maryanne head for home, Caitlin picks up a passed out Peaches from the sofa.

“I’m just gonna get her in bed, then I’ll come clean up.”

I walk over to kiss my girls. “You cooked, I’ll clean. After you get her down, go on to bed. I’ll be there in a bit.”

“Right,” she says. Then heads down the hallway to Jade’s room.

Good friends. Good food. It’s easy to forget the reason everyone’s here. I pull the note from my wallet. The note Houdini left for Elise along with the roses. And I stare at it for several beats. My gut clenches. “What shit are you gonna pull this time?” I ask the paper. Then before Doc can see it, I fold it and slip it back inside my wallet.

Well, one positive to come from Houdini messing with Doc and Peaches. I got my girls. Under my roof.

Ain’t no way he can get to them now.

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