Page 2 of Damascus & The Wildfire
“Hey, darlin’.” Thane stood, wrapping his arms around Eva in a warm hug. He glanced at me. “Kenna, glad you could join us.”
He reached a calloused hand out to shake mine before gesturing to the cowhide chairs before his oak desk, lighting a Marlboro, and taking a long drag. “This year’s our fiftieth anniversary.”
I tried my best to control my grimace as the smoke curled around him, but Thane shot me a knowing smirk. He knew I hated the smell, but he didn’t give a shit.
“I’d like to throw a shindig next month,” he said, tapping ash into a mangled clay ashtray. “Live music, good food. Celebrate our history and honor the men we’ve lost over the years.”
Eva pulled a notepad out of her back pocket. “Can you get me a list of names? And more photos?”
Always so damn prepared. If she weren’t my best friend, I’d hate her for it.
Thane nodded. “Ask Linc. He can get that for you. I’ll dig out a box of shit I have in storage, too. Rhetta wants this to be a family affair that’s open to the public, so no strippers.” His eyes sparkled with mischief as he glanced at his wife. “My old lady likes to take away all the fun.”
Eva laughed as my eyebrows rose in question.
“You don’t need strippers at every party,” Rhetta chastised. “Wasn’t it enough that I got them for your birthday?”
Thane grinned, unrepentant. “Never enough, darlin’. I have half a mind to hire them to hang out full-time in the clubhouse. Think it would bring us more prospects.”
I ground my molars and bit back a sigh. I had no problem with any woman who wanted to dance for a living. Hell, I respected their strength and talent. But I was surprised Rhetta was so nonchalant about it.
“Since it’s a family event, how about some games for the kids?” I suggested.
Thane nodded. “Whatever you think. I’m giving this entirely to you two.”
“Consider it handled,” Eva chirped.
Thane grinned at her, his coffee-colored eyes crinkling in the corners. “I always do when you’re at the wheel, darlin’,” he said, his voice thick with affection.
The way he looked at Eva—like she was his long-lost daughter—sent a pang through my chest. There was something gentle beneath his gruff exterior, a fatherly instinct that reminded me of my dad.
Thane shifted his gaze to me. “How’s Texas treatin’ you?”
“It’s great. Sun’s hot, beer’s cold, and there are cowboys everywhere. But I didn’t realize your drivers were worse than they were in D.C. I’ve been cut off by three trucks in two days.”
Thane’s gravely laugh echoed through the room, but a knock interrupted us before he could respond.
The door opened, and my heart jolted at the scarred face that peeked in.
Merrick glanced at Eva and me before shifting his steely, dark eyes to Thane. “Prez, we’ve got a situation.”
Thane grumbled and nodded. “Sorry, darlin’. I’m going to have to push you out the door. You’ve got a blank check and the prospects at your disposal to make this happen.”
Rhetta kissed Thane’s cheek, leaving behind a smudge of maroon lipstick, before ushering us toward the parking lot. The heavy, humid air hit me in the face, blanketing my skin in a damp sweat.
“We’re having a bonfire tomorrow for Fuse,” Rhetta said as she hugged Eva. “You should both come.”
I tensed, already apprehensive about the emotions the weekwould bring and ready to make up any excuse to avoid a crowd on the day of the year I most dreaded—but Eva got there before I could open my mouth.
“We wouldn’t miss it,” Eva said brightly. “I can’t wait to hear the stories he’ll tell me about Roman.”
Rhetta shook her head with a grin. “Fuse is going to give Reaper so much shit for finally settling down and letting a woman call him by the name his mama gave him.”
Eva laughed, her cheeks pink and eyes shining. I’d never seen her fall so hard, so fast. The reckless joy and happiness radiating from my best friend only reminded me of the hollow space where my heart used to sit.
“It’ll be a pretty tame night,” Rhetta said, pulling my focus back to the present. “We don’t want to overwhelm Fuse. It’ll take a while for him to adjust after Coffield.”
Rhetta headed back inside. I sidled up to Eva and lowered my voice. “Coffield? The prison?”
