“Maybe you should just give me the money and no one wins,” I suggest and they all laugh as Chance stands up and starts handing everyone their cash back.
“So,” Ali prompts. “If you’re not taking things slow, does that mean you’ll bring her to the shower?”
“I don’t know. I’ll ask her but she might not be able to find a sitter.”
Ali’s eyes go wide and I can practically see the maternal instincts pouring out of her. “Aw, she has a kid?”
“Yeah, a little girl.”
She presses her hand to her heart. “How old is she?”
“Like thirteen months, I think,” I answer, shrugging my shoulder. I’m pretty sure that’s how old Quinn said Brooklyn is.
“Fuck, dude. You’re in so deep if you know how old her baby is in months.” Chance laughs and Ali shoots him a look before sighing.
“Oh my gosh, that’s so cute. She’ll be able to play with Magnolia.”
“Absolutely fucking not,” Storm growls, shaking his head. “Fucking veto.”
“What?” Ali asks, rubbing her belly. “It’s a beautiful name.”
“We are not naming our daughter Magnolia.”
She crosses her arms over her chest and glares back at Storm, who shakes his head.
“No way in hell, Kitten. Think of another name.”
“You look different,” Tate adds, standing up from the couch and standing in front of me. I shake my head.
“No, I don’t.”
“Yeah, you do actually,” Carly says.
“He looks less sad,” Ali adds and I sigh as I step away from the couches.
“Y’all need to get control of your women,” I call as I turn toward Blaze’s office and the girls all laugh.
“Listen, brother. The sooner you realize that’s never going to happen, the easier your life will be.”
I stop and turn to face them. “Yeah? Well, then… Storm, I can’t wait to meet Magnolia.”
“Absolutely fucking not!” he yells and I grin as I turn around and walk to Blaze’s office, knocking on the door.
“Yeah,” he calls and I open the door.
“You got a minute?”
He glances up from the paperwork in his hand and nods before pointing to the chair across from him. “Have a seat.”
The yelling from the bar area is loud even after I close the door and he scowls. “What the hell is going on out there?”
“Storm and Ali,” I mutter and he sighs.
“You know, that girl is family now but I’ll be glad when she’s not staying here.”
I laugh. “Don’t let Storm hear you say that.”
“Boy, I wasn’t born yesterday,” he mutters before grinning. “Now, what can I help you with?”
Sighing, I run my hand through my hair and prop my elbows on my knees. “Um, it’s my brother… I need to find a rehab for him and I need help getting him there.”
“Wow,” Blaze whispers, his eyes wide. For years, I’ve refused the help of the club as I tried to fix things all on my own but I know now that I can’t do this by myself. “This is huge. Does it have anything to do with the girl Ali says you met?”
“Quinn?… Yeah. She’s opened my eyes in a lot of ways.”
He nods. “Sounds serious.”
I pull the two carat cushion cut diamond ring that I’ve been carrying around for the last two days out of my pocket and lay it on the table. Blaze’s eyes widen and he lets out a whistle.
“Damn, kid. You dropped some serious coin for that ring.”
I nod. “She’s worth it.”
“I don’t doubt that she is. Does she know everything about you, your past, and what’s going on with your brother?”
“Yeah,” I answer with a nod. “I told her everything last night and she lost both of her parents when she and her sister were little so she understands me in ways that y’all never could… no offense.”
He holds his hands up. “None taken, but you know we just wanted to help.”
“I do know that and now I’m asking for it.”
He turns to the filing cabinet and digs around for a second before pulling out a folder. As soon as he opens it, I recognize the rehab facility on top. When the club decided to go legit all those years ago, Blaze’s actions weighed heavy on him and there was a time when we helped the people that we had once sold drugs to as some sort of penance. Blaze slaps his hand down on the folder and stands.
“Leave it to me and I’ll find the best place I can for your brother, okay?”
I grab the ring off the table and slip it back into my pocket before shaking his hand. “Thanks, Prez.”
“Your family is our family, Smith. Always has been, always will be.”
Chapter Sixteen
Quinn
“Are you nervous?” Lucas asks, reaching for my hand as we approach the clubhouse and I peek over at him, shaking my head.
“No. Should I be?”
He makes a face and holds his hand out in the air, pulling a giggle out of me.
“You’re supposed to make me feel better, not scare me.”
“Well, truthfully,” he says, adjusting Brooklyn in his arms as he stops and pulls me into his body. “Everyone is going to love you but… Ali has been dying to meet you for weeks now and she’s not someone who doesn’t get her way.”
I nod, casting a faux nervous glance toward the door. “So, what you’re saying is I’m about to be swarmed?”
“A little bit, yeah.”
Sucking in a breath, I turn back to the door and square my shoulders. “I think I’m ready.”
“You’re so fucking cute,” he teases, releasing my hand to wrap his arm around my shoulders before pulling me into his body. “And have I mentioned that this little skirt you’re wearing makes me want to bend you over a table?”
My cheeks heat. “You know, I don’t think you have.”
“Oh, well it does.” He nips at my ear and I suck in a breath as goose bumps race across my flesh and my nipples pebble.
“Good to know.”
“One more thing…” he murmurs and I turn my head to meet his gaze. Our noses touch and he flashes me the kind of smile that can make me melt in an instant. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
Right on cue, Brooklyn squeals from Lucas’s arms and he laughs as he pulls his arm off my shoulders to tickle her belly.
“You just can’t stand when someone else is the center of attention, can you, Princess?”
She pats his face with her little hands and blows a raspberry. Both of us laugh and he blows one back at her, which sends her into a fit of giggles.
“Oh, Lord, she’s really hammin’ it up today,” I say and Lucas reaches for my hand again as we step toward the door.
“Gee, wonder where she gets that from…”
I gasp. “Are you saying I’m a ham? I’m offended, sir.”
The door to the clubhouse opens and a large man with dark hair and gray piercing eyes steps outside. He looks relieved when he spots us and Lucas laughs.