The late afternoon sun was toasty, and the guys were shirtless.
Boy, oh boy.
Bull was simply huge, like one of those professional weightlifters. Caz was lean and ripped. Gabe and Hawk had muscles to spare and hard abs you could bounce a coin off.
Hawk, though, had those gorgeous tats. Not only on his arms. Covering his upper back was a hawk with spread wings and raised talons.
Seriously, what woman wouldn’t enjoy the sight of these men—she was alive, right? Honestly, she should take pictures and sell them on the internet.
Bad, Kit.
Back and biceps burning, JJ set the chainsaw down, then looked around for the next section to cut up. In her back pocket, her cell made a dinging sound.
After checking the text, she raised her voice. “Pizza incoming in forty minutes. You have just enough time to put everything away and wash up.”
Caz laughed. “Mamita, the pizza place doesn’t deliver here.”
“No, but Audrey and Frankie do. They agreed to pick up the pizza after I called in the order.”
Over by the woodshed, the group of children stared at her.
“Pizza?” Regan’s happy grin took over her whole face.
As JJ’s heart turned to mush, she totally understood how parents could spoil their children. “Pizza. After a hard day of working, we deserve a treat.”
“Yay!” The girl ran over and grabbed JJ around the waist for a big hug. “You are the best mamá.”
Stunned speechless, JJ didn’t have a chance to respond before Regan went stiff. “I mean, um, thanks, JJ.”
JJ turned, and Caz was watching, approval in his dark eyes. He tilted his head in a way that said he was leaving this in her hands. But she had no doubt what he wanted. Hoped for.
He’d given her himself…and now a daughter. God, I love him. And Regan.
Paperwork or not, they were a family.
Bending, she put a hand on each side of Regan’s face, looking her straight in the eyes. Because that was what Caz had been teaching her and Regan—that a person didn’t hide from their family.
“I love you so much, Regan.” The thickness in her throat made it difficult to speak. “And, sweetie, I already think of you as my daughter.”
Regan’s chin trembled. “Really?”
As JJ stroked a hand down the soft brown hair, her eyes were burning. “I’d really, really like to be called mamá.”
Regan burst into tears, burying her face against JJ’s shoulder.
Pressing her cheek to the top of her head, JJ felt her own tears running down her cheeks. “My girl.” I have a daughter.
As Caz wrapped his arms around them and enclosed them in warmth, JJ felt as if the entire world was filled with sunlight.
I have a family.
Inside the barn, Nabera stood on the hood of an ancient Ford and looked out over what was left of the Patriot Zealots in Alaska. Although the building stank of horse shit and hay, at least there were no government agents snooping around.
His fifty or so men stood in straight lines as he’d taught them and waited in silence.
Eagerness to begin rose inside Nabera as he shouted, “The Feds and state troopers have been searching for us and hindering any chance of finding work or even leaving the state. I have news that will change that.”
He could feel his men’s hope in their focused attention.
“Our Prophet is dead. But we aren’t alone in believing in individual freedoms. Or insisting a woman keep to her proper place. We’re not alone in thinking our nation’s capital has become a disgusting abyss. Other militia groups hold those same beliefs.”
The men were nodding.
“A group in Idaho has reached out to me. They want our help, and in return, they’ll provide us with new IDs, help us move to Idaho, and let us join them.”
The shouts of glee made him smile. The Idaho militia also wanted Nabera to head up an active resistance unit. One that would be on the forefront of the battle lines and actively working against the government. His troops would handle intimidation and reprisal.
The media, law enforcement, and government officials would learn that any action against the Idaho militia would cost them or their loved ones dearly.
“They asked us for one final task to pay our way into our new lives.”
“What’s that, Captain?” Luka asked. He and Conrad, the other lieutenant, were in the very front of the troops, standing straight and tall.
“Something I think we’ll enjoy.” Nabera smiled. He sure would. “We lived outside of Rescue for years. Thought we were part of the town. But they turned on us. Broke into our compound. Took our women.”
The angry sounds coming from his troops filled his heart with joy.
He waited one moment. “I think it’s only fair that we steal their women in return.”
Eventually the shouts of agreement died down.
“This is the plan. We take the women and sell them to a boat waiting offshore. The money will start us off in our new lives. And Rescue will never see those women again.”
The Idaho militia would use the PZ’s revenge as an example for their own purposes. See what happens if you get in our way? Can you guard your family against us?
“Yeah, let’s do it,” Conrad shouted.
Nabera gave his lieutenant an approving smile. “We’ll teach those bastards a lesson.”
And Rescue would hear their women scream.
Hours later, Kit and Hawk climbed the stairs to her apartment. His hand was warm in hers, the skin callused, the strength obvious. She smiled up at him. “What a perfect day.”
“Yeah.” Wrapping an arm around her, he bent to nibble on her neck. “Thanks for the cake.”
Her heart softened with tenderness. Caz had mentioned that Hawk’s favorite dessert was chocolate cake, so she’d made one. And, obviously, Hawk had known she made it for him.
After a long, sweet kiss, they continued up the stairs.
The evening had been wonderful, although pizza and cake for supper might get her banned from the good parenting list.
Everyone had been starving, especially the children, and the food disappeared like magic.
Clean-up afterward got jump-started when Caz started picking up plates and singing, “Heigh ho, Heigh ho”.
The children laughed, and the table was cleared in no time.
In the kitchen, Gabe led off with Alabama’s “Forty Hour Week”, and Niko joined in. Apparently, the song was a favorite of his father, Chevy.
After that, Frankie had winked at Kit and belted out Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5”—a totally female tune. Wasn’t it fun that the guys had actually been at a loss? Of course, Frankie knew the lyrics…and hip-bumped Bull when singing about that her boss being out to get her.
Bull’s big laugh had filled the kitchen, sending the children into uncontrollable giggles.
Yes, it had been a wonderful day.
At the top of the stairs, Hawk opened the door for Kit.
Crossing into the bedroom, she glanced at Aric’s divided-off corner. “I feel as if I’ve abandoned my baby.”
When Aric had begged to join the big kids for their overnight, Regan and her friends thought it was a great idea. Niko insisted he needed another boy to make even numbers.