Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 154037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 770(@200wpm)___ 616(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 770(@200wpm)___ 616(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
A grin cracked the edge of my mouth, chest feeling light as I climbed off my bike. It brought me to tower over her, this gorgeous woman with a sly smirk playing over the delicious curve of her lips.
“Oh, you’re a blast, all right, Raven Tayte.”
“I aim to please.”
The woman was intoxicating.
Entrancing.
I was probably a little too close to her when I leaned in and rumbled in her ear, “And please you do.”
Chills lifted in a wave across her skin, and she edged back with a grin. “Then it seems we have something in common.”
“Oh, Little Moonflower, think we have plenty in common.”
She raked her teeth over her plump bottom lip, her expression shifting to this gentle thing as she fiddled with a button on my shirt.
Took everything I had not to kiss the hell out of her right then, but somehow, I managed to straighten. “Come on, let’s get inside before I change my mind and take you home.”
I ushered her around my bike, my hand just barely resting on the small of her back as we treaded over the loose gravel to the entrance of Kane’s.
Ty and Jonah were manning the door, and they let us directly through.
Inside, the club was cramped, people packed shoulder to shoulder. A country band played onstage, and the dance floor was crowded with couples two-stepping beneath the strobing lights, the reflection from the stained-glass windows high above glinting over their faces.
I sent a smile down at Raven as we angled through the crush, heading toward the booth at the very back.
Our crew was already there behind the rope that sectioned off the area that contained three high-top tables and the big horseshoe booth.
Kane saw me first, and he lifted his tatted arms out to the sides as he called, “Ah, the birthday boy has arrived. It’s time to get this party started.”
The rest of our crew looked our way.
River and Charleigh. Theo and Cash. Plus the whole family from Redemption Hills.
Sienna, Raven’s friend from the café across the street from her shop, was there, too, standing at a high-top table chatting with Charleigh.
A round of hoots went up. “Ah, the man of the hour.”
I lifted my arms high, letting the lightness take me over. It wasn’t like I was one to reject the finer things in life. Always ready for a good time. Only that definition had shifted a bit, the finer things in life standing right next to me.
“That’s right. The fun may now begin,” I shouted as I lifted the rope so Raven could duck under it.
Everyone gathered around us.
River first, with his hand outstretched, shaking my hand hard before he pulled me in for a clap to the back. “Happy birthday, brother.”
“Thanks, man.”
Theo edged forward next. “Happy birthday, old man.”
A rough chuckle got out of me. “Fuck off, asshole. You’re only a year younger than me.”
“Might as well claim it, Otto. It’s called wisdom,” Trent Lawson said as he strolled up with his wife Eden tucked under his arm.
Owed Trent a ton of gratitude. The way he’d stood beside me when all the shit had gone down with the rest of the Owls. Wasn’t long after that when the MC had fallen apart after his father, the Owls’ president, had tried to take him out.
Trent and his brothers had ended up in Northern California in Redemption Hills, not that far from here.
When we’d left Los Angeles so River could find a place to raise Nolan, Trent had convinced us to come here. Had been sure it’d be a good place for Sovereign Sanctum to fly under the radar.
“That’s right. Pure wisdom right here,” I said.
“Pssh,” Raven said from beside me. “I guess since it’s his birthday, we should go ahead and let him believe that.”
“Watch yourself, now,” I warned, cutting her an eye that promised wicked things.
Could see the thrill roll through her limbs. She hid it behind a coy grin. “Okay, old man.”
She emphasized what Theo had said.
“Can you believe this nonsense? Look at her, busting my balls,” I razzed, hooking a thumb in Raven’s direction.
“She always was the smartest one of the bunch,” Eden said as she came forward and gave me a hug.
I squeezed her back. “Ouch. It appears this is a roast rather than a party.”
“I’ve always said our family’s love language is giving each other shit.” Raven’s smile was wide.
Love.
It pulsed inside of me. A heavy current that swept me off my feet.
The rest of the crew from Redemption Hills came up to wish me happy birthday.
Jud and his wife Salem.
Logan and Aster.
Milo and Tessa.
“Glad you all made the trip out here to celebrate with me.”
“Wouldn’t miss it, brother,” Jud said. Dude was a giant, a mountain of strength. Cool as could be, too. All of them with sordid pasts but hearts of fuckin’ gold.