by Laura Kaye
“I want to go to the clubhouse for dinner,” Ben said.
“Yeah!” Sam said. “Haven is such a good cook. Can we?”
“Maybe she’ll make her peanut butter cookies. Can we, Dad?” the little one asked with those pleading eyes.
And of course Cora was over there, which they damn well knew. But, honestly, how often did they ask anything of him anymore? And given all they didn’t have—a mother and a father who wasn’t a wreck at the top of that list—they were hard to resist on those rare occasions when they did. “You two are killing me, you know that?”
Sam smirked. “I’ll help you get your shoes on, Ben,” he said, pushing his brother out of the room.
“Damnit,” Slider bit out under his breath. Why did he feel like he’d just been played? And why did his gut tell him it wasn’t over yet?
Chapter 6
With over half of the Ravens’ almost forty active members present, dinner was a loud, raucous affair. Cora was positive she laughed at least as much as she managed to eat, and it was exactly what she needed to distract herself from the odd pit of sadness deep in her gut at the feeling that she was losing her best friend.
You’re being so ridiculous, she thought for the millionth time. And she was. She knew she was. But it wasn’t like she could talk herself out of how she felt.
And so, instead, she laughed. And joked. And teased Phoenix relentlessly. And got up half a dozen times to refill the platters of burgers, dogs, and corn on the cob.
It was on one of the trips from the kitchen that she returned to the most unexpected sight—Slider, in the big mess hall of what had once been an old mountain inn, standing in the doorway with the boys. From what Cora could tell, many of the Ravens were single guys without much in the way of family. A lot of them found their way here for meals throughout the week, particularly on weekend nights and mornings. That was when the two long rows of tables tended to be fullest. But never once in all her time around the clubhouse had Cora seen Slider Evans come to eat. His boys, sure. Early on, she’d watched them here on many occasions until Slider got off work and could pick them up.
But never Slider.
And Cora wasn’t the only one who was surprised.
Because the room noticed him in a wave of sudden, surprised hush that was quickly followed by a chorus of welcome. Chairs moved to make space. The boys’ hair got ruffled a million times. And Ben was grinning ear to ear from all the attention his cast was getting.
She came up behind where Sam and Ben had settled and placed a hand on each of their shoulders. Leaning in, she teased, “You two just can’t get enough of me. Admit it. I’m the coolest ever.”
“Hey, Cora,” Sam said, smiling up at her.
“I missed you,” Ben said, crawling onto his knees on his chair as he turned and wrapped his arms around her. It was awkward and clumsy with the cast, but it was so sweet that Cora’s insides temporarily turned to goo. Across the table, she met Haven’s gaze, and her friend’s expression made it clear that the kid was turning her gooey, too.
But it was someone else’s expression that most captured Cora’s attention. When Ben slid back into his seat, she turned to find Slider staring at her, his gaze so blatant, unabashed, and tortured that for a second she could only stare back.
He frowned and looked away as someone passed him a platter of food. What the heck had that look been about, anyway?
Ever since they’d shared that hot but confusing moment in the little hospital bed—that moment when Slider had touched her face, her hair, her lips—he’d gone distant on her again. Not rude or mean or grumpy, but for a moment that night, she could’ve sworn that some sort of wall had come down between them. And it was back now. Higher than ever.
Or maybe it’d never really been down at all.
She peeked his way, happy at least to see him interacting with someone. He was nodding and talking to Doc, Bear, and Bunny, who used to watch the boys for him sometimes and asked Cora how they were doing all the time.
On a sigh, Cora slipped back into her chair between Phoenix and Haven. What did it matter how Slider looked at her or whether they’d made some kind of connection? It wasn’t like they were friends. He was her boss. Her boss in a part-time babysitting job. Hardly the stuff of which forever was made.
Not that she thought forever was on the table here.
Dare was chuckling at something Haven was saying and double-fisting his own private, secret stash of her peanut butter cookies—with which her bestie might’ve paved her way to his heart. Well. Forever wasn’t on the table for both of them, anyway. For Haven? Definitely.
And it was really freaking refreshing for good things to happen to such a good person.
Be a good girl and stop fighting.
The memory of the words nearly had Cora flying out of her chair, the adrenaline kick of the fight-or-flight response was suddenly so strong in her blood. She gripped the edge of her seat, trying to steady herself, trying to ground herself in the here and now.
Blinking away the sudden wetness in her eyes, she peered left and right under the curtain of her hair to see if anyone noticed her, because she was shaky and clammy and so damn exposed it felt like the whole world would know.
But no one was paying her any attention, and all she saw was Dare and Haven shamelessly flirting with each other next to her. “Next Friday night, then,” Dare said, looking at Haven with so much affection and masculine satisfaction. “We’re moving your stuff over to the house as soon as I wrap up here. Got it?”
Haven grinned. “Yeah. I can’t wait.”
“Hold up,” Maverick said from across the table. “Haven’s moving into the cabin?” Dare gave a nod, an arched eyebrow challenging anybody to say one teasing word about it. He had a protective streak a mile wide—which explained, in part, why the Ravens had a protective mission in the first place—but it was a hundred times stronger when it came to Haven. “That’s fantastic news. Congrats.”
Word spread around the room, and in the excited mayhem that followed, Cora finally felt like she could breathe again. Why did this keep happening to her, these out-of-the-blue memories that threatened to suck her back into that terrible moment? It had happened five months ago, and her father was now moldering in a grave. She should just get over it already.
She glanced up to find Slider staring at her again with that strange troubled expression from before still on his face. Except, as he looked at her, that expression changed to one of concern that seemed to ask if she was okay. Thankfully, a big mountain of a guy named Meat hit Slider on the arm and said something that made them both chuckle, and Cora turned away. She wasn’t sure what was up with him tonight, but she couldn’t take his weirdness when she was feeling so raw.
Taking a deep breath, she pasted on a smile and shook all of her own weirdness away, at least for now. Leaning closer to Haven, Cora said, “I’m so happy for you. But why are you waiting till next weekend?”
“Because Dare’s heading up a relocation trip for the woman and her daughter who’ve been living out in one of the guest cabins the past two weeks. There’s no sense in me moving to his place when he’s going to be gone for at least three nights.”
Cora had been so busy at the Evanses lately that she hadn’t had a chance to do more than see the Ravens’ new protective client from a distance, but it wasn’t unusual for them to sometimes offer a woman or a family in trouble a temporary place to live in the cabins near the clubhouse if the real-world authorities couldn’t satisfactorily handle an abusive situation. The Ravens certainly had the room to do it, because their property had once been a mountain inn and resort based around the racetrack they now operated, all of which Doc had inherited decades ago. “I guess that’s true,” Cora said, “and a week will pass in no time at all.”
Haven clutched her hand. “Are you sure this is okay?”
“It’s so much more than okay. In fact, I think it’s time we break out the chocolate cake and ice cream to celebrate.”
; Haven bit her lip, but even that couldn’t hold back her smile. “I’ll help.”
“No way,” Cora said, rising and needing a breather from the craziness of the mess hall. “You did most of the cooking. Besides, you should sit right there and enjoy this moment with your man.”
“I like the sound of that,” Dare said, hauling Haven’s chair flush with his own, surprising a burst of laughter out of Haven. What would it be like to have that with a man? Confusingly, the question had Cora peering down the table, and it was as if her gaze drew Slider’s, because he chose that exact moment to look her way. A shiver raced down her spine. She’d worked for him for months, but somehow something had changed between them lately, and it was almost like she was noticing him for the first time.
“I’m finished, so I’ll help,” Alexa said, pulling Cora from her thoughts. Together, the two of them grabbed a couple of the guys’ dirty dishes on their way into the kitchen.
Long ago, apparently, Bunny had put her foot down and made sure the club didn’t treat her or any of the other women as servants, expecting them to do all the work. So Phoenix, Maverick, Meat, and even Caine—the Ravens’ quietly intimidating sergeant-at-arms—got up to clear the table, too. In the kitchen, the club’s two prospects, Blake and Mike, pitched in scraping dirty plates, loading the dishwasher, and bagging up the trash.
Everyone pitched in, just like family. And that’s really what the Raven Riders were all about.
Alexa gathered up dessert plates, and it was then that Cora noticed.
“Your ring!” Cora loudly whispered, gasping at how gorgeous the diamond was as she clutched gently at Alexa’s scarred hand.
“I know. Isn’t it amazing?” Alexa said, her hazel eyes sparkling with excitement. She peered furtively over at the guys working at the sink, making Cora wonder if the ring was a secret.
Which made Cora wonder . . . “Wait. Oh, my God. Does Haven know?” Grinning, Alexa shook her head. “Then hold that thought.” Cora raced to the kitchen door, poked her head out, and waved. “Haven, we need you in here after all.”
“What’s up?” Haven asked, joining them.
Cora pantomimed at their friend with both hands, and Haven’s blue eyes went wide when she finally saw it.
“You’re engaged?” she cried, peeking closer at the emerald-cut diamond.
“Ssh,” Alexa laugh-whispered.
“When? How?” Haven asked in a hushed voice.
“Yes, start from the beginning already,” Cora joined in. “We’re dying here.”
Laughing, Alexa pressed her hands to her cheeks, happier than Cora had seen her in weeks.
“Maverick actually proposed the night of the fire,” Alexa said, the three of them in a huddle, “in our hospital room, but we weren’t ready to share the news that night. He hadn’t planned to do it then, so he didn’t yet have a ring. And he’s been waiting ever since for the doc to give me the all-clear on wearing jewelry again anyway. Given all the recent craziness, we’re not in a rush to do the ceremony, but he wanted to make it official, so he popped the question again today and gave me this.”
“That’s so sweet, Al,” Haven said. “Maverick’s one of the good ones.”
“Yeah, he really is,” Alexa said, tucking a long strand of her brown hair behind her ear. “The best.”
So Haven was moving in with her boyfriend and Alexa was getting married. Cora was happy for her friends, she really was. But she couldn’t help but feel stuck in the face of all the ways that their lives were moving on. This wasn’t about her, though, was it? So she put on a smile and elbowed Alexa. “You’re going to be an Old Lady!” Cora said, finding all the biker slang she’d learned kinda hilarious.
“Oh, my God,” Al said, chuckling and pressing her hand to her forehead. “So crazy.”
“Dude, so no one knows?” Cora asked. “We were just out there toasting Dare and Haven. We should’ve been toasting you guys, too!”
Haven gasped. “Tell me Dare does not know or I’ll kick his ass for not telling me.”
Alexa made a hesitant face. “Um, I’d seriously hate to be responsible for Dare getting his ass kicked . . .” When Haven’s mouth dropped open, they all laughed. “Mav told him weeks ago, but asked him not to tell anyone else. So it’s not his fault. And of course Mav told his mom.” Bunny, she meant, which was how even Maverick referred to her.
“Well, you’re wearing the ring now, so is he letting this secret out of the bag tonight?” Cora asked.
“I think so?” Alexa said in a giddy, questioning tone.
“We’re making this happen now,” Haven said, all fired up.
A few minutes later, the three of them had set the tables with dessert plates and the five big cake stands with the triple-layer chocolate cakes that Cora and Haven had spent the afternoon making. But no one moved to cut a piece yet, because Alexa and Haven had pulled Maverick and Dare aside, and just then, Maverick stood at the head of one of the tables, Alexa’s hand in his.
“While so many of us are here together tonight, we wanted to share some news,” Maverick said, the room going quiet as he smiled down at Al like she was the air he breathed. What Cora wouldn’t give to have a man look at her that way. Just once. Mav’s gaze swung back to the assembled crowd again, his stunning blue eyes scanning the group. “I asked Alexa to marry me and she said yes.”
Everyone erupted in outright cheers that had Cora grinning and laughing and wanting to clap for her friend. For both of them, actually. And no way was she unraveling the thread that led to the tiny thought in the back of her head that she truly was the odd woman out in her little circle of friends—the only one without a man, and, more importantly, without a home and without even any obvious path for her future.
Nope. Not doing it. Not tonight, at least. Tonight was for reveling in the good. Cora hadn’t had nearly enough of that in her own life, so for now, she could be content with living vicariously through the girls she cared most about in the world.
Soon, the Ravens’ two newest couples stood together at the front of the room. “It’s about time we had some good news to celebrate around here,” Dare said. Nods and murmurs of agreement all around. “Maverick, for most of my life, you’ve been the closest thing to a brother that I have, and I couldn’t be happier for you. And, Al, welcome to the family. We’re not sure how Mav got so damn lucky to find someone like you, but we’re thrilled that he did, for both of you.”
Laughter and another toast went around the room.
“Now, we just gotta bring Jagger home, and all will be right in the Raven Riders’ world,” Maverick said.
“Damn straight,” Dare said, an edge to his voice that everyone understood—and shared.
But they didn’t linger on their problems. Instead, once dinner was over, the festivities moved into the big rec room, with its long, polished bar, pool tables, new air hockey table, and jukebox. It was the center of most of the Ravens’ parties, and tonight was no exception.
“Wanna play air hockey, Cora?” Sam asked, Ben in tow. Slider was nowhere to be seen, and Cora hoped he was mingling somewhere and not hiding out by himself. These parties weren’t his regular scene at all, but he had to miss hanging out with his brothers in the club. From the stories she’d heard of him, Slider had once been talkative and outgoing and fun to be around. It made her sad to think he’d changed so much.
“Only if you don’t mind getting beaten by a girl,” she said, eyebrow arched in challenge. Sam had a mile-wide competitive streak, and she kinda loved poking at it.
“You’re going down,” Sam said.
In the end, they tied, two matches each. The kid was ruthless.
“My turn!” Ben said, totally enjoying himself even though he had to play with his left hand.
In truth, Cora enjoyed herself, too. The whole time she’d played with the boys, she’d been in the moment, not once thinking about all the things she wanted but feared she’d never have.
Given Ben’s disadvantage, she let him get away with a
few cheap shots, and he threw up his hands with a wild little whoop when he won.
“Ready to go, alligators?” Slider asked, coming up to the table. “It’s getting late.” After a few grumbles, the boys agreed. “Thanks for hanging out with them,” Slider said. “You didn’t have to do that.”
She smiled. “What, are you kidding? These guys always show me a good time.”
For a moment, the boys and Slider waged some sort of weird, mostly silent little battle. Cora had no idea what was going on.
“Dad!” Ben whispered loudly as he not at all subtly moved his eyeballs toward her. She pretended not to notice even though curiosity was killing her. What the heck was going on?
Slider shook his head and made the universal parental expression for knock it off. The boys grumbled again, their hugs frustrated as they said good-bye to her. Then Slider was the one saying good-bye. Sorta. “Are you okay?” he asked.
Her? He was the one who’d looked at her again and again tonight like something was off. “Totally fine, why?”
“Forget it,” he said, those pale eyes not quite willing to meet hers. “See ya tomorrow night. Regular time?”
“Yep,” she said, bewildered. Apparently, all the Evans men were set to weird tonight.
After that, Cora hung out with Haven and Alexa as much as their guys could stand to be parted from them. The three of them chatted for hours and even enjoyed a round or two of Blow Jobs, much to the delight of the guys seated around them at the bar—and therefore to the chagrin of Dare and Maverick. When the two couples finally departed, Cora felt a bit at loose ends, but finally ended up shooting some pool with Phoenix.
What she really wanted to do was head to bed, but since her room was located over the bar, it wasn’t going to be particularly peaceful up there until the party wound down. Which had her thinking about the peace and quiet of Slider’s house . . . and wishing she had a home like that to go to . . .
