Crave (Talon Security #1)(53)

He shrugged. “Of course, babe. You love her, so I love her.”

I sighed. “Well, we’ll see. He didn’t sound sure,” I fretted.

He reached over and squeezed my hand. “I bet he’ll come around. In the meantime, let’s focus on having some time to just enjoy ourselves over the next few days.”

I nodded. I could do that, definitely.





CHAPTER 20

“Hey!” I exclaimed exuberantly after we’d pulled up to the curb of Piper and Ryker’s house and she’d come out to greet us. Her two dogs, Roxie and Tank, leapt about our feet as I held a quivering Trixie in my arms.

Piper wrapped me in a hug, laughing. “What happened to your standard greeting? I kind of miss the ‘what’s up, bitch.’” She quoted my frequent greeting to her in years past.

I laughed. “What can I say? I’ve matured.”

“Right.” She laughed as she turned to give Sid and Caden hugs.

“This is my girl, Danika,” Cade introduced Danika as she reached out to take Piper’s hand.

“And this is Declan,” Sid chimed in, cocking his head toward Declan, whose eyes were shifting up and down the street, constantly ready for an unknown threat.

“Glad to have you guys.” Piper grinned as she shook Declan’s hand. “Ryker had to run out for a bit, but he should be home soon.”

We followed her into their two-story house that had been Piper’s childhood home. She’d struggled at first when her dad had moved away, leaving the house to her, with how to make the place feel like theirs, but Ryker had helped her through.

“Wow, it looks so different,” I marveled, looking around the entryway and living room. They’d painted and brought in new furniture. They’d knocked down walls as well, making the space feel much more open. I smiled, looking at the framed pictures on the walls, the original photos from her childhood now mixed in with new ones of her and Ry and his club, who had become like family to Pipe.

“It feels like you.” I smiled at her.

“Yeah,” she agreed blissfully. “Okay, so you four are upstairs,” she continued, looking at Sid, Cade, Danny, and me. “Declan, I hope you don’t mind, we made some room in the office down here.”

“Sounds good,” his deep voice rumbled. “I don’t really need to be up in the honeymoon quarters with these two.” He rolled his eyes, jerking his chin at me and Sid. “I get enough of it at headquarters.”

“Thanks for putting us up.” Sid smiled, elbowing Dec in the side. He grunted and we all laughed at their antics.

“Are you kidding? This is so awesome!” She beamed. “I’m so excited to have everyone together. A bunch of the club is coming by in a bit for a BBQ to welcome you guys—we’ll have a packed house.”

“Awesome,” Sid replied. He looked to Cade and Declan. “Let’s bring in the gear, yeah?”

They both nodded and the three of them headed out to begin unloading the completely packed Suburban. Between the weapons, instruments, and the fact that Danny and I were girly girls at heart and had packed at least two outfit changes for every day, there was a shit ton of stuff to unload.

“You guys want a beer? Cocktail?” Piper asked as Danny and I followed her into the kitchen.

“Beer sounds great,” I replied.

“For me too,” Danny agreed. “Great house,” she commented.

“Thanks.” Piper smiled, handing us each a beer. “It’s been a process. How was the drive?”

“Eventful.” I laughed. “Between Caden’s stomach forcing us to stop more than once, hearing my song on the radio, and potentially being able to keep this little girl here, it was definitely full of surprises,” I shared, holding Trixie in my arms.

Piper’s eyes grew round with surprise. “Holy shit, your song was on the radio!”

I grinned. “Yeah. Shocked the hell out of me.”

“I’d think so. That’s amazing, Sam. I’m not surprised, but I’m thrilled for you.”

I clinked my beer bottle with her water glass. “Thanks.”

The sound of suitcases rolling and feet thumping up the stairs filled the room. I grimaced, looking at Piper apologetically. “We brought a lot of shit.”

She laughed. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

By the time the guys had unloaded the Suburban, Ryker had returned, rolling up on his Harley looking every bit the badass I knew him to be. With hair that always looked like he’d raked his fingers through it and startlingly bright green eyes, Ryker was a gorgeous man.

He wrapped me in a friendly hug and shook hands with everyone else before his warm gaze turned on his wife-to-be. “Hey, baby.”