“It figures. Naturally, they get here when all the damn work is done,” Zoe muttered under her breath. Still, she couldn’t help but eye the men with appreciation.
“They do like to make an entrance,” Evie said with a chuckle.
Kalista’s eyes widened as a dozen men rode up to the rescue center on their motorcycles, the loud sounds temporarily drowning out the sound of the dogs barking and people talking.
Madeline laughed. “Ah, trouble just rolled in. Now the party can really begin.”
Chapter Twelve
The men turned off their bikes in unison and dismounted.
Even without their grand entrance the group would have been the center of attention. Out of the corner of her eye Kalista could see more than a few women had stopped in their tracks to admire the group of bikers. Among the riders she could see Jared, Dante and Sheriff Storm Wyatt, but there were several other good looking men that were sure to set a few hearts aflutter. Individually, each man was eye candy to look at, but together as one big group, they were absolutely devastating.
As if he could feel her looking, Jared’s head turned, and Kalista was sure his eyes locked with hers even though she couldn’t see beneath his sunglasses.
“Well, well. My son certainly looks at you as if he wants to gobble you up,” Madeline said cheerfully, trying to hold back the dance of glee she wanted to do.
“Hell, I’m out of here,” Nikita said before she disappeared into the crowd.
Jared, Dante and Storm walked over to join them at the edge of the food tent. Jared leaned down to kiss his mother on the cheek before pulling Kalista into his arms. “Mmm, you smell like sugar.”
Dante frowned at Zoe. “I told you I’d pick you up,” he snapped as soon as he got within hearing distance.
Zoe crossed her arms over her chest, irritated by his tone. “And I told you that I’d drive myself. Niki and I came early to help set up, unlike some people.”
“You and Nikita rode those crotch rockets over here, didn’t you?”
She rolled her eyes and looked over at Kalista, Evie and Madeline to explain. “He just says that because I won’t let him ride my BMW bike. And if anyone touched Niki’s Ducati, she’d kill them.”
“That woman is scary,” Storm muttered.
“Leave the girls alone,” Madeline ordered. “You’d think the lot of you were in kindergarten the way you poke at each other.”
“Yes, ma’am. We’re reporting for duty,” Storm said, changing the subject. “I’m on call, but I’m here to help out however I can.”
Evie smiled. “And we can certainly use you.”
“Come with me, you handsome young devil,” Maddy said linking her arm through his.
“Maddy, my love. When are you going to leave Tony and run away with me?”
“Dude, that’s my mom,” Jared grumbled, making them all laugh.
Maddy, Storm and Evie walked away with Zoe and Dante a few steps behind as they continued to bicker. Jared wrapped his arms around Kalista, pulling her out of the way as people started heading over to the table of sweets.
“I thought you were going to help me set up this morning,” Kalista said as she stared at his chest. He lifted her chin using a finger so she was looking at him. Her heart wrenched when she saw the love shining in his dark eyes, and her nerves settled a little.
“I’m sorry, baby. I had some stuff to do early this morning that took longer than I thought it would. I hated leaving you in bed. Trust me when I say I’d rather have woken up with you and driven you over myself. I know this wasn’t the best way to start off Valentine’s Day, but I promise that I will make it up to you later.”
“I’ll look forward to that.” He brushed his lips against hers and she blushed as she noticed all the people watching them. “We have an audience.”
“We do. Looks like half the town is here already,” he agreed after he looked around. He winked at her. “They’re just trying to figure out how I got so lucky.”
“Yeah, right.”
“It’s true.” He kissed her again, hard and fast. “Now, put me to work, woman.”
She was smiling as she led him over to the tables of sweets where there was already a line of people. Kalista laughed when Jared grinned at her as he put on one of the pink Sinfully Sweet aprons over his clothing, completely at ease wearing the girlie color. She answered questions people had about what they were offering, and she had to admire the easy way Jared talked with the guests. There was a moment or two that had her stiffening up when a group of pretty young women stopped by the table to flirt with Jared, but he easily brushed aside their efforts.