The boys ran off to watch TV in the rec room, and Cora recounted what she'd seen as she unpacked the groceries and got to work in the Ravens' big kitchen, styled in a mix of old mountain inn and new industrial touches. "I still can't believe I saw that," Cora said, washing her hands. "But I really hope something I witnessed might help. The shelter's director said the authorities have been looking into this for a while without much to show for it."
Bunny squeezed her shoulder. "You did good, hon. But please be sure to let the guys know what happened. I don't love the sound of all this."
"I will," Cora said, eager to see Slider later at the races. After spending all day yesterday repairing some equipment at the track, he was actually eager to attend a race for the first time in a long time, so they were meeting after his daytime shift at the shop.
"You sound like you're really enjoying working at the shelter," Haven said, a big smile on her face as she scooped warm cookies off a tray.
"Well, I've only worked two days so far." Cora grinned, pitching in with the cookies. "But it is a lot of fun. I get to walk the dogs and feed them and play with them, and I think Maria is going to let me assist in the clinic, too."
"Wow, I don't think I've ever seen you this excited about something, Cora." Her friend's expression went soft. "And I'm really happy for you. We deserve this."
And that wasn't even all Cora had to be happy for. Her thoughts drifted back to the previous night with Slider. Sharing her secret. Receiving his support. The incredible sex that had felt as emotional as it was really freaking hot. The only problem was that, having told Slider, she really felt like she owed it to Haven to tell her, too.
To tell her all of it.
"We do deserve it," Cora said, dropping balls of raw batter on a cool cookie sheet. The Ravens might be big, scary-looking, tough bikers, but each and every one of them seemed to have a sweet tooth thanks to Haven's recipes. On race nights, they often went through fifteen dozen or more. "And if we can find some time soon, there are a couple other things I want to tell you about, too."
Haven arched a brow and gave her an appraising look, one filled with questions about why Cora couldn't just tell her now. "Okay, of course. You know I'm always here for you."
But they didn't find the time while they were putting the finishing touches on the party food, and then it was time to take the boys down to the track to meet Slider. Ever since the attack on the clubhouse during the summer, Bunny didn't like to stay there on race nights, and so they said their good-byes to the older lady before piling into Cora's car and driving the short distance down the mountain to the track.
The parking lot was a big field that extended out from two sides of the oval track, and it was already hopping. They found a spot at the end of a line and then threaded their way toward the venue, which had a huge mural filling one whole exterior wall. It read, Green Valley Racing, the words painted in green over a waving black-and-white checkered flag.
Seeing a few of the Ravens directing traffic, the boys ran ahead.
"Watch the cars!" Cora called as Sam gave a wave of acknowledgment.
"You're such a freaking natural with them, Cora," Haven said. "It's really cute."
Warm affection had her watching them as they did funny handshakes with Phoenix. "I think it's because I'm still a kid myself."
Haven shook her head. "Nope. You may be funny and sarcastic and playful, but you're not a kid anymore. Neither of us are. All kinds of crap forced us to grow up way before we wanted to." She shrugged, the slanted evening sun bringing out the blond highlights in Haven's hair. "But we made it out the other side, and that's what matters."
Cora held up her hand for a high-five. "Amen to that, sister."
Haven returned the high-five with a laugh. Then, maybe a dozen feet away from the boys, she grasped Cora's arm. "Can you tell me whatever it is now?"
"Yo, alligators!"
Coming from one of the side aisles of the lot, Slider's voice caught Cora's attention, and she grinned as she watched the kids barrel right for their dad. Ben nearly tackled him with a hug, hard cast and all, while Sam hung back. What was it between them that kept Sam from showing his dad the same excited affection when he was clearly happy to see him? Or, at least, as happy as he was willing to put on.
"Another time, I guess," Haven said with a wink.
"For sure," Cora said, trying not to give anything away by ogling the way those jeans hung on Slider's lean hips, or the way his Ravens cut emphasized the size of his shoulders. "And it's nothing to worry about, I promise."
It was true. For once, all the problems and all the danger in her life were in the past. Her present and maybe even her future, for once and finally, were looking up.
Chapter 17
"Dad! Dad! Cora saw men arguing about a hurt dog and they left it!" Ben exclaimed.
"Yeah, and it was so cool, Dad. She got pictures and everything and then the animal control officers took her statement," Sam said, both of them almost dancing around Slider as they competed to recount the details.
Frowning, Slider's gaze lifted to where Cora stood talking to Haven. And, damnit, there was some magnetic force between him and Cora-had been for weeks, even though he'd been fighting like hell to resist it-that made him want to go to her and hold her and make sure she was okay.
Because if she saw something related to the dogfighting ring that Caine suspected the 301 Crew ran, she had no idea how close she'd come to being in real danger.
Haven headed to the track, in search of Dare no doubt, and Cora turned his way. Jesus, she was pretty. Wavy blond hair framing an angel's face, green eyes happy and mischievous, her curves as enticing as always in a form-fitting navy V-neck sweater, and the jeans and boots she loved to wear together.
"Sounds like you had an adventure," he said, not wanting to come at her with both barrels blazing with his concern.
"Boys told you, huh?" she asked.
Slider nodded, even as Ben tugged at the edge of his cut. "Dad, can we go in?"
"Go ahead, buddy. We'll be right behind you," he said, and then they were alone in the parking lot. Which was to say, they weren't really alone-not with a few of his brothers standing twenty feet away and race-goers making their way inside. Music and announcements blared through the concourse, the atmosphere festive and frenetic. Slider wanted to pretend none of it existed and pull Cora to him for a kiss.
Or something more.
"Hi," he said, staring at her mouth.
She grinned, her cheeks turning a pretty pink. "Hi."
He licked his lips. "I want to kiss you right now."
Her gaze flickered around them, a sure sign of uncertainty even though her expression read as all kinds of interested. Thank fuck they were in this madness together. And how crazy was it that he was in a position to have a thought like that? "Aren't we on a PDA moratorium until you let the boys in on what's happening?"
He chuckled. "Yeah. Remind me what asshole came up with that idea again?"
Her smile lit him up inside. "Well, you know," she said, her taunting tone going right to his cock. "PDA is only a problem if you get caught . . ."
He stepped closer. "Is that right?"
Nodding, she gave him a brazen, challenging look that made him want to bend her over the hood of the nearest car.
"Best be careful what you wish for, Cora Campbell. Because I just might give it to you."
She hugged herself and chuckled. "Now you're just being cruel, Slider. Because that's the most enticing thing I've heard all day."
Grinning, they walked in side by side when what he really wanted was to take her hand. He wanted everyone to know that she was with him now. And he sure as shit wanted to dissuade the motherfuckers whose gazes lingered too long on her body from holding out the slightest hope that they had a chance.
Because they didn't. Not if he had something to say about it.
For fuck's sake.
It was on the tip of Slider's tongue to pull Cora aside and interrogate her for all the details of what she'd seen earlier. To ask to see the pictures the boys said she took. Or maybe even to find Caine and pester him to see if he'd had a chance to dig into this dogfighting bullshit yet. But Slider didn't want to ruin her fun over something that shouldn't pose them any problem tonight, at least. Especially if he stayed by her side.
Which he intended to do.
It ended up being the best night out Slider had had in a long damn time. A woman he cared for-and who cared for him-at his side. His boys having fun. His brothers all around and the roar of the race in his ears. He ate bad food and survived the torture of Cora licking her way through a strawberry ice cream cone-barely-and laughed more times than he could count. Cora seemed curious about the rules of racing, racing strategies, and the cars themselves, and Slider was only too happy to tell her everything she wanted to know because cars had been his passion even before he'd fallen in love with his first Harley and learned about this club that was . . . Jesus . . . that was more of a family than anything he'd ever had . . .