Page 78 of Break Out

“Cool,” Rafferty said.

“By the way, Bobby will be in town for Spring Break – in case you feel like hanging with him tomorrow night,” I said.

Rafferty nodded. “I heard. Be safe, Simone.”

He left, Steel locked the door behind him, and turned to me. “Bobby’s your younger brother, I take it?”

I nodded. “Yep. I’m having dinner with him, Mom, and Dad on Thursday night. You’re welcome to come with me.”

“I doubt that,” Steel muttered.

“Nope. Mom said she’d welcome you with an open mind.”

“Is that so?”

I nodded. “Yes, though she did say to wear Kevlar since Dad might shoot you, but I think that would have been at her request, so it’s all cool.”

He laughed. “Not sure it’s all cool, seeing as yesterday she was worried I knew where she and Volt live, but I’ll keep the dinner in mind. What time on Thursday?”

“Six-thirty.”

His lips ticked to the side and his brow went up and down. “It’ll depend on how shit shakes out that day, that’s for damn sure. Might have to meet you there, which isn’t ideal.”

I shook my head. “Sure it is. If you’re spending time at the Devil Lancer compound, then meeting me there saves you two trips across the river.”

He lowered his chin. “But it doesn’t keep you safe.”

I tossed my hands out. “I could always ride over there with Dad, he’s usually on this side of town during the day and you can bring me back.”

He gave me a chin lift. “We’ll play it by ear, Jade. Are you packed?”

I scoffed. “No. I have another hour of reviewing code, then I can call it a day and focus on packing.”

“It’s just a weekend.”

I smiled. “And I’m rapidly approaching the halfway point of this pregnancy. Most of my clothes aren’t fitting half as well as I’d like.”

“You’re hardly showing.”

I chuckled. “I am a little if you know where to look, but that doesn’t change the fact that my pants are tighter, and I probably ought to buy a couple new bras.”

His eyes heated, he stepped into my space, and wrapped his arms around me. “Get another one with the cherries on it.”

I grinned. “I’ll see what I can do, baby.”

He gave me a long, gentle kiss. His dark eyes held warmth after he broke it and stared down at me. “Good. I gotta shower. The AC isn’t working at that clubhouse and I’ve been sweating all day. You get back to work.”

Chapter 15

Replace You

Steel

An hour outside of Jacksonville, Simone cracked open a diet soda. “Not to look a gift horse in the mouth, but did you rent a truck just so you didn’t have to follow me?”

I felt my lips quirk. “Sweetheart, I’m not sure I’d have been able to keep up with you, the way you drive. At least not without getting a ticket, and the way the last two days have gone, a speeding ticket would’ve been a sure thing.”

She made a tsk-ing sound, but smiled at me. “I don’t have that bad of a lead foot.”

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