Page 11 of Viper

We walked inside, and I also wasn’t surprised to find several women inside after what he’d said about how his married club brothers were with their wives. But I was a little startled to see that one of the women was very pregnant.

Dean must have sensed my curiosity about her because he led me straight over to where she was seated. The man with hiship leaned against the couch arm next to her jerked his chin up in greeting.

“Hey, Ice.” Dean’s attention shifted to the pregnant woman. “Hey, Marnie. I wanted to introduce Rhiannon to you. She’s mine.”

Marnie didn’t outwardly react to him claiming me like that, but she giggled at the shocked look I shot his way. Rubbing her rounded belly, the diamond on her ring finger sparkling, she smiled up at me. “Let me guess, you met Viper this morning?”

“Yesterday,” I corrected with a laugh.

“I’m not even a little bit surprised.” She leaned against Ice’s thigh. “Hayes and I only met less than six months ago and look at me now.”

I let out a low whistle. “Dang, your man moves fast.”

“Damn straight,” Ice growled, dropping a kiss on the top of his wife’s head.

“They all do,” Marnie warned, pointing at Dean. “Even yours.”

My cheeks filled with heat, and I shook my head. “Um…not that fast. This is only our second date.”

“Better get a move on that, tail gunner. Or else you might get stuck at the back of the pack, like you do when we’re on the road.”

I didn’t understand Ice’s joke, so I tilted my head to look up at Dean, my brows drawn together. “Tail gunner?”

“It’s my position with the club.” He tapped one of the patches on the front of his leather vest. “I stick to the back of the formation when the club is riding so I can keep an eye on everyone for our road captain. And I take over for him when needed…which means I’m taking the lead for a while since Storm’s woman just had their baby girl a month ago.” His gaze shifted to Ice, and he added, “But even if I was still stuck atthe back of the pack, that’d be fine because I understand the importance of taking things slow when needed.”

“Aw, at least one of you guys does.” A redhead poked Dean in the side and rolled her eyes. “You definitely didn’t learn it from your VP, that’s for sure.”

“Hey, Molly,” Dean greeted her, wrapping his arm around my back. “This is Rhiannon.”

Molly flashed a smile at me. “Nice to meet you.”

“She’s his,” Marnie chirped with a grin.

Molly laughed. “Yeah, I kinda got that from how he’s hovering over her.”

“Damn straight,” Dean growled. “I got too many single brothers that could wander in here any minute.”

“Well, you’re gonna have to trust that she’ll be safe without you, at least for a little bit.” Molly jerked her thumb over her shoulder. “Your prez and VP need to chat with you for a minute.”

“Damn,” he groaned, raking his fingers through his hair.

“Sorry to be the bearer of bad news,” Molly apologized.

“Wear this until I get back.” He shrugged off his leather vest and slid my arms into the holes, then looked at Molly. “Watch over her for me?”

Molly nodded. “You got it.”

As Dean strode away, Marnie patted the cushion beside her and suggested, “You guys can take a load off with me while your men are busy. I’m sure Hayes isn’t going anywhere with me sitting here since he barely lets me out of his sight lately. Unless Fox or Maverick need him too?”

“Try not to sound so hopeful,” Ice drawled, shaking his head.

Marnie sighed, shaking her head. “You know I love you, but your protectiveness ratchets up another degree every day I’m pregnant. I cannot even begin to imagine how bad you’re going to be by the time I give birth. Or if we have a daughter.”

Ice splayed his palm over her rounded stomach. “If you’re carrying a girl, I’m laying down the law right now…she’s not gonna date until she’s at least thirty….if ever.”

Marnie snorted. “That seems a little hypocritical when you married me and knocked me up, but I’m only twenty-one.”

Ice shrugged. “That only reinforces the rules I’m gonna have to lay down for any daughters we have.”

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