Page 30 of Kade

Also I enjoyed feeling her in my arms so I pulled her back.

She struggled until I slid a hand into her pants pocket, finding a hole and moving my finger over her panties. She melted back into me. “Oh,” she breathed.

Heather was trying to make sense of her phone. “Wait. What happened? Natessia and Crew are here?”

I nodded. “I checked on them, both are sleeping. Max wanted to go to your place. Things were tense when we found them. There was an altercation.”

“An altercation?” She straightened. All the laughter melted away.

“Everyone’s fine. Max is fine. I think…” I didn’t want to throw Maddy under the bus.

“He and Mads had a little disagreement,” Logan explained. “You know how they are. They’ll be fine tomorrow, but he needed a breather for the night. Probably just wanted to clear his head. Sleep in his own bed. That sort of thing.”

She nodded, but still seemed worried. “I should…” She looked up the stairs, toward where her kids were resting.

“I can give you a ride home,” Logan told her. “Nat and Crew will be fine. We’ll bring them to the church tomorrow. Feed ’em even.” He winked, standing and reaching for his keys.

“No.” I shook my head at Heather and Logan. “I’ll drive her.”

“Are you sure?” Logan’s gaze went to Samantha.

Quincey was bringing that damn turtle past us, and I knew my wife was going to forget what was happening and would want to join the fun. Wanting to avoid all of that, I hoisted Sam up and over my shoulder.

She gasped. “Mason!”

I spoke over her to Logan. “Yes, I’m sure.” I smacked her on the ass. “I’m bringing this one with me.”

“Ah—Mason!”

I ignored her, turning to Heather. “You ready to roll out? Need the bathroom or anything?”

Heather looked a little dazed. “No. I’m good.”

Logan trailed after us. “What do you want me to do with this one?” He indicated Quincey over his shoulder with his thumb. She and Harold were moving past the entryway.

I shook my head. “Not my wife. Not my problem.”

12

MASON

Heather asked a few questions on the car ride to her place, but we didn’t really get into it. When I pulled up to their house, their front door opened. Channing came out, shirtless and wearing sweatpants. He ran a hand through his hair before scratching down his chest, yawning.

“Oh God.” Heather reached for the door handle. She swallowed. “He waited up for me. That’s not good.”

She opened the door, but I called out, “Jax.”

She looked back.

“Your kid’s fine. He’s a good kid. A good head on his shoulders. It’s not something to lose sleep over.”

Seemed those were the right words to say. Some of her panic faded, and she let out a deep breath. “Right. Thanks. That—yeah. Thanks, Mason.”

She slipped out, shutting the door.

I waited until she went up to their patio.

Channing reached for her, pulling her in for a hug. He nodded to me, then pulled his wife inside their house.

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