Page 55 of My Casanova

I chuckled and shook my head. “Yeah, the cameras are definitely going to be entertained tonight.”

If America was hoping to see a gritty and tough motorcycle club, they were in for a rude awakening. The Iron Fiends segments would be full of drunk Uno games, hasty weddings, pool matches, and endless garage renovations.

Yeah, there was no way the show was getting renewed for another season. We needed to get the garage up and running and The Cakery operating if we wanted to have any money coming in.

Poppy and Dove sauntered back to the card table, where the rest of the girls were gathered with Aero included. Yarder and Compass were at the pool table while everyone but Stretch lounged in the common area, watching TV. Stretch hadn’t been very social the past couple of days. It seemed the longer we went without any movement from Boone and Gibbs, the more on edge he got.

Sloane started dealing cards when a sharp knock echoed through the room and made everyone freeze.

Yarder slowly moved toward the door, and his expression hardened. He pulled his gun from his waistband with practiced ease.

“A knock on the door after six o’clock is never good,” Fade muttered, and his eyes narrowed as he instinctively reached for his own weapon.

One by one, the guys drew their guns and kept them low but ready. Tension coiled through the room like a live wire, and every gaze was locked on the door.

Yarder shot a glance over his shoulder and ensured we were all set before he reached for the lock. The metal clicked, and he hesitated for just a beat before pulling the door open.

“Fucking hell,” Yarder muttered under his breath and stepped aside.

There in the doorway was Dani. She held up her hands defensively. “Don’t shoot. I’m not here to blow you up.”

Yarder turned to Poppy. “Did you do this?” he asked.

Poppy shook her head, but she had a huge smile on her face. “I did nothing, but I am damn glad that someone did.”

Yarder motioned for Dani to come in. She hesitated for only a second before she stepped inside. The heavy door clicked shut behind her, and Yarder twisted the lock before moving back toward the pool table without another glance.

“Did you bring cheese?” Olive called.

“What about wine?” Adalee added with a hopeful tilt in her voice.

Dani nervously shook her head and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Uh, no. I didn’t think to bring anything. I just brought myself.”

I stood frozen.

Stunned.

I had told her not to come. I had made it clear. But there wasn’t one bit of me that was mad that she was here.

“I’ll make you a drink,” Poppy declared as she moved back around the bar. Her hands moved swiftly as she grabbed bottles. Ice clinked in the glass, amaretto in, a splash of orangejuice, and a dash of simple syrup. Even I could make the girls their drinks now.

My feet felt glued to the floor as I watched Dani. She looked nervous as she shifted from foot to foot.

“Are you going to move, Smoke, or just stare at her?” Poppy’s voice pulled me out of my daze from behind the bar.

I finally managed to move, and for each step I took, Dani took a step toward me. We met in the middle of the room, and she tipped her head back to look me in the eyes.

“Hi.”

“Hi,” I replied, my voice quieter than I intended.

“Uh, I probably should have called before I came over, but I probably would have chickened out,” she confessed as her fingers nervously played with the hem of her jacket.

“Is something wrong?” I asked.

She tucked her hair behind her ear again. “No, I mean, yes, but also no.”

I couldn’t help but smile at her fumbling. “Is it yes or no, angel?”

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