Page 19 of The Devil's Scars

She blushed. “Shut up! Was not!”

“Nah, you weren’t. Actually, you were pretty fucking adorable.”

Her blush deepened. “Shutuuuuup.”

Kansas laughed, the sound booming out of that broad chest. “Yeah, Wolf’s bratty kid sister for damn sure.”

“Bah. Like Wolf can talk about being a brat.”

Kansas’ eyes twinkled. “I get the feeling that you’re just about the only person on the planet who can sass the man and live.”

“Yeah. So far.”

He laughed again, liking her plenty. “So if you want to duck out, we got your six. Don’t worry about anything.”

“Well…” Zoe hesitated. The temptation to veg out on this amazingly-comfy sofa, eat potato chips, and watch some bad reality show on TV beckoned. When was the last time she’d just sat on her butt for a whole evening? “Well, I’ll see. Play it by ear.”

“Sure thing.” Kansas opened the door, and she moved to stand next to him on the tiny front porch. “See you around, Zee.”

“Bye, Kansas.” She gave Jinx and Ice a wave, they waved back from the truck. “Thank the guys for me, OK?”

“You know it.”

“Oh, wait up,” she said, suddenly remembering. “What do I owe you for everything?”

“Nothing.”

“But –”

“Nothing,” he repeated firmly. “This is from us.”

She paused. “You mean the club? Wolf will pay you back?”

“Nope. I mean, this is from us. From me, Jinx and Ice.”

“You – what?” She gazed up at him, blinking like a moron. “But why?”

“We want to help you, any way we can, and if you’ll let us. It’s tough being a single Mom. I was raised by one, so I know.”

“You’re sure?” she said. “Totally sure?”

“Totally.”

“Thank you.” Her eyes were prickling with tears, and she looked down. “I really – thank you.”

“Our pleasure, doll.” He winked. “If you come to Satan’s tonight, you’ll let me buy you a drink, right?”

“No way,” she said. “I buy a drink for you three guys to say thank you. Silver, too.”

“Deal.” He stepped off the porch now. “Take it easy.”

“You too.”

Zoe locked the door behind him, set the alarm, then went into Keira’s bedroom to see how it looked now. What she saw both amazed and humbled her, made her feel sorry for her suspicious and superior attitude towards Wolf’s guys.

Kansas, Jinx, and Ice hadn’t just assembled the furniture. They’d also made up the crib with a gorgeous mattress cover and sheets, and they’d even tied the bumpers around the bars. They’d put the diapers, baby powder, and cream on the built-in shelves above the changing table. They’d folded the extra sets of sheets, and put them in the closet. The assembled high chair was next to the bedroom door. Everything was calm and orderly and neat.

But the biggest surprise was hanging over the crib, attached to the raised side-bars: the guys had bought Keira a present. Zoe’s fingers trailed over the mobile, and she smiled at the brightly-colored flowers and rabbits on it. She wound it up, watched the sunflowers and bunnies spin around, listened to the calming music. Keira was going to love it, and Zoe was deeply touched that these three rough, hard men had bought such a sweet gift for her baby girl.

She stood and stared at the beautiful bedroom. An ache was starting up in her chest now, but it wasn’t a bad feeling, and it took her a minute to figure out what it was.

It was an ache to belong somewhere, a deep longing to have a place to call home. And what was a home without people around you, caring for you? These men – these huge, terrifying men with very questionable pasts – had done nothingbut care for her all day, and both Wolf and Silver had done the same thing the day before.

They’d all taken care of her, and Keira too, and Zoe decided that she liked it. She liked it a lot. She looked at the mobile again, made up her mind.

So, yeah, OK. An hour at the bar and some chatting with the guys was no big deal. Not a big deal at all.

What the hell. She’d even put on a skirt.

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