Page 144 of Duty and Desire

---

Eddie sighed, and I looked back at the Hot Bunch.

Lee was grinning.

Hank was looking at his feet…and smiling.

Vance and Hector were looking at each other, still not happy.

Luke was watching Mo.

Ren smiled at me.

I turned to Tex.

“Well?”

Tex stared at me.

Then he came at me.

First, his hand went to the top of my head.

Once there, he used it to shove my face in his chest.

That was when his arms went around me.

I closed my eyes and put my arms around him.

Yeah, I didn’t need to be my dad’s best girl.

I just needed Tex around.

“It’d be my honor, Lottie,” he low-boomed into the top of my hair.

Yeah.

All I needed was Tex.

And Mo.

And the Hot Bunch.

Life taketh away.

But if you’re open to it, it also giveth.

And I had a lot.

“Now put some clothes on, girl,” Tex ordered, let me go, spun me around, and gave me a gentle push toward Mo.

A knock came at the door.

“Christ,” Mo muttered, the soft look he was giving me after watching the Tex hug turning to an impatient one. “I’ll get that. You get dressed,” he said to me.

“All right. I’m going,” I replied.

He went to the door.

I went to the stairs.

---