true, so my eyes don't do their freaky blinking thing.
Dane laughs as though I've said something funny while he steers me toward Dale and Maverick. I didn't even know they were here yet.
"Don't worry about Raya and Kade. That boy has it bad."
If he had just witnessed what I did, he'd think differently.
Maverick grins like the Cheshire cat when we get closer. Dale turns to offer the same taunting expression, and Corbin walks up from the side, baring teeth because his smile is too frigging big for his face.
"Well, I'll be damned," Corbin says with his shit-eating grin only growing.
"We'd have gotten you two together sooner if all it took was a few days to make amends," Dale says while sipping his glass of wine before tilting his head in amusement.
Maverick comes to press a quick kiss to my lips, and he ducks just in time to miss Dane's hand. Maverick backs away, and we all laugh.
"Just like old times," Maverick chuckles.
But that steals the lightness of the moment. One piece of my life has been restored, but another piece is now missing. Kode.
Maverick and Corbin study me, more than likely seeing the frown I can't hide. Dale's smile falls at last, and he breathes out heavily.
"Thanks, by the way. With you just having surgery, I haven't had the chance to really talk to you about beating the hell out of my cheating fiancée."
That brings my smile back as the fond memory resurfaces. Dane chuckles lightly while pulling me closer and pressing a kiss to the top of my head. I don't know if he meant to do it or if it was just some old reaction, but everything on me experiences those tormenting chills.
Maverick's brow arches, and he hides his smile behind his wine glass.
"Fiona had that ass whooping coming for a while," Corbin says, his eyes on a blonde walking by us. He looks back to me as she finishes passing. "Even though Fiona wasn't the only one to suffer Rain's wrath that day. My balls are still aching."
Everyone bursts out laughing, but I'm forced to clutch my stomach when the pain sears through me. Damn, that still hurts.
"Sorry," Corbin says through a grimace, looking truly regretful.
I force a smile while shaking my head.
"I'm fine."
"Dane hasn't been letting us come over," Maverick pouts, and I have to work really hard not to laugh again.
Over the past three days, I've heard Dane arguing with all of them over the phone. A few times he's argued with them at my front door. Only Dale has been allowed to come over, but I was asleep while he was there. Pain meds knock me on my ass, which is why I haven't taken any today.
"Yeah, Dane, what the hell? You haven't seen or spoken to her in six years. Why do you get to stay?" Corbin whines. "We should be taking care of her."
I love my boys.
"Because I'm making up for lost time. Seriously though, you roughnecks wouldn't ever let her heal."
Maverick shrugs in agreement, while Corbin tilts his head from side to side, weighing that answer for merit. Dale just smiles, not looking at either of us as he pretends to study his wine.
"Is Kode coming?" I ask, killing the lightness with that question.
Dane gets stiff beside me, and his arm slides off my shoulders. The others just look away.
"Haven't really been able to get him to talk in a few days. He's been in New York for a while," Corbin says at last.
I frown as I glance toward the oversized cabin-like vineyard office. Raya is standing outside with her arms crossed over her chest as Kade instructs several waiters. He walks off after giving her a stilted smile, and heads away like he can't move fast enough.
"I really need to go speak to Raya," I murmur as I walk away, ignoring the weird veil of uncomfortable silence.
I have to talk to Kode. I just wish he'd answer my calls.
"I'm fine, Rain. Really," Raya lies.
Of course I only know she's lying because I saw her when no one was looking. To your face, Raya has the masterful ability to disguise her every emotion.
"Kade may be under a lot of stress or
Dane laughs as though I've said something funny while he steers me toward Dale and Maverick. I didn't even know they were here yet.
"Don't worry about Raya and Kade. That boy has it bad."
If he had just witnessed what I did, he'd think differently.
Maverick grins like the Cheshire cat when we get closer. Dale turns to offer the same taunting expression, and Corbin walks up from the side, baring teeth because his smile is too frigging big for his face.
"Well, I'll be damned," Corbin says with his shit-eating grin only growing.
"We'd have gotten you two together sooner if all it took was a few days to make amends," Dale says while sipping his glass of wine before tilting his head in amusement.
Maverick comes to press a quick kiss to my lips, and he ducks just in time to miss Dane's hand. Maverick backs away, and we all laugh.
"Just like old times," Maverick chuckles.
But that steals the lightness of the moment. One piece of my life has been restored, but another piece is now missing. Kode.
Maverick and Corbin study me, more than likely seeing the frown I can't hide. Dale's smile falls at last, and he breathes out heavily.
"Thanks, by the way. With you just having surgery, I haven't had the chance to really talk to you about beating the hell out of my cheating fiancée."
That brings my smile back as the fond memory resurfaces. Dane chuckles lightly while pulling me closer and pressing a kiss to the top of my head. I don't know if he meant to do it or if it was just some old reaction, but everything on me experiences those tormenting chills.
Maverick's brow arches, and he hides his smile behind his wine glass.
"Fiona had that ass whooping coming for a while," Corbin says, his eyes on a blonde walking by us. He looks back to me as she finishes passing. "Even though Fiona wasn't the only one to suffer Rain's wrath that day. My balls are still aching."
Everyone bursts out laughing, but I'm forced to clutch my stomach when the pain sears through me. Damn, that still hurts.
"Sorry," Corbin says through a grimace, looking truly regretful.
I force a smile while shaking my head.
"I'm fine."
"Dane hasn't been letting us come over," Maverick pouts, and I have to work really hard not to laugh again.
Over the past three days, I've heard Dane arguing with all of them over the phone. A few times he's argued with them at my front door. Only Dale has been allowed to come over, but I was asleep while he was there. Pain meds knock me on my ass, which is why I haven't taken any today.
"Yeah, Dane, what the hell? You haven't seen or spoken to her in six years. Why do you get to stay?" Corbin whines. "We should be taking care of her."
I love my boys.
"Because I'm making up for lost time. Seriously though, you roughnecks wouldn't ever let her heal."
Maverick shrugs in agreement, while Corbin tilts his head from side to side, weighing that answer for merit. Dale just smiles, not looking at either of us as he pretends to study his wine.
"Is Kode coming?" I ask, killing the lightness with that question.
Dane gets stiff beside me, and his arm slides off my shoulders. The others just look away.
"Haven't really been able to get him to talk in a few days. He's been in New York for a while," Corbin says at last.
I frown as I glance toward the oversized cabin-like vineyard office. Raya is standing outside with her arms crossed over her chest as Kade instructs several waiters. He walks off after giving her a stilted smile, and heads away like he can't move fast enough.
"I really need to go speak to Raya," I murmur as I walk away, ignoring the weird veil of uncomfortable silence.
I have to talk to Kode. I just wish he'd answer my calls.
"I'm fine, Rain. Really," Raya lies.
Of course I only know she's lying because I saw her when no one was looking. To your face, Raya has the masterful ability to disguise her every emotion.
"Kade may be under a lot of stress or
Similar Books
![Hard and Easy [High-Country Shifters 5] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)](https://fs.ageofbook.com/601893/thumbs/152x264/hard-and-easy-high-country-shifters-5-siren-publishing-menage-everlasting.png)
