laughed—and who wouldn’t? Z’s half-pint submissive was rounder than hell with the unborn baby and had the glow and assurance of a well-loved woman.
It was odd Valerie didn’t have the same confidence. As a professor, she obviously knew her worth. She was an excellent lecturer, vibrant and interesting with a good understanding of her students.
Had the divorce sabotaged her self-assurance when it came to man-woman interactions?
As Sam sauntered through the gate, Ghost considered the growing crowd. “Am I having a party?”
They laughed.
“A housewarming one, yes, to celebrate your moving in so quickly.” Z pulled out a chair and seated Jessica. “You’re getting help with moving furniture, hanging paintings, and hauling boxes away. Also, Olivia needs to orient you to the security system here, since it’s different from the one in the club.”
Olivia gave him a cold nod.
“Good thing Wrecker didn’t have the codes to the security system on this side,” Nolan muttered.
After seeing the mess in the club’s private rooms, Ghost was grateful for that small favor.
“Start thinking of what you need done.” Cullen slapped his shoulder. “You got railroaded into being manager, and we appreciate you taking the job on. Don’t even try fighting us; you’re getting our help.”
Ghost noted the determined expressions. “Be like trying to fight a Bradley tank. While on foot. And armed with a .22.”
“Now you’re getting the idea.” Cullen’s laugh boomed out.
Ghost grinned. “In that case, thank you all.”
“Drinks are here!” Beth held open the gate as Nolan wheeled in a chest-sized cooler.
A second later, Linda and Natalia walked in.
Followed by Valerie.
The evening was looking up.
How did she affect him this way? She wore no makeup, made no effort to appear sexy, and yet she was. The way her streaky golden-brown hair gleamed in the sunlight brought back the memory of its silky weight. Her shorts hugged a soft ass designed for a man’s hands—his hands—and her sleeveless shirt showcased full breasts that were—
Mind out of the gutter, soldier.
“Let me help you there.” He took the paper sack from her and set it on a table.
“Happy Housewarming Day, Ghost.” Linda started pulling paper plates out of the sack. “When we closed down the store, we dragged Valerie here with us.”
A frown creased Valerie’s forehead. “Um, I hope it’s all right…”
He took her hand. “I’m very glad you came, Professor.”
Her eyes were as deep a blue as he remembered. Simply lovely. When her lips tilted up, he couldn’t help remembering how she’d responded to his hands, his mouth...
She flushed pink.
Although he released her, his smile and words might perhaps have been warmer than discretion called for, considering the speculative stares he was receiving.
Hell. He didn’t give a damn, but Valerie might.
At a pat on his thigh, he looked down.
Sophia held up her arms. “Gose, up.”
“My favorite bundle of trouble.” Bending, he picked up the cutest two-year-old who ever walked the earth. She had Jessica’s fluffy light hair, Z’s gray eyes, and her very own dimples.
When the mini-Domme patted his cheek approvingly with her tiny hand, he grinned at the two Mistresses. “You two are going to have serious competition from the next generation.”
Anne laughed…because everyone knew she was firmly under Sophia’s thumb.
“Where are the rest of the munchkins?” he asked Anne and Ben, then glanced at Nolan and Beth.
“Our two have Boy Scout activities this evening,” Nolan said, “so we’re free to help.”
“Wyatt’s with the babysitter.” Anne snorted. “Ben and I wouldn’t get any work done otherwise.”
“A shame. I could have played with the kids while everyone else worked,” Ghost said. Best of all worlds.
“We have Sophia because we can’t stay. A contractor’s coming to the house in a bit,” Jessica said apologetically, then pouted. “Z wouldn’t let me lift anything, anyway.”
“Good. I’d hate to have to hurt him for being a negligent Dom.” Ghost received a scowl from Jessica and a quick grin from Z. “No, seriously. There are a lot of heavy boxes up there. I’m still not sure how I accumulated so much considering I divested myself of almost everything when I moved from Seattle.”
“Speaking of Seattle…” Scowling, Max leaned against a table. “I’m still pissed-off I walked past you every weekend for a year before I finally realized I knew you from Chains.”
It had been rather funny.
But Ghost had been content as a security guard and uninterested in being ousted from his responsible-for-nothing cave. “It’s not my fault you’re blind, detective.”
“Gotta say, you sure didn’t act like a Dom.” Ben snorted. “You even sounded horrified I planned to actually go into