Brick Brick (Knights Corruption MC - Next Generation, #4) - S. Nelson Page 0,135

came with Morgan. We did a walk-through making sure everything was in place for Saturday.” Maddie had been developing her interest in photography, and as luck would have it, she had showed Morgan some of her pictures. She’d been so impressed she talked her boss into giving Maddie her very own show at the gallery she helped to open here.

“Oh yeah. Congratulations. I’m so happy for you.”

“Me, too, Maddie. What a wonderful opportunity,” Chelsea added, giving her a quick hug before looking back at me. “I’m gonna make a plate.”

“I’m right behind you,” I shouted after her as she walked away. She’d been gone for five seconds and already I missed her.

Linc’s woman had come a long way since first coming to stay with us, even though it hadn’t been her choice at first. She was extremely timid, until she got a few drinks in her. Brick, Trigger, and I formed a protectiveness over her in those early days, even giving Linc shit about messing around with her. But it turned out he caught real feelings for her, as she did for him. And while Maddie still strayed toward the shy side, she had come out of her shell, and I couldn’t be happier for her. For them both.

“Did you call him? See where he’s at?”

“He said he had to run an errand. I think he went with Tag. I’m not sure when…. Oh, there they are.” She smiled up at me, brushing a strand of her chocolate hair away from her face, her eyes peering past me, then back to me.

“Go,” I finally said, chuckling because she didn’t want to be rude and leave me standing here. After another flash of her pearly whites, she ran off toward my friend.

“She really likes you.” Chelsea beamed up at me, her forkful of potato salad halfway to her mouth. There was a time she thought I was interested in Maddie, but after she found out about what happened to her and how she came to be with us, she understood I was only looking out for her, even though I didn’t need to because Linc was all the protection she needed.

“I like you.” I pulled her into me and opened my mouth. She scooped up some more of her salad and slid it between my lips.

“I thought you loved me.” Her fake pouty face wasn’t fooling anyone. She was fully aware of my feelings for her, but I reminded her every day, in case she ever forgot.

“I cherish you, woman, and you know it.” Slinging my arm over her shoulder, I tugged her into me and kissed the top of her head.

I loved everything about this woman, from her sass to her bursts of fits when I annoyed the hell out of her, to her compassion and wit. She certainly did a great job of keeping me on my toes, but I wouldn’t want it any other way.

I made a mental note to have a chat with my buddy Kaden, setting a plan in motion to seal the deal within the next year and propose to Chelsea.

I’d give her the time she thought she needed, and in turn, she’d give me the family I always wanted.

“Sorry it took me so long, babe.” Linc grabbed me and picked me off my feet, planting a wet one on me before nuzzling into my neck and making me squirm.

His bright smile made my heart soar, and every day when I woke up next to him, I said a prayer in thanks to the forces that brought us together, even though how I came to be with Linc wasn’t under good circumstances, and that was putting it mildly.

“That’s okay. I’m happy you’re here now.” I didn’t want to ask my next question, but my curiosity got the better of me. “Did you have to go there?” He pulled back and finally put me back on my feet, a combination of unease and guilt washing over his handsome features.

“I did. Ace was already on his way here and I was closer. We were in and out in no time.” He tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering in assurance. “I love you. No one will ever take me from you. I promise.”

“I know. I’m being stupid.”

“No, you’re not, Maddie. I just don’t want you to hide anything from me. Okay?”

“Okay.”

Him doing things for his club, I understood, even when he had to visit one of the strip joints, but that didn’t