sometimes it was meeting the right man again, and sometimes it was just learning to love yourself and know you were a badass who could tackle the world head-on without anyone at your side but with love in your heart.
“I understand. My grandmother was a war widow. She never remarried either. Just do you and do it with love, light, and laughter.”
Edie turned to Skye as she took a deep, refreshing breath. “Thank you. I like the sound of that.”
“You know, I’ve never been here before,” Miss Mitzy said as she came in carrying a plate of brownies and a bag full of yarn.
Skye hugged her and the rest of the women as they joined everyone in the living room.
“It’s so strange to have knitting club without Dare,” Miss Winnie said as she pulled out her erotic knitting. “I got used to seeing those boobies. Maybe I need to make myself a boobie scarf.”
“You’d need extra yarn since they’d be at your knees,” Miss Ruby teased.
Miss Winnie responded by making an obscene gesture with the penis potholder. Edie and Skye shared a shocked look and Miss Winnie clucked at them. “You young’uns know so little. You’re always so surprised when we don’t act like polite old ladies.”
Miss Ruby nodded, having chosen to ignore the knitted penis gesture. “Darn tootin’, Win. I’m sure we’ve all done things that y’all could never imagine.”
“And I’d love to hear every single story,” Skye told them, settling in as she worked with Mitzy on her surprise for Trent.
The next twenty minutes flew by as they all talked and laughed. Skye was happy.
“Sorry I’m late!” Karri rushed inside and pulled out her knitting. “I was meeting with Suze Bell to discuss the sale of the building next to Harper’s bar.”
They all listened as Karri gushed over the meeting and her plans for the space. But then the conversation turned to Karri and Peter and Skye and Trent. The knitting club decided they needed to give out relationship advice.
“What’s that sound?” Miss Ruby asked out of the blue.
Skye listened but didn’t hear anything.
“I swear, I hear something like thwump, thwump, thwump,” Miss Ruby said to the group who all just shrugged.
“Maybe it’s all this sex talk. Like maybe you’re hearing phantom sex noises,” Miss Winnie told her, causing Skye to bite her lip hard to stop from laughing out loud. But then she heard it too.
“Wait, I think I hear it too. It’s coming from out back,” Skye said, now curious about the noise.
As one, the group rose and carried their knitting outside to the patio to watch a helicopter began to land.
“I wonder where Ryker is going now?” Skye asked. “I thought they were having guys’ night.”
“That’s not his helicopter. He keeps his at the main house,” Edie said slowly as they all watched the doors open. Men in masks vaulted out and ran straight for them. “Inside, now!”
Edie grabbed a shocked Skye and propelled her inside. Doors were slammed shut. Locks were turned and then there was silence except for the sound of the helicopter rotor.
“It’s my dream,” Karri whispered to herself but Skye heard it too. It sent shivers down her spine as they tried to see the men from inside the house.
“Where did all those men go?” Miss Mitzy asked as the lights in the backyard went dark.
“We’re under attack, ladies. Get your weapons in hand.” Miss Ruby sounded like a drill sergeant as knitting was dropped and blades or metal knitting needles were brandished.
27
Trent, Wade, Ryker, Gavin, Ridge, Granger, Kord, and Peter were all enjoying Ryker’s very expensive and expansive alcohol collection when Ryker’s phone went crazy. They’d been having a great time up until then. Trent had even seen glimmers of the old Ryker until that damn phone went off.
“Shit!” Ryker was up and out of the room in a heartbeat. “We’re under attack. Get the ladies safe.”
“What?” Ridge asked with a little laugh. “We’re right here. Our wives are at Harper’s helping Harper visualize what this new venture could be.”
“Not them. The knitting club. Skye’s tracking unit just sent out an alarm and my backyard sensors also went off.” Ryker threw open the French doors and stepped onto the deck where the sound of a helicopter could be heard. Lights around the guesthouse were being taken out as shadowy figures moved around the perimeter of the house. “Let’s go.”
Trent didn’t need to hear more. He was already running for the back door.
Skye and the knitting club formed a tight circle