Drilled - Jayne Rylon Page 0,33

rest of your crew if you moved out here and decided you wanted the work.”

“You going to keep bringing your rich friends over?” Mike joked.

“I mean, I didn’t want to irritate you, but there are three other people who are interested in development work in the area after coming to hang out at the lodge with us over the past year. People fall in love with Middletown. I’m telling you I know a thousand Giovannis if you’re interested in that kind of stuff. Just let me know.” Kason shrugged as if it was nothing. As if he hadn’t connected the dots between the vision Mike had been nearly too afraid to put out there between him and Joe the other day and something that could actually happen.

Well, shit.

Now that he knew what was possible, Mike couldn’t unknow it. Would he be able to walk away? And even if he could, would it be the right thing to do? Would he be happy going back to the crew if he was positive he was stifling their careers?

Mike only knew one thing for sure: they were going to need to have a crew meeting soon. One with actual, serious discussions and their clothes on.

But not before they had a chance to continue this party in private. It had been too long since they’d been together, and they needed each other. Needed to feel part of the thing that had defined them for so long, even if it might not do so in the future.

12

Mike’s patience had just about run out. Was he glad to have the whole crew there, partying with the Hot Rods and Hot Rides gangs? Of course. Was he full of excellent food and one of the best cakes Morgan had ever made? Oh yeah.

But was he still hungry? Hell fucking yes.

Given everything that had happened lately and his own wayward thoughts about how Joe maybe had the right idea about moving to Middletown, he desperately needed some alone time with his crew to nail them back together again. Literally.

Kate must have seen the hunger in his eyes from across the room. She hugged Ms. Brown, then headed in his direction with a sultry smile. “All the kids are going with Tom and Ms. Brown to Kason’s house. He promised them they could have a sleepover in tents on the beach beside his indoor pool. I thought Landry might be a little uncomfortable spending the night somewhere new without us, but nope…he was first in the Hot Rods’ bus to head over there, sandwiched in between Sabra and Holden’s twins. Barely waved goodbye.”

Mike didn’t blame him. The country megastar’s hillside retreat was enough to make anyone envious. The indoor oasis was damn near a waterpark. Maybe sometime he’d have to arrange for the crew to have an overnighter there, while the kids stayed back at Hot Rods.

His imagination went wild with possibilities.

Or maybe that was his libido.

Either way, he was about to call an end to these festivities so they could begin others. It seemed like the Hot Rods and Hot Rides groups were having similar thoughts. The regular guests had excused themselves hours ago, and now it was down to just them. Where they’d mingled seamlessly earlier, they began to sort themselves out and mill around in three distinct clumps.

Quinn, Mike, and Eli gathered at the center. Each of them the unofficial head of their clan.

“Time to split up?” Quinn asked, glancing over his shoulder at his husband, Trevon, who was slow dancing with their wife, Devra.

“Yup.” Eli grinned as he stared over at his wife, Sally, who was sitting in their husband Alanso’s lap, her hands folded on her not-so-flat stomach. “I want to take full advantage of the romantic mood while Sally’s still up for it. This might have to last us a few months.”

Mike snorted. “With an infant in the house, you’re going to be lucky to find the energy for a year.”

“Then it sounds like you better make the best of tonight too,” Quinn teased.

And it hit Mike all over again. Yeah. A baby. His. Kate’s. They were starting again. Except this time they were going to be older and more tired.

“You’re right. Gotta go. Thanks for the food and for including us in the big day. Tell Kyra, Ollie, and Van the same when you can think straight again, will you?” Mike shook Quinn’s hand. He was so grown and confident now, compared to the troubled teenager he’d been when they’d first met.