The Gritty Truth (The Whiskeys Dark Knights at Peaceful Harbor #7) - Melissa Foster Page 0,27

thing we have in common, because I don’t drink, either.”

“Miss Woni is here!” Kennedy hollered at the top of her lungs, pushing between Truman and Gemma, who were talking with Bullet a few feet away.

Roni had liked Truman and Gemma the instant she’d met them, when they’d come to the studio to check out classes for Kennedy. Gemma was a sweetheart, with brown hair and golden highlights, and Truman was big like Quincy and as dark as Quincy was fair. He had a beard and blue tattoos on his arms, hands, and snaking out of the collar of his shirt, but for as badass as he looked, he was kind and gentle with the kids and Gemma.

Kennedy jumped up and down in her purple dress, cheering, “Mommy! Daddy! Miss Woni is here! Are you on your playdate with Uncle Quincy?”

“Yes, I guess I am,” Roni said, a handful of people around them chuckling.

“A playdate?” Truman asked.

“Yes!” Kennedy exclaimed. “Uncle Quincy weally wanted to have a playdate with Miss Woni.”

“I bet he did,” Bullet said with a snicker.

Bullet was the most intimidating looking of them all, with the exception of the mountainous bartender wearing the baseball cap, Diesel, who Quincy had introduced Roni to earlier.

“I love playdates with my wife,” Bear called out from where he stood by the bar, sparking a litany of laughter and jokes among the crowd.

Quincy pulled Roni into his arms, gazing into her eyes with a devilish grin as he said, “We’ve been outed by a tiny human.”

She laughed. “That’s okay. I like playdates with you.”

He kissed her, and the crowd cheered and whistled. He ate it all up, calling out to Kennedy, “Hey, jelly bean! Miss Roni and I will have many more playdates in the future.”

“Yay!” Kennedy cheered. “Now you can show Miss Woni how you can eat ice cream all night long! Bye!” She ran off, leaving the guys roaring with laughter and Roni red-cheeked and burying her face in Quincy’s chest.

Quincy kissed the top of her head and said, “Aw, babe. I’m sorry.”

“Sorry you can eat ice cream all night long?” Bullet scoffed. “Dude, that’s a benefit.”

“All right, Bullet. Back off,” Quincy said, rubbing a hand down Roni’s back.

His protectiveness made him even hotter. Roni lifted her face, catching him staring down Bullet. A hint of worry fluttered in her chest. She wanted to tell him it was fine and make him stop challenging Bullet, and she opened her mouth to do just that, but before she could get a word out, Bullet cut her off.

“Sorry, Roni. Didn’t mean to embarrass you.” Bullet stroked his beard, his eyes now trained on Roni as Finlay came to his side, adorable with her burgeoning belly and blond hair cascading around her face. “But you gotta admit, it is a benefit. How do you think my wife got her nickname?”

Finlay gasped. “Bullet Whiskey, that is not true.”

“But it’s funny,” Bullet said.

Roni had to admit that it was funny. She laughed along with everyone else, loving the camaraderie of Quincy’s friends.

“Okay, break it up,” Dixie said, pushing past Bullet with Penny and Crystal on her heels. Without her jacket, Dixie’s colorful arm tattoos were visible, and they were as beautiful as she was. “It’s girl time, Quince. We need to borrow Roni for a little while. You can hang out with the Neanderthals.”

Roni was surprised they wanted to include her, and she was excited to get to know the other girls.

“The guys are not nearly as fun as my girl.” Quincy tightened his hold on Roni, and oh, how she loved that.

“Last chance, Gritt. Give her a kiss or forever hold it in,” Crystal said.

“Babe, are you okay going with them?” he asked thoughtfully.

“Yes, of course.”

He pressed his lips to hers, then glared at the three of them and said, “I don’t know what you do to indoctrinate women into your group, but go easy, okay? Don’t scare her off.”

Roni gazed up at him and said, “It would take a lot to scare me off.”

“Well, there you have it.” Dixie said, “This chick isn’t so shy anymore, is she?”

“It’s hard to be shy around here,” Roni said as Dixie and Crystal flanked her.

Gemma joined them and said, “I can’t believe you got her away from Quincy. He’s had her glued to his side.”

“I don’t hear Roni complaining,” Quincy said.

Wow. She liked this side of Quincy. He was a little possessive, but not overbearing. He was just…Protective? Thoughtful? As into her as she was into him? Yes,