The Gritty Truth (The Whiskeys Dark Knights at Peaceful Harbor #7) - Melissa Foster Page 0,90

boy, you need to carve the turkey.”

As she dragged Jace toward the kitchen, he said, “I’ll make a Leather and Lace maternity line.”

Dixie looked over her shoulder and said, “Help! I need reinforcements!”

Roni laughed as the other girls followed her toward the kitchen.

“Let’s go, baby girl.” Red put her arm around Roni, guiding her toward the girls, and said, “One of our own needs backup. That means us, even if I’d rather have more grandbabies.”

DINNER WAS DELICIOUS, noisy, and wonderful. Between the kids’ hilarious remarks, the guys making dirty jokes and speaking in code so the kids wouldn’t catch wind of them, and the girls giving it right back, Roni had never laughed so much. Quincy was as attentive as ever, holding her hand or draping an arm around her for most of the meal. He whispered sweet and sexy things in her ear, kissing her cheek often. Everyone had a field day teasing them about how affectionate they were, which Quincy ate up as he had at the bar, kissing her more just to egg them on.

“You keep that up, and you’ll be the next ones with a bun in the oven,” Bear said with a mischievous grin.

“We’ve got that covered,” Jace exclaimed.

Dixie rolled her eyes and said, “No babies for you until we fix up my other baby.”

“You’re the only woman on earth who calls her house a baby.” Jace looked around the table as he said, “When we moved out of her little house in town, she said she felt like she was abandoning her baby.”

“I can’t help it if I’m attached to it,” Dixie said. “I’m proud of buying my house.”

“I was wondering if you were going to sell,” Truman said.

Dixie shook her head. “Sorry, Tru. I’m not ready to let it go. We’re going to fix it up and rent it out for a while.”

“If she has her way, we’ll rent it until our unborn children are old enough to move into it,” Jace said with a shake of his head.

“I love that idea!” Dixie exclaimed, causing a round of chuckles and jokes.

“Of course you do.” Jace eyed Diesel and said, “Hey, D, you gonna be around for a while? Are you looking for a place to rent?”

Diesel shook his head. “Nah. I’m good at the clubhouse, thanks.”

“He’s already installed a revolving bedroom door,” Tracey said more to Roni than anyone else, but everyone else heard, and silence fell over the room.

Diesel set his dark eyes on her, and that satisfied smirk returned as he said, “Jealous, baby girl?”

Tracey lifted her chin, meeting his gaze and narrowing her eyes. “In your dreams, Unleaded.”

Everyone cracked up, though Tracey and Diesel seemed to be having some sort of stare down.

“Okay, everyone, settle down,” Biggs said sternly, his eyes moving around the table as they quieted. “It’s been a hell of a year, hasn’t it? We’ve welcomed new family members, new grandbabies, and we’re blessed with another on the way. We’ve got two weddings on the horizon and new couples around the table.” He lifted his glass toward Quincy and Roni, then to Penny and Scott. “And I would just like to say that I am thankful for each and every one of you and for those who aren’t here to celebrate with us.”

“Want to make bets on who gets engaged next?” Bear asked, looking at Roni and Quincy and Scott and Penny.

Scott put his arm around Penny, pulling her closer, and said, “I just got this gorgeous woman to go out with me. Give us a minute, would ya?”

Everyone laughed.

“Penny, if you want to marry my brother, just move in with him,” Josie said. “Sarah and I are living proof that once you live with Scott, getting married is right around the corner.”

More laughter ensued.

Roni loved their banter and the way the other couples sitting around the table were just as close as her and Quincy. Even though Sarah and Bones had Lila between them, he’d reached across the back of the high chair and stroked Sarah’s shoulder, catching her attention to blow her a kiss. Truman and Gemma were whispering around Lincoln. Bullet had kept one hand on Finlay’s belly the whole meal, making an announcement every time the baby kicked. There were no Hallmark moments around this family, that was for sure. They were too real for that, giving each other a hard time and laughing so heartily it startled the babies. Roni loved that about them, too. After dinner they sang “Happy Birthday” to