was the dining room. Most of the mess was in the sunken living room, but that was well on its way to being completed, too. Luckily, we still had the Liberty Motel to hold church in throughout the process, but I was beyond happy to be back in the Elkin Lake clubhouse. I liked the Liberty Motel, but the clubhouse was home.
The kitchen was packed, with Dante, Heath, and Logan sharing space at the stove, while Gunnar, Jazz, and Siren put together a massive cheese plate. Fancy. The rest of the enforcement team was there as well, as were the inner circle from the Liberty Chapter—Tru, Mal, and Priest were having a beer with Coop, Rebel, and Raven. Maverick held Grace while Jonah stole bites of brie.
It was crowded. And warm, too—not just from the people, but the easy conversation, the laughter, and the huge pot of chili simmering on the stove. As Brennan tugged me inside, Gretel yipped and charged us, sniffing at our feet happily, her tail wagging hard enough to smack against her own flanks.
Coop saw us first and wolf-whistled. “Look what the cat dragged in!”
Siren whistled, too. “Cuties.”
My face heated, but Brennan only pulled me close to his side and wrapped his arm around my waist, same as he had outside. He wasn’t flustered at all by the eyes on us—if anything, his grin only widened.
“It smells good in here!” Brennan led me up to the big communal table, the one my design had inspired, and plucked a grape from the pile of snacks.
“I love working in this kitchen,” Logan said with a smile. “You and your crew have done a really good job. Can’t thank you enough.”
“Just doing my job,” Brennan said with a grin. “And I’ve got a good crew.” His arm was still around my waist, and his touch slid a little lower, settling at my hip. “Got a little more than I bargained for out of the deal, anyway.”
“I’ll say,” Priest said with a wink. “You’re quiet, Joker.”
“For once,” Coop said with a grin. “I can’t believe it.”
“Come on,” I said with a shrug. “I’m worn out from all the damn work for y’all on the sign.”
“Oh, is that all that’s wearing you out?” Coop teased, raising his eyebrows pointedly as he glanced between us. It raised my hackles a little at first, hoping Brennan wouldn’t be uncomfortable—but Brennan only laughed, which made me laugh, which set Coop off, too.
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt so comfortable in this kitchen.
Dante lifted a spoon to Heath’s lips, and he tasted the chili dutifully, then smiled and nodded.
“All right,” Dante said. “This just needs to simmer, and then it’ll be ready.”
“Great,” Blade said as he descended the stairs. “Good timing. Right, Mal?”
“I think so,” Mal agreed. He threw a wide grin at Priest. “Speaking of all the work Joker’s done, let’s go check out this sign, shall we?”
Everyone shouted their agreement and gathered up drinks and snacks to start filing out onto the back porch. Suddenly the nerves were back, right in the back of my throat, and I felt glued to the spot.
It was really happening. Everyone was going to see it.
And suddenly I didn’t feel ready.
“Hey,” Brennan said quietly as the group filed outside, talking and laughing. “You okay?”
“Fine,” I said in a tone that was decidedly not fine.
Brennan leaned close and kissed me briefly and sweetly. “Nervous?”
I set my hands at his hips and tugged him close. Just having him near settled some of the anxiety in my chest. “A little. Can’t believe it’s finally finished.”
“You should be proud of that, though,” Brennan said with a small smile. “But I get it, it’s weird to finish a big job. I get that feeling on sites, too.”
“And now I don’t have a reason to bother you at your workshop anymore,” I admitted.
That was the worst part about being finished with the sign—even more than the terror of showing the sign to my brothers. Now, I didn’t have a real reason to hang around his property for hours a few times a week, shooting the shit, making out, listening to music as I worked. I’d gotten used to the routine, and I wasn’t ready to let that go.
“Guess you gotta figure out your next project, then,” Brennan said easily, and kissed me again.
“Huh?” I asked, brow furrowed. Another project? I’d never really thought that far ahead. Never thought this could be something I did regularly.
“Yeah,” Brennan said. “Or no project at