Malloy standing behind me. This time she was without her adorable son. Instead, she held a platter of cheese in her hands. She gave me a warm smile. “It’s good to see you again.”
I glanced over my shoulder at Annie, who winked at me. I exhaled a long breath. “So all that jazz about the present was just you fucking with me?”
Annie laughed. “Consider it a little initiation rite into the Raiders women.”
“Jesus, you scared the hell out of me.”
“Need a clean pair of panties?” Kim asked teasingly.
“Yeah, I do. I was just waiting for you all to jump me.”
Annie laughed. “Sorry about that. We like to see what a girl is made out of before we invite her into our circle.”
“They just didn’t know you had passed the most important test already,” Kim said.
“And what would that be?”
“Why, the Kim test, of course!”
“I see. Glad I managed to pass it with flying colors.” Nodding at Alexandra, I asked, “Did she do the same thing to you?”
“My situation was a little different, since I was coming here as Willow’s teacher, rather than just a hookup with one of the guys.” When my eyebrows shot up at her summation, she quickly added, “Not that you’re just a hookup.”
“No. She’s far more than that,” Kim said knowingly.
“I am?”
Kim grinned. “Bishop has never, ever invited a woman to a Raiders party before.”
“Isn’t that because he usually gets his pieces of ass from the pool of women here?” I countered.
While the other women snickered, Kim’s blue eyes widened. “Damn, girl, I can’t believe you went there.”
“Truth hurts, right?”
She shook her head. “It might’ve been true six months ago, but it sure as hell isn’t true now.” Reaching over, she cupped my chin. “I’ve known Bishop since he was a little kid, and I’ve seen a change in him since he’s been seeing you.”
“Well, we’re not really seeing each other,” I argued.
“Then whatever it is you’re doing.” Kim turned to Alexandra. “Aren’t I right?”
Alexandra smiled. “I haven’t known Bishop as long as Kim has, but he is certainly different.”
At that moment, Rev’s wife, Annabel, joined the group. “I would say he’s positively smitten.”
Kim snorted. “As much as a man like Bishop can be.”
Annabel crossed her arms over her chest. “Just what would you call it, then?”
“I don’t know, but I sure as hell wouldn’t call it smitten.” Kim tapped her chin. “Maybe pussy-whipped?”
“Uh, that’s not the case, I can assure you.”
“Don’t worry, Sam. Bishop’s and your sex life is strictly your business,” Kim said.
Before I could argue that we didn’t have a sex life, Alexandra said, “That’s utter and total bullshit.”
“It is not,” Kim countered.
Alexandra wagged a finger at Kim. “You know as well as I do that nothing is sacred, especially when it comes to sex. Everyone has their nose stuck in everyone else’s business.”
Kim sighed. “Maybe you’re right.”
“After we caught Annabel and Rev screwing in the pantry, you had to tell them all about seeing Deacon’s ass when he and I had done the same,” Alexandra said, her eyes twinkling.
Annabel groaned. “Thank you for that commentary, Alex. Now anyone who didn’t know about Rev and me does.”
“That must be one hell of a pantry,” I mused.
Kim winked. “Maybe you and Bishop can take a turn in there.”
“Once again, we’re just friends.” I knew regardless of how many times I said that, the women were not going to believe me. I tried ignoring the voice inside me that couldn’t help wondering what it would be like if Bishop and I were more than friends. At the same time, my libido, which was limping along after an extreme dry spell, couldn’t help getting hot and bothered about the thought of having sex with Bishop in the infamous pantry.
“And there’s nothing wrong with them being just friends. Right, ladies?” Annabel said.
“Of course,” Alexandra replied.
When I looked at Kim, she wore a surprisingly somber expression. “I know it’s probably hard for you to think of more with Bishop after what happened with Marley.”
I sucked in a harsh breath as her words took me off guard. “Yes. It is.”
She cupped my cheek tenderly. “Your Marley was a good man, and I know you miss him bad. But just don’t forget that life is for the living. I lost a lot of time I could have had with Breakneck by hiding in my grief for my Case. I finally had to realize that Case wouldn’t want me to be unhappy the rest of my life. He would want me