Brennan barked a laugh. “Honestly, if this club got into stripping, I think you could make a lot of money. Maybe this year’s Halloween fundraiser?” He followed Joker into the kitchen with his hands set at Joker’s hips possessively.
Raven handed Priest and me our coffees. Priest ruffled Raven’s hair affectionately, and Raven ducked his chin and brushed Priest’s hand away. But I could tell he liked it. My heart flipped with fondness at the gesture.
“No, I think he’s onto something,” Tru said.
He was sprawled in Priest’s preferred armchair, sitting in it all wrong—his legs over one armrest, his back leaning against the other, head tipped back so he could see into the kitchen. Beau snuck into the kitchen and grabbed two muffins from Heath, then leaned over the back of the chair to hand one to Tru.
“Thanks, babe,” Tru said. “Read my mind. Anyway, Tex, if you did your whole cowboy thing but in a stripping capacity at Ballast, we could seriously get some cash collected for the hospital. Oh! And Beau could get the firefighters involved!”
“You clearly haven’t seen the guys I work with,” Beau said, laughing.
“It’s for a good cause,” Tru pouted.
Tex adjusted his Stetson on his head and stroked his red beard thoughtfully. “Well, if it’s for a good cause…”
Jazz squawked and threw an arm around Tex’s shoulders. “My Tex? Considering stripping? Are pigs flying?”
Tex blushed. “Just considering. Come on, let’s see how the grill is heating up.”
“You already got the grill started?” Priest asked. “Without me?”
“You were taking too long,” Jazz said with a grin. “Don’t worry, you’re still the boss around here.”
Priest grinned at me, then took my hand and guided me outside, following Tex and Jazz. The backyard was buzzing with energy, too—Siren, Star, and Eli were setting up the volleyball net, laughing as Gretel bounded between them nipping at their heels and generally getting in the way.
“Gretel, leave them alone!” Rebel called. He snapped his fingers at Gretel, and she yipped happily and bounded over to where he was lounging in a camp chair near the crackling firepit. Coop intercepted the dog, though, scooping her into his arms. She wriggled, tail wagging so hard it made her entire butt move as she licked at Coop’s chin.
“Aw, come on,” Rebel said. “Don’t let her do that.”
“Like you don’t,” Coop teased. He put Gretel down, then leaned down and kissed Rebel, dog kisses be damned.
“Ah, the grillmaster is here,” Nix said with a grin. He clapped Priest on the shoulder, and then did the same to me, too. “Glad you two could finally make it.”
Dawson sidled up and wound his arm around Nix’s waist. “How’s that cabin treating you?” he asked, then winked.
“Gotta say,” Priest said, tugging me close, “I’m pretty happy for the extra space these days.”
“I am too,” I said with a grin. “Nice to be able to make some noise.”
“Like that stops you in the Crew Motel,” Nix said with a smirk. “Now come on, Dawson, I have to put my casserole in the oven.”
Nix and Dawson walked almost directly into Maverick as he was stepping out of the clubhouse onto the porch. “Hey, guys,” Maverick said. “Where’s Gretel? Someone’s been requesting her all morning.”
Jonah followed behind, with Grace squirming and laughing in his arms. Jonah walked down the stairs and set Grace on her feet in the grass. She took a few steps, and as soon as Gretel saw her, the dog yipped gleefully and bounded over. She skidded a stop in front of Grace, then lowered her head to the ground, butt in the air, tail wagging and ready to play.
“We might have to get Gracie a dog of her own soon,” Jonah said, then tugged Maverick in for a brief little kiss.
“She might have a sibling on the way, with the way Raven and Gunnar have been talking,” Priest said.
Blade stuck his head out of the back door and glanced around. “All right, everyone get back in here for a quick toast!”
We filed back inside, laughing and knocking our shoulders into each other. Siren and Star were last, each of them holding one of Grace’s hands as she toddled into the clubhouse.
“Everyone’s here, right?” Blade asked, glancing around. The clubhouse was full of members, standing in the kitchen and lounging in the living room, and my heart swelled at the sight of it. I was so lucky to be here—to be in this room, with