“It’s true that I sometimes forget a world outside of Vaughn exists.
“I want that,” I sighed, leaning my head against her shoulder. “To be oblivious to others because I’m so in love. You know, instead of because I just don’t care.”
Raven grinned. “I hear a Harley. Could that be him?”
“Maybe or could be a hundred other guys.”
“Don’t be grumpy,” she whispered. “He’s putting up with your brothers tonight. He wouldn’t do that if he didn’t care about you. Especially after Cooper fucked with him.”
I nodded. “I just never wanted a guy like I want Nick. I’ve had crushes. Like sometimes guys from other clubs would visit and I’d think they were hot. I thought Vaughn was hot when he first showed up. With Nick, it’s more than his looks. I feel if I lost him that I’d be losing everything.” Pausing, I sighed again. “This is where you tell me I’m being overdramatic and need to get a grip.”
“The heart isn’t rational. I knew Vaughn was trouble and he knew I was trouble. We made no sense, yet are perfect together. That’s how love works. Maybe what you feel for Nick isn’t love yet, but need is need. No way to get a grip.”
Smiling at Raven, I appreciated the support. Nick made me feel amazing and awful at the same time. I wondered if he knew how much power he had over me.
“How’s Winona doing?” Vaughn asked, stepping onto the porch and wearing one of his goofy bowling shirts.
“She does good most days. She did call in sick on Monday because of her agoraphobia, but I knew that was a problem when I hired her.”
“What do you need with an employee anyway?”
“She takes notes in class for me. You know, so I can stare at Nick and think about him naked.”
“Makes sense,” Raven said, giving me a bright grin. “I think it’s nice that you gave her a job.”
Vaughn frowned at a barking dog. “Harlow says Winona ain’t been right since they were taken. Like it brought back a lot of problems she had conquered. She was helping the Todds with their business then she just shut down,” he muttered then glanced at me and smiled. “You’re doing a good thing giving her something new to focus on. Something separate from the Todds.”
I struggled to hide how much I loved getting compliments.
“On fall break, Mom is having me trained to take over the financial stuff at her bar. It’s my first business to run. Winnie will have more to do then. She’s good at organizing stuff and we’ll both learn to be in charge. Might make her a manager one day when she’s better at talking to people.”
“Look at you,” Raven said, hugging me, “being a mentor to that poor girl. You’re strong and she’s weak. Soon, you’ll both be strong.”
The next few minutes consisted of me feeling super awesome about myself. Raven and Vaughn hung out on their porch and talked about HGTV.
“Ever since you broke your leg, your TV choices have gone downhill,” Vaughn said while wrapping his arms around her. “Get pickier.”
“Accent walls are hot.”
While they took turns sucking on each other’s necks, I ignored them and waited for Nick. Harleys came and went. With each one, I became more worried he wouldn’t show. I was checking my phone to see if he had bailed when Nick arrived.
Nearly running to him, I forced myself to slow down. I hoped I looked sexy enough in my jean shorts and stripped tank top. Nick was sex incarnate in a tight black tee and jeans I suspect fitted him better before he bulked up.
“Hi,” I said like a dipshit.
Nick grinned as if knowing I was too hot for him to even form sentences.
“You look…” he said then shivered. “Like perfection. I’m sorry I was late. There was a fight in the courtyard of my apartment building.”
“Are you okay?” I asked, caressing his face to check for injuries I knew he didn’t have.
Nick grinned again. “Yeah, I just helped them settle down. It was stupid shit. Nothing serious.”
“I like how you help people,” I murmured, sounding too horny to pretend otherwise. “It’s sexy.”
Nick’s grin faded. “Bailey, I have to bowl with your brothers and friends tonight. Please don’t make it difficult for me to walk in these tight jeans.”
We both smiled. “They are tight. Maybe after bowling, we can hang out,” I hinted then added when he didn’t understand, “Hint, hint.”
Nick leaned down and kissed the corner of my mouth. “Can we keep things casual until I’m done enduring your brothers play their ‘Who has the bigger balls competition?’ If we survive that, I’ll relax,” he said then whispered, “Hint, hint.”
Even though I laughed, his worry over Cooper and Tucker made me worry too. Would they ruin the evening? Would I ruin it? Would Nick injure himself in those tight jeans because my tits looked so hot? A lot of unanswered questions awaited us.
Chapter Ten ~ Nick