“Raci?”
“Don’t ask me. I’m not an original member; I earn a paycheck like everyone else.”
Lily was convinced Raci didn’t have any money from her pathetic expression. She was about to offer her a loan when Winter’s words had her changing her mind.
“I do the payroll; I know what you make.” Winter gave the woman a narrow-eyed stare. Lily could have told her it would be a waste of time to out-maneuver Winter.
“I can buy a couple,” Raci conceded reluctantly. Since Lily had been around the club, she had learned Raci loved clothes and shoes. Expensive purses were said to be her greatest weakness. Lily didn’t know why; she had never seen her carry one in all the time she had known her.
“Bliss?”
“Put me down for two.” Bliss wasn’t even going to fight the inevitable.
“Thanks. Shade?”
Shade paused with the fork halfway to his mouth. “No.”
Lily shot him a reproachful look.
“Don’t look at me that way, Lily. I’ve already bought that school two pieces of expensive equipment for their auto shop, a confection oven for the cooking class and paid the salary of the auto shop teacher, so no computer from me. Maybe next year, if you don’t hit me up for something else before then.” Shade had no problem returning Winter’s stare, giving her one of his own.
“Have you asked Razer?” Lily broke into the staring contest.
“No,” Winter said.
“Why not?” Lily was sure Razer would be willing to donate.
“Because he coughed up the money to pay for the afterschool tutors. Her chances of getting any money out of Razer are nil,” Shade answered, taking a drink of his beer. Lily sent him another reproachful look.
“Rider and Train?” Lily asked.
Winter remained silent.
“New bus to drive the kids, and lab equipment,” Shade replied after Winter’s continued silence.
“Knox?” Lily asked hesitantly.
“Media library.”
“Ouch. I could buy two. I have some money saved up,” Lily offered, finally understanding that Winter had tapped her money well dry for the time being.
As everyone at the table looked at her, she felt self-conscious.
“No, Lily. I couldn’t take your money. I have one other member I haven’t hit up yet.”
“Who?” Lily asked.
“Lucky.”
“I haven’t met him yet,” Lily said, glancing across the table to see that Bliss was giving Shade a furtive look from under her lashes. She glanced back down at her plate, her hand going to the stinging pain in her chest.
“Are you all right?” Shade asked, looking across the table at her with a frown.
“Yes, I must have eaten something that gave me indigestion,” Lily said, getting up from the table.
“Yeah, I feel a little nauseous myself,” Winter commented with a warning look at Bliss, sitting across from her.
“You’re probably stressed out, worrying about coming up with the money for the computers. Let me know how much they cost and I’ll write you a check for two of them. I wish I could do more,” Lily said, not looking at the people sitting at the table.
“I’ll ask Lucky. If he doesn’t, then I’ll pay for them,” Viper conceded, taking Lily’s hand as she reached for his plate. “We’ll take care of it. Keep your money, Lily.” Lily gave his hand a squeeze before letting it go and picking up his plate then Winter’s.
“Okay, but if you decide you need it, let me know. I’m going to bed. I’m tired tonight. Goodnight, everyone.” Lily left everyone sitting at the table, carrying the dirty dishes to the sink.
Jewell was rinsing and stacking the dirty dishes into the dishwasher. Lily quietly helped her finish the dishes until Nickel showed up to help.
Wishing them goodnight, Lily went downstairs to Shade’s bedroom where she carried her pajamas to the bathroom, took a quick shower, and then took her time blow-drying her hair.
For once, she was glad she was downstairs as the wind howled from outside. She hated storms. She had noticed the storm was moving closer when she had been upstairs. The rain was beginning, and from the sounds of rumbling coming through the house, there was thunder starting.
She turned off the blow dryer and then went to the bedroom door where she paused at seeing Shade removing his t-shirt, having already taken his boots off.
Lily started to go to the corner.
“Bed, Lily.”
“But—”
“You agreed when you chose your punishment last night,” Shade reminded her.
“I thought that was just for last night,” she protested.
“No. Go to bed. I’m going to take a shower.”
Lily was feeling too tired to argue tonight. She climbed into the bed and attempted not to play back the image of the expression on Bliss’s face when she thought she wasn’t looking.