“So tell me, how did you meet Blade?” she asked once we were alone.
“He’d been coming to my bar for a long time but never really spoke to any of us. He just sat in the corner and kept to himself, but one night recently, he stepped in and helped me sort out a problem with a debt collector who came to the bar looking for my business partner. It just progressed from there.”
“He’ll look after you. You know that, right? I’ve known him for a year now, and I’ve never seen him date before. Blade’s the kind of man who is either all in or all out, and something tells me he’s all in here.”
I smiled at her. “I’m pretty sure we’re both serious about this. He’s given me that impression, and even though we’ve only been seeing each other a short time, and have still got a lot to get to know about each other, I feel like I’ve known him forever.” I dropped my voice. It felt odd to admit this stuff to a stranger. “Do you ever feel like that with people?”
The look on her face told me everything I needed to know. Madison totally got where I was coming from. She squeezed my arm. “Yes, I know exactly what you mean. I’ve met people like that before.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank God. I’ve never met anyone like that, so I thought perhaps I was going crazy.”
She grinned. “Only the best of us go crazy, honey. Welcome to the loony bin. Besides, if you weren’t crazy, these guys would send you there soon enough with the crazy shit they get involved in.”
“She’s right, darlin’. You should think twice about getting involved with any of us.” I turned to find Nash standing in the hallway watching us, a cheeky look on his face.
Madison rolled her eyes. “Don’t listen to anything Nash says. He mostly speaks shit.” The affectionate look she gave him told me she liked him anyway.
Nash moved to the side and let the woman standing behind him move next to him. Putting his arm around her, he introduced us. “Layla, this is Velvet.”
I smiled at her, and then said to Nash, “We’ve met.”
Velvet was stunning with her long dark hair, olive skin and trim body. She wore a fitted dress that showed off her curves, and killer heels that drew attention to legs any woman would die for. Probably any man, too. But it was the smile she gave me, and her kind words that showed her true beauty. “Hi Layla. I’m so glad you could make it today. I’ve been looking forward to spending time with the woman who has stolen Blade’s attention. That man so needs a good woman.”
“I have to agree,” I murmured.
I loved how his family and friends cared for him, and wondered if he realised the love they had for him.
Nash joined the guys outside, leaving us girls alone in the kitchen.
Velvet turned to me. “I think we might have to organise a girls night out at your bar.”
“Absolutely!” Madison agreed. “We should do it soon. Harlow needs a night out with us. Serena will be in, too. She was disappointed she had to work today and couldn’t come.”
Velvet frowned. “What’s going on with Harlow? I’ve left a couple of messages and she hasn’t gotten back to me, and she cancelled her last hair appointment at the salon so I didn’t get to catch up with her then, either.”
“She and Scott are going through some stuff. I’ll let her tell you in her own time, but she really does need us at the moment. She’s trying to withdraw, I think, so I just keep pushing myself on her.”
“I haven’t been to Indigo for a while, either. Is she still working there?”
Madison nodded. “Yeah, but she’s had some time off over the last couple of weeks. I think she’ll start back next week.”
“Okay, I will drop by and force myself on her, too,” Velvet promised.
“Indigo is the strip club the MC own. Harlow works the bar there,” Madison informed me.
“And she’s Scott’s girlfriend,” Velvet added.
The pieces were all falling into place. “Gotcha,” I said.
“Madison, the meat will be ready soon. Do you want to bring everything else out?” J yelled to her from the yard.
“Sure, baby,” she replied, and we gathered everything up and headed outside.
***
During lunch, I sat back and watched everyone interacting and couldn’t help but think this was like a family. Although they weren’t related, they seemed like one big family.
I loved that.
Madison caught my eye and smiled at me. “I spoke to my Mum the other day and she said she loves working at your bar, Layla. Thank you for giving her a job. I can see a change in her since she started working there.”
I returned her smile before looking at Donovan. “You should thank Donovan because he put me onto your Mum. I had no idea who to hire until he suggested Sharon. The customers love her which is great and she’s doing a wonderful job so I couldn’t ask for more than that.”
She smiled at Donovan but didn’t say anything further about Sharon. I figured they’d already spoken about it.