I rip open my gift in excitement.
Resting in the box is a gorgeous candle wall sconce made of intricate woven iron. I pick it up out of the box to admire it.
Underneath it lays another golden envelope.
See how each iron piece twists and wraps around the others, making it stronger, and how it holds the candle? That’s us—alone we could make it—but together we become whole and strong as iron, lighting each other’s way.
I love you, Sophie.
“I love you too, Josh,” I whisper. “I love you too.”
Chapter Seven
Josh
“They’re where?” Liam’s voice raises an octave and he looks at me like I’m outta my fucking mind.
“Chippendale’s—get over it,” I tell him, rearranging the sequence of the cards in my hand.
“That’s the worst mother-fucking double standard I’ve ever heard!” Will blusters.
Which only makes me laugh more at his severe frustration with me.
Sam leans in over his cards to ask Will, “Remember the Anderson twins?”
Will’s frustration melts into a mischievous grin.
“I don’t get it,” Ryder confesses, throwing his cards facedown on the table. “And I fold.”
“Yeah, guess I’m dense too,” Jake says, leaning back in his chair “Enlighten us.”
Most of my brothers are sitting in the back of Liam’s shop at the House of Ink and Steel. It’s our man cave, our place to come unwind without women. Sophie and Quinn have been the only exceptions so far.
It’s going on ten o’clock and we’re gathered around the poker table. Will and Sam are sons-of-bitches when it comes to cards; they have no tell. Liam couldn’t care less about the game. Reese and Connor are in their own conversation about this month’s Playboy playmate. Caleb and Nate are late and so is Chase, who was down at White Earth Reservation, finishing up some college homework before the wedding weekend, and Talon is in the front of the shop, giving a tat to a last-minute customer. We’re just fucking around before they head out to the Queen of Hearts strip club that I’m still not going to.
“Because even though I am a jealous bastard,” I explain, “I’m not a jealous bastard.”
“Oh yeah, bro. That clears it right up.” Jake throws down a pair of twos.
“Her ex was abusive, possessive and controlling. She needs to know that I’ll never be like that.”
“So you sent her to an all-male strip club with a bunch of dollar bills to prove to her that you’re not a scumbag?” Ryder asks, shaking his head like it’s a pity I’m so stupid.
“Exactly.”
“And if she gets drunk and takes one home?” Will counters, trying to find a flaw in my thinking.
“Who’s getting drunk and who’s taking who home?” Caleb saunters in with Nate behind him.
“Sophie and a Chippendale stripper.” Connor glances momentarily away from the skin mag to show he’s present. “Genius here sent her to a show.”
“If she falls for some other guy … yeah I’d be fucking devastated, but I wouldn’t fucking destroy her. I want her to be happy.”
“Man, you are so fucked.” Ryder laughs at me.
“Hey,” I qualify, “I might kill him but I’d fucking never hurt her.”
“I get it,” Nate puts in. “It’s a good idea.”
“Yeah?” I second guess that shit. “Maybe Ryder is right and I just fucked myself.”
Suddenly cards aren’t enough to hold my attention so I get up and storm over to the dartboard.
“So, let me get this straight, you set up this elaborate golden envelope system with instructions and gifts like a scavenger hunt to tell her you love her?” Will watches me as he puts together what I told him an hour ago.
I chuck a dart and it hits the wall. Fuck! “Yeah, exactly.”
“It’s classy,” he decides. I’m surprised he thinks so and even more surprised he admitted it. I swear sometimes Will just likes to argue for the sake of fucking arguing.
“It is, so let it play out and don’t mourn over it like an idiot,” Jake challenges. “Now, are we playing cards or are we going to continue on with the Joy Luck Club?”
“Too bad he didn’t send the girls to a regular fucking club; we could’ve been called in for protection when the inevitable assholes messed with them.” Ryder’s always thinking of a fight.
“Was she getting cold feet?” Caleb inquires without even a hint of a smile as he grabs himself a beer.
“She’s skittish as a newborn foal.” I think that sums it up. “I’m going for the hard stuff if anyone wants a drink.”
Leaving the darts, I go behind the bar and pull out a bottle of Jack Daniel’s. When I set enough glasses for everyone on the counter I notice Nate studying Caleb closely with a look of worried concern.
“You know something about cold feet?” I scoop ice into each glass. The sound is comforting.
“I know my baby brothers Jake and Nate are married and Sam might as well be,” Caleb snips and sits down hard as he chugs his beer gone.