Page 23 of Shade (The Last Riders 6)

“Now, Shade.”

Shade shrugged, leading the sheriff to within a few feet of the gazebo.

Beth, who was following along despite Razer trying to stop her, came to an abrupt stop herself, giving a low gasp.

Viper’s head was lowered over Winter’s breasts, and his hand was moving underneath her jeans as she arched against him.

“Still want to talk to her?” Shade asked in a low voice.

His father turned bright red and started backing away at the low whimper of desire coming from the gazebo. “That’s okay. Tell Winter I don’t have time to be running back and forth from town when she and Viper get in a fight,” he snapped.

“I’ll make her aware you weren’t pleased with having your time wasted,” Shade smoothly lied.

“You do that.” Giving a sharp nod, he turned on his polished heels and left.

Beth gave Razer an embarrassed smile before tugging him away from his interest in the couple being intimate only a few feet away.

Shade snagged a beer from Evie’s hand as they both unashamedly listened.

“There was someone else, but he doesn’t like his business talked about any more than I do.”

No, he didn’t. Shade was glad Viper knew when to keep silent.

“I never told Rider fuck about when you were leaving because you are staying right where you are, in my fucking bed.” With that, Viper lifted her into his arms, packing her into the house, and she didn’t even notice Shade had to move before he was knocked over.

“Want to dance?” Shade stiffened as Bliss’s arms slid around his waist, sliding her hands to sit intimately against the zipper of his jeans.

Shade tipped the beer to his mouth, finishing it and then tossing the bottle into a trashcan. He took one of Bliss’s hands, pulling her around until she was pressed against his chest.

“When was the last time we played in the gazebo?”

“Last summer,” she breathlessly reminded him. “I don’t exactly remember which night it was.”

“Let me refresh your memory.”

Chapter 20

Viper and Winter were in the kitchen eating as the rest of The Last Riders came in to fix breakfast. Shade microwaved the already-cooked bacon, heating it up as Beth scrambled some eggs and Razer made himself useful making toast. Jewell nudged everyone out of the way as she made coffee and poured glasses of orange juice. The members quickly made breakfast as a synchronized unit, having become used to the routine.

“Couldn’t manage to fix yourselves something decent?” Jewell asked, sitting down with a glass of juice.

Winter looked embarrassed, but Viper just casually slung his arm around her shoulders.

Razer and Shade sat down at the table as Beth served Razer his breakfast.

When Winter eyed his plate of food in longing, smiling, Beth slid one just like it in front of her.

“I love you,” Winter said fervently.

Beth smiled before taking a seat with her own plate. Viper eyed hers before getting up to fix his own plate.

“How is Lily doing?” Winter asked.

Shade sat chewing a piece of bacon, waiting for Beth’s answer.

“Good. She goes back to school in two weeks. She and her friend are planning on going on spring break together.”

“Where are they going?” Winter asked.

“They’re having trouble making their minds up. Penni wants to go on a mini cruise, says it’s the perfect place to meet guys without the party atmosphere of the beaches on spring break.”

Shade frowned. Razer had neglected to give him that piece of information.

“Does Lily want to go?” Winter asked the question that was on his own mind.

“Actually, she wants to go to Arizona.”

Shade’s frown changed to a smile, much happier with that answer. The Grand Canyon was in Arizona. He could see Lily enjoying the rugged canyon.

“To see the Grand Canyon?” Winter asked.

“I asked the same thing.” Beth laughed.

“What did she say?”

“She said Arizona has cowboys. Seems she has this thing for them; has the impression they are all macho, protective, and are gentlemen. She thinks they are sexy.”

Shade’s smile disappeared once more. What the fuck did Lily know about men? Hell, if a man came within ten inches of her, she panicked.

The women laughed good-naturedly at the young girl’s fantasy. Shade didn’t think it was funny, though. His fork viciously stabbed his eggs.

“Doesn’t Arizona have tornados?” Winter asked casually.

Shade actually thought of high-fiving Winter.

Beth’s laughter stopped. “Really?”

Shade and all his brothers nodded.

“Spring break is right in the middle of tornado season,” Winter confirmed.

Hell fucking yeah. He was unaware he was still nodding his agreement.

“I’ll have to tell them. Maybe a cruise would be better.”

Shade wasn’t any happier. He was going to have to bribe Penni, and it was going to cost him a fortune.

He was trying to think of the states which had the lowest male population when Winter came up with an idea.

“Perhaps you might convince them to stay a few days in Lexington—spring meet will be on at Keeneland. Then you could bring Lily back with you, and we could have your bachelorette party on that Friday.”

Beth seemed to consider it for several minutes. “I think that’s a great idea. Thanks, Winter.”

Winter smiled at Beth, ignoring the narrowed stare of Shade.

; It was better than a fucking cruise with the girls running around in bikinis, but Lily would still be around men and horses. Shade wondered if Lily found short men attractive.

“I’m looking forward to the bachelorette party. Evie talked to Mick; he said to let him know the date, and we could have the bar for the night. It’s going to be nice with just us, no men,” Jewell said, lying through her teeth.

“Well, us and a few of my other friends,” Beth clarified, hesitantly.

“Like who?” Evie asked suspiciously, sitting down at the table with her food.

“Crazy Bitch, Sex Piston, Killyama…”

Shade was instantly glad he wouldn’t be there. He might ride his bike to Lexington and keep an eye on Lily and Penni then stay on a few days until it was safe to return to Treepoint.

Evie raised her hand. “You have got to be shitting me. Tell me you’re not seriously considering inviting them to your party.”

“I have to invite them. It will hurt their feelings if I don’t.”

“Those bitches don’t have any feelings. Not normal ones, anyway,” Shade butted into the conversation.

Beth sent Shade a reproachful look, which he ignored. The woman was blind where her friends were concerned.

“There is a problem with them coming,” Evie reminded Beth. All eyes turned to Bliss who was unashamedly listening from the kitchen counter.

Beth shook her head. “No, that is all forgotten. They’ll be cool, they promised.”

Shade wasn’t the only one in the room looking at her doubtfully.

“May I make a suggestion?” Winter put in. “Suppose we have the party at eight until two. Tell your biker friends it starts at eleven. If Bliss wouldn’t mind, she could leave a few minutes earlier than when they would arrive.”

Bliss smiled in relief. “That works for me.”

Beth didn’t seem as happy as Bliss, and if Beth wasn’t happy, Razer wasn’t.

“Okay, if that makes everyone more comfortable,” Beth conceded.

Winter and Viper left the room before the rest were finished.

Jewell smirked in Shade’s direction before leaning forward in her chair.

“Lily found any young college boys to date?”