Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 133975 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 670(@200wpm)___ 536(@250wpm)___ 447(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133975 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 670(@200wpm)___ 536(@250wpm)___ 447(@300wpm)
She leaned close, glanced at Keys, who was talking to Blythe, and lowered her voice to a whisper. “Lyric, the point is you don’t ever have to do anything you don’t want to do. You have the right to say you want to go home when you do. You have the right to say no to anything asked of you. If you find that difficult, give me a sign, and I’ll see to it that whatever you need is taken care of.”
“Thank you.” Lyric meant it. Breezy made her feel safe.
“Ordinarily, Lana and Alena are here,” Breezy continued to fill her in. “Alena is a dynamite cook. The spaghetti sauces were made by her, along with several of the larger side dishes, but they’re doing something for the club, one of those things that when I ask Steele, he just gives me his deadpan look. They work together quite a bit. Lana is a dead shot. I mean that too. You put her on a roof with a rifle and she can shoot the wings off a fly. That old saying definitely applies to her.”
Lyric looked across the kitchen in an effort to find Keys. She had the sudden feeling that Lana and Alena were doing some task that had to do with her. Keys glanced up from where he was talking to Steele and lifted an eyebrow, clearly asking if she needed his help. She gave a slight shake of her head and turned her attention back to Breezy.
“Why do you think they’re doing something for the club?”
Breezy shrugged. “I’ve been around clubs my entire life. You get a feel for when something is up. Ink and Preacher are missing as well. They could have gone just to watch over them, but usually only one will go if the women are just out buying fabric for Lana’s label.”
Lyric followed her to the sink, where she washed her hands and pitched in helping to put potato salad in large bowls for the prospects to take to the outside tables. Breezy stayed close to her, occasionally introducing her to someone or just helping her find things. Twice, Keys came over to tell her he was going to check on things with Steele. He always asked her if she wanted to go with him. She appreciated that he was keeping his word, but she wanted to remain with the women and learn more about them.
The women in Torpedo Ink were very unexpected to Lyric. She had gotten to know some of the Headed for Hell women, and most were very submissive to their men. She didn’t see that in the women who were working together, like a well-oiled machine, to get all the food ready and put out on the picnic tables. Prospects helped to carry large trays and warmers of food. Several of the men were outside at the large barbecue, turning over the chicken and burgers. Mountains of them.
There were numerous side dishes and baskets of rolls and garlic bread. Wonderful-smelling spaghetti covered in sauce filled three deep containers. One had meat in the sauce, one had meatballs and one was vegetarian. Blythe liked to cover every contingency when it came to food.
There was so much laughter and teasing back and forth, Lyric found herself longing to be a real part of the extended family of Torpedo Ink. She didn’t believe she could fit in, but she was going to try because after talking to Hannah and seeing and hearing what Seychelle coped with, knowing both had found happiness, she wanted to try with Keys.
Her decision was really all about Keys. She loved him. Really loved him. If she did as Hannah said and focused her attention on him, on meeting his needs, on really trying to be a part of his world rather than living in the shadows behind a mask, she would have a chance at the family she’d always wanted.
The concept felt too good to be true, but the alternative was to be without Keys. He was different, just as she was. He saw her when no one else had. Most of all, he made her feel beautiful and intelligent and wanted. He made her feel needed. Sometimes the way he looked at her melted her, and that wasn’t even when they were having sex. Yeah, she wanted to try, and this time she was going to give it her all and trust that he would as well.
The barbecue with the Torpedo Ink families was fun. She didn’t participate in much of the small talk, just watched everyone around her. The Trinity chapter hadn’t brought children, but a couple had wives or “old ladies.” She had never liked that term, but none of the women seemed to mind.
She had fun. Actual fun. Keys stayed right beside her. He carried most of the conversation and seemed to do so easily. He often took her hand, or, when he wasn’t holding her hand, he would rub his thigh against hers. Or drop a hand to her thigh. He liked touching her. He liked close. And she found his attention comforting.