King grinned. “I’ll take what I can get.”

 Evie leaned against her husband’s side. “Isn’t that the truth?”

 Willa blushed from witnessing the sexually heated look between them. Thankfully, Shade brought Lily into the room at that moment, providing a welcome distraction.

 Whenever she saw Shade and Lily together, it brought a lump to her throat. She was fortunate to have seen several extremely happy marriages in her own family, but what Lily and Shade shared was beyond explanation. Their love was a gift. It was special. It also reinforced her own sense of loneliness.

 She had thought she would have been married by now with a couple of children, not alone and taking care of five children who belonged to two people who had made her childhood and adulthood miserable.

 She had originally taken in the children as her penance for taking the life of Lewis, the father of the three younger children and the guardian of Leanne and Sissy, his sister Georgia’s children, but it had evolved into her having a genuine care for all of them.

 Willa stayed toward the back of the crowd as Lily began to open her presents while Shade held his small son in his arms. The harsh, azure-eyed man was smiling down at his wife indulgently.

 Unable to keep watching without feeling envious, Willa moved to the large table set up with drinks where Bliss, an attractive blonde, was watching with a pained expression she was unable to disguise. Willa could sympathize with her. She constantly wanted what she couldn’t have. Every night, she prayed to be a better person, but so far, her prayers had gone unanswered.

 Willa took a bottled water, moving to stand next to Bliss so no one would overhear. “I brought you some of the peanut butter candy you like. I hid it in the kitchen cabinet by the back door.”

 Bliss looked at her in surprise. “You brought it for me?”

 Willa nodded. “I remembered how much you like it. Did you use the last batch to bribe Rider?”

 “Yes. He fixed the garbage disposal and cleaned the gutters.” Bliss laughed.

 “I made you a double batch. You can keep it for yourself or share.”

 “No one will take it from me. Everyone’s pissed off at me because I said something I shouldn’t,” she blurted out, surprising Willa with the confidence since the club usually kept all their relationships private.

 Willa watched the sensual woman who was staring unhappily at Shade and Lily. “Did you tell them you’re sorry?” She didn’t have to ask if it was Lily she had offended. Everyone loved the soft-spoken woman and would rally around her if they thought she was hurt. The party surrounding them was proof of their love for her.

 Bliss gave a bitter laugh. “It’s not the first time I’ve put my foot in my mouth, and the club is getting tired of me saying I’m sorry. They don’t believe I mean it when I keep doing the same stupid shit.”

 “Then prove them wrong,” Willa said gently. “Do you really think Lily and Beth are capable of holding a grudge?”

 Bliss stared back at her, startled. “You know what happened?”

 Willa smiled wryly. “No, they don’t confide in me, but I overheard you at the hospital telling Jewell they’ll never forgive you.” At Bliss’s worried expression, Willa attempted to soothe her fears. Since The Last Riders made it a point to keep their business private, and Bliss was already in trouble with the club, Willa wouldn’t want them to think she was gossiping. “I only heard that before I went in to see Lily. I don’t make a habit of snooping.” Bliss relaxed at her words. “Go talk to Lily. Avoiding her isn’t going to make it easier.” Willa gave Bliss a small nudge in Lily’s direction. “By the way, she loves the peanut butter candy, too. She was constantly asking for it when she was pregnant, but because she was eating so many cupcakes, Shade drew the line at the candy.”

 “That’s why you made a double batch? So I could bribe Lily into forgiving me?”

 “I made enough for the whole clubhouse to forgive you.” Willa smiled, unconsciously showing her dimples.

 Bliss gave her a strange look before heading toward the kitchen where she had stashed the candy for her.

 Willa noticed Lily had sat down on one of the large couches next to Beth, who wasn’t looking well. She walked toward them so she could talk to them then make her escape from the torture of being in such a large crowd.

 As she moved forward, she felt someone staring at her. Always sensitive to being the center of attention, she glanced to the side and caught Lucky’s eyes on her.

 When she had heard the name the other club members called him, she thought the name suited him much better than Pastor Dean. When she had looked at his tall, muscular body and face that held a ruthlessness he kept carefully concealed behind a façade of affable charm, she had never been fooled. Not once. Not from the first moment she had walked into the church several years ago and seen Pastor Saul’s replacement behind the pulpit.

 The sun had been shining on his chestnut-colored hair that was slightly longer than most pastors she had ever seen. His hazel eyes had stared at the congregation as if he had known their innermost secrets. Willa had sat, stunned in the pew, feverishly wishing for his sermon to end so she could escape the feelings going through her body that were completely inappropriate to experience during a church service.

 Willa hastily dragged her eyes away, concentrating on diverting her thoughts. She had long ago learned not to focus on Lucky, too afraid her expression would reveal her secrets. There was nothing more embarrassing than when a popular man realized the fat chick had a crush on him. She tried to never wish for something she couldn’t have, and he was as unattainable for her as being a size six.

 Willa waited patiently for Lily and Beth to notice her, not wanting to interrupt the sisters’ conversation.

 Lily saw her first, giving her the gentle smile that never failed to make Willa or anyone else feel as if she was her best friend, even though she knew it wasn’t true.

 “Willa, thank you for coming. My cake is amazing. I made Shade take a picture before I let them cut it.” Lily’s sweet voice enfolded her in genuine warmth.

 “You’re welcome. I’m glad you’re home,” Willa returned sincerely. Her eyes went to Beth, who winced slightly when she shifted to a more comfortable position on the couch. “Are you all right?” Willa became concerned at Beth’s pallor.

 Beth nodded her head. “I’m fine. I must have pulled a muscle,” she answered evasively.

 Willa caught the surreptitious look that Lily sent Beth at her answer. The sisters weren’t very good at lying. In fact, they sucked. This was why Willa really didn’t consider herself their friend or anyone else’s, for that matter.

 She always fell in one of two groups. One was where they took pity on her, drawing her into their group. The other was where they took advantage of her to get what they wanted. Lily, Beth, Rachel, and Winter were in the former group. They felt sorry for her and tried to include her, but they didn’t consider her a friend enough to really confide in her. They kept her at arm’s length, something someone who didn’t belong to their club couldn’t breach.