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?”

Shade had been about to get up from the table but he sat back down, deciding to finish his coffee.

“Actually, no. Lily doesn’t seem interested in any of the boys she’s met at college, and with Charles running his father’s restaurant, they practically never see each other anymore. She says they’re just friends, anyway.”

“I think she’s attracted to older men. When I interviewed Conner, I almost couldn’t get her out of the room.”

Shade choked on his coffee.

“He’s from Texas, and he promised to teach her to ride a horse. Now that the weather is getting warmer, I’m sure he’ll keep his promise. I’ll be happy for her to spend some time with the opposite sex, and I like Conner. He’s a nice guy. I checked all his references myself. Lily will be thrilled when Conner takes her riding.”

“I bet she will be. I know I would.” Jewell snickered.

Shade’s chair scraped back from the table. He walked away, taking his dirty dishes to the sink, not caring that his coffee cup broke from the force. He then strode toward the kitchen door.

“Where you going, Shade?” Razer taunted with an evil smile.

“I need to buy a plane ticket. Someone I know needs to go home as soon as possible.”

“Oh, I hope it isn’t serious?” Beth’s voice was filled with concern.

“It’s a medical emergency,” Shade replied, going out the door.

* * *

Shade leaned nonchalantly against the kitchen counter, waiting for the club meeting to begin. He wished Viper would give them their punishments instead of making them draw them weekly.

“Where’s Viper?” Shade had been late for the meeting because he had been held up finishing an order at the factory, making up time for being late that morning.

He was fucking tired. His nights were getting longer, and nothing seemed to be working to keep Lily off his mind. And he had tried it all.

“He’s in the backyard, fighting with Winter,” Bliss explained. She was standing on the opposite side of the counter.

“What over?” Shade asked without turning around.

She lowered her voice so only he could hear her in the crowded room. “She seems to think either Razer or Viper are the reason I’ve been late to work at the factory lately.”

Shade’s face darkened. He liked to keep his business private, especially from Winter and Beth, but he didn’t expect his brothers to take the blame for something he had done. He was about to go outside when they returned.

Winter sat down at the table, and Bliss took an empty seat as Viper went into the large room connected off the kitchen where Cash handed him the red punishment bag.

“Bliss,” Viper called.

Bliss got up from the table, going to Viper. He held the bag out to her, and Bliss put her hand out and dug inside the bag. When her hand came out, she was holding a folded piece of paper.

“Rider.” Rider, who was leaning on the kitchen counter next to him, walked to Viper. He also pulled a piece of paper from the bag.

Viper repeated the procedure seven more times. “That’s everyone.” Viper handed the bag back to Cash before going to the counter to grab himself a beer while everyone read their punishments.

Shade unfolded the slip of paper he had drawn.

“I got the worst one,” Bliss complained.

“What did you get?” Natasha asked.

“Laundry for two weeks.” She pouted.

“That’s not bad. I got dishes for three weeks. Want to switch? I don’t mind the laundry if it’s for two weeks,” Natasha bargained.

“I don’t want to pack everyone’s laundry up and down the stairs for two weeks. I may be willing to switch.”