Ryder splayed his palm over her belly and whispered, “Let’s grab some lunch.”
She nodded. “Maybe upstairs in the meeting room with Grady? The air’s a little stifling on the patio right now.”
Grady walked through the gate and shook his head. “Come on, Raphe. Leave now, and you might get to come back to my establishment someday. Maybe.”
With a huff, Raphe hissed at Grady, but didn’t shift his gaze from Zoe, “Your beer tastes like the ass you all kissed to make your way through your high and mighty life.”
Ryder nodded to Grady, and smiled graciously, knowing it would piss off Raphe. “Want to meet up for dinner tonight?”
Smiling despite the odd invitation, Grady said, “Sounds great. You both want to come over to my place? I’ll call Haley, Finn, and Evan, too.”
Zoe answered for him, “Please. Want me to bring anything?”
“Just yourselves.”
Raphe cleared his throat, “This isn’t over, Zoe.”
Rolling his eyes, Ryder said, “Go sober up.”
Shaking out of his friend’s grip, Raphe stumbled closer and sneered. “Slut isn’t worth my time anyway.”
Fury boiling in his throat, Ryder stepped closer, but Zoe wrapped her hand around his arm and said, “I’ve wanted to break his nose many times, but he’s not worth the effort. Come on.”
Clearly not finished, Raphe stepped close and stood tall.
Ryder held his shoulders high and didn’t back down.
Bubbles seemed to rise from Raphe’s hiccup. “How do you even know that baby’s yours? One night? Or was it entitled, magical Mallory sperm?”
Ryder’s stomach sank, and he looked over at Grady and saw his expression fall. Asshole had no idea Grady and Claire were scheduling with fertility specialists.
Raphe moved in to nail a drunken, sloppy punch.
Rage burned through Ryder’s veins, and he lifted a fist to land the blow before Raphe did.
Too late, his hotheaded brother was faster. Grady stepped up and slammed his fist into Raphe’s nose, the crack audible even over the noise of the road and the shocked crowd.
Raphe grabbed his bleeding nose and hollered. His friends pulled him back before he could fight back.
Grady rubbed his fist and shrugged with a satisfied smile.
Zoe cleared her throat and said, “I’ve been working on a new bread pudding recipe.”
Already on the phone, Raphe was calling the cops.
Grady nodded cheerfully, but shook out his hand, and Ryder knew it was going to hurt like hell later. “Okay, you are on dessert then. I love bread pudding.”
Zoe rose to her toes and planted her lips against Ryder’s. “I’m almost ready to think about houses. Sorry I’m dragging my feet on this one.”
“I never want to rush you,” Ryder murmured, and kissed Zoe long and slow, melting along with the tension of their fight. “I’m glad you told me how you felt, and I’ll slow down, I promise.”
“Thanks. I’ll get there.”
Red and blue lights and a chirping siren pulled up alongside the building.
Asher stepped out of the Explorer with a teasing, disappointed shake of his head. “Grady. We talked about this.”
“Sorry,” Grady said with a lazy shrug.
