“Like you haven’t.” Maddox raises his brows with a grin at Angel. “Pretty sure you’ve taken it in the ass a time or two, too.”
“I was stoned and drunk,” Angel grumbles his defense.
“Then why do you let Josie keep doing it?” Maddox counters. All Angel can do is shake his head with a laugh.
“Oh my God. Baby in the room,” Carayells. “All of you are banned from her until you learn how to watch your mouths.”
We all burst out laughing until I catch that glare again. I do not want on her bad side after taking so long to get on her good one. “She’s right, guys,” I agree. “We’ve got to start paying attention now that she’s become a parrot.”I take Lyra from Maddox. “Be good for Cara,” I tell her with a kiss on her cheek.
“I’s always good, Daddy. That whyshe likes sweeping with me more than you.”
My mouth falls open. I look over to Cara,whose eyes have grown into huge chocolate saucers. Her face has turned the color of cherries.
“Does she now?” Angel asks with a taunting tone.
“Uh-huh,” Lyra nods. “Her sweeps with me tonight, Daddy. Not you,” she tells me seriously.
I can’t stop the laugh this time.She has no idea that she is an absolute rat.
I hand Lyra to Cara. “I hope you didn’t plan to make me your dirty little secret,” I whisper in her ear with a chuckle, then kiss the corner of her gaping mouth. With my finger, I push her chin up, closing her mouth. “You’re gonna catch flies.”
Her eyes snap to mine, narrowed and irritated. I laugh some more as we exit the bus. I feel the heat of her glare the entire way.
“When did that happen?” Ryder asks before the door closes behind us. “Because just a few days ago, she was hiding from you and freaking out.”
“Happened the same night, but it was just sleeping,” I tell them.
“That is crap,” Angel challenges me. “You fucked her last night, and don’t bother to deny. It’s written all over your face with that dopey grin.”
I shake my head with a laugh. I’m notgoing to deny it, but I’m not going to tell them about it either.
“She looked lighter,” Ryder comments. “First time she’s seemed happy in years.I know you won’t tell us what she said, but how is she doing? Really?”
I stop walking, looking at all of them. “She’s freaked out by the other night. She thoughtshe recognized the guy.”I nearly miss it, but I catch the quick flash of acknowledgment in Maddox’s eyes. “You know, don’t you? Was it really him?”
He doesn’t say anything. He just gives me a slight nod. Ryder and Angel both lookat him with questions. “Something you want to share?” Ryder asks him with narrowed eyes.
“No. Because she doesn’t want us to know. She doesn’t know that I know,” Maddox answers him without hesitation.
“Does Dane know?” I ask, already knowing the answer.
“No, and until she tells him, he won’t find out. Same goes for everyone else,” Maddoxtells them all, that switch that is all authority has been flipped. “And you won’t tell her I know. Are we clear?”
“I don’t think she needs to know that,” Iagree. “It would freak her out more if she thought you knew.”
“What are you jerks talking about?” Dane calls out as he walks to us from his bus.
Grins spread across Ryder and Maddox’s faces, the proof oftheir intentions. They’re about to give Dane hell.
“Talking about Jake,” Ryder smirks. “He got laid.”
“Can’t you tell?” Angel digs in with them. “Hedoesn’t look like he wants to punch someone in the face.”
“You son of a –.As long as you’re going after my sister, I told you tokeep it in your pants. What thehell is wrong with you? Why would you –,” he pauses midsentence when he realizes, not only am I standing here allowing him to run his mouth, Maddox, Ryder, and Angel are grinning like jackasses.“Oh God,no. I don’t want to hear this. I think I’m going to be sick.”He bends over, placing his hands on his thighs after he turns green.
“Don’t you think your reaction is a little immature?” I taunt.
“I have two reactions. To get sick or to punch someone. Which would you rather have?”
