Chapter 35 Daisy #3
“Don’t mind them,” another woman said with a gentle wave of her hand. Her demeanor was soft. Wavy blond hair brushed her shoulders as she came forward. “I’m Charleigh, and this is my fiancé, River.”
She towed another man forward.
He had to be the most terrifying of them all. Black hair and eyes the same color as Raven’s. They were so close to the same shade that I was pretty sure they had to actually be related, though his eyes were filled with that same kind of violence that I so often felt radiating from Cash.
“Nice to meet you, Daisy,” he said.
I dipped my chin as Charleigh set a hand on Nolan’s head.
“Nolan is mine and River’s son.” Her voice was so tender and riddled with awed affection that it almost struck me like pain. A pain that I understood. It was the kind that made you so desperate to keep your family safe that you would do anything to see it through.
“That’s right. This is Momma-Dog, and that’s my Daddy-O.” Nolan hooked a thumb back at them.
The last couple came up, the man’s arm slung over the woman’s shoulders. He had a saunter to him, a dark arrogance that filled the room. “I’m Theo, and this is my Piper. We’re really happy that you’re here.”
“My Feo, my Feo.” Finn patted his chest as he jumped, delight on his face.
Any amount of arrogance slid off Theo, and he released Piper and scooped up the little boy. “And it seems you already met my little Finn.”
“I did.” It was close to a wheeze. My mind whirred as I tried to keep up. To keep them all straight in my mind.
It wasn’t like Cash gave me much info.
Now, I wished I’d have spent last night peppering him for details rather than being devoured by his hands and that mouth.
Okay, that was a lie.
One so big I couldn’t even try to front it.
I didn’t think I’d trade last night for anything.
But still, he could have dished a little during the silent trip over, but I knew exactly where our minds had been.
“It’s nice to meet you all,” I finally said.
“You, too.” Piper stepped forward. “It’s really great that you’re here. I’m fairly new to town, too, but I know you’re going to absolutely love it here.”
My heart fluttered. I appreciated that they were all trying to give me comfort. To make me feel welcome. Like they planned on me staying.
Did they know? I bet Cash hadn’t told them what I convinced him of. I mean, would I be surprised? The man was a vault. Otherwise, there was no question they would have told him to kick us to the curb or maybe encouraged him to run for the hills.
I was a definite red flag.
Ill at ease, I shifted my hand behind me to hide the ring.
“Oh no, I think we might have overwhelmed her. She has that glazed look in her eyes.” Raven pressed her black fingernails to her lips like she was suppressing an oops.
“Did you think she wouldn’t be?” Charleigh shook her head. “I didn’t know what to do with myself when I only had you to contend with. Now she has all of us.”
Emery giggled. “We are a lot, but I promise you’re going to like us.”
“Obviously. We’re basically the best.” Raven stepped forward and took my hand. “Now let’s get our girl a drink before she actually passes out.”
Raven looped her elbow through mine, and Emery did the same with the other. Piper and Charleigh took up their sides, and they started guiding me toward the kitchen as if we had all just been placed on the same team.
Overwhelmed was an understatement.
I fumbled to look over my shoulder at Cash, who still stood in the opening. That hazel gaze was locked on me. Surrounded by the guys he considered brothers, who were talking low enough that I couldn’t make out what they were saying.
The children scampered off to the middle of the living area to start a game, instantly making themselves at home.
“Holy shitballs.” Raven’s voice at my ear had me jerking my attention back to her.
“This is epic. Like, crazy epic. You do know that I haven’t seen Cash talk to a woman once in my life?
And I’ve known that man since I was nine years old.
I mean, I’m sure he’s had a rendezvous or two, but I can assure you that he has never once in all of history brought a woman home. And now he’s going to marry you?”
She basically screeched it on a whisper.
Surprise widened my eyes.
“What?”
They knew?
And this news was epic?
Charleigh laughed. “Oh, she hasn’t figured out how this works yet. Basically, there are no secrets between us, and if you have one, Raven will hound you until it’s hers. So, if Otto knows, then Raven knows, which means the rest of us definitely know.”
Dizziness spun my head as they hauled me around to the other side of the island. “I…”
“But I never spill those secrets to anyone outside our circle, so whatever you have is safe with me. Safe with all of us.” Raven glanced around at the rest of them for confirmation.
Each nodded their head.
Safe? I couldn’t believe any of this was safe.
All the teasing drained from Raven’s face. “I mean that, Daisy. You’re safe here. With us.” She reached out and tugged my left hand to her, squeezing it as she peeked at Cash.
“You’re safe with him.” Her voice dropped in emphasis.
I jerked my attention back to her.
Did they know…everything?
Disquiet blustered through my insides.
Piper popped up onto the counter so she was sitting facing me. Basically blocking my view of Cash, who looked like a caged beast tacked to the far wall.
Every single one of those men appeared lethal. But there was something about Cash that set him apart. The man a silent, ticking bomb in the middle of the strange easiness that the rest of the men exuded.
“None of them will let anything happen to you or those kids,” Piper urged quietly. “You came to the right place.”
“And she didn’t even stumble on it the way the rest of us did. She came here because she knew this was where she belonged.” Charleigh’s voice was emphatic.
Belonged?
Emery passed me a cool glass of water like she knew I needed it.
“Thank you,” I mumbled, trying to keep up with what they were saying. “Cash…told you what’s going on with me?”
“Well, he told the guys that you’re having some trouble,” Raven explained. “We don’t know all the details, but we know we’re here for you and we’re going to do everything we can to help. Cash said you need him, which means you get the rest of us.”
My chest squeezed and my heart raced.
She glanced at the ring on my left hand that was wrapped around the glass. Now on full display.
Whoops.
“Clearly, the man is taking things seriously.” She arched a manicured brow.
My stomach toppled over. “He’s just making sure everything looks legit.”
“This is your husband you’re having an issue with?” Caution filled Emery’s voice.
I sipped at the cold water before I inhaled a steadying breath. “Ex.”
“Thank God you have Cash,” Piper whispered.
My eyes squeezed closed for a second before I pried them open. “You’re all…okay with this?”
Raven widened her eyes. “If you’re asking if we’re okay that Cash is attending our Sunday family gathering for the first time without it being some kind of huge family event, with a woman and her three kids in tow, mind you, then we are definitely okay with it.”
“But I coerced him into marrying me.”
“I doubt it took much coercing, considering it’s obvious he’s madly in love with you.” Emery’s brows lifted.
“Uh…no.” I shook my head like I could shake off the idea.
There was no chance.
No way.
Raven laughed a dubious sound. “Cash is letting you and your children live with him. I’ve never even been in his house.
And he’s going to marry you with the intention of adopting them if something happened to you, which, by the way, there’s no chance of because these men would burn down the world for you. But still…”
There was something that underscored her tone that left me unsettled. An intonation of whatever corruption he was involved in.
But whatever it was, I knew I didn’t care because at the heart of it all? I knew he was kind.
All four of the women shared a look at my silence.
Crap.
Did I just give myself away?
“Did you guys see that?” Piper asked.
“Oh, yeah. I saw it. She just went dreamy.” Raven gave a quick nod.
I tried to roll my eyes. “I did not go dreamy.”
“Um, if that wasn’t dreamy, then I don’t know what dreamy is,” Raven teased.
“And this one spends half her time reading romance novels. Believe me, she knows dreamy.” Charleigh jostled Raven with her shoulder. “And spicy.”
My mind wandered again.
Okay, tumbled down a hill and off the side of a cliff.
Because the thought of spice had me imagining being propped on Cash’s counter. His head between my thighs. His cock…
I gulped.
“Oh my God. You two got naked?” Raven suddenly gushed in my ear.
“Oh…no…well…we…um…” I stumbled over the lie I couldn’t seem to form.
Piper laughed. “You do remember we already warned that you can’t keep secrets from Raven? She will pry them out of you just as quickly as she’ll hunt you down if you try to get away from her.”
“Hey, I just need my besties together. And if that means kidnapping them when they get crazy thoughts like leaving me, then so be it.” She shrugged an innocent shoulder, playfulness rolling out of her.
I tried to stop it, but I choked over a laugh. How in the world was I finding any amusement in this situation? But there was something about these women that made me feel accepted.
Accepted in a moment.
In a way I never had been in my entire life.
I never had friends. Only my best friend.
I peeked back at Cash. At the sight, my stomach thrashed in a fit of need. So big and burly where he kept glancing between me and my children while his friends chatted around him.
I had to wrench myself away, my throat thick when I forced out, “I…it was a mistake.”
The most mind-blowing, perfect mistake.
“And we didn’t even have sex. It was just a…thing.” Why was I trying to defend it?
“From where I’m standing, I don’t think either of you are regretting it.” Piper peered into the living area. I didn’t have to look that way to know Cash’s attention was seared into me.
“And if it was a mistake? Cash is itching to make it all over again.” There was a ribbing to Emery’s voice.
I shifted on my feet.
Charleigh’s laugh was gentle. “He’s clearly not the only one.”
“That would only complicate things.” The words were thin.
Complicate things? This situation wasn’t just complicated.
It was a snowball of disaster waiting to happen.
“Well, at least one thing is clear,” Raven said. “You’re important to him, so that means you’re important to us, which you should know means we’re keeping you.”
A frown pinched between my brow, and I gripped at the glass so I had something to do with my hands. “Keeping me?”
“Um, yes, you walk through that door, and you hit bestie status.” Emery pointed toward the entryway. “No one makes it through the threshold without one of the guys intending to bring you into the circle. And that circle is small.”
Raven turned on her high heels and strutted to the opposite counter where a bar was set up. “Now, about that drink because you definitely look like you need it.”
She grabbed two large bottles from the counter. “Vodka or tequila?”