Road to Peace (23 page)

“What does?”

“Everything.”

I smiled, sliding my hand down his arm and linking my fingers with his. “Yeah, it does.”

He pulled me closer. “Love you, Maisie.”

I stilled for about two-point-five seconds before untangling myself and rolling over to face him. “Say that again,” I demanded.

Hatch chuckled, reaching out to slide my hair away from my face. “I love you. I know it’s soon and I fuckin’ hate pretty much everything, but I love you. You’re everything to me, baby.”

I let out a ridiculous girly squeal and pushed him on his back, straddling him as I leaned down and peppered kisses all over his face. “I love you too, even though I don’t hate pretty much everything.”

He gripped my hips, lifting me slightly, then lowering me onto his already hard cock. I let out a quiet moan and he grinned as he sat up and kissed me. “You ever need to do research on any of your products?”

I lifted myself and then lowered slowly. “I have a research department for that.”

“Don’t think you’re pickin’ up what I’m puttin’ down, Sunshine.”

I giggled. “I have never had the desire to do research before, but I will keep that in mind should something interesting come across my desk.”

He buried his face in my neck. “That’s my girl.”

For the next blissful hour, Hatch and I explored each other until it was time to get back to reality. I had to admit, getting dressed after an hour-and-a-half of illicit sex made our time all the more exciting and I couldn’t wait to do it again, but I was also happy to get home to Poppy and enjoy a Friday night just the three of us. I loved having Hatch in our space. It all felt so right.

Maisie

S
ATURDAY NIGHT, HATCH arrived just before six, while I was attempting to put on a pair of earrings. Unfortunately, something so intricate was still difficult. I let out a frustrated growl and dropped the hoops on my dresser.

“Need help?” Hatch asked from the doorway.

“Hi,” I said, rushing to him and kissing him deeply. “Yes.”

“You okay?” he asked after breaking the kiss.

“I just missed you and I can’t get my stupid earrings in.”

He chuckled. “I can help with both a those.”

“Mom!” Poppy bellowed.

“Oh, and
that
.” I dropped my forehead to his chest. “Can I hide, please?”

“What’s going on?”

“She has her period,” I whispered. “And is on the warpath.”

“Don’t want or need to know, Sunshine.” Hatch squeezed his eyes shut. “You go deal with her. I’ll grab a beer and help you with your earrings when you’re done.”

“Chicken.”

He grinned and stalked away.

I walked into Poppy’s room and found her face down on her bed. “Are you dead?”

“Yes,” she mumbled into her duvet.

“What do you need, Poppet?”

“Boobs.”

I bit back a giggle, but a snort escaped and Poppy rolled over and sat up. “You’re twelve, love, let’s wait on boobs for a while, okay? You’re already illegally pretty. It’s hard enough to ward off the boys.”

“Was it Devon?” She grabbed my arm. “Were you warding off Devon? Was he asking about me?”

Shit!
“Ah, no, not that I’m aware of.”

“Is he going to be there tonight?”

“Probably.” I stroked her hair, sliding it down her back. “Why?”

“Because he’s super hot, Mum, and if Lily’s there too, he won’t even look at me.”

“Sweetness, I don’t
want
him looking at you!” I ground out. “You’re twelve.”

“Almost thirteen.”

“Twelve,” I repeated.

“
Almost thirteen
.”

“I still have well over a month until you officially hit your teens. Please don’t rush me, okay?” She rolled her eyes and I smiled. “I will concede that you’re growing up and it’s giving me ulcers, but Devon’s older than you, Poppy. He’s in high school. As is Lily, so I’d really like you to just stick close to me and Hatch tonight and try not to feel like you have to be anything other than who you are, okay?”

“Can Grace come tonight?”

“We didn’t really plan on that. But next time for sure, okay?”

Poppy brightened and wrapped me up in a hug. “That’d be really great, Mummy. Thank you.”

“Hatch is here, so please finish getting dressed.”

She nodded and I left her room. I found Hatch in the kitchen opening a beer. “All good?” he asked.

“She has a crush on Devon.”

“What the fuck?”

“Devon is gorgeous, Hatch. You must know this.”

Hatch frowned. “Well, he touches her, he dies.”

“Whoa, that escalated quickly. He hasn’t done anything. She has a little crush. It’s totally innocent.”

“Poppy,” he called.

I grabbed his cut. “Honey, please don’t embarrass her.”

“I’m ready,” she said, skipping into the kitchen.

“You look beautiful, baby girl.”

Poppy blushed. “Thanks, Hatch.”

He crossed his arms. “Which poses a problem.”

She frowned. “What kind of a problem?”

“You get prettier every day and that makes things more difficult for me and your mom.”

“Why does that make it more difficult?”

“Well, there’ll be teenage boys with hormones ragin’ and they do stupid things because of that. So if one of them looks at you the wrong way, I need to know about it.”

“What?” she squeaked.

“Seriously, Poppy. Not one of my brothers’ kids comes anywhere near you tonight without you telling me, got it? Devon already knows the drill.”

“You told Devon?” she asked, horrified.

“I told Devon he goes nowhere near any of the girls at the club and that includes you.”

Poppy glanced at me and then back at Hatch.

“But that includes school,” Hatch continued. “Guys bug you there; I need to know about it.”

“Why?” she asked.

“This is part of me protecting you, Poppy, got it?”

She blushed and nodded as she lowered her head, but I didn’t miss her smile and my heart lightened.

“I’m gonna help your mom with somethin’ then we’ll go.”

“Okay, Hatch.”

He moved out from behind the island and pulled her in for a hug, kissing her head. “You good?”

She hugged him back and nodded.

“Good.”

I followed Hatch back into my bedroom and closed the door, wrapping my arms around his waist. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For making her feel special.”

“Is that what I did?”

“You’re a shit liar, darling, and I love you for it.” I leaned back and rolled my eyes. “Now help me with these earrings.”

He grinned and helped me put them on, then we gathered up the dog (newly named Sparky because when Poppy had picked him up, she’d received an electric shock) and headed to the compound.

The party was in full swing when we arrived, but I saw Cricket tap the arms of three men who turned and started our way. I recognized Cullen, so I deduced the others were Cade and Cameron.

“Poppy!” a feminine squeal sounded, and Lily came rushing toward us. “Ohmigosh, you got one of the puppies? I’m Lily. I don’t know if you remember me from dance class.”

“Hi, I remember,” Poppy said.

“What’s his name?”

“Sparky.”

“He’s so cute,” she said, scratching his chin. “I love your hair, Poppy.”

Poppy smiled. “Thanks.”

I could see Poppy’s surprise as the beautiful young woman showed genuine interest in her. “Is it okay if she comes and hangs out with us in the back, Mrs. Mann? Mom and Dad are out there too.”

“It’s where the grill is and generally where the older kids hang,” Hatch explained. “She’ll be covered.”

“Up to you, Poppy,” I said.

Poppy nodded, and Lily led her and Sparky away.

“That was easy,” I said.

Hatch wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me close. “Cam, Cade… Maisie.”

Cameron pulled me away from Hatch and wrapped me in a bear hug, lifting me off the ground. “Damn, Con, you said she was pretty, you didn’t tell me she was sexy as hell.”

“Put her the fuck down, Cam,” Hatch growled. “Watch her arm.”

“I’m okay.” I giggled as he set me on the ground. “Nice to meet you, Cameron.”

Cade was much more subdued and I saw where Devon got his good looks from. Cade hugged me as well, but gently and he didn’t linger, obviously heeding Hatch’s warning quicker than Cameron. Hatch pulled me back to him again and tucked me under his arm.

“Cameron’s already decided Ashley’s his conquest for the night,” Cricket said.

“Cricket,” Cameron said on a groan.

“Who’s Ashley?” I asked.

“Prez’s daughter,” Hatch said. “You go ahead and go for it, Cam.”

“Seriously?” he asked, his face lighting up.

“Yeah, brother.”

Cricket grinned and I figured something had to be up, so I waited for Cameron and Cade to walk away before I asked what that had been all about.

“Ashley will annihilate him,” Cricket said.

“She’s a ball-buster.” Hatch chuckled. “No doubt about it.”

I slapped his chest. “Don’t be disrespectful.”

“No, he’s right,” Cricket said. “She’s a totally self-confessed one. She has no time for stupid men and Cameron won’t be able to charm her. He won’t know what to do with himself.”

“You don’t want to warn your poor brother?”

“No,” they said in unison, and Cricket giggled.

“Come on, I’ll introduce you to everyone,” Hatch said.

Cricket walked away and I gripped Hatch’s waist. “Or…?”

“Or, what?”

“It’s not like anyone other than your family has seen us, right?” I said. “We
could
take a little detour up to your room.”

Hatch grinned, leaning down to kiss me. “Looks like I’ve created a monster.”

“Yes, yes you have.” I nodded. “And your monster needs to be fed, especially if there’s a little of that spanking action we had yesterday. That was fu—”

“Maisie! You’re here!” a female voice called, and I dropped my head onto Hatch’s chest with a groan.

Hatch slid his hand into my hair with a chuckle. “Hey, Kim.”

“Hey, Hatch.”

I forced a smile and raised my head. “Hi, Kim. How are you?”

She smiled. “I’m good.”

“Where’s Knight?” Hatch asked.

“He’s out back. You should head out there. This little guy’s stomping on my bladder, so I’ll be out in a bit.”

“Sounds good,” Hatch said, squeezing my neck gently.

Kim walked away and I stared up at Hatch. “Will she notice if we’re not out there?”

“Yeah, but I’m good with that, Sunshine.”

“Quick before anyone else stops us.”

He grabbed my hand and tugged me down the hallway toward the stairs and we made a run for his room. I was laughing so hard by the time he unlocked his bedroom door, I could barely breathe… then he was kissing me and I couldn’t breathe for an entirely different reason.

“Don’t mess up my hair,” I ordered as he yanked my shirt over my head.

“When the hell did you get so bossy?”

I giggled, tearing at his jeans. “I don’t want to meet your “brothers” looking like I’ve been… well, just laid.”

Hatch ran his thumbs over my nipples. “You will have been just ‘laid.’ “

“But I don’t want
them
to know that.” Having unbuttoned his jeans, I slid my hand inside and cupped him. “You are a work of art.”

Hatch grinned, lifting me onto the bed and divesting me of the rest of my clothes. We made our tryst a quick one since I didn’t want to leave Poppy alone for long, and then we headed back to the party and out to the back where a few of the club brothers and their families milled around waiting for meat to cook.

Maisie

I
MET LILY’S DAD, Hawk, who was blond and gorgeous, and rocking a handlebar moustache to die for. I’d already met her mom, Payton, at the dance class, and she stopped to offer me a drink and we chatted about our kids. She and Hawk had a couple of other children in the little kids’ room, apparently, which she promised to introduce me to later. I met Cassidy’s husband, Ace, and their older son, Maverick, and Booker and Dani, and Mack and Darien (I think) whose kids were also in with the little ones.