Page 81 of Fallen Flame

Oliver looked at the sisters. “I didn’t know you were coming.”

“Neither did we,” Mason muttered.

Adley laughed, slipping her arm around Mason’s waist while resting her free hand on her growing pregnant belly. “They did mention wanting to come visit.”

Mason grunted. “They said visit,” he pointed accusingly at them, “not move here. And definitely not demand jobs.”

“We didn’t demand,” Demi corrected.

“We politely insisted,” Drew added.

I laughed.

Oliver looked surprised. “You’re moving here?”

Both nodded.

“Yup,” Demi chirped.

Oliver looked at Mason, then back at Demi and Drew. “Where are you staying?”

“The motel,” Drew answered.

“We checked in last night. Paid for the month,” Demi added proudly.

Oliver looked at Mason.

He shrugged. “What? It’s not like we’ve got empty bedrooms.” His eyes drifted around the clubhouse. “Unless people start doubling up.”

The thought popped into my head before I could stop it.

If space became an issue... I could always move into Oliver’s room.

Before I could dwell on it, another voice interrupted.

“What’d I miss?” Thorn walked into the common room dressed for work. Black pants. Black button-down shirt. The sleeves were rolled neatly to his forearms, exposing tattooed arms that looked like they belonged in a magazine.

I’d heard him complain about bartending more than once, but judging by the way he looked, I had a feeling women tipped him exceptionally well.

His eyes landed on Drew, then Demi. A flicker of surprise crossed his face. “Drew. Demi.”

“Hey, Thorn,” Drew answered with an easy smile, but Demi just nodded at him.

Mason filled him in. “They’re sticking around, and they’re working with you.”

Thorn nodded, but I could tell that he was surprised. “Good. I could use some help behind the bar.” He glanced toward Adley. “Since Adley is about ready to have that baby.”

Adley rubbed her stomach. “I’ve got a few months before that happens.”

“Mason’s going to have his hands full.”

“No argument there,” Mason muttered.

Thorn looked back toward Demi, only briefly, but long enough that I caught it.

Star and Cole wandered in, arguing about something that sounded suspiciously like whose turn it was to do laundry. Bell followed with a cup of coffee almost as big as her head, and Penny bounced through the doorway with enough energy to power a small city.

Calla and Clove were laughing about something Ender had apparently done while Eden slipped quietly into the room, Scout right behind her.