Page 58 of Last Mile

I laughed. “Thanks a lot.”

“You both better cool it. If you keep up the ragging, she’ll be running for the hills the first chance she gets, which I’m pretty sure would have Bishop on your ass.”

When I whirled around, I saw Alexandra Malloy standing behind me. This time she was without her adorable son. Instead, she held a platter of cheese in her hands. She gave me a warm smile.

“It’s good to see you again.”

I glanced over my shoulder at Annie, who winked at me. I exhaled a long breath. “So all that jazz about the present was just you fucking with me?”

Annie laughed. “Consider it a little initiation rite into the Raiders women.”

“Jesus, you scared the hell out of me.”

“Need a clean pair of panties?” Kim asked teasingly.

“Yeah, I do. I was just waiting for you all to jump me.”

Annie laughed. “Sorry about that. We like to see what a girl is made out of before we invite her into our circle.”

“They just didn’t know you had passed the most important test already,” Kim said.

“And what would that be?”

“Why, the Kim test, of course!”

“I see. Glad I managed to pass it with flying colors.” Nodding at Alexandra, I asked, “Did she do the same thing to you?”

“My situation was a little different, since I was coming here as Willow’s teacher, rather than just a hookup with one of the guys.”

When my eyebrows shot up at her summation, she quickly added, “Not that you’re just a hookup.”

“No. She’s far more than that,” Kim said knowingly.

“I am?”

Kim grinned. “Bishop has never, ever invited a woman to a Raiders party before.”

“Isn’t that because he usually gets his pieces of ass from the pool of women here?” I countered.

While the other women snickered, Kim’s blue eyes widened.

“Damn, girl, I can’t believe you went there.”

“Truth hurts, right?”

She shook her head. “It might’ve been true six months ago, but it sure as hell isn’t true now.” Reaching over, she cupped my chin. “I’ve known Bishop since he was a little kid, and I’ve seen a change in him since he’s been seeing you.”

“Well, we’re not really seeing each other,” I argued.

“Then whatever it is you’re doing.” Kim turned to Alexandra.

“Aren’t I right?”

Alexandra smiled. “I haven’t known Bishop as long as Kim has, but he is certainly different.”

At that moment, Rev’s wife, Annabel, joined the group. “I would say he’s positively smitten.”

Kim snorted. “As much as a man like Bishop can be.”