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His words come out fast, and I know he’s justifying himself, but he doesn’t need to, because it looks damn good. “Oh, wow,” Keely whispers behind me.

I look over my shoulder at her. She’s not looking at the floor. She’s looking at the walls. They’re painted a soft gray, and a couple of prospects are putting the newly painted white baseboards back on now.

“I picked this color, too. I thought it was a good neutral for the whole house, then you guys can do whatever you want later,” Blast continues.

I had no idea Blast could do this kind of shit. Maybe he’s truly missed his calling. He jerks his chin, and we make our way to the bathroom. At least the vanity I bought and had in the garage is being put to good use. The new shower-tub insert has been installed, along with the vanity, faucet, and new accessories to hang towels and shit—as well as new lighting.

“How did you do this so fast?” Keely asks.

“Many hands make light work,” Blast murmurs.

Then he takes us to the extra room, Thea’s new room, and I look around there and smile. It looks fucking amazing. We talk over plans for the other bathroom, then I discuss the kitchen with him. I realize I can’t just order Blast to take care of all this for me. I’m going to have to pay him, because there is no fucking way I can expect this as a favor.

“When can you have this place done and livable?” I ask once I’ve gone over everything with him. Keely and Thea have gone out into the backyard to sit on the covered porch, giving us a bit of time to discuss the future of the house.

“Two more weeks and you’re in and everything is the way you want it,” Blast states.

Inwardly, I wince because I’m not sure how Keely and Thea are going to like living at the clubhouse for two weeks. Plus, that’s going to speed up the conversation about women and me, about our club, and it’s going to bring up a lot of questions that I wanted to avoid for as long as possible—maybe forever.

“Let’s do it, and I’m paying everyone involved. I thought I was going to be doing more of this myself, but this run I have to leave on tomorrow has me all fucked up on that.”

Blast jerks his chin. His lips twitch into a smirk before he speaks. “I got a little to do as far as club business, but it’s all local collections in Vegas. So I’ll make sure this stays on target and everyone does what they’re supposed to.”

“I appreciate it, brother.”

He shrugs a shoulder. “Nice to do something different for a change, and it looks like you really got something good going,” he says as his gaze leaves mine and shifts to the sliding glass door, to where Keely and Thea are hanging out.

Thea is resting on Keely’s chest as she lies down on the concrete patio.

He’s right.

I do have something good going.

Really fucking good, and I’m going to hold on with both hands. Gripping on to it and refusing to let go—ever.

CHAPTER

THIRTY-THREE

KEELY

I’m not sure this was the best idea. Maybe I should have stayed at my parents’ until the house was finished. We’re back at what Brock called the clubhouse. He showed me his room after it had been cleaned by someone, though he didn’t tell me who.

I hear music playing in the bar, but that’s not what has me concerned. It’s finally hitting me, all the million little things you take for granted when you’re in your own space.

We have one room for the three of us, which is fine. I don’t want Thea out of my sight as it is, but also, there is a whole communal bathroom situation. Along with a communal kitchen. The communal kitchen, where I am currently giving Thea a bath in her new little tub.

Brock is somewhere in the bar claiming he needed to talk to someone. He said a name, Dare or something. I don’t know who any of these people are, and for the first time in a long time, I feel very out of my element.

I don’t usually mind being in new places, around new people, but now that I have Thea and we’re in here alone… and I’m alone with my thoughts, I’m feeling very uneasy about this. Not that I don’t think it’s safe or anything, more along the lines of I didn’t really think this through.

Not to mention, how am I going to work tomorrow night? I can ask Clare if she’ll mind me bringing the new bassinet into the café and just cart it back and forth, but I don’t know how long she would be okay with that.

And if I quit, how do I pay for my classes and licensing? It’s not like I’m going to ask Brock for money. Sure, he offered at one point, but there’s no way I’m asking.

It’s too much.

I have never needed as much as I do now with Thea, and it’s very difficult to be independent. I hate it, but then I think about being with Brock, and I realize I’ve never been as happy as I am when I’m near him.