Chapter Twenty Four

A s Seaglass Cove celebrated the Fourth of July on the beach with a community potluck and fireworks once it got dark, Rachel was inside the clubhouse with Ruger attending a get-together for Havlin members and their families.

The place was packed with more people than Rachel had ever seen. Some women never came to the parties but attended family functions at the club. Children ran wild, hyped up on the holiday, and looking forward to going to the beach for fireworks later.

Katrina and Cora walked in together, followed by Jagger and Wire. Rachel envied how beautiful and happy the two pregnant women looked.

Beside Rachel, Ruger tensed. She glanced at him. All his attention was on his daughter.

She'd seen him experience many different emotions around Katrina—not that he outwardly showed anyone how he felt, but there were signs. Ruger had so many, it consumed him until he got fidgety.

"She's a beautiful soon-to-be-mom," she whispered.

Ruger grunted, but she could see by the sheen in his gaze he was thinking the same thing. He was a proud dad.

The music stopped, switching songs, and then filled the clubhouse again. They'd come over for the get-together. An open clubhouse for families. Those bikers without a family were able to bring their girlfriends. Since kids were running around, none of the bitches were allowed to attend until after eleven o'clock, when the kids would go home.

She leaned against Ruger's side. They'd arrived twenty minutes ago and sat on the couch. He'd filled her in on why they'd come. In Ruger's opinion, free food was offered. Then, they'd go home.

She knew him better than that. He was here because his daughter would be here.

Dio walked over and sat on the arm of the couch in front of them. "Grill's hot. Maverick's throwing the meat on now."

Ruger grunted.

Dio rolled up the sleeves of his t-shirt. "Damn, it's hot. Have you seen Bane?"

"He's at the pool table," said Ruger.

"Yo," shouted Dio. "Where's your old lady, Bane?"

Bane pointed at the table where Katrina and Cora sat. Dio walked over and talked to Daisy. Rachel knew most of the people in the room. While she hadn't personally spoken with them or even introduced herself, she'd observed them many times and understood the relationships.

"I'm hungry." Ruger latched his hands behind his head.

She patted his stomach. "You're always hungry."

"Not for food." He turned his head and winked. "We could slip into one of the bedrooms. There's time."

She couldn't stop her eyes from rounding. Ruger was such a private person. To hear him flirting with her in front of everyone, even if they couldn't hear him, surprised her.

It also made her feel wonderful that he wasn't keeping her a secret. Of course, the Havlin members knew he'd rescued her and let her heal at the clubhouse. But she lived with him now.

She snuggled closer to him. "If we wait until we get home, we don't have to hurry."

He grunted in agreement. She rubbed his leg, letting him know to be patient. They'd had sex that morning. He wasn't going to die.

She turned from Ruger to the room and found Katrina watching her. Embarrassed, she removed her hand from Ruger's leg.

His daughter witnessed the intimacy and walked toward them. Her stomach rolled. As far as she knew, Ruger had yet to explain their new living arrangements to Katrina. She wasn't sure what would happen when his daughter found out.

It didn't matter how hard she fought for Ruger; he would always choose his daughter over any woman. She learned that fact when they were locked in the basement together, fighting for their lives. Because of his love for Katrina, she fell in love with him.

Ruger strongly loved his daughter and put her first in his life.

A love she wished her father had for her. But he'd loved the criminal lifestyle more than his family.

She shifted. He planted his hand on her thigh and kept her from moving away from him. She gazed at him, imploring him to understand. Any relationship between them was going to cause a wedge between him and Katrina. She'd seen how upset Katrina had gotten when she showed up with her dad.

"Hey, baby." Ruger patted the couch on his other side. "Get off your feet."

Katrina sat down and spoke with her dad low enough that Rachel couldn't hear the conversation. She stared out at the room, trying to hide her curiosity about what they talked about but smart enough to know they needed time to themselves.

Dio returned to the couch,, and instead of sitting on the other side by Katrina, he leaned against the arm near Rachel. "What are your plans for later?"

Her cheeks flushed. She and Ruger flirted moments ago about having sex when they got home, but she wasn't going to tell Dio that.

"I'm not sure," she said.

"Daisy's opening up the pool once the sun goes down. A few of us are going swimming. Why don't you and Ruger come?" Dio motioned with his chin. "It's hotter than hell outside."

It was an unusually warm day for the coast. She glanced at Ruger, but he continued to talk.

Before she could say more, Skye, the young teenage girl who belonged to Maverick and Brooke, walked with a skip as she headed toward Dio on gangly legs. When she arrived, she leaned into him, covered his ear, and whispered.

Dio shook his head. Skye pulled back with a frown.

"Your parents would kill me." Dio tapped Skye's nose with his finger. "Besides, Maverick isn't going swimming."

"I know. That's why I want to go."

"You swim almost every day after school and all summer long." Dio picked up her hand. "I'm surprised your fingers don't look like prunes."

Skye sighed. "But I've never swam at night."

"And you won't." Dio linked his fingers with Skye, softening his answer. "You have to be eighteen years old. Sorry, princess."

Skye jerked away from him and stomped off. Dio scratched his head. Rachel watched the exchange. Skye was a wild child. She had the run of the clubhouse when she visited, but she'd noticed that she spent more time with Dio than her parents—like most teenagers, which wasn't unusual.

It was the opposite of how she grew up.

By the time she turned ten, Rachel had spent most of her time in her bedroom when she was home to avoid talking with her dad and brother. At that age, she wanted what all the other girls her age had, not what she had at home. It was part of growing up.

"Rach?"

She turned her attention to Ruger. "Hm?"

"I'm walking outside with Katrina. You want to stay here or come with me?"

Her chest tightened. "I'll come."

She wasn't afraid of staying inside the clubhouse without him. She'd feel better with him.

She stood. Ruger slid his fingers into her palm, and she held onto two of his fingers.

Outside, she looked up at the sky. The sun had already gone down.

Her stomach growled. The aroma from the grill in the corner of the parking lot hung in the air. It wouldn't be long, and they'd go back to the cottage.

Ruger led her over to the line of motorcycles and stopped.

"I had the ultrasound done yesterday." Katrina unzipped the duffle on the back of a motorcycle. "I brought it in case you showed up."

"You shouldn't be riding in your condition," he muttered.

Katrina pulled out a small piece of paper. "The doctor said it was okay to travel short distances around town since it was an activity I did before I got pregnant. Jagger only lets me ride along if it's from home to clubhouse—and he took the back street." She rubbed her baby bump. "But in another week or two, I'll be too big to sit comfortably."

Ruger tilted the paper toward the light. His expression softened for a split second as he studied the ultrasound before he hid his reaction.

He handed the picture back. "Won't be long now."

"I know." Katrina laughed. "Crazy how fast time is going. I'm not sure I'm ready."

"You're ready."

Katrina looked down at the picture of her daughter. "Do you think so?"

"I know so." Ruger hooked the back of Katrina's neck, bringing her forward, and kissed the top of her head. "You'll be a good mom."

The change in Katrina was shocking. Rachel stood quietly, letting the two have that moment. She'd witnessed Katrina's insecurities about being a mom, and that normal worry surprised Rachel. Katrina was always so confident and strong.

Ruger's daughter cleared her throat and raised her gaze toward Rachel. "Would you like to see the ultrasound?"

Shocked, Rachel nodded. She wasn't sure what she was looking at besides the side view of a baby's head.

"He's beautiful." She gave the picture back, knowing it was probably a stupid thing to say, but going by Katrina's smile and nod, she knew it was the correct reply.

"I should probably get back inside before Cora does all the work." Katrina hugged Ruger. "I'm glad you came tonight."

She looked at Rachel, nodded to include her, and then walked toward the clubhouse.

"Baby?" called Ruger, stopping his daughter.

Katrina turned around. "Yeah?"

"Is Cora doing okay?"

Katrina's shoulders sagged. "She's getting tired lately. The doctor wants her to take it easy."

Ruger grunted.

His daughter went inside.

Rachel held on to his hand, trying to understand why he wouldn't ask his sister how she was doing himself and instead kept pushing her away.

"Let's eat and then get out of here." Ruger wiggled the fingers in her hand.

Remembering Dio's message, she said, "I'm supposed to tell you that...I can't remember who, but someone was opening up the pool later. Dio wanted to know if you wanted to swim."

Ruger stopped and looked at her. "Daisy?"

"Yeah, that's who he said would open the pool."

"Do you want to swim?"

She shrugged, not knowing what to say. She hadn't given it any thought after Dio mentioned it.

"We could eat, swim, and then go home." He flickered his gaze down to her breasts and then back up to her face.

Her stomach fluttered. He was still thinking about what they'd do when they got home.

She swallowed her arousal. "I don't have a swimsuit, so I'll watch you swim if you'd like to go."

He kissed her. "Let's eat. I can hear your stomach growling."

Heat flushed her face. It wasn't food she was hungry for anymore. She wanted him.

The day had turned out positive. Katrina included her in the conversation and seemed happy about sharing the sonogram picture with her. Ruger got to see his daughter which always made him happy. And now he was going to take her to a club activity after they ate.

She threw her arms around his waist and squeezed. Her outlook on life was improving, and she had Ruger to thank for everything.

"What's that for?" He smoothed back her hair.

"Happy."

He raised his brows. "Yeah?"

She smiled. "Yep."

He patted her ass. "Good.

She took the paper plate he handed her and went to the table lined with food. There were signs that her life was improving. She would need to find a job soon. While she appreciated Ruger's support, she wanted to do her part.

She wanted to make all the right decisions.

Recognizing when she had a good thing going and was falling in love with Ruger motivated her to make all the right decisions. She wouldn't fall back on taking advantage of others like her family had.