23. Kip

23

KIP

I lean against the kitchen counter, watching Clay slice tomatoes.

“You sure this barbecue is a good idea right now?” I ask, swiping a chunk of tomato. “Lot of shit going down with the club. Tempers running hot.”

Clay shrugs, his broad shoulders relaxed. “The boys need to blow off steam. Reconnect outside of business.” He slides the tomatoes into a bowl, tossing them with herbs. “Nothing brings people together like good food and cold beer.”

I nod, but uncertainty niggles at me. The tension among the Black Wolves feels like a powder keg lately, one wrong spark ready to ignite it.

“Besides,” Clay continues, wiping his hands on a towel, “morale is low. This’ll remind everyone what we’re standing for - brotherhood.”

His steady gaze meets mine. I know that look, that resolute set to his jaw. Once Clay sets his mind to something, he pursues it with single-minded focus.

“Alright, brother.” I clap him on the shoulder. “Let’s fire up the grill and round up the crew.”

A smile tugs at Clay’s mouth. “That’s the spirit. United we ride...”

“...divided we fall,” I finish our motto as I head out to the living room.

I find Ayla in the living room, sitting cross-legged on the floor with Piper in her lap. She’s reading to her in a soft, melodic voice that wraps around me like a warm blanket. For a moment, I just lean against the doorframe, watching them, a smile playing on my lips. I can still feel her lips against mine, the noises that came out of her when I touched her just right. Damn. Clear head, there’s a baby in the room.

Ayla looks up, her green eyes meeting mine. “Hey, Kip. What’s up?”

I push off the doorframe and saunter over. “Clay, Teller, and I are going to a barbecue if you’d like to come.”

Her face lights up. “That sounds great! I’d love to.” She tickles Piper’s belly, eliciting a giggle from the little girl. “We could use some fresh air and sunshine, couldn’t we, munchkin?”

Clay walks in, a dish towel slung over his shoulder. “Glad to hear it. It’ll be nice for you to meet some more people.”

Ayla’s smile falters slightly. “Who else will be there?”

I exchange a glance with Clay. We haven’t told her about the Black Wolves yet, unsure how she’d react. “Just some friends of ours,” I say casually. “Good people.”

She nods, but I can see the hesitation in her eyes. “Can I bring Shadow? He loves a good cookout.”

Clay shakes his head apologetically. “Sorry, Ayla. Not everyone there is a fan of dogs.”

Her face falls, and she hugs Piper a little closer. I can practically see the debate raging in her mind - stay home with Shadow or come out with us…who would know that a dog means so much?

I crouch down beside her, my hand resting gently on her knee. “Hey, it’ll be fun. You trust us, right?”

She searches my face for a long moment before nodding. There’s so much relief in that one little movement. She’s starting to trust us. Trust in me. “Okay, I’ll come. Just let me get ready.”

As she stands up, I can’t help but admire the way the sunlight streaming through the window catches the gold flecks in her eyes, making them shimmer like precious gems. She’s absolutely breathtaking.

Clay clears his throat, and I realize I’ve been staring. Heat crawls up the back of my neck as I straighten up. “Great. We’ll head out in about an hour.”

Ayla flashes me a smile that makes my heart skip a beat before disappearing down the hallway. I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding.

Damn, this woman is going to be the death of me. But what a way to go.

Clay scoops up Piper, deciding to put her in a cute dress for the barbecue.

After a while, I find my feet carrying me to Ayla’s room. I knock softly on the door, pushing my hands into my pocket. I feel like a teenager waiting for the pretty, popular girl to notice me.

“Come in,” Ayla calls, her voice muffled by the door.

I step inside, closing the door behind me. When I turn around, the sight of her steals the breath from my lungs. She’s wearing a sweater dress that hugs her curves in all the right places, the soft fabric clinging to her like a second skin. Her dark hair falls in loose waves around her shoulders, and her lips are painted a deep, sultry red.

“Wow,” I breathe, my eyes drinking her in. “You look... incredible.”

A blush stains her cheeks, and she ducks her head. “Thanks, Kip. I wasn’t sure if this was too much, but-“

I cross the room in two strides, pulling her into my arms. “It’s perfect. You’re perfect.”

She melts into my embrace for a moment before stiffening and pulling away. “I should finish getting ready.”

I frown, not liking the distance she’s putting between us. “Ayla, talk to me. What’s going on?”

She busies herself with her hair, avoiding my gaze. “Nothing.”

“Ayla,” I begin, my voice rough with emotion. “About last night...”

She tenses, still not meeting my gaze. “Kip, I don’t think now is the best time to-“

“Then when?” I interrupt, frustration seeping into my tone. “When is it going to be a good time to talk about the fact that we almost slept together?”

Ayla’s cheeks flush a deep crimson, her eyes widening at my bluntness. She takes a shaky breath, finally turning to face me. “Maybe never, Kip. You’re my boss. This...whatever this is between us...it could complicate things.”

I clench my fists, my jaw clenching. “So you’re just going to pretend like nothing happened?”

She closes her eyes, her voice barely above a whisper. “I can’t afford to lose this job, Kip. Piper needs me. And I...I need the stability.”

My heart sinks at her words, the realization that she’s putting up walls to protect herself from getting hurt again. I want to tell her that I would never let anything happen to her, that I would move heaven and earth to keep her safe. But I know that now isn’t the time.

I reach over and gently take her hand in mine, my thumb brushing over her knuckles.

“I’m not going to push you, Ayla. But I need you to know that what I feel for you...it’s real.”

The door swings open, revealing Teller’s imposing figure. His dark eyes dart between Ayla and me, narrowing slightly as he takes in our close proximity. The air crackles with tension, and I can practically feel the waves of displeasure rolling off him.

“Hope I’m not interrupting anything,” Teller says, his tone sharp and laced with an underlying accusation.

Ayla steps back, putting some distance between us. “No, of course not. We were just heading out.”

She brushes past him, disappearing into the hallway. I move to follow her, but Teller’s hand on my chest stops me. His grip is firm, his fingers digging into my shirt.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing, Kip?” he growls, his voice low and menacing.

I meet his gaze head-on, refusing to back down. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

A humorless laugh escapes his lips. “Don’t play dumb with me. I saw the way you were looking at her, the way you touched her.”

Realization dawns on me then, and a smirk tugs at the corner of my mouth. “Wait a minute...are you jealous, Teller? Do you have a thing for Ayla too?”

His jaw clenches, and for a moment, I think he might actually take a swing at me. But then his eyes flicker with something else - guilt, maybe? - and I know that I’ve hit a nerve.

“It’s none of your damn business,” he snaps, releasing his hold on me. “Just stay the fuck away from her, alright? She’s not one of your little conquests.”

With that, he turns on his heel and stalks into the living room, leaving me standing there with a million questions swirling in my mind. What happened between him and Ayla? And why does the thought of them together make my blood boil with jealousy?

As I step into the hallway, I nearly collide with Clay, who’s emerging from Piper’s room with the little girl perched on his hip. He takes one look at my face and frowns, his brow furrowing with concern.

“What’s going on, man?” he asks, shifting Piper to his other side. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

I force a laugh, trying to play it off. “Nah, just had a little chat with Teller. You know how he gets sometimes.”

Clay’s eyes narrow, and I can tell he’s not buying it. He’s always been perceptive like that, able to read people like an open book. I’m not keen on that part of him.

“Kip,” he says, his voice low and serious. “If there’s something going on between you and Teller, I need to know about it. We can’t afford any drama right now, not with everything else that’s happening.”

I sigh, running a hand through my hair. I know he’s right, but I also don’t want to betray Teller’s confidence, even if the guy is being a total ass.

“It’s nothing, really,” I say, trying to sound casual. “Just a little misunderstanding about Ayla.”

Clay’s eyebrows shoot up, and a slow grin spreads across his face. “Well, well, well,” he drawls, shifting Piper to his other hip again. “Looks like our little Teller has a crush. Who would’ve thought?”

I snort, shaking my head. “Yeah, well, he’s not too happy about it. Seems to think I’m some kind of player or something.”

Clay chuckles, bouncing Piper gently. “Aren’t you, though? I seem to recall a certain blonde at the bar a few weeks ago...”

I hold up my hands in mock surrender. “Hey, that was just a bit of fun. Ayla’s different. She’s...special.”

The words slip out before I can stop them, and I feel my face heat up. Damn it, when did I turn into such a sap?

Clay’s grin softens, and he claps me on the shoulder with his free hand. “I know she is, man. Trust me, I know.”

Looks like Teller and I aren’t the only two with a bit of a crush on the nanny. This isn’t going to be good.