Driving back to the clubhouse, he didn’t regret responding to Lily’s questions the way he had. When she had said she wasn’t special to him, it had cut through him like a knife. She was challenging his feelings for her, feeling as though he was holding a part of himself back, and he couldn’t fault her instincts when she was right.

* * *

“This is ridiculous. Rachel is going to know this is a set-up,” Beth snapped from the backseat.

“Not if you two are there, she won’t,” Shade replied, looking at his quiet wife in the rearview mirror.

The wives were all furious at their husbands for going along with Cash’s plan. He had asked them to come to show Rachel she could fit in. When the women didn’t feel it was right to trick Rachel and had denied Cash’s request, he had gone to Viper. Then Viper had reined the women in, making it part of their punishment for not telling Cash where Rachel had been when she had disappeared.

Lily looked away from him, turning to look out the window. She had jumped into the backseat with her sister when Beth had angrily climbed back there, but she had been the only one to agree when Cash had asked them to go.

It had surprised Shade, but when he had asked her why she had avoided the question, leaving the room. She was doing a lot of that lately. Shade’s lips tightened. Lily still remained an enigma to him in some ways.

Shade parked the truck beside the motorcycles, jumping out to help Lily before she could open her door. She hesitated before placing her hands on his shoulders as he lifted her down to the ground. Shade closed the truck door and was about to move away when he looked down to see tears in her anxious eyes.

“I’m sorry I’ve been such a brat.”

Shade motioned for Razer and Beth to go on without them as he pressed Lily back against the side of the truck. His hand cupped her check, rubbing his thumb against the soft flesh.

“Angel, I love you.”

“I love you, too. I just want to make you as happy as I am. Instead, I created a rift between us.”

“No, there isn’t. I’m not going to let anything come between us. I understand it’s your first relationship, Lily. I rushed you into marriage then into having my child.”

“Shade, you didn’t rush me—”

“I could have waited until you had dated a few more men, lived a little more on your own, but I didn’t. I couldn’t watch you dealing with your past anymore. Truthfully, it wouldn’t have made a difference, anyway. I couldn’t live without you in my life anymore, and I wouldn’t have been able to watch you become involved with another man when I knew I was the one for you.”

Lily gave a low laugh. “You’re very confident of yourself.”

Shade shook his head. “I’ve never been overly confident of you, Lily.” Shade let her see his vulnerability for a brief second before closing down again and stepping back to hold out his hand.

“You ready to welcome Rachel into the club?”

“Let’s do this.” Lily grinned, taking his hand.

They walked to the group sitting near the lake where the men had laid down blankets. Shade was holding onto Lily as she sat down on one when they heard the approach of a motorcycle.

Cash pulled in and parked with Rachel on the back of his bike. They got off, immediately coming toward where they were sitting. As they neared, Shade could see Rachel was nervous being there with so many of The Last Riders.

“Hi, Rachel.” Lily’s soft voice had Rachel’s tense expression relaxing as she saw Lily sitting next to him. Then her eyes traveled to Beth who was sitting on the other side of her, next to Razer.

“Hi.” Rachel walked closer to the blanket they were sitting on.

Lily scooted closer to him, giving Rachel enough room to sit down next to her. Beth then edged closer to Razer on the opposite side, giving enough room for Cash to sit down next to Rachel.

“It’s beautiful out here at night, isn’t it?” Lily smiled, handing her a soda out of the cooler. “Rider came out earlier to set out the torches.”

“It’s nice here. Holly and I bring Logan.” Rachel looked at Beth cuddled up into her husband’s side. Razer and Beth must have had their own talk because Beth no longer was acting angry with Razer.

“Who’s keeping the babies for you?” Rachel asked Beth.

“Evie and King. I think she would actually keep them if we let her,” Beth said wryly.

Winter came out of the water with Viper’s arm wrapped around her waist. Winter sank down on the blanket across from Rachel while Viper reached into the cooler, pulling out two beers and giving one to his wife.

“I’m surprised you’re out on a school night, Winter,” Rachel teased.

“I usually don’t. I hate being tired first thing in the morning, but we all punish ourselves sometimes for a good cause.” Winter threw Viper a sidelong glance which he ignored, lifting the beer to his lips.

A sudden squeal filled the night air as Rider threw Bliss into the water, going in after her and pulling her into a passionate kiss, gradually edging her over to the darker side of the water. As Rachel lowered her gaze, embarrassed, Razer cut into the sudden silence.

“Let’s go for a swim,” he said, helping Beth to her feet.

All the couples stood except Lily, Shade, Viper, Winter, Rachel, and Cash. The air rang out with splashing and laughter.

“I’ll open the store tomorrow. I need to organize a few things for Willa,” Lily said. “Lewis’s younger children need a few things, and I thought I would make a couple of bags for them and deliver them when you come in.”

“I’m sure she’s going to need several things. I picked them up some games to keep them occupied.”

“I offered to take them to the Saturday matinee to give her a break.” Winter’s husky voice was due to Viper’s determination that his wife wasn’t going to stay angry with him. He was kissing her neck, uncaring that Rachel was watching.

They all wanted Rachel to become more comfortable around them, and to do that, they would act normally. The husbands were all constantly touching their wives, and the brothers were not shy about touching the women. Cash wanted Lily, Beth, and Winter there to show her she would have ready-made friends in the club, not pretending they acted differently than they did.

Shade bent down, capturing Lily’s mouth with his hand on the back of her neck, holding her in place.

“Let’s go for a swim.” Cash rose to his feet, holding out his hand.

Rachel took it, standing up. “I don’t have a suit.”

“Lily brought you one. You can go into the trees and get changed.”

Shade shrugged when Lily sent him a reproving look. He had given the suit to Cash when he had asked. His wife easily was the most modest of the women. If she showed her shoulder or calf, she felt as if she was exposing too much. Shade didn’t mind, though; he liked that he wouldn’t have to kill any fucker caught staring at her.

Lily buried her face in his shoulder when Cash changed into shorts in front of everyone.

“You don’t want to get a good look? You didn’t mind staring at Knox’s,” Shade teased.

Lily raised her head. “You know I only looked because he had that piercing.”

“Yeah, sure,” Shade laughed.