Command (Storm MC 6)

“No, but check with Griff. He’s with Sophia at the bar,” he suggested.

“Thanks, will do,” I said.

A few moments later, I met Sophia’s gaze and smiled. Griff sat facing the bar and Sophia stood in front of him with her arms around his neck. I’d known her for a year now, and I swore she seemed happier every passing week. The same could be said for Griff. He’d gone from a man of few words, who I hardly knew, to one of my closest friends over this past year. “Hey, Harlow,” she greeted me. “Great party.”

“It would be if I could find my husband,” I grumbled.

Griff turned his head. “I saw him about ten minutes ago, out in the kitchen. Try there, otherwise ask Wilder.”

My impatience was kicking in.

I need to do this now.

“Okay, thanks. Oh, and your house warming is next weekend, right?” They’d recently built a new home and had finally moved in.

Sophia beamed. “Yes, you guys are coming, aren’t you? For the love of God, please tell me you are. I’ve got so many people coming who I don’t even really know, partners of work mates and friends of my sisters, and you just know I’m going to spend all day rambling about shit if I get nervous. I need you to be there, Harlow, to help centre me and tell me to calm down.” Her eyes bulged with desperation and I couldn’t stop myself from laughing. Sophia was uniquely her own woman and it was one of the many things I loved about her. The way words just fell out of her mouth always made me smile. Especially that. There should be more women like her – we could all do with the honesty.

I reached out and placed my hand on her arm. “I promise I’ll be there.”

She exhaled her relief. “Oh, thank goodness.”

“I’ll be back soon, but I really need to find Scott.”

She waved me away. “Go.”

A couple of moments later, I pushed through the door that led to the kitchen. It was a hive of activity, but Scott was not out there.

Damn.

Where is he?

I pulled out my phone and sent him another text, my third so far.

Me: Where are you???? Stop ignoring me or else I will withdraw husband privileges for at least a week.

His reply came through swiftly. Funny how threats like that always worked with men.

Scott: I could go a week, but you couldn’t.

Me: Ha! You wanna test that theory?

Scott: Sure. I give you two days at the most before you come begging for my cock.

Me: Tell me where you are and I will come begging for it now.

Scott: I’m in the car park.

Me: Are you hiding from me?

Scott: Fuck no.

Me: Lucky.

When I finally caught sight of him, my heart swelled with love. My hand absently moved to my stomach as I stilled and watched him.

He was with Lisa and they both had their heads under the hood of his Charger. She was listening to him intently while he pointed at various parts of the engine and explained something to her. Memories of my own father doing the same thing slammed into me, and tears pricked my eyes.

I walked the short distance to them, and they both turned their heads when they heard me approaching.