“There’s nothing at all wrong with your thighs,” Tony said.
There was a small silence while Eden looked at her son with her mouth open. Blythe and Breezy started laughing.
“I can’t believe you said that,” Eden said. “Are you staring at her thighs?”
“Yes,” Tony admitted without one ounce of remorse. “Any man with a grain of sense would be staring at her thighs. They’re perfection.”
Seychelle clutched the phone. She should have texted Savage. There was no stopping the lobster-red blush that started at her thighs and swept up her body like a tidal wave.
Where R U? R U getting yourself killed?
What’s wrong?
Nothing. Tony Ravard and his mother R sitting at table with us. Stepbrother is Brandon Campbell unconfirmed but fairly certain. Just a gut feeling. Sometimes that happens to me but nearly always right
There was a small waiting period as if Savage was giving that some thought.
U handling this? Need me?
Her heart shifted just a little in her chest. Just knowing Savage would be willing to come to her if she needed him made her world right. She already felt so much better just letting him know the Diamondback had joined them at the table. She wasn’t going behind his back. The thigh thing was probably a joke, and she could handle that. If Tony took his joke any further, his mother would most likely box his ears publicly. Seychelle wasn’t telling Savage about that joke for any amount of money. She knew Savage would take that remark very personally.
Deliberately, Seychelle rolled her eyes. “Don’t worry, Eden, I’m wearing a dress. He can’t see my thighs. He’s just trying to get a rise out of everyone.”
Breezy groaned. “Is this what we have to look forward to? You might want to take note of that, Blythe. Kenny is already giving you trouble, and I noticed Benito was driving everyone right up the wall. I think I’ll be very strict with Zane, not that it will do any good with Steele for a father.” She smiled at Eden. “Those are the various boys in our families.”
“It just gets worse when they get older and move out on their own,” Eden said, “because you can’t boss them around so much.” But there was love in her voice and even more in her eyes when she looked at her son.
Tony laughed. “Mom, you boss me more now than you did when I was a kid.”
“Only because I want you to find a good woman, settle down and give me grandchildren. Is that too much to ask?”
“All the good ones are taken. Every time I see one, someone else has gotten there before me.” Tony’s gaze went back to Seychelle.
“You have to move faster, Tony,” Eden said. “I can’t live forever, you know. You aren’t setting the best example for your brothers.”
“Does she hound them for grandchildren too?” Blythe asked.
Seychelle was aware Blythe was deliberately taking Tony’s attention from her, and she was grateful for it. On the other hand, if Tony was seriously just attracted to her and his attention had nothing to do with his club, that would be a great relief. She didn’t believe that was his interest, but she hoped. It would be for the best. She settled more comfortably, used to talking with Eden about her sons.
Savage stood in the shadows of the kitchen, watching Alena as she prepared dishes quickly, turning them out almost magically. Each seemed a work of art as she pushed them on a belt that sent them to Delia Swanson, the woman she’d hired to help. Delia had owned a diner for years, had been hired to work in the grocery store in Caspar, but one week there and she’d changed her mind. She liked the comfort of the kitchen and the smell of food. Alena was overjoyed to have scored Delia. She was fast and efficient, and she could fill in cooking, finishing the plates or even waitressing. Delia was currently living in one of the two apartments over the bar in Caspar. Bannister, a regular at the bar, lived in the other one. He seemed to have developed quite the crush on the woman.
Czar and Steele were on the rooftop outside watching the two Diamondbacks who had accompanied Pierce Franklin. One sat on his bike, looking bored, staring at the restaurant and occasionally shaking his head. The other paced restlessly and kept looking at his watch. The one on his bike was known as Trade, and the one pacing went by Lion; both Diamondbacks were close friends of Pierce. It was rumored they had served on a SEALs team with him.
Pierce stood to the side of Alena, giving her plenty of room to work. He wore his Diamondback colors like a second skin. His gaze followed her every movement. As often as he’d been with Alena, watched her work, watched her glide and move so gracefully, Savage didn’t understand how a man as astute as Pierce didn’t see the killer in her. Maybe he didn’t want to.