Out of the Ashes (Sons of Templar MC 3)

I took in the backyard. It was bigger than I had expected and cluttered with people. A lot of them I had already seen at the club gathering I had attended weeks before, so I got a lot of chin lifts and warm smiles. Lexie hadn’t been introduced to a club gathering yet, so she walked around with her eyes wide. A few of the men gave her lingering looks, which immediately had my hackles up. I tried not to worry too much; whenever Killian got here, which he would considering he and Lexie were officially an item, he would deal out withering looks. Which was good, so I didn’t have to ruin my cool mom reputation by tackling the bikers.

Unlike the party I had attended weeks ago, which was a lot of men and women getting loose, I was surprised to see a number of kids running around the grassed area. This was definitely more of a family gathering.

“Hey! Lexie, Mia!” A voice called to us from a seated area to our left. I relaxed when I saw that it was Gwen and Amy waving at us to come over. With a hand on Lexie’s back, I directed her toward the women.

“Hey,” I greeted as we approached the group. Gwen was sitting in a chair, Belle squirming in her lap as she fastened a hat on her head.

Amy stood beside her, looking like she was about to strut down a runway. Her red hair flowed past her shoulders, and a khaki strapless jersey dress clung to her every curve. My eyes stopped at her feet.

“Oh my gosh, I think I’ve fallen in love,” I declared, gazing at the strappy tan heels which crisscrossed her feet and snaked up her ankles.

My head snapped up to the unfairly beautiful face. “Your shoes are the freaking bomb. I want them. Need them. Would you take payment in the form of my firstborn child?” I gestured to Lexie, who rolled her eyes. “She’s house trained and a great cook…if you like kale,” I added.

“Excuse my mother’s unhealthy shoe addiction problem,” she addressed both Gwen and Amy, “I’m looking into rehab facilities.”

Both women laughed, and Gwen set an excited little girl down at her feet. The little girl ran straight for Lexie, who crouched down to smile and tickle her.

“Don’t worry.” Amy touched my arm. “I can totally hook you up,” she winked.

I smiled back at her, wishing I had the money to take her up on the offer. I glanced to Lexie, who was giggling with the toddler. Totally worth not having fancy shoes.

“You both remember Lexie,” Amy had met her briefly when we had been day drinking and discussing Zane and Gwen at the store when we first moved to town. She had stood up now with Belle in her arms.

“Yeah, who could forget such a beautiful girl with such killer style? Lovin’ the jacket, babe,” Amy exclaimed, looking over the multicolored cropped jacket we bought in the vintage store in Hope.

Lexie blushed slightly; no matter how beautiful she got, she still got embarrassed when people commented on it. “Thanks. Mom and I are seasoned vintage shoppers—we have the eye for it now.” She glanced at Gwen. “Your little girl is adorable.” She smiled down at the baby who was tugging on her curl.

Gwen’s hand rested on her bump, which was prominent thanks to the tight white tank she was wearing. “Yeah, she keeps getting prettier every day, I’m pretty sure her dad’s already polishing his shotgun preparing for the onslaught of boys in about twelve years,” she joked.

I laughed. “Try ten,” I corrected her, remembering the looks Lexie got when she was too young to understand.

Gwen stared at me. “Seriously?”

I nodded somberly.

“Oh man, Cade is going to go on a murder spree,” she groaned.

“On that note, how about we get a cocktail for you and a soda for Lexie?” Amy suggested with a grin.

“I’d love one,” I answered. More like needed some Dutch courage if Zane was ever going to turn up. I tried to subtly scan the yard for him. My eyes landed on many faces, some who were staring at me and Lexie with interest. I swallowed, turning my attention back to my group. It was safer that way. I so didn’t want to start a brawl in Rosie’s back yard because some biker was looking at my kid the wrong way.

An hour or so later I was feeling happy. Comfortable, at home. I had already gotten to know Amy, Rosie and Gwen well enough and the more I knew the more I liked. I didn’t at all feel like the boring old mom hanging out with the young glamorous beauties. I felt like I was with old friends.

Lexie also got on with them naturally, which didn’t surprise me. She was a polite and sociable kid, who pretty much got along with everyone. She spent most of her time hanging with Lily, a pretty girl who was closest to her age, although she looked about twenty. Lily was also fielding scary stares from Asher, whom I had met before. He was yet another hottie in the club; no visible tattoos but seriously visible muscles. He had actually dragged her away moments earlier and Lexie had grinned at the retreating couple. She was currently chasing a very enthusiastic Belle around the yard, along with a couple of other kids who had taken a shine to her. I smiled as she gathered the toddler up in the air, twirling her around. She seemed oblivious to the glances she got every now and then. One she wasn’t oblivious to was Killian, whose eyes hadn’t left her the moment he arrived. He didn’t seem to be approaching her just yet, merely watching. And, like I had predicted, sending withering glares at the couple of men whose gaze lingered on Lexie a moment too long. I was impressed. How a teenage kid could send menacing looks to hard bikers twice his age and pull it off was anyone’s guess, but he did it.