Viper (Hell's Handlers MC 9)

Cassie pressed her napkin to her lips to keep from showing her amusement as well. Poor Shell looked like she wanted to sink through the floor—while strangling her husband.

“Um, Bethy,” she said. “You remember what we told you about some of the things Daddy says?”

“He’s mouth sounds worse than his ass,” Beth said, as serious as she’d ever been.

Cassie snorted then slapped a hand over her mouth, but it was too late. “I’m sorry,” she said between gasps of laughter.

Copper also laughed way louder than his wife probably appreciated, while Shell dropped her head to the table. “I give up,” she said with a groan. “I should just embrace the fact I’m raising a foul-mouthed five-year-old hellion.”

Lord, how she loved this family. The relationship Shell had with her mother was complicated at best, and Sarge, her father, had been killed almost fifteen years ago. Copper on the other hand had no living family. At least none he spoke of. Not now that his brother had been killed the previous year.

They were her surrogate children through and through. And as such, she loved them with her whole heart. Blood meant very little when it came to family, something she’d learned all those years ago when she fled Washington with the love of her life.

Through Cassie and Copper’s laughter as well as Shell’s humiliation, Beth continued to shovel in the food until she’d downed every last bite. “That was yummy,” she said, mouth stuffed.

Cassie ruffled the little girl’s hair. “I’m glad you like it. I’ll give mommy some to take home for you.”

The response was a thumbs up and a saucy grin.

Copper cleared his throat. “Cas, there was actually something we wanted to talk to you about.”

“Hey, Bethy,” said Shell as she pushed her daughter’s chair from the table. “The grown-ups need to talk for a bit. Why don’t you go color in that new Frozen book Mama V bought you?”

The little girl didn’t need to be told twice. “Okay!” she said as she hopped up from the table and practically bounced down the hall.

Cassie’s gut twisted and the moment Beth disappeared from view, she turned to Copper. “Is everything all right?” Then she swiveled her gaze to Shell. “Everything okay with the baby? With you?”

“Shit, sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. Everything is totally fine,” Copper said as he reached out and settled his giant hand over hers. Cassie flipped her palm and allowed him to curl that mitt around her much smaller hand.

It wasn’t easy to make the breath she blew out seem like normal breathing rather than a huge expression of relief, and she was pretty sure she failed miserably. “So what’s up then?”

“We want you to come live with us!” Shell blurted then winced in her husband’s direction. “Shi—uh, shoot, I wasn’t supposed to just lay it out like that. I’ll shut up now.”

Rolling his eyes at his wife, Copper took over. “We’re about to have our second kid. I’m dealing with worsening club shit all the time, and Shell’s been talking about going back to school to finish her degree after the baby’s born.”

Cassie whipped her gaze in Shell’s direction. “Really? That’s wonderful.” Oh, what a marvelous idea. Nothing against working at Toni’s Diner, but Shell had once dreamed of a different path. Becoming a single mother at a young age had her putting her own goals on hold. Good to see Copper so supportive of his woman’s career aspirations.

Cheeks pink once again, Shell shrugged. “I’d like to teach,” she said in an almost sheepish voice. “Little kids. Preschool, maybe kindergarten. I don’t know, maybe it’s a stupid idea.”

“Babe—”

“It’s not stupid at all, Shell. I think it would be the perfect career for you. I’ve always thought that. I remember how much you wanted to be a teacher when you were younger.”

“I got that from you. You were always so patient with me and the other kids you watched. It made me want to work with children.”

“Oh, Shell, that makes me so happy.” Fond memories warmed her heart. “You know you used to set up all your stuffed animals and ‘teach’ them.” Cassie chuckled. “You were such a bossy little thing.”

“Explains where Beth gets it.”

“Hey!” Another napkin sailed in Copper’s direction. “You, shut it! Anyway, it’s going to be a huge challenge with two little kids and a husband who runs an MC.”

“Which brings us to our offer,” Copper added. He leaned forward, propping his elbows on the table. As he spoke, he stroked the close-cropped hair of his beard. “Before you got sick, you watched Beth so much already, she practically lived over here. And you’ve already mentioned keeping her again that you are feeling stronger and finished with treatment. Move in with us. Help with the kids.”

Wow. Cassie blinked. Move in with them? Of all the things Copper could have said right then, she would not have guessed that.