“Where you want her, Shelly-belly?” he asked as they strode toward the clubhouse.
“You can put her in that room across from Copper’s if no one crashed there already.”
“Nah, it’s free.”
“Thanks, Mav. I really appreciate this. Especially you looking out for Copper.”
He came to a halt in front of the door. “Got some shit going on with the club, sweetie. You know I can’t tell you more, but it’s got your man in a bear of a mood. Know he’s too damn hard-headed to call you himself. If he’s a bit of a dick, try to let it roll off, okay?”
Her lips curled up. Every man here was always looking out for her. Surrogate big brothers. That’s what they were. “Got it, Mav. I can handle a growly Copper.”
Inked arms full of her passed out daughter, Maverick speared her with a stern look he didn’t often sport. “If he’s too much of a dick, you come find me or Z, and we’ll set him straight.”
“Like I said, Mav, you’re the best.” Shell landed a peck on his cheek just as the door opened, revealing Stephanie.
“Hey, Shell,” she said with a smile.
It’d taken a bit of time for Shell to feel comfortable around Stephanie. She’d been an undercover FBI agent when she met Mav, and the betrayal hit hard. But as time passed, she’d proven her love for Mav and loyalty to the MC over and over. Now they were close as sisters and part of the sacred club of women devoted to the Handlers.
“Hey, Steph.”
“Look, babe,” Mav said, glee oozing out his pours. “Shell just kissed me. Pretty sure you know what that means?” He bobbed his eyebrows then winked at his ol’ lady.
“What?” Shell said. “It was a peck on the cheek.”
With a roll of her eyes, Steph waved a dismissive hand at Mav. “Just ignore him. Come on in, it’s freezing.”
As Steph stepped to the side, Shell slipped into the clubhouse.
“Threesome, babe. Means I’ve finally found the woman who is just dying to join us.”
Shell burst out laughing while Steph gave Maverick an exaggerated nod and patted his cheek. Throughout the entire exchange, Beth didn’t stir.
“Sure, honey,” Steph said as though placating a child. “How about this. We’ll get naked and wait for you right here while you go put Beth to bed then tell Copper that you’re going to have a threesome with his woman.”
Mav’s smile faded so fast both women cracked up. “Why you always gotta ruin my fun, woman?” he grumbled as he made his way to the stairs. “All I want is a little threesome with one of your friends. But nooo, first I gotta tell Copper and risk getting my balls shoved down my throat.”
Three steps up, he turned and speared Steph with a smoldering look. “I’ll remember this.”
“I’m counting on it,” she fired back with a wink.
“Shit, woman, I’m holding a child. Don’t get me all riled up.”
Laughing, Shell hugged a giggling Steph then trailed Mav up the steps. Mav’s antics were legendary around the club. Nothing that fell out from his lips surprised anyone. They’d all come to expect the outrageous every time he opened his mouth.
“Thank you one more time, Mav,” Shell said after he’d tucked her daughter into the queen-sized bed across the hall from Copper’s suite. “She’ll be dead to the world until morning.”
“That’s good,” he said with a wink. “Though I have a feeling what’s about to come will be loud enough to wake the dead.”
Heat rushed to Shell’s face. The sexual side of her relationship with Copper was still so fresh, she wasn’t accustomed to being teased about it. She better get used to it fast with friends like Mav.
“We’ll try not to offend your delicate ears,” she said, face burning.
Mav barked out a laugh. “Sassy,” he said. “I like it, babe.” He gently nudged her toward Copper’s door. “Give it to him good, girl. The man was dished up a whole plateful of shit today.” With a smacking kiss to her cheek and one last wink, he jogged down the stairs, leaving her nodding at his retreating back.
Shell tapped her knuckles on the door. In the five seconds it took Copper to yank it open, her mind had run through every possible issue the club could be encountering. The sound of Copper’s gruff, “What?” grated over her exposed nerve endings.
“I, uh…hey,” she bumbled over the words and shot him what she hoped was a sweet smile. His large frame took up the entire expanse of the open door. The fierce look on his face softened a fraction as he stared down at her, but not enough to have her anxiety subsiding. She’d dealt with Copper’s temper many times in the past, but tonight she felt the added pressure of needing to be the one to soothe the beast.