“He’s six foot six and she’s what? Five two maybe? Can you imagine those two in bed?” Crystal laughed. “Talk about riding a bronco.”

“By the look on Diesel’s face, I’d say that’s exactly what Diesel is imagining right now,” Dixie said.

Gemma and Penny agreed. Red just shook her head.

“Girl talk sure has changed,” Pamela said, sharing a knowing glance with Red.

“I don’t understand how Tracey doesn’t realize he likes her,” Sarah said. “Unless we’re wrong about that.”

Dixie crossed her arms and said, “We’re not wrong.”

“I think Tracey does realize it, even if she can’t admit it to herself yet,” Penny said. “The way he’s looking at her makes it hard to miss.”

Just like yours and Scott’s furtive glances, Roni mused.

Finlay rubbed her burgeoning belly and said, “That must be what Bullet and I looked like to you guys at first.”

Tracey turned around, clutching her glass in both hands, her back pressed against the refrigerator, eyes wide as saucers as Diesel said something Roni couldn’t hear. “Shouldn’t we help her out of that situation?”

“Tracey might look scared, honey, but she’s not,” Red said emphatically. “Our girl can hold her own with him, the same way Finlay did with Bullet. Diesel’s rougher than our Bullet, but he’d never hurt a woman. He’s a protector through and through.”

Tracey scurried out of the kitchen, heading directly for the girls with a scowl on her face, and squeezed between Red and Roni. Roni glanced at Diesel, who wore a satisfied smirk. When he noticed Roni looking at him, his face went stoic again.

“What was that about?” Penny asked.

“I don’t know. He’s so weird,” Tracey said. “He asked me if I had a date for Josie’s wedding, and when I said how could I possibly have a date when he doesn’t let guys speak to me, he just stood there staring at me.”

“Visually devouring would be more accurate,” Dixie said.

“She’s right. He was looking at you like that,” Roni agreed. “Did he want you to go with him to the wedding?”

“Of course not,” Tracey insisted. “But I think I finally understand why he’s always watching me. Red, you told him about my abusive ex-boyfriend when I started working there, didn’t you?”

“Yes, I did, and I told him to keep an eye out, so you didn’t run into any trouble,” Red said.

“See? That’s exactly what he’s doing,” Tracey said. “I think he wanted to make sure he had time to check out my date, as if I even want one. I’m going to have to yank his chain so he backs off, like you do with aggressive dogs. Does anyone have one of those collars with spikes inside it?”

Red laughed. “I told you she could handle herself with him. Tracey and I have talked at length about our mountain of a man, and she wants to deal with him on her own.”

“Exactly,” Tracey said.

“Believe me, if I thought any man posed a threat to any of our girls, I’d be the first to step in.” Red looked at Roni and said, “That includes you, sweetheart. You’re family now.”