“Perfect. Thank you,” Gemma said.

As they exchanged numbers, Jace sidled up to Dixie cradling Axel in his arms and kissed Dixie’s cheek. He looked to be in his late thirties, with longish dark hair and serious eyes that Roni had noticed were on Dixie as often as Quincy’s were on her.

“My husband the baby hog,” Dixie said lovingly. “If you think Quincy likes kids, Jace hasn’t put this baby down since Bear and Crystal walked in the door.”

Jace cocked a grin and said, “Maybe this time next year we’ll have our own little one to carry around.”

“I have a contract to fulfill, remember?” Dixie leaned into him. “I can guarantee the face of Silver-Stone won’t be quite as appealing in your Leather and Lace outfits with a big baby belly.”

Jace’s eyes heated. “Wanna bet?” He gave her a smooch, and Dixie laughed. “You’re sleeping with the boss. I’ll modify the contract.”

“Stop.” Dixie sounded more playful than irritated. “How about we give Nana Pamela her grandbaby?” She took Axel from him, kissed Axel’s forehead, and handed him to Pamela.

“I have missed you,” Pamela said, snuggling Axel.

Dixie took Jace’s hand and said, “Come on, big boy, you need to carve the turkey.”

As she dragged Jace toward the kitchen, he said, “I’ll make a Leather and Lace maternity line.”

Dixie looked over her shoulder and said, “Help! I need reinforcements!”

Roni laughed as the other girls followed her toward the kitchen.

“Let’s go, baby girl.” Red put her arm around Roni, guiding her toward the girls, and said, “One of our own needs backup. That means us, even if I’d rather have more grandbabies.”

DINNER WAS DELICIOUS, noisy, and wonderful. Between the kids’ hilarious remarks, the guys making dirty jokes and speaking in code so the kids wouldn’t catch wind of them, and the girls giving it right back, Roni had never laughed so much. Quincy was as attentive as ever, holding her hand or draping an arm around her for most of the meal. He whispered sweet and sexy things in her ear, kissing her cheek often. Everyone had a field day teasing them about how affectionate they were, which Quincy ate up as he had at the bar, kissing her more just to egg them on.

“You keep that up, and you’ll be the next ones with a bun in the oven,” Bear said with a mischievous grin.

“We’ve got that covered,” Jace exclaimed.

Dixie rolled her eyes and said, “No babies for you until we fix up my other baby.”

“You’re the only woman on earth who calls her house a baby.” Jace looked around the table as he said, “When we moved out of her little house in town, she said she felt like she was abandoning her baby.”

“I can’t help it if I’m attached to it,” Dixie said. “I’m proud of buying my house.”

“I was wondering if you were going to sell,” Truman said.