He’d been through far worse than a little waxing. “Go for it, babe.”

She peeled the back off the wax strip, then pressed it to the side of his calf and rubbed her hand over it for a minute or two. “Ready?”

“Babe, just do—” She tore off the wax strip, sending a burning sensation through his leg, and he cringed. “Holy shit. Women do that to their…?”

She giggled and took a picture. “It’ll stop stinging eventually.” She pushed to her feet and said, “Thanks for taking one for the team. We’d better hurry.”

She handed him the strip. It was covered in hair and cut into the shape of an R. He arched a brow and said, “Roni…?”

“You said to claim my man,” she said sassily, and climbed into the truck as if she hadn’t just lassoed his heart and reeled him right in.

Chapter Five

RONI WALKED INTO Whiskey Bro’s tucked beneath Quincy’s arm, feeling completely different than she had the night of the auction. Not only was she having the absolute best evening, but they were immediately greeted by burly guys in leather jackets who embraced Quincy, or clapped him on the back, and welcomed Roni warmly. She couldn’t believe how many friends he had, or how many of them went by their road names—Court, Viper, Crow, and many others—the way the Whiskey men did. She met Bones Whiskey and his sweet fiancée, Sarah, and Jed’s fiancée, Josie. As they made their way through the crowded bar toward the table to turn in their pictures for the scavenger hunt, Quincy continued introducing her to what seemed like everyone there. The place was packed. Men and women were playing darts and pool, filling their plates at the buffet, and eating at tables. There were children running around, too. It was loud and busy, and everyone was friendly. There was no way she could keep all the names straight, but she made sure to remember the Whiskeys, Jed, and Scott, and each of their significant others, because she knew how important they were to Quincy.

A blonde named Isla helped them upload their pictures, and when they turned around, a little boy with a mop of light-brown hair ran by, chased by a younger sandy-haired boy.

“Whoa, little dudes, slow down,” Quincy called after them.

Bones walked past and said, “I’ve got them. Thanks, Quincy.”

“Are they his boys?” Roni asked.

“The older one is Jed and Josie’s son, Hail, and the younger one is Bradley, one of Bones and Sarah’s three kids.”

He pointed out their two daughters, Maggie Rose, an infant bundled in Sarah’s arms, and Lila, the little girl Quincy had put on his lap at the bookstore. She looked to be about two and was happily clinging to Biggs as he talked with a guy whose name Roni couldn’t remember.

“I’ve never heard of kids running around a bar before,” Roni said. “Not that I go to bars or hear about them often, but I always assume people are drinking and partying.”