Finlay gasped. “Bullet Whiskey, that is not true.”

“But it’s funny,” Bullet said.

Roni had to admit that it was funny. She laughed along with everyone else, loving the camaraderie of Quincy’s friends.

“Okay, break it up,” Dixie said, pushing past Bullet with Penny and Crystal on her heels. Without her jacket, Dixie’s colorful arm tattoos were visible, and they were as beautiful as she was. “It’s girl time, Quince. We need to borrow Roni for a little while. You can hang out with the Neanderthals.”

Roni was surprised they wanted to include her, and she was excited to get to know the other girls.

“The guys are not nearly as fun as my girl.” Quincy tightened his hold on Roni, and oh, how she loved that.

“Last chance, Gritt. Give her a kiss or forever hold it in,” Crystal said.

“Babe, are you okay going with them?” he asked thoughtfully.

“Yes, of course.”

He pressed his lips to hers, then glared at the three of them and said, “I don’t know what you do to indoctrinate women into your group, but go easy, okay? Don’t scare her off.”

Roni gazed up at him and said, “It would take a lot to scare me off.”

“Well, there you have it.” Dixie said, “This chick isn’t so shy anymore, is she?”

“It’s hard to be shy around here,” Roni said as Dixie and Crystal flanked her.

Gemma joined them and said, “I can’t believe you got her away from Quincy. He’s had her glued to his side.”

“I don’t hear Roni complaining,” Quincy said.

Wow. She liked this side of Quincy. He was a little possessive, but not overbearing. He was just…Protective? Thoughtful? As into her as she was into him? Yes, he was all of those things. His words came to mind, and she thought, He’s claiming me, and it feels good.

“I’ll catch up in a sec, you guys,” Penny said. “I need to talk to Quincy.”

As they led her away, Roni felt Quincy’s eyes on her, and she glanced over her shoulder to look at him. Sure enough, though he and Penny were talking, he was watching her. He blew her a kiss, and she mentally caught it and tucked it away with the other romantic things he’d done.

“There she is!” Josie, a petite strawberry-blonde, popped to her feet at a table where she was sitting with her sister, Sarah. Sarah was cradling her baby.

“Is Quincy still watching us like a hawk?” Dixie asked as they all sat down.

Gemma craned her neck and said, “He’s talking to Penny. Oops, there’s a peek.”

Roni had to peek, too. Her heart skipped at the way Quincy was looking at her.

“Well, if that look doesn’t say it all,” Dixie said. “You’ve met all the girls, haven’t you, Roni?”

“I think so, except Sleeping Beauty,” Roni said, motioning to Sarah’s baby. “That must be Maggie Rose. She’s beautiful.”

Sarah tucked her dirty-blond hair behind her ear and said, “She’s all tuckered out.”