I turn to Rake. “Is her car seat in your four-wheel drive?”
He nods. “Do you want me to put it in your car?”
“That would be great, thanks, Rake.”
I get Clover changed and put her in the car. Rake must have let her choose her own outfit, because she was wearing mismatched clothes.
“You ready for a day of fun?” I ask her, turning to look at her in the backseat.
“Sure am,” she replies. “I’m the princess of fun.”
I drive her to the park with a smile on my face.
* * *
Since Clover is napping, I decide to start dinner so Faye won’t have to when she gets home. The chicken-and-broccoli pasta is done and I’m just pulling the garlic bread out of the oven when Tracker walks in, looking tired. His hair is disheveled, his clothes rumpled. He slides off his cut and places it on the back of one of the dining table chairs.
“Fuck, Lana, something smells good,” he says with a small smile. Just as I put the garlic bread down, he pulls me into his arms, holding me close. “Could get used to coming home to this.”
Such a caveman.
“I cooked for Faye, not you,” I tease, closing my eyes and resting my head on his chest. “Where’s everyone else?”
“Outside,” he says. “I knew you’d be here so . . .”
So he ran inside ahead of them? He really can be a sweetheart sometimes.
“I didn’t want to miss you before you left,” he continues, while I try and process his sweetness. “I know sometimes Faye finishes early.”
I pull back from him just as the others start piling through the kitchen door.
“Hey, Lana,” Sin greets, nodding his head at me.
“Hey, Sin.” I smile. “Clover is sleeping, and Faye is on her way home.”
He nods. “Something smells good.”
My mouth twitches. “Help yourself; I cooked plenty. I knew Faye would be tired after work.”
Sin walks past me and kisses my cheek, then grabs a plate and starts piling.
“Leave some for me, asshole,” Tracker tells his president, grabbing a plate and pushing him out of the way.
“Lana,” Arrow says, wrapping an arm around me. “Anna here?”
I shake my head. “She’s still out with Talon.” Anna only met her stepbrother a few months ago. He’s from a rival MC, so Arrow doesn’t like him, but he tolerates Talon for Anna’s sake.
A muscle works in his jaw, but he just nods his head at me.
Trace, Irish, Ronan, and Vinnie walk in, all mumbling a greeting, then going to eat. Luckily I cooked enough for a small army.
“Can I go, or do you want me to stay?” I ask Sin.
“Stay,” Tracker says, the same time Sin says, “You can go, Lana.”
I arch a brow at the two of them. Sin raises his arms in mock protest.
“Just sayin’ you can go; you’re more than welcome to stay. You’re off babysitting duty.” I smile in thanks.
“Did you eat?” Tracker asks.
I shake my head. “Whenever I cook something, I don’t feel like eating it, I don’t know why.”
The men look down at their plates, unsure looks on their faces.
“There’s nothing wrong with the food,” I say quickly. “I’m a good cook.”
“It’s delicious, baby,” Tracker says, grinning. “The best.”
I ignore the curious looks I get from the other men after hearing his endearment.
“I’ll see you all tomorrow,” I say, waving awkwardly and walking out of the kitchen. I go into the living room to grab my handbag, and turn around to see Tracker standing there, plate in his hand.
“If you think I’m letting you go right now after me being gone for two fuckin’ days, you don’t know me at all,” he says casually. “So we can do this the easy way or the hard way. Your choice. The hard way sounds tempting though.”
I put my handbag down, and sit down on the couch.
“Good girl,” Tracker murmurs, sitting down next to me. He takes a bite of his food, swallows, then asks, “What did I miss?”
“Nothing much,” I say. “Usual stuff. How about you?”
He glances at me, then back at his food. “Had club business to handle. Handled it, came home.”
And would it have killed him to send me a message saying he was going? I know I’m not his girlfriend, so I don’t have the right to ask him that out loud, but it would have been nice to hear it from him that he was leaving.
“You look tired,” I say instead.
“I am.” He sighs. “I need a shower, then you in my bed, so I can sleep.”
“Tracker—”
“Why don’t you leave some clothes here? Just a few things. Makes sense, right?” he continues, finishing up his food, then resting the plate on the couch. He lifts his arms, waiting for me to move closer to him.
Sliding over, I rest my head on his chest and sigh. My body relaxes immediately and I feel at peace. “What are we doing here, Tracker?”
“I’m taking what I want,” he says, nuzzling my head. “And you, you’re taking a chance.”
That really does sum it all up.
“Do I get a kiss?” he asks quietly. “Because I really fuckin’ want one, Lana.”
I squint an eye at him, raising a brow, as though I’m weighing my options.
“Lana . . .” he growls playfully, making me smile.