Last on the List (Wait With Me #5)(41)

“What’s a patriarchy?” Everly’s voice interjects as she returns to the table from the bathroom off the library.

Dakota’s eyes widen in horror. “Oh, my God, I’m so sorry! I didn’t see you there.” She covers her mouth and shoots me a guilty look.

“It’s okay,” I reply, sitting down in my chair and shooting my cute kid a wink as she resumes her spot at the table too. “Everly knows what words aren’t for her.”

“Is patriarchy a bad word, Daddy?”

I frown at that. “Kind of? But it’s not really a curse word, so you can feel free to use it.”

Calder taps the cards on the table. “You want me to deal you in, Blondie? I like to fuck the patriarchy too.”

She laughs. “Not tonight. Cozy and I are meeting some people in a little bit, and I wouldn’t want to be late.”

Her eyes turn to Everly, who has turned Luke’s baseball cap forward now, pulling it low over her eyes. She has a piece of licorice hanging out of her mouth, and she’s staring at her cards like she’s about to bet her mortgage payment on them.

“So you’re the infamous Everly,” Dakota says, her voice rising excitedly at the end. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Everly looks up at Dakota, giving her body a once-over. “Still don’t know what patriarchy means.”

It’s Wyatt’s deep voice that pipes up next. “It’s a social system where men have power over everything in a society that wrongly oppresses women.” His jaw tightens, and he adds, “Though the fact that I gave you the definition instead of the other female in the room means that the patriarchy is sadly ingrained in all of us.”

Silence descends the table for a moment before Everly looks back to Dakota and notes, “Cool shoes.”

Dakota smiles and glances down at her strappy sandals. “Thanks…I like your hat.”

“It’s Uncle Luke’s,” Everly replies distractedly. “Now…can someone tell me what two A’s mean again? That’s not a number, so I don’t know what to do with them.”

The table groans as several of the guys toss their cards down in frustration.

I smile proudly. “Everly has a case of beginner’s luck.”

“Or maybe lady luck,” Dakota offers.

“Dakota.” Cassandra’s voice cuts in behind me as the slider door to the house opens. “I told you to text me when you were outside, and I would meet you at your car.”

Dakota shrugs. “I wanted to meet the kid you won’t stop bragging about.”

Warmth blooms in my chest at the fact that Cassandra brags about my kid. Unfortunately, that sensation is quickly stamped out when I turn and see Cassandra’s outfit.

Double fuck.

She’s wearing a long brown skirt that instantly reminds me of that nightgown she had on the evening of the storm. It was a flimsy little thing that would have tumbled off her body had I just blown on it sideways. I’m sure I would have gotten to that, but I was too busy assaulting her with my tongue first.

The skirt has a sexy rouching on the side that splits apart into a wide slit up her leg. The fabric hugs her hips and ass perfectly, and she’s paired it with a snug black, long-sleeve top that her ample breasts do a good job testing the stretch of the fabric. It has a high neckline and reveals a sliver of her abdomen above the skirt’s high waist. I wonder if she wore that shirt to cover up the mark I left on her? Why does my mark on her make my cock stir every time I think about it?

Jesus, I’m such a fucking creep.

“You’re the nanny?” Calder balks, his eyes nearly bulging out of his head. I glance around the table and notice most of the men are gaping at her as well, and my fists clench.

Cassandra’s strappy heels clunk on the hard wood as she walks over to join her friend. “Yes, I’m Cozy. And you are?”

“I’m Calder,” he answers, standing and leaning across the table to shake her hand. Her breasts nearly brush Wyatt’s ear as she reaches past him to take his hand. Calder sits down and points. “That grump is Wyatt…there’s baby Luke. Do you know these two boneheads already?”

Josh and Dean roll their eyes and ignore my obnoxious brother.

“Yes, we’ve met,” Cassandra says with a smile. “And I met Luke last week. Nice to see you all.”

“Nice to see you too. Both of you.” Calder shoots Cassandra and Dakota a boyish smirk that I’d really like to punch off his face. He’s always the fucking flirt. Seriously, anywhere we go where there’s a single woman in sight, he will abandon whoever he arrived with and go into fuckboy mode.

His eyes move to mine as he shoots me a weird look. Seriously, what the fuck is with my brothers looking at me like that tonight?

“What’s your plan this evening, ladies?” Luke asks, lifting his brows curiously. “Hitting up Pearl Street?”

“Yes, we are,” Dakota answers, grabbing Cassandra’s arm. “But first we’re meeting a couple of guys for drinks. A little double-date action. Haven’t been on one of those in ages.”

“They don’t need to hear about our night.” Cassandra laughs, shaking her head. She looks uncomfortable but not irritated.

I’m irritated.

In fact, I’m downright bothered.