Vicious Cycle (Vicious Cycle #1)(24)

“What do you mean ‘formally meet’?” I asked.

“Oh, I saw you at the clubhouse the first day you came. You know, when my * of a brother had you by the throat.”

I gasped at the memory while Deacon slapped the guy on the back. “This is my youngest brother, Benjamin.”

“That’s Bishop, actually,” the blond god corrected, throwing out his hand.

The moment our hands met, I suddenly remembered the sounds of sex and Willow’s words about Uncle Bishop exercising. “Did you have a nice workout?” I blurted before I could think better of it.

His brows knitted in confusion. “Huh?”

“Never mind,” I replied. When I met Deacon’s eyes, amusement shone in them. Unlike his clueless brother, he knew exactly what I had heard and what Willow had told me. With my embarrassment growing, I knew I needed to get out of there. “Well, I guess I better head home.”

“Stay for supper,” Beth said.

“Oh, I appreciate the offer, but I can’t.”

“’Cause you got a man you gotta get back home to?” Bishop asked, sidestepping by me to head to the kitchen sink.

As he lathered up his hands, I could feel both Deacon and Rev’s inquisitive gazes burning into me. “No, it’s nothing like that,” I replied, feeling warmth creeping up my neck and flooding my cheeks.

Glancing over his shoulder, he asked, “Kids?”

“No. It’s just me. Well, me and my dog.”

After drying his hands, Bishop leaned back against the counter and shot me an impish grin. “Sounds to me like you ain’t got a reason not to stay.” As I opened my mouth to protest, he reached over to steal a piece of ham. Beth swatted his hand before shooing him away.

Then, with a no-nonsense look, she pointed at me with her carving knife. “Benjamin is right. Besides, it’s late. You’ve worked double time today, and you need a good, home-cooked meal.”

“I don’t want to be an inconvenience,” I protested.

Willow tugged at my hand. “Oh, please stay, Miss Alex!”

I couldn’t help laughing at her enthusiasm. “Aren’t you tired of me yet?”

“Nope. You should spend the night, too!”

A wicked grin curved on Bishop’s face. “Can she stay in my room?”

My mouth gaped open at his audaciousness while Willow shook her head. “No, Uncle B. She stays with me.”

Bishop winked at me. “I may fight you for her.”

Before I could respond, Deacon smacked the back of Bishop’s head. “Knock it off,” he warned.

“Hey, can I help it if I think Miss Alex is hot?”

As Deacon and Bishop began exchanging words in a low tone, Willow tugged my hand again, bringing my attention back to her rather than the very alluring Malloy brothers. I couldn’t help feeling flattered at the attention of the two handsome men. Of course, Deacon’s angry growls kept me in check.

“So, Miss Alex, are you going to stay?”

When I gazed down at her hopeful expression, I didn’t know how to say no to her. Accepting defeat, I smiled. “Okay, okay, I’ll stay.” Then I gave Bishop a pointed look. “Just for dinner.”

“Yeah!” Willow squealed, doing a little happy dance around me.

Taking me by the shoulders, Beth led me over to one of the chairs. “You sit right here, honey.”

I let her ease me down onto the seat. “Thank you. I really appreciate your hospitality.”

“Hospitality?” Deacon repeated.

When I glanced over my shoulder at him, he shook his head. “You really are white-bread.”

“Don’t be inhospitable to our guest, Deacon. Just because your daughter has a greater vocabulary comprehension level at her age than you do doesn’t mean you can be a jerk,” Rev said.

A giggle escaped my lips at Rev’s teasing of Deacon. My laughter elicited a wink from Rev and a glare from Deacon. Rev took a seat across from me. Motioning Willow to his side, he said, “Come here, rug rat, and tell me what you learned today from Miss Alex.”

She wrinkled her nose as she wrapped an arm around his waist. “I’m not a rug rat,” she countered in a soft voice.

He cocked his brows at her. “Oh, you’re not?” he questioned, his voice laced with amusement. Willow shook her head back and forth. “Then what are you?”

“A ballerina.”

“Not that again.” Deacon groaned as he took a seat at one end of the table. The corners of Willow’s lips turned down in a frown. At her sad face, Deacon sighed. “Look, kid, we’ve been over and over this. I can’t let you out to go to school, so I sure as hell can’t let you go to dance lessons.”

“Language, David,” Beth chastised.

Deacon grunted at his mother before tossing his napkin into his lap. “Whatever. It ain’t happening.”

Rev narrowed his eyes at Deacon’s somewhat apathetic response. He reached over to ruffle Willow’s hair. “Just be patient, sweetheart. We’ll get you those dance lessons someday soon.”

“You’re in luck. I know how you can get your dance lessons right here at home,” I said with a smile.

Deacon’s eyebrows popped up. “How’s that?”