“For, according to him, assaulting an officer.” Now Ronnie, completely oblivious, had Dez’s full attention. “Although I didn’t assault him. He was just pissed off I had him pinned against his car with my knee real close to his nuts.”

After several long seconds, Brendon shrugged again. “You know…I have absolutely no response to that statement.”

Dez did, though. “Explain to me why you had a cop pinned up against a car.”

“I didn’t know he was a cop. I thought he was some scumbag. Looked like a scumbag. And, he was the one ol’ Tigger here beat up in his hospital room.”

Brendon winced. “I beat up cops?”

“Sure did. They had badges and everything.”

Dez snorted. “Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean shit. What were their names?”

Now Ronnie shrugged. “Got me. Yet their scent did have a strong hint of jackal. But they’re completely human.”

Taking a deep, cleansing breath, Dez asked, “Okay, I’m not going to let that statement freak me out, so let’s try this. What did they look like?”

After thinking for several moments, “One had dark blond hair and a scar across his neck.”

“A scar? Like someone cut him from ear to ear?”

“Yeah. Exactly.”

“Was the other one a little runty, dark-haired guy? With a mustache?”

“Yeah! That’s them.”

Dez nodded. “Yup. You beat up cops.”

Brendon frowned. “Then shouldn’t I be in jail?”

Ronnie rested her head against his shoulder and yawned. “They said they don’t want you. I think they want your brother.”

Completely drained, Brendon rested his elbows on the table and rubbed his eyes with his knuckles. “What exactly has that dumb fuck done?”

“You can’t assume he did anything.” When Brendon glared at her in disbelief, Ronnie shrugged. “Innocent until proven guilty. And if he is guilty, I’m sure he has an explanation.”

“Why do you constantly protect that idiot?” Brendon hated how much he sounded like Marissa, but suddenly he saw how idiotic he must sound to her. Always making excuses for Mitch. Mitch who was wanted by the police. Nice one, asshole.

“I protect him cause he’s your kin.” She brushed her knuckles against his cheek. “I protect him like I’d protect you or your cubs. Although”—she gave that adorable smirk—“your sister is on her own. Because Mitch may or may not be a criminal, but at least he’s nice to me. He gave me yogurt.”

“Yogurt?” he asked to give himself a few seconds to get control of his suddenly exploding emotions. Not over Mitch. Hell, he’d gotten used to these times with his babybrother. But the fact that Ronnie protected him and his family like she would her Pack. Brendon didn’t even know if she realized it yet. Realized how much that simple admission said to him.

“I love yogurt, and he dug it out of the back of that inhumanly large refrigerator you have. He did it for me. Hardened criminals don’t do that unless they’re expecting to get some pussy out of it.”

Brendon took her hand, kissed her knuckles. “That was eloquent, Ronnie.”

She snorted in response and then climbed into his lap. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in close to his chest.

Ronnie nuzzled his neck and licked his jaw. “Any chance you’re ready to go home, hoss?”

Nibbling her ear, Brendon whispered, “More than ready. What would you like to do when we get there?”

She wrapped her arms around his shoulders. “Let’s not worry about family or cops or anything else tonight.” She kissed him and pulled back with a grin. “Tonight I’m a coquettish schoolgirl and you’re the dirty next-door neighbor boy trying to talk me out of my virginity.”

Dez choked on her beer, and Mace had to pound her back to help ease the cough.

Brendon ignored it all, instead staring into Ronnie’s dark hazel eyes. Because of the darkness of the club, they glinted when she moved. “The coquettish schoolgirl?”

“Trust me, darlin’.” She slipped off his lap and stood, grabbing his hand to drag him out of the booth. “I’ve got the perfect skirt.”

Chapter Twelve

S he’d practically shoved him into his elevator and told him she’d meet him upstairs in a little while. That had been forty minutes ago and he was starting to get antsy. Something about that female, something that made Brendon insane and wild. Something that made him want to do whatever necessary to make her a part of his life forever. Not just because she was a great time in bed—and Christ, was she ever—but because she had a heart as big as Asia. He loved how Ronnie cared about those in her life and did what she could to take care of them. Protect them.

He loved how she loved life. The woman had done more in her thirty years than most people in their sixties, but still she acted like everything was wonderful and new. She always found something interesting to learn.

Christ…he loved her. He loved her and she was home. They were home. She just hadn’t realized it yet.

The knock on the door surprised him since he’d given her his key. He dropped his beer on the table and headed to the front door. He didn’t need to check the peephole because he could smell her on the other side. He smelled her excitement and anticipation. The scent made him hard and desperate, but when he opened the door he froze.