They both nodded and the three of them headed out to begin unloading the completely packed Suburban. Between the weapons, instruments, and the fact that Danny and I were girly girls at heart and had packed at least two outfit changes for every day, there was a shit ton of stuff to unload.
“You guys want a beer? Cocktail?” Piper asked as Danny and I followed her into the kitchen.
“Beer sounds great,” I replied.
“For me too,” Danny agreed. “Great house,” she commented.
“Thanks.” Piper smiled, handing us each a beer. “It’s been a process. How was the drive?”
“Eventful.” I laughed. “Between Caden’s stomach forcing us to stop more than once, hearing my song on the radio, and potentially being able to keep this little girl here, it was definitely full of surprises,” I shared, holding Trixie in my arms.
Piper’s eyes grew round with surprise. “Holy shit, your song was on the radio!”
I grinned. “Yeah. Shocked the hell out of me.”
“I’d think so. That’s amazing, Sam. I’m not surprised, but I’m thrilled for you.”
I clinked my beer bottle with her water glass. “Thanks.”
The sound of suitcases rolling and feet thumping up the stairs filled the room. I grimaced, looking at Piper apologetically. “We brought a lot of shit.”
She laughed. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.”
By the time the guys had unloaded the Suburban, Ryker had returned, rolling up on his Harley looking every bit the badass I knew him to be. With hair that always looked like he’d raked his fingers through it and startlingly bright green eyes, Ryker was a gorgeous man.
He wrapped me in a friendly hug and shook hands with everyone else before his warm gaze turned on his wife-to-be. “Hey, baby.”
She blushed as he pulled her in close to his side. “Hey. I think we’ve got them settled. Everyone else should be here soon, right?”
He nodded. “In about an hour, I’d guess.” His gaze turned to Sid, his expression serious. “Want to brief me on the latest? We can step out back.”
Sid nodded as he wrapped an arm around me, kissing my temple. “I’ll just be a minute, babe.”
I nodded as he released me and followed Ryker and Declan out to the back deck.
Piper clapped her hands and just barely stopped herself from jumping up and down. “It’s so freaking amazing to see you two together! You’re so fucking cute!”
I blushed as Caden snorted. “Yeah, really fucking cute and occasionally nauseating.”
I turned to glare at him. “Like you and Danny are much better?” I accused with a lifted brow.
Danika giggled. “She’s got you there, baby.”
An hour later, the backyard was packed full of Knights MC members and their women. Sid stood with his arm wrapped around me talking with Cole, their VP, while I talked with his wife, Scarlet.
It was a gorgeous evening with a clear sky full of stars and a hint of a chill in the air.
Connie and Ettie soon joined us, two of Piper’s friends who I’d met the last time I’d been in town.
I looked down around the yard where little kids, all very close in age, toddled around. “Is there something in the water in Hawthorne?” I quipped as I leaned in to hug each of them.
“Maybe.” Connie laughed, her blue eyes shining in delight. “We all got pregnant around the same time.”
“Jesus,” I muttered. “Better stick to beer, then.”
“What’s that, babe?” Sid asked, picking up on the tail end of our conversation.
“I was just saying there seems to be a fair amount of knocked up happening around here,” I explained, gesturing to all the kids running around and babies wailing. “Might be something in the water.”