Page 68 of Intolerable Bishop

“Aye, Snowflake, just catching the guys up on a few things,” Myles said. She didn’t look like she believed him, but we all turned at the sound of a vehicle pulling in. Nash parked behind me and hopped out, casually strolling toward the cabin.

“What the fuck are you all staring at,” Nash asked. I’d never known him to stroll. He marched, stomped, ran, or walked with purpose, but strolling or sauntering was not in his vocabulary.

“Just admirin’ yer sexy face.” Myles smirked.

“Funny.” Nash narrowed his eyes into a dark glare and glanced between all of us as if trying to find the answer in the silence.

“Stop glowering at everyone. This is supposed to be a fun night,” Ren scolded and held out bags of food for Nash to carry.

“What the hell is this?”

“Your dinner that Myles ordered and Theo and Liam were nice enough to pick up. The least you can do is help carry it inside.”

“You’re really getting on my last nerve, Princess,” Nash said but took the bags.

“You apparently have many last nerves since I get on one every day.” Ren smiled sweetly at him, which only had him glaring harder at her back as she walked into the cabin as if she owned it, bags in either hand.

“What the fuck,” Nash complained. I had to admit that seeing Nash set on his heels was worth whatever the admission price.

“Fuck, I love her,” Myles said.

I grabbed my stuff from the car and followed everyone inside. We’d never used this place to hang out like this before, and it felt peculiar. The norm was to have a meeting, kill people, or handle narcotics. The cabin even smelled different, fresh, and clean. There wasn’t a single thing out of place, and I knew this had to be Ren’s doing. We weren’t dirty, but we didn’t set out napkins in little holders or have candles burning that made the place smell like someone was baking apple pie. We definitely didn’t have throws laid out or the electric fireplace going. It was the middle of summer. Why was the fireplace even on? The thing was, it felt…cozy, lived in, loved. It was precisely the way that Ren affected those around her.

I watched as Ren dabbed some wing sauce on Blake’s nose, and he wrapped his arm around her, dipping her back and kissing her in retaliation. When he righted them, she had some of the sauce on her cheek, and Blake kissed it off. I’d never been envious of my brother before, but I was now, and I didn’t like this new burning in my gut. Liam caught my eye from across the kitchen, and I’d never seen his face so dark or his eyes so hard. He stood leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, the muscle in his jaw twitching, and if we were alone, I knew what he would do.

Knowing Liam would follow, I walked out the back door to the deck and took a deep breath. A moment later, he pushed his way out the door, and even though he walked softly, never making a sound, it felt like a predator was storming toward me.

“What’s wrong,” I asked, leaning my hip against the railing.

He stepped in close, but I took a step back from him and shook my head. Liam, close to me, derailed my thoughts, and I would forget why I came out here.

“Nothing’s wrong other than my boyfriend wanting someone else.” Liam’s voice was low and harsh, but it was the word boyfriend that had my brain screeching to a halt.

“Boyfriend? I thought you didn’t like or want anything to do with labels?” Liam looked away.

“Do you not want to be?”

“Don’t turn this around on me. I’m the one who asked you out, if you remember, and what did you say to me?” Liam didn’t answer while his hands gripped the railing like he was trying to kill it. “I don’t understand what is happening here. I never said I wanted to end things with you, but you’re acting like that’s what is going on.” Studying the side of his face was hopeless because he gave nothing away. “I want you to be part of this, you know that. And even if you don’t want to, my feelings for you haven’t and won’t change. I’ve given you all the freedom to choose if you want to keep things just the two of us or become involved. You said you wanted to try the three of us, so I don’t appreciate you glaring at me like you’re going to kill me.”

He sucked in a deep breath, head hanging, but when he didn’t say anything, I gave up and headed for the door. Liam snagged my arm. “How do you feel about me,” he asked.

“What do you mean? You know how I feel.” I cocked a brow at him and looked at his hand clamped onto my arm. “Just tell me what it is you want, Liam. Have you changed your mind and don’t want Ren involved with us? I’ve never known you not to say what you’re thinking, so I’m very confused.”

The tension was rolling off his body, the shadows making his eyes seem like dark chocolate. I shuddered with their intensity, burning in them, and forced myself not to give away what he was doing to me.

“I….” He stopped as the door opened, and Ren stepped outside.

“Sorry to interrupt. I was just coming to see if I should make you a plate. We are also voting on what game to play,” Ren said as she looked between us. “Are you two okay?” Liam let go of my arm and walked inside without saying a word. “What was that about,” Ren questioned, her voice hushed as she watched him go.

“I honestly don’t know. But I have the game issue covered,” I said.

I grabbed her hand before she could run inside. Tipping her chin up, I soaked in the glimmer that radiated off her.

“Are you still good with what we talked about?” Ren nodded. Brushing my lips against hers, I breathed in the sweet scent of her skin before nipping at her ear. “Good, because I’m really looking forward to it. God, I want to get you alone,” I whispered. Taking advantage of her distracted state, I kissed her just long enough that she sighed and melted into me. My eyes roamed over her face, admiring my handy work. Ren’s cheeks were the perfect cherry color as she nibbled on her lip. “Do you want to go for dinner and a ride with me soon? You must be sick of these four walls, and you do make the most adorable backpack.”

“Yeah, I would. Nash is driving me mad with his training sessions, and I kinda miss the freedom of being on the bike with you.” She gave me a shy smile.

I released her before I took things too far and pulled open the door. “Bitten with the bug, the next thing I know, you’ll want me to teach you to race.”