The exhibition hall was packed with people buzzing with excitement. As Steele led the way through those gathered, a path formed for the Shadowridge Guardians decked out in their cuts and worn jeans. The doorman had attempted to school Steele on the dress requirement to attend a dance competition but quickly made an exception when he looked past the MC’s president to see a line of huge men waiting to get in. The women accompanying them were perfectly attired and so excited.
“Hold onto my hand,” Ink said firmly to Elizabeth. “If I lose you, Talon will kick my butt.”
“I was just going to talk to Remi. I love her black dress,” Elizabeth explained.
“We’ll go over there together,” Ink decreed and steered her toward her friend.
“I’m not going to run away,” Elizabeth assured him.
“If Talon finds us and you’re not with me, it won’t just be my butt getting Talon’s wrath,” Ink reminded her.
“Oh. Good point. I’ll stay with you,” she promised.
“What are those pants Talon is wearing?” Faust asked, using his height advantage to look over the crowd.
“Is he out there warming up?” Elizabeth asked, rising to her tiptoes to try and see.
“Here, Little girl,” Ink said as he pulled her close to lift her up.
“I see him! Those pants look hot on him, Faust. Not everyone could rock them like that,” Elizabeth defended her Daddy.
“I want to see,” Harper demanded, and Doc lifted her to see as well. “Oh, yeah. He looks good in those.”
“Stop ogling Talon in his fancy dance pants,” Doc said sternly.
“Look, everyone is sitting down,” Elizabeth pointed out.
“I’ll be damned.” Steele cursed in front of her, drawing the horrified attention of the people who’d dared sit next to the bikers.
Elizabeth followed his line of vision to see another set of leather-clad guys entering. The Devil’s Jesters had arrived. She waved to capture their attention and pointed to empty seats around them.
“What did you do?” Steele asked, his low voice filled with concern.
“Slash’s daughter takes ballroom classes. She’d never been to a performance, so I invited them. They promised to be on their best behavior. And Slash is still under scrutiny for having custody of his kids. Don’t worry. They’ll behave.”
Ink’s large frame shook with laughter. “We’ve both officially damaged our bad-ass reputations.” The humor spread through the gathered Shadowridge Guardians and Littles.
The lights darkened and spotlights twirled around the dance floor, making everyone hush. When the first dancers stepped onto the floor, Elizabeth clutched the program as she watched. Her Daddy and his mother would dance third in this round.
“I think I’m in love,” Ink whispered, focused on the form-revealing costume of the first female dancer.
“Shh!” Elizabeth hissed and then almost giggled as Ink drew his fingers over his lips, officially zipping them shut.
A motion caught her eye and she turned to see Faust lift a pair of fancy opera glasses to his eyes. Where in the world had he gotten those? Elizabeth shook her head. She couldn’t wait to see what happened when those two met their Littles. Crossing her fingers, she sent out a wish into the world that each of the Shadowridge Guardians would find their perfect match.
“And next on the floor is our beloved Margaret Deveraux. Her usual partner could not be with us tonight due to injury. It is a true pleasure to have her son, Theodore Deveraux, a three-time world champion, dancing with her tonight,” the announcer broadcast.
Theodore. Elizabeth grinned. She had her own real-life teddy.
“That’s Talon’s mother?” Kade asked, drawing her attention back to the dance floor.
Elizabeth saw Remi elbow him and mentally applauded her friend before focusing back on the couple. Margaret looked amazing. Her fit dancer’s body still turned heads as she strutted on those impossibly high heels across the floor. Elizabeth understood why she’d mistaken her for a rival.
Elizabeth moved to the edge of her chair as Talon and Margaret took their places in front of the judges. The music swelled and she couldn’t help but smile. The Paso Doble. She clapped her hand over her mouth as Talon became the matador, his movements strong and forceful.
She glared at the woman in front of her who dared to sigh in delight. Talon was her Daddy.
Ink’s hand wrapped around her knee, holding her in place. Elizabeth forced herself to relax. She had to admit that Talon affected her the same way. And Elizabeth got to take him home.
At the intermission, two children rushed down the row of Shadowridge bikers to throw their arms around Elizabeth’s waist.
“Hello, Jalinda and Jerome. I’m so glad to see you here,” Elizabeth greeted Slash’s children, whom she’d met several times at the office.
“Thank you so much for the tickets. I’m having the best time,” Jalinda told her.
“Me, too,” echoed Jerome.
“I love this. Who do you think will win?” Elizabeth asked.
“Talon, of course. He’s the best,” Jerome said without hesitating.
“I think so, too. Let’s keep our fingers crossed,” she suggested, holding up her hands to show her gestures.
“We’ll do it. Daddy’s waiting for us,” Jalinda said before they turned to rush back to their father.
Slash’s demeanor toward Elizabeth had definitely changed after she had connected him with a good lawyer in her firm. Nothing could ever erase the terror the Devil’s Jesters had put her through or make the two MCs completely trust each other, but for now there was a truce. She nodded when Slash mouthed his thanks.
“Look, Elizabeth,” Ivy urged, pointing at a man approaching. Many people in the crowd patted him on the back and shook his hand. There were even a few hussies who took selfies with him.
“D… Talon!” Elizabeth called and rushed to meet him.
“Hi, Little girl.”
Talon wrapped an arm around her and hugged her close. He looked over the mass of Guardians who had shown up to support him and said, “Thank you all for coming. I’m never going to hear the end of this, am I?”
“Never,” Faust assured him.
“I can live with that,” Talon said with a grin that made Elizabeth’s heart beat faster.
“Are you having fun? You’re doing so well,” Elizabeth asked.
“My blisters have blisters, but we’re dancing well together,” Talon assured her.
“Maybe I should take some of those dance lessons,” Rock suggested, running his hand thoughtfully over his graying beard.
“Just have the ladies wear steel-toed boots,” Atlas suggested.
“We could take lessons, Daddy,” Carlee suggested.
“I’ll buy you some boots, Carlee. I’d hate for someone I cherish to lose a toe,” Rock teased.
“Rock!” Carlee said, rolling her eyes.
“I have to get back. I just wanted to check on the leather-wearing hooligans who’d invaded the ballroom dance event. The organizers panicked until Margaret assured them you’d behave,” Talon shared with a laugh.
He turned to say privately to Elizabeth, “Stay with Ink. It will take a while for me to get to you after the winners are announced.”
“I will. Promise.” She raised her still crossed fingers to make an X over her chest.
“Good girl.”
Elizabeth watched the crowd clump together and knew Talon was on his way to her. He and Margaret had won the competition easily. When they finally appeared, Margaret wore a simple wrap-around dress that looked elegant on her. Talon had transformed himself from the dramatic makeup and costumes he’d worn to his boots, jeans, and cut.
“Congratulations!” Elizabeth called, rushing to his side. “You both danced amazingly.”
“Thank you, Elizabeth. I appreciate you letting me borrow Talon for the competition,” Margaret said with a smile.
“Hi, Buttercup.” Talon greeted her with a kiss. He looked tired but happy.
Keeping Elizabeth at his side, Talon handed over a stack of business cards and promotional postcards to Steele. “All these people are interested in joining the Shadowridge Guardians,” he shared.
“Do they expect we’ll have a dance team now?” Steele growled as he looked through the cards.
“Probably. Don’t worry. All the dancers will forget about us by next week. I told everyone the first step was to check the requirements online and fill out the application. That will weed out some more,” Talon predicted.
“I’m starving. I don’t suppose anyone knows how to grill at that clubhouse of yours,” Margaret asked.
“Definitely,” Gabriel assured her. “Let’s head back there for a celebration.”
“Only if you promise not to play Paso Doble music,” Talon warned.
“I won’t ask them to play anything,” Margaret assured him. “Can I catch a ride with one of you? I took a ride share from my hotel.”
Ink stepped forward to extend his arm. With her hand wrapped around his bicep, he led the way to where their bikes were parked.
“He remembers she’s married, right?” Talon asked, watching them walk away.
“He does. Don’t worry about your mom. Ink will take good care of her,” Elizabeth assured him. “Or we could swap and I could hold onto Ink on the way home.”
“Mom will be fine. You’re riding with me.” Talon nixed that idea.
“I should learn to dance like your mom so we could dance together,” Elizabeth blurted. She’d been worried Talon would want someone talented to compete with.
“You can take lessons if that is what you wish. I think we dance perfectly together already, Little girl. I’m not interested in competing anymore. Today was fun to help my mom but it takes more time than I’m willing to commit.”
“I probably couldn’t dance as well as your mother.”
“Hey. My mom started dance lessons at two. She entered her first competition when she was five. I’ll let her tell you how old she is, but she’s danced all my life, so you know that’s over twenty-five years. I would never expect or want you to train for competition dancing.”
“You mean, I’m too old.”
“Not to dance with me and have fun at The Hangout. That’s all I’m interested in—enjoying my gorgeous Little. Besides, I’d never let you past our door with those skimpy outfits on,” Talon told her.
“I’d have to keep everything shaved,” she teased.
“And I’d have to kill all the men in the audience. Steele frowns on violence inside the MC.”
“We better avoid that then. You’ll teach me more of your fun dance moves?” she asked.
“I can’t wait.”