He sat astride his motorcycle and glared up at the Sheriff Department door. Harper was still cackling like a madwoman behind him. He had better things to do at four in the morning than try to get Joker out of a cell. Joker had to stop pushing Pelter.

“It’s not funny. I asked you to go to Brawlers, I said you’d be safe, and Joker starts a bar fight because someone may have looked at you sideways.”

“That’s Joker, he’s been watching my back for years, it’s sort of a habit he can’t break.”

“You shouldn’t have had to hide behind the bar.”

“It wasn’t all bad. I got to watch you play, and it was fun hanging out with Stacey and Bernie, Lily and Peaches. I thought I’d feel more out of place but—”

“That’s why we asked them to come tonight. Besides, Lily can swing a mean broken beer bottle when the need arises.”

“Speaking of Lily, where did she go when the Deputies showed?”

“Little took her out the back.”

Little worked for Trenton Security, Linus’s company. Surveillance was Little’s specialty. There wasn’t anything the man couldn’t find. The man was also best friends with Lily, Linus and Lucky’s mother. Little and Lily were an odd combo, but if nothing else they were great for inappropriate comic relief.

“I hear Damon is actually jealous of his wife’s much younger bestie.”

He chuckled. “Damon is just giving them shit. Little grew up in foster care, so Damon and Lily treat him like one of the kids. It’s good for him. He doesn’t get in as much trouble as he used to, I wish I could say the same for Joker.”

“Leave him alone, he just has terrible impulse control.”

“Terrible, really, that’s an understatement.”

“Quit being cranky, Pelter will let him out.”

“We had to give Sin and Saint bar towels to use as bibs when Pelter came in. I swear those boys were trying to hump Pelter. He didn’t look impressed. Actually, he looked even more pissed off.”

“The twins are young, they have a little crush.”

“I wouldn’t call their crush little. I hear the boys are stalking a scanner lately.”

Sin and Saint were barely twenty-two, and they were like the opposite sides of a coin. Different as they were carbon copies of each other. They argued constantly, but there was one thing they agreed on, Sheriff Camden Pelter. They hadn’t shown interest as far as he knew until that night.

“But that’s all they’re stalking as far as I know.”

“So far.”

“I don’t even need to ask what you two are doing here, do I?”

Speaking of the object of the twin’s obsession. Pelter was a large, powerfully built man, mahogany skinned with pale green eyes. If Pelter smiled he’d be downright gorgeous, but the man mostly lived with a stern expression.

“We came to get Joker.”

“I might leave him in the drunk tank until morning.”

“Joker isn’t drunk,” Harper protested.

“I’m going to need to put a plaque on one of the cells he spends so much time in it.”

“We were at a bar called Brawlers, can’t really be surprised when, oh, I don’t know, a brawl breaks out.”

He rolled his lips between his teeth to keep from smiling at the thick sarcasm in Harper’s voice. She was coming out of her shell. He found it sexy as hell when she got a bit snarky. She appeared more confident than she had a week ago when they talked about Bill and then went to bed.

“Why was I led to believe you were quiet,” Pelter asked.

“I am.”

“You’ve been hanging out with the Brawler, Twirled, and Executioner Crews too much.”

“I hear you have two very pretty, blond admirers,” Harper quipped.

Even under the dim streetlights, he saw Pelter’s jaw clench. He didn’t figure the man for a homophobe. He assumed Pelter didn’t enjoy attention of any kind. The man worked undercover for a majority of his time on the Atlanta Police Force and in the State Patrol. Pelter made a career of blending, so being the focus of much younger men couldn’t be easy.

“You’re all menaces. If I let him out, you going to make sure he gets home?”

“We’ll even tuck him in and give him his favorite blankie.”

“Harper,” he tried to sound stern, but his laughter ruined it.

“Okay, I’ll let him out, but you take him straight home. I’m tired of him taking up residence here.”

“It would be easier if you just ignore his proclivities to start fights when he’s bored.”

“Harper, he needs another damn hobby.”

“He’s fine, go release him so we can go home.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

He leaned back against Harper and watched Pelter jog up the steps. Harper laid her head on his shoulder, her breath fanned his neck. Her touches were more frequent recently. He’d also discovered she had a thing for cuddling; he didn’t mind in the least. It was one of his favorite activities.

“Do you do this ass crack of dawn stuff often?”

He turned his head to brush a kiss to her forehead.

“Only when we have gigs. The band is more a hobby. Something to do a few weekends a month, our practices are normally just hang out sessions.”

“Can I come next time too,” she asked.

Her voice all soft and sleepy, he needed to get her home.

“To practice or when we play?”

“Both.”

Harper draped her arms around his neck and snuggled into what seemed like her new favorite spot in the curve of his neck and shoulder.

“Okay, you going to make it home?”

“I’m just resting my eyes.”

He felt when she relaxed and drifted off, he circled her thighs with his arms and let her nap as he waited for Joker. It wasn’t a long wait. He cringed as the door banged open and Joker with his normally lazy pace made his way toward them.

Joker stopped a few feet away.

“Is she drunk,” Joker demanded.

“No, she’s napping. It’s almost five a.m., and we’re waiting for you.”

“Why? I coulda found my own way home, and I’m sure I can’t fit on your ride.”

“We just wanted to make sure you got out. You gotta stop this shit, Joker. One day Pelter is gonna stop being friendly.”

Joker shrugged and started backing up.

“Here.” He dragged Joker’s backpack from his saddlebags. “Harper grabbed this.”

“Thanks.”

As always Joker didn’t get within touching distance and took the bag. Joker was one of his best friends, and he still didn’t understand or know much about him. Powers was filled with rumors about Joker, but no one ever spoke above a whisper. He’d assumed most of it was bullshit, but if the truth existed in some form within the tales, then Joker had reasons for his touch aversion—for his lack of control.

“Come out for dinner one night this week.”

“I’ll see what I can do.” Which meant No in Joker-speak.

“Me and Harper have a little something for you, but you gotta come to dinner.”

“Y’all got me something?”

“Harper says you’ll love it.”

Okay, that was a huge exaggeration, but Harper was right, Joker needed something all his own. Joker lived in a tiny trailer out behind his garage, so one of the micro puppies would be perfect. The man wouldn’t tell Harper no. He just wondered if Harper would be able to let go of one of her babies. They were already sporting bows and tiny sweaters. She swore they were freezing to death and they were needed.

His opinion was: whatever made Harper happy.

She’d been nervous about leaving them alone for a night, and luckily, Gregory came over to sit with them.

“Okay, I’ll be by mid-week.”

“Good enough.”

“Better wake her up before you head home.”

“I’m awake,” Harper muttered.

“Good, I’ll kill—”

“Joker, we’ve talked about this.”

“Yes, Harper.”

He suppressed a chuckle at Joker’s chastised tone. Joker had a soft spot for the ladies of the Crews.

Joker didn’t linger, he turned quickly, and headed in the direction of his place.

“Ready to go home?”

“Yes, I want a bed, now.” He glanced over his shoulder to make sure she put on her helmet, then he did the same.

“As you wish.”

He started his bike, backed up, and pulled out onto the deserted street. It was a Sunday morning, so no one was out and about yet. He relished the feeling of Harper wrapped around him from behind. He was still waiting for the day she would head home, but first, she was going to start back to work. Harper was going a little stir crazy out at the farm.

They’d made a deal he would drop her off and pick her up. Pelter was still having no luck picking Bill up. Even Little and Raul, another one of Linus’s guys, couldn’t track him down. Until Bill wasn’t an issue, Harper agreed to stay with him where she was safe.

Bill was laying low, but the man wouldn’t stay quiet long. As much as he hated it, Harper was Bill’s favorite target, and he was positive Bill wouldn’t give up without striking one last time.

He pushed the disturbing thoughts to the back of his mind and enjoyed his ride home, with Harper behind him.