The sun had finally set, fairy lights strung around and torches for the mosquitos lit the party that was winding down. Gunner's eyes stayed focused on Liliana across the party.

"She ain't gonna disappear, damn," a voice beside him grunted. The scowl was practically palpable through his words. Butcher, Gunner, and Jude all sat on the porch as the women chatted.

"You just had to show up late, didn't ya? We were finally getting a second to ourselves," Gunner complained at his auburn-haired friend, Butcher.

"I didn't want to come."

Immediately, the blonde's shoulders slumped and Jude's shook with quiet laughter. "You didn't want to see me?" His green eyes shined with mock sadness.

"No, but apparently my woman did so lucky you." He watched his girlfriend, Valentina, speak animatedly to Lily and Penny.

"I really just think it's time for you to admit you love me more than her. I'm tired of you using her as an excuse to see me, it's real sad buddy."

Butcher's permanent scowl deepened. He opened his mouth to bicker, but Gunner beat him to it as he continued.

"By this day and age, you'd think ya wouldn't be so ashamed of a man lovin' another man-" Jude barked out a laugh at his president. "I mean really, shame on you Butch."

The pale man was practically red with his irritability. "The only problem is that it's you, you fuck," Butcher grit through his teeth.

From the bottom of the porch, the girls giggled as they could see the men going back and forth.

"So, you said that's your boyfriend and brother... does that ever get weird?" Liliana smiled at the woman she'd just met a little bit ago. Valentina was also new to the biker club—at least newer than others—after beginning to date the biker Butcher about a year ago.

The pretty woman winced a little at the thought. "They tolerate each other more as the time goes on. But they co-exist, I guess. But they are boring. I want to hear more about you and Gunner. I'm still surprised that boy grew the cajones to ask you out."

"Uh well he just invited me. Calling this a date would be generous. But I'm glad to be here, it's been... ah a long time since I've gone out really."

Penny nodded in agreement, "If we called this a date, it would be the end of romance as we know it, Val. And I refuse to let it die."

"Well, Hollywood is damn near the most romantic man I've ever seen in real life. He treats you like a princess, Penelope. I don't wanna hear it from you," Valentina snorted. "But I have faith in Gunner. Maybe he'll keep it alive. Are you into him?"

Lily pursed her lips in thought, brushing her hair behind her ears almost sheepishly. Her chocolate skin warmed at their attention. Her dark eyes slid to Gunner's, locking with the striking green gaze that seemed to always zero in on her.

Swallowing hard, she looked away quick. "Of course I am-"

Both women across from her giggled excitedly. But still Liliana continued.

"He's too much a flirt for me not to like him at least a little, I guess. I just- I can't tell how serious he is. I've heard about how he is, y'know. It's hard for me to understand why he's interested."

"Because you're hot as fuck," Penny murmured under her breath. Valentina snorted while nodding enthusiastically.

Lily pursed her lips in disagreement but continued, "I've just had horrible relationships in the past—like insanely, laughably bad. I tried to tell him I don't want to mess around anymore or waste my time. I can't tell if he wants what I want or maybe thinks he can convince me otherwise. Or maybe screw me over in the end..." She inhaled deeply.

"I just don't know." Lily rubbed her arms in thought.

Valentina and Penny both glanced over at each other, neither of them could confidently reassure her of what Gunner was doing.

They'd never seen him serious about anyone.

"I think it says something that he brought you here. Despite how Gunner ya know... is, the closest people around him are here. It's not nothin' that you're here with 'em." Penny knew her brother and she especially knew this was something different for him.

The women were distracted from the conversation as a drunken biker stumbled around. Valentina groaned quietly as Penny huffed.

Liliana only tilted her head, watching him trip a little over himself. He almost bumped into the table before setting his sights on them. All the girls immediately looked at each other.

"Tank always gets black out at these things. It's a god damn pain, if we don't make eye contact, he shouldn't... and he's making his way over anyway. Ugh," Penelope growled under her breath.

"If it's... not the most three beautiful women I have seen," Tank slurred as he attempted to brace himself against the beam that Liliana leaned against. Her brows furrowed and she didn't hesitate to gently steer him away with the help of Valentina.

"We hear it every barbecue from ya, Tank," Penelope reminded with a bit of agitation in her voice.

"Yeah but it don't mean nothin' to the two of you's since yer claimed," the sloppy man scoffed. Liliana's brows furrowed at the wording he used. "But this one-" She was distracted when he zeroed his eyes on her. "She doesn't have no cut with her name on it. I can tell her she's gorgeous as much as I want."

"If only I wanted to hear it." Liliana gave him a saccharine smile even if her words were clipped.

"Ah c'mon baby don't be like that," Tank's rank breath fanned her face as he closed in. His hand attempted to brush her cheek.

All the women reacted similarly. Lily squirmed uncomfortably as she moved to push at his hands, but both Penny and Valentina had shoved him away.

Shoved him right into the broad chest of Gunner, whose height was staggering in comparison to the shorter man.

His green eyes were darker than Lily had ever seen them as they narrowed down at Tank. She swallowed hard as her breath hitched. The anger he held in his otherwise blank face made her stomach do flips.

"Pres," Tank huffed as he became flustered while Jude and Butcher flanked either side of him.

"Correct me if I'm wrong Tank—I could be misunderstanding—but were you about to put your hands on our guest over there?" Gunner clamped a hand down on the man's shoulder. This entire conversation seemed to be sobering Tank up very quickly.

"Ah, I was just chattin' she- she was into it I would never-"

"Into it," Gunner repeated with a sardonic laugh that sent a chill through the air. "Into it," he chuckled to himself as he rubbed his stubbly chin with his free hand before brushing his dirty blonde hair back out of his eyes.

"Sweetheart." Gunner lifted his eyes to Liliana. He watched her as she fidgeted a bit under the attention of everyone, but he still couldn't help but admire how pretty she looked with her curls all over the place. The fire that lit up the night danced off her mahogany skin like fucking artwork. His calloused hand tightened on Tank's shoulder with crushing pressure.

Her dark, doe eyes met his. For a moment, he expected there to be fear. But he only saw the trust they'd been building swimming in her eyes with a hint of nervousness when she shifted her gaze towards the biker he was currently gripping up.

"You weren't into it, huh, darlin'?"

She shook her head. "Not at all, Gunner."

"Ya hear that? That makes you either a liar or fucking dumbass, Tank. Which are you? Answer honestly. I'm not in the mood," Gunner hissed through his teeth as the reality of the event was hitting him. This was supposed to be a peaceful fucking night. A peaceful night to acclimate Lily to his people and let her have a good time.

"I-I'm drunk I was just messing around, man, I swear."

Gunner bent down to meet the man's eyes, where the storm brewing beyond the usually lighthearted gaze was striking through the scared biker. Now, Tank was remembering more clearly the announcement Gunner made as the barbecue was getting started.

We'll have a guest tonight... be respectful, be fucking normal... if you fuck this up for me, I'll fuck you up myself. The warning rang in Tank's mind.

Gunner, knowing his audience, cocked his head to the side. His message was clear, he'd deal with him later.

"Apologize," the blonde suddenly rasped in a tone that left no space for denying. Not that Tank would dare.

The voice sent shivers down Liliana's spine as she held her breath. And she wasn't even the one under fire. But it wasn't long before she was receiving a speedy and spluttered apology from Tank who proceeded to run off quickly.

Once he was gone, everyone moved once again after seemingly being frozen in the thick tension. Valentina flocked to her grumpy boyfriend who softened towards her immediately. Penelope giggled at the drama as she checked on Lily one more time before fleeing to tell her own biker the drama. It left Gunner, Lily, and Jude.

But not for long after Gunner glanced at the Vice President. "Fuck off," he said, waving Jude away while stepping towards Liliana.

"Ya alright?" He sighed heavily as a frown tugged at his pink lips. Liliana's face twisted with worry.

"I'm perfectly fine." She brushed her hands up his brawny biceps. The tattooed skin flexed under her touch reflexively. "I'm still havin' a good time. The night is still a success," Lily murmured up to him reassuringly.

He groaned lowly as he rubbed both of his hands over his face. "Fuck, no it's not. I fucked it up. I thought they could behave for one goddamn night. And then I go and act like-"

"It looked like you were doin' your job," she cut him off. She nibbled on her lip in thought.

Gunner knew she was skeptical of his lifestyle and how dangerous it was. Of course, he'd gone and been a dick in front of her. Hell, he might as well have waved his gun around while he was at it.

Liliana pried his hands from his face after a few hard tugs. "I liked that you stuck up for me," she huffed out to the dramatic blonde.

He cracked an eye open to look at her skeptically. "You did?"

With a scoff, Liliana released the ridiculous man. "Yes. I appreciated. I don't have a lot of people doing that for me, let alone twice." She grinned as she thought about when he fended off the rude diner.

"I did do that, didn't I?"

Her eyes rolled up to the starry night, turning to walk away. Knowing he would follow right behind her. And right on cue, he did so dutifully.

As she made her way up the porch, he watched her yawn into the back of her hand. He checked the time to see it just past eleven.

"Sorry." She waved her hand at him as the yawns didn't stop.

"C'mon." He grazed his fingers over her hip. "I'll get ya home. Had I known you were half asleep already, I'd've gotten ya tucked into bed myself."

They paused as Lily shot him the side eye.

"In a completely respectful way, of course. With the most gentlemanly manners. Can't have you too tired, can I?"

"How kind of you," Lily grunted as she stretched her arms over her head. "I'm never usually up late, been like that for a while. And I tend to be an early riser too." She pursed her lips as she thought of her little girl. The entire reason for her haywire sleep schedule.

"I'll get ya home, sweetheart." He rubbed her back while shooting her a grin before they began the list of goodbyes needed to be given.

The ride home was a blur but before she knew it Gunner was opening her car door for her and making sure she got to the porch alright.

"I mean really, my sister can do a lot of things but apparently barbecue is not one of them. Last time she damn near set the side of her house on fire. She's lucky I was there. I'll have you know I saved the day, thank you very much."

"Oh, that sounds like you," Liliana smirked while she slid her key in the door before turning towards him. "I didn't expect to have such a good time. Honestly, I'm impressed. Almost every other time I've ended up going out it's been a shit show. This has been a successful day."

"You were expecting a dumpster fire huh?" He leaned up against the railing behind him. His eyes flickered over her curvy figure distractedly. "You're so pretty when you think I'd take you on a bad date."

Liliana's eyebrows shot up before she spluttered out a laugh. "I distinctly remember your sister herself saying if this is a date then romance is dead."

Gunner tilted his head in thought, nodding in agreement. "That sounds like her. God, I hate when she's right. Ya gonna let me fix that?"

She leaned against the railing beside him. There, with him glancing down at her with low lidded eyes, she noticed the freckles dotting over his nose. Her breath hitched in her throat, swallowing thickly as she suddenly grew nervous under his intense gaze.

"I honestly figured you'd make it easier on me and lose interest after tonight, Gunner," she joked quietly.

"Why do ya say that shit, huh? Why is it so hard for you to believe I like ya?"

Her nose scrunched cutely in thought, then she shrugged. "There's not much to me. I'm boring, you'll get bored."

"Yet, every time I'm around you you've always got my attention somehow," Gunner said huskily as he braced his hand next to her. The two gravitated towards each other, his chest barely brushing her own as he tilted his chin down at her. Her hip cocked out and he sucked on his teeth while letting his eyes linger on the curves of her body.

"And I wasted time working up the nerve to talk to ya and the back and forth is amazing, but I want the nitty gritty shit you seem to avoid."

"The nitty gritty?" she exhaled breathily as her face tilted up towards him.

"Oh yeah."

"The deep dark secrets?"

"I want it all, Liliana," he promised with everything in him. Their eyes were locked and as badly as Lily wanted to look away, she couldn't. She barely noticed how their faces closed in on one another.

Liliana struggled to think of a response as her attention fell to Gunner's mouth that hovered right over her own, his eyes zeroed in on her plush pout as his hands trembled with want. His fists clenched as their breaths mingled for a moment before a thud from inside her house caught their attention.

Gunner's hand reached for his firearm tucked in the back of his pants, but Liliana only cursed.

"Fuck- fuck- it's... god damnit." She rubbed her face harshly as she found herself caught up in the moment. "Easy Gunner. It's my neighbor I mentioned, Esme. She- well she's my friend she stayed to help me out, make sure I got home alright."

She watched his tense shoulders fall. Groaning softly into her hands, Lily could barely get out a word once again.

Meanwhile, Gunner's face was pink. He felt his throat close up as his palms grew sweaty, he was so fucking close. He could barely take his eyes off her and the fact that she'd just shown actual interest in him was making him go haywire.

He had to keep it together, he fisted his shaky hands together while watching her.

"I should... I should probably go check on her."

Sucking on his teeth, he cleared his throat. "Ah- y-yeah that- that... fuck... That makes sense." The fucking stutter was back.

Liliana's eyes finally found him again, and it revived him from his moment of drowning. Her frustration faded away seeing him peering down at her.

"Gunner." She managed to grin a bit.

He could only manage a hum of acknowledgement and his full attention.

"Thank you for all of this." She gripped him by his flannel and tugged him forward. His cologne nearly winded her in the best way possible. She thought she could get high off the intoxicating smell. Lightly, she grazed her glossed lips against his cheek before pulling away.

"Ask me about the date when my friend isn't eavesdropping against the door, alright?" she whispered in his ear. Gunner barely fought the shiver she sent down his spine as he nodded quickly.

"Night Lily," he croaked out as she kissed his cheek one more time.

"Night Gunner."

And before the door shut, he barely caught a glimpse of who he could assume was Esme bombarding Lily with eager questions, the two bickered while he tried to calm his thudding heartbeat.