“You make them glue stuff,” Anna blurts, laughing. “Your job sounds fun.”
“Hey, I do more than that!” I say a little defensively. “I set them up for everything they need to know for their future years of studying! I help build the foundation for their education.”
Anna nods her head sagely. “Yeah, you’re right. But come on, you do a lot of gluing and painting.”
I puff out a breath. “You’re infuriating.”
Lana sits back down and looks between us. “What did I miss?”
“A career war,” Anna says, grinning. “What do you have for us, Lana?”
“Not this again,” Lana grumbles, lifting her legs up on the empty chair in front of her. “If I was on a deserted island, I’d be one of the first ones they’d kill off. What could they use a romance author for?”
“I’m sure you have some other skills,” I tell her, biting my lip and trying not to laugh at her random comment.
“I have no survival skills at all,” she disagrees, tilting her head. “I’m book smart. Not very practical.”
“Well then,” I say, sounding choked. “Hopefully Tracker will be there to save your ass and stop the people on the island from voting you off.”
Anna looks at Lana, squinting her eyes. “That was such a fiction writer comment by the way.”
Lana shrugs, smiling. “You live in your world, and I live in mine.”
“My world being reality?” Anna asks, laughing. “I’d love to see into your head. See how you come up with all these characters and plot lines. All the evil little twists you add into your books. Do you have an evil laugh you use when you kill someone off?”
Lana beams. “Actually I do. Do you want to hear it?”
We both nod.
She clears her throat and then laughs. “Mwahahahaha.” She looks at us. “What do you think?”
“I think you could even go eviler,” I say, considering. “Is eviler a word, author friend of mine?”
“Why does everyone always ask me?” She laughs. “That’s what editors are for. Trust me, I make up more words than the average person.”
“That’s true,” Anna adds, nodding her head.
“Hey at least I don’t say chipotle like ‘chipottle,’ ” Lana says to Anna, unable to keep a straight face. “That was some funny shit!”
“You said you wouldn’t bring that up again!”
“Says the scientist,” I tease, making Lana laugh even harder.
We spend the rest of the day chatting, eating, and watching the children laugh and play. Clover cuts her Frozen cake and we all sing “Happy Birthday” to her. This is the last place I ever thought I’d fit in, yet I can’t remember the last time I was this happy.
Life definitely surprises you at every turn.
And sometimes, it’s in a very good way.
TWENTY-FIVE
SO that’s the connection you have with Talon,” I say, eyes flaring. “You never told me the whole story before.”
“Didn’t I?” Anna frowns, reaching up to tie her light hair in a ponytail. “My biological father raised him instead of Rake and me. Talon’s a good guy though. It wasn’t his fault our so-called father abandoned us.”
“And that’s why Rake doesn’t like Talon,” I say, coming to the realization. I cover my face with my hands. “And I kissed him!”
Anna winces at that. “Yeah, Talon is lucky to be alive after that one. Rake doesn’t hurt Talon because he knows I care about him. Talon and I have a weird bond. Must have been the whole kidnapping thing.”
I stare at her until she explains that one.
“He kidnapped you? Sweet baby Jesus,” I groan, shaking my head in shock. “Looks like I’ve missed a whole lot of drama.”
“You have no idea,” Talon says without missing a beat, sliding into the seat next to Anna. He eyes me warily. “Rake know you’re here?”
I look to Anna. “No, but to be fair, I had no idea you were going to be joining us today, Talon.”
Talon simply chuckles and kisses Anna sloppily on the cheek. “Always causing trouble, aren’t you, Anna Bell?”
Anna tightens her lips. “No harm is coming to her being in your presence. She’s Rake’s now, so I’m sure you will both keep your lips to yourselves.”
Talon puckers his lips and sends a wink in my direction. “I can control myself if Bailey can.”
“I’m sure I’ll manage,” I tell him in a dry tone, unable to keep my lips from quirking.
“Good,” he says, rubbing his hands together. “I’m fuckin’ starving. Can we order?”
“Already ordered for you,” Anna replies, flipping the page on a magazine she was reading.
“That’s fuckin’ emasculating.” Talon sighs, staring down at her. “What did you get?”
Anna lifts her head and smirks. “The same thing you always order, Talon. Steak, fries, and salad.”
“Did you—”
“Yes,” she interrupts. “I told them not to put the dressing on the salad because you don’t like dressing. Which I still think is weird, but anyway.”
“And did you tell them—”
“Steak medium rare, yes.”
“What about—”
Anna expels a heavy sigh. “Yes, I told them you like to eat your fries with mayonnaise.”
“Oh,” Talon says, now grinning. “Good work, Anna.”
“Just how often do you two eat here?” I ask, unable to keep the amusement from my voice.
“Now and again,” Anna replies, flashing Talon a fond look. “He gets grumpy and threatens to come to the clubhouse if I don’t.”
Talon shrugs his broad shoulders. “I haven’t been in a fight for a while, and I’m aching for one.”
“Yeah. Don’t do that,” I say, grimacing. “Maybe you could go to a boxing gym or something like that.”
Talon looks at me like he thinks I’m cute. “There’s an idea, sweetheart.”
I roll my eyes and look down at the deep burgundy nails I just got done with Anna as a treat to myself.
“So now that Rake’s off the market, who’s satisfying all the club whores?” Talon asks nonchalantly.
Anna flashes him a dirty look. “Why do I like you again?”
“What? I’m just saying: you can always send them my way.”
“You need a good woman,” Anna tells him, leaning forward.
“I wouldn’t know what to do with a good woman,” Talon tells her. “I’m not ready to settle down. Plus my life isn’t exactly one that would attract the type of woman you’re talking about.”
“Umm hello,” Anna says, pointing between me and her. “If Arrow can get me, you can get a good woman.”
Talon looks in my direction. “Has her ego always been this big?”
I grin and nod. “Pretty much.”
“I’m just saying. It’s possible.”
“That would require me trusting a woman completely, and yeah, no fuckin’ thanks,” he says, pouring himself some water from the jug at the table and taking a sip. “I’m good as I am.”
“Fine,” Anna says, shrugging her shoulders. “It will happen eventually anyway, whether you want it to or not.”
“Touch wood, Anna,” he says, smirking. “Don’t wish that shit upon me.”
Anna rolls her eyes.
“Speaking of wishes, it’s my birthday next week,” Talon says, running a hand through his shaggy white-blond hair. “I want you there.”
Anna closes her magazine and concentrates on him. “Where are you having it?”
“At the clubhouse,” he says without flinching, keeping his gaze on the woman he considers family.
“For fuck’s sake, Talon,” Anna snaps. “I can’t walk into the Wild Men clubhouse! Arrow and Rake would murder me! And no offense, but most of the men in your MC are assholes.”
“They aren’t so bad,” Talon fires back. “You only met most of them when you were our fuckin’ hostage; of course they weren’t warm and friendly to you.”
&n
bsp; “Slice is—”
“An asshole,” Anna finishes. “A total asshole. And Ranger? When I punch the boxing bag with Faye, it’s his face I picture as I pummel it.”
“Did you even see Ranger?” Talon asks, eyes flashing with amusement.
Anna’s eyes narrow in a scowl. “Not the point. I picture him being some big ogre-looking jackass with all muscles and no brain.”
“Ranger has three degrees. One’s in literature.”
I can’t help it, I start laughing at the look on Anna’s face. I don’t think she saw that one coming.
“The biker who kidnapped me and knocked me unconscious has a degree in literature?” Anna asks with wide green eyes. “You’re pulling my leg, right?”
Talon shakes his head. “I swear. He’s always reading and shit. Loves it.”
“Well, fuck me,” Anna mutters under her breath. “Now I’m going to picture beating him with a book.”
“I want you there, Anna, and I can’t move the whole thing. Where the hell would we hold it?” Talon asks. Our food arrives and we all murmur our thank-yous. When the waitress leaves, he continues, “No one will even breathe in your direction. I have the men under control. The MC isn’t what it used to be, okay?”
“Can’t we have our own separate celebration? I’ll take you wherever you want to go,” Anna tries to negotiate.
“No,” Talon says simply, being stubborn. He turns to me, “You come too, Bailey.”
Anna barks out a laugh at that. “You think Rake is going to let the two women most important to him walk into your MC clubhouse? What have you been smoking, Talon? Because you might want to share it so we can get in on the craziness.”
My heart warms at her compliment, and I know that she’s right. Rake would never let this happen, no matter how much Talon might want it and how much Anna would want him to have his birthday wish.
“Not to mention Arrow,” I add, picking up my fork.
“Bring them, then,” Talon says, dipping a fry into his mayonnaise. “If they can manage to keep their fists to themselves, I’ll make sure my men do the same.”
Anna puffs out a breath and looks down at her plate. “You’re asking the impossible this time, Talon.”
“Try” is all he replies. “Sneak out if you have to. Come on, Anna, you’ve done it before.”
“And look how that ended,” she replies dryly.
“Kill anyone who tries to touch you,” he says so casually that it makes me feel a little uncomfortable.
Anna glances up at me. “Let’s talk about this later; we’re being rude to Bailey.”
“Bailey is coming with you, so she can pipe up any time she likes,” he says, winking at me again.
“Hey, don’t bring me into this,” I say. “I’m going to pretend this whole conversation never happened.”
“Good idea,” Anna says, strength in her voice. “We’re not going, and that’s final.”
* * *
“I can’t believe you’re making me do this!” I growl at Anna a week later.
“We’ll just stop by for an hour and that’s it! The men will never find out; they’ll just think we’re having dinner and drinks,” Anna says, sounding like she believes what she’s saying, even though I know shit’s going to happen tonight. The only reason I’m going is because otherwise she said she’ll go alone, and I can’t let her do that, nor can I be a snitch and tell the men of her plan. Basically, I’m damned if I do and I’m damned if I don’t. At least this way I get to keep an eye on her and hope that we can pull this off and both end up home safely without starting an MC war.
“They’re so going to find out,” I tell her grumpily, staring out the window. “Rake’s going to kill me. I just know it.”
“Don’t think about it,” Anna says, putting the volume up on the music. “Let’s just have a good night and we’ll both pull this off. Don’t worry so much, Bailey.”
Don’t worry?
I listen to “No Love” by August Alsina and Nicki Minaj while contemplating whether Anna is crazy or not. She has to be, of course, to think we’re going to get away with our plan tonight. I place my hands on my thighs and wonder, for the tenth time, if I chose the right outfit. I went with black skinny jeans and a black top that isn’t revealing at all but still looks good on me. I don’t want to get any attention from the Wild Men bikers, but I don’t want to look like shit either. My hair’s up in a high ponytail and I have a little makeup on, a natural look. Anna is dressed similarly, in jeans and a red top, with her hair down and dead straight, her makeup a little heavier. We soon pull up to the clubhouse, and Anna parks out front, a little away from everyone else.
“Easy access to get out of here, don’t you think?” she asks, getting out of the car and waiting for me. I count to ten in my head, then get out, pulling at the hem of my top.
“Let’s do this and leave,” I grumble as she slides her arm in mine and leads me to the entrance. The man standing there eyes us warily.
“Talon’s expecting us,” Anna says, sounding confident.
The man nods. “Anna and Bailey?”
“Yeah,” she replies. “Where is he?”
“Go straight, then turn right,” the man replies. “You’ll hear them, don’t worry.”
Anna and I share a look before we walk into forbidden territory.
“It’s a lot less scary than I remember it,” she says, following the noise of the men, hollering and cheering.
“It’s so weird being here,” I whisper, coming to a stop when I see Talon and his men. They’re standing next to a pool table, playing . . . beer pong?
“I didn’t expect this,” Anna says, taking the words right out of my mouth.
“Anna! Bailey!” Talon cheers, throwing the Ping-Pong ball to one of his men and coming straight over to us. “You made it.”
He wraps us both in his arms, pressing our faces to his chest. He smells good. Really good. He turns around, both of us still in his hold.
“Happy birthday, Talon,” Anna says, handing him the small gift we got him. I wish him well too, and he kisses my cheek.
“Thank you,” he says sincerely. “You didn’t need to get me anything. You both being here is more than enough.”
I know he really wanted Anna here, not me, but it’s nice of him to include me in the equation.
“Everyone!” he shouts, making me jump. “This is Anna and Bailey. They’re my guests and not to be fuckin’ touched, do you hear me?”
The men nod, some call out replies, all agreeing. One man yells out, “But they’re hot!” And Talon yells back for him to look but not touch, unless he wants his dick cut off.
Ouch.
“Can I get you both a drink?” he asks, kissing Anna on her temple.
“Actually,” Anna says, eyeing the beer pong game going on. “Can we play?”
“What?” Talon asks, laughing. “That’s the last thing I thought I’d hear you say.”
Anna smiles sweetly. A little too sweet. “I’ve never played before, I’d like to try it. It looks fun.”
Talon looks down at me. “What about you, sweetheart?”
I shrug, purposely looking unsure. “I’ve never played either, but it looks easy enough.”
“Do you guys want to go on separate teams, since you’re both newbies? We usually play two against two,” he says, telling one of the men that the next game was his.
“No, I want to go with Anna,” I say, grinning up at him. “Girl power, and all that.”
Talon lets go of us and grins, shrugging. “Fine, but when you get your asses kicked, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“We’re both capable women,” Anna tells him, crossing her arms over her chest. “And we have beginners’ luck on our side. Who are you taking as your partner?”
“Hmmm,” Talon muses, his grin turning mischievous. “I choose him.”
He points at someone behind us, so we turn to look.
I instantly suck in a breath. Sweet baby Jesus.
; I stare at what has to be one of the most attractive men I’ve ever set my eyes upon. Extremely tall and perfectly muscled, he’s wearing worn jeans and a blue flannel long-sleeved shirt. Both look delicious on him. His hair is longish, dark as can be, and tied at his nape. He has a beard. Not too long and not too short, just right.
Everything about him is just right.
He walks over to us and stops next to Talon. His eyes. They’re a bright hazel. And surrounded by thick, dark lashes. Mesmerizing.
“Wh-who are you?” I hear Anna ask, sounding equally as dazed.
Yeah, the man was a god.
“Anna, meet Ranger.”
He’s no Rake, but if I wasn’t with Rake . . . well.
I’d like to have a Ranger.
TWENTY-SIX
THAT’S the guy who kidnapped you?” I whisper when we’re sort of alone. “What the hell were you complaining about? He can kidnap me any time he wants!”
“I didn’t see him!” she growls, grabbing my arm and pulling me farther into the corner of the room. “He knocked me out.” Her eyes narrow on Ranger. “And he’s going down. We can’t lose this game. Do you think Talon bought the whole ‘This is our first time’ bullshit?”
I nod. “Totally.”
She smiles evilly. “Excellent. I’m going to beat Ranger at beer pong, then I’m going to challenge him. Hand-to-hand combat. To the death.”
I roll my eyes and pat her shoulder. “Let’s just stick to the beer pong, honey.”
“Fine,” she replies, drawing the word out in a sulk. “Let’s do this.”
I block out Talon’s instructions—Anna and I are no strangers to this game. We played it all the time in high school, and we’re good. Really good. I haven’t played since college, but hey, I have no doubt we’re going to give them a good game.
“You going to stare at me like that all night?” I hear Ranger say to Anna.
Fuck.
His voice is deep and sexy too.
“Yes,” Anna tells me, flashing him her dirtiest look. “Yes, I am. You kidnapping bastard.”
“On Talon’s orders,” he says, tilting his head to the side. “Why are you mad at me and not him?”
Rake's Redemption (Wind Dragons Motorcycle Club) Page 18