I whistle a melody as I sit at my desk and go over the Kitty’s accounts, pausing when there’s a knock on the door.
“Come in.”
The door opens and Lonnie pushes her head in. Great. What the hell does she want?
“Hi, Gage.”
“Hey, Lonnie. What’s up?”
She steps in, closes the door, and strolls to the chair opposite me, an extra swing in her hips. Honestly, it’s wasted on me. Even before I met her sister, it wouldn’t have worked. I fucked her a few times when she just came here but I haven’t touched her in a long fucking time. I wonder if she knows what’s going on with Raven. Could it be some loser she’s bringing home who’s putting his hands on her? I clench my teeth to keep quiet.
“I want to talk to you about something.”
“Yeah?”
Maybe she does know and is finally coming for help.
“I was thinking…I don’t want to be a Hound anymore.”
I should have known better. “That’s your choice. No one’s keeping you here.”
“I know, but I want to be an old lady.”
Good luck. Who the fuck’s going to want you after you’ve fucked every man in the club? Definitely not me. The hopeful look in her eyes makes me think she’s actually serious.
“Anyone in particular?”
“Yes.”
“Well, does he know?”
“No.”
“If the guy has no idea, don’t you think you should talk to him, and not me?”
“I was hoping he’d realize on his own.”
“Nothing I can do there. You need to sort that out with him. I’m not getting involved.”
Her face falls and she stares down at her hands in her lap. If she thought I was going to talk one of my brothers into claiming her, she’s insane. Maybe I should talk to her about Raven. She’s her guardian, after all. Then again, she’s probably not in the most receptive mood right now. Fuck it, I don’t need her. I’ll be around now, so I can figure shit out on my own. Whoever the fucker is, his days are numbered.
“Is there something else?”
“No. I just thought you should know.”
“Okay. Close the door on your way out.”
She walks out, head down, dragging her feet. The hip swing is gone. Who’d have thought Lonnie would want to settle down? Again, not me. Raven though, she’s definitely the settling down type. I can see her wanting the house with the picket fence, the kids, and the dog. Am I the man to provide that for her? Hell no. But she’s young. She has time to work on her suburban dream if that’s what she wants.
By the time I finish working, I realize I missed lunch and I’m starving. Hell, it’s damn near dinnertime. Maybe I should go to Millie’s and pay my little bird a visit. I lock the office door and head straight to the bathroom for a shower. I can’t wait to see her.
I step out of the shower, singing “Sympathy for the Devil” as I dry off. Fuck me, but I haven’t felt this good in a long time. After dressing in a white t-shirt, straight jeans, and white Jordans, I stand in front of the bathroom mirror contemplating whether I should comb my hair. Nah. I put in some Bedhead molding paste and run my fingers through it. I decide to leave my cut behind but not my Glock. I never leave home without it. A little of my current, favorite cologne, Gucci Guilty, and then I’m out the door.
Out in the bar, I find Razor getting the guys together while some of the girls are packing supplies. He’s a giant of a man, towering over me and about three times my size. He’d intimidate anyone without even trying. He got the nickname because he always had a disposable razor he would pull out at random times and just start shaving. I’ve never seen him with hair on his face. He’s a rock, though. I can count on him for anything, which is why he’s my Sergeant. He’s a mean son-of-a-bitch and won’t hesitate to kill a man. He’s good at it, too. Second to me, of course.
“Pushing out?” I ask him.
“Yeah. Talked to Mission. Everything goes okay, we should be back by this time tomorrow.”
Mission is the President of our Jacksonville charter. They run pain meds – Oxy, Vicodin, Percocet, you name it. They’re setting up a new base of operations and I’m sending some of my guys down there to help with securing the location.
“Cool. Let me know when you get there.”
“Yeah. Where you off to, pretty boy? Hot date?”
“Nah. Just to get some food.”
Lonnie saunters over, slips her arm around mine, and smiles up at me.
“Want some company?”
This is the chick who wants to be an old lady? Yeah, right. I brush her off and turn back to Razor. “Nah, I’m good.”
Razor chuckles and shakes his head.
“All right, Prez. See you tomorrow.”
“Yeah. You know what? Take some of the girls with you. Give Mission’s boys a taste of Georgia.”
“Sure thing. Lonnie, you’re rolling with me, sweet cheeks.”
I watch them leave and then grab the keys to my Mustang from behind the bar. Maybe Raven will let me give her a ride home. I get to Millie’s and I have to stand there for a minute and just watch her. What a difference a day makes. She’s smiling and moving around animatedly, chatting with the diners. She’s fucking beautiful. Since it’s not too busy, I take a seat at a table in her section. The moment she sees me, her smile fades. Okay, not the reaction I was expecting. She walks up to my table slowly.
“Hi.”
“Hey, baby doll. Not happy to see me?”
She nervously tucks some stray hair behind her ear.
“Don’t call me that,” she whispers, handing me a menu.
“Why not? You didn’t object last night.”
“Shh! Do you want everyone to hear you?”
Damn, this girl can put a smile on my face. I flip through the menu even though I already know what I want.
“Are you ready to order?”
“Yeah, let me get the fried chicken with potato salad and a biscuit.”
“And to drink?”
“Coke.”
“I’ll be right back. And stop smiling at me like that.”
I chuckle as she walks away, willing myself not to look at her ass. This is one of those times I wish I had a time machine. I don’t need much; just two months into the future, that’s all. She returns with my drink, and as she places it on the table, I let my hand brush hers before she releases the glass. She gasps and yanks her hand away. The fire in her eyes doesn’t escape me, but she quickly blinks it away.
“Stop it,” she says through clenched teeth and leaves again.
I watch her with a grin. My poor, little bird, she seems so frustrated. I need to do something about that. When she returns with my order, the diner is practically empty. There’s only me, and a couple at a table in Sheila’s section. She sets the plate on the table and slides her palms down her apron.
“If you need anything else, just let me know.”
“Join me.”
She takes a deep breath and shakes her head.
“I’m working.”
“Doing what? I’m your only customer.”
“Gage.”
Her tone is laced with warning, but all I can think of is how much I like hearing her say my name.
“You need to stop. Whatever this is…it needs to stop.”
She marches off and I turn to my food. Stop? I’m just getting started.
***Raven***
Hot, bothered, horny beyond reason – just a few words to describe how I’m feeling right now. How I’ve felt since I saw him sitting at that table. When his hand touched mine, I thought back to last night, only it was his hand between my legs and not mine. And the way he smells…Jesus. I need to get a grip. I grab a towel and start wiping down the counter just to keep myself occupied. The couple at Sheila’s table leaves, so now he’s the only one here. And he seems to be taking his own, sweet time. Not that I’m watching him. Okay, I’ve glanced over there a few times. Each time our eyes have met, and
each time he gave me a dazzling, crooked smile. That smile makes me want to leap over all these tables and land right on his lap.
Suddenly, a hand slides around my waist and I turn to see Chris smiling down at me. Fuck. I’ve been so consumed by my thoughts I neither heard him enter nor saw him approach.
“Hey, beautiful.”
I return his smile, lean in, and give him a quick kiss.
“Hey, handsome.”
His face lights up even more, the way it does anytime I give him a compliment. It’s like it means more to him coming from me. This is what I need. This is what I should be focusing on. I have a great guy with a bright future who is truly into me and who doesn’t just want to get in my pants.
“Ready?”
“I just have one last customer, and then I’m all yours.”
He looks around the diner and his smile disappears. He narrows his eyes and I see the muscles in his jaw working. Shit. I turn toward Gage and he has a mirrored expression. I do not need this right now.
“Chris.”
He turns to me but keeps throwing dirty glances in Gage’s direction. I cradle his face in my hands. “Don’t. Just sit here and wait for me. Once he’s done, we can leave.”
He drops down into the chair, still fuming.
“You want some dessert? Millie made apple pie.”
“I don’t want any damn pie. Just hurry up.”
Usually, I would get into a guy’s face for talking to me like that, but I understand how he must feel so I let it slide. I gather my wits and leave him to check on the other angry bird.
“Everything okay? Can I get you anything?”
“No, everything is not okay. What the fuck is he doing here?”
“He meets me here every day and we go home together.”
“Get rid of him. I’m taking you home.”
“No, you’re not. If you don’t understand the concept of a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship, I suggest you do some research.”
He leans forward, lowering his voice to a whisper.
“Where was your boyfriend last night when you were calling out my name?”
He’s right. I’m sending mixed signals and I need to stop.
“It was a mistake. It won’t happen again.”
He slides out of the booth and reaches into his pocket. Pulling out a few bills, he drops them on the table, all the time staring into my eyes.
“Bullshit. Get rid of him, Raven.”
He turns and heads for the door, calling over his shoulder, “See you around, baby doll.”
I can feel Chris’ eyes boring a hole in the back of my head. Asshole. He just had to have the last word. I try to be as nonchalant as possible as I clear the table. I also avoid looking at Chris as I pass by. While taking care of the bill, I realize he left entirely too much money. Then again, he didn’t even count it. A twelve dollars and fifty cents bill and he leaves a hundred and fifty dollars.
“You all set to go, sweetheart?” Millie asks.
I show her the money and the bill with a helpless look. She takes a twenty-dollar bill and smiles at me.
“I guess the rest is yours.”
“I can’t –”
“Yes, you can. Aren’t you the one saving up for an apartment? Trust me, honey. He can afford it.”
I sigh, stuff it in my pocket, and brace myself to face Chris. He’s out of his seat, pacing the diner, and muttering to himself. The moment he sees me, he stomps over and grabs my hand.
“We need to talk.”
He pulls me along behind him all the way to the bus stop. Despite his need to talk, he remains quiet. I can only think that he’s waiting until we get home. I leave him to his thoughts and anger, while I just stare out the bus window. How did my life get so complicated? I pull out my phone and text Toni. I need to talk to someone and I definitely can’t talk to Chrissy. It would be too weird.
R: Need to talk to you. Need some advice.
T: Sure, babe. You know I got you.
R: Call you later. Can’t talk right now.
T: Are you ok?
R: Yeah, just too many ears around…on the bus.
T: K. Later
“Who are you texting?”
“Toni.”
“Toni, huh?”
I give him my don’t-be-a-dick look but he doesn’t back down. Men. And they think women are jealous creatures. As soon as the bus stops, I push my way past him and start walking home.
“Raven, wait.”
“Leave me alone. Don’t bother following me home, either.”
By the time I get to the house, my anger has diminished because I know he’s been walking at a distance behind me the entire time. I stand on the porch and watch him as he approaches.
“Is this our first fight?”
“You’re the one who wants to fight, Chris. I don’t even know why.”
“What’s going on with you and the Dealer?”
“Nothing. I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve spoken to him.”
“He’s very protective of you for someone you’ve only spoken to a handful of times.”
I step forward and place my hands at his sides. He gazes down at me, his eyes searching my face.
“Don’t worry about him. I’m with you. Only you.”
He cradles my face, stroking my cheek with his thumb.
“No te quiero perder.”
“You won’t lose me, Chris.”
As he presses his lips to mine, I curl my fingers in his shirt, and pull him closer. I need to assure him I’m not going anywhere. The problem is how can I do that when I’m not sure myself?
CHAPTER 7
***Gage***
I stare down at my nephew as he sleeps in his crib. The moment my sister told me she was back from her trip, I had to come and see them. I love this kid like he’s mine, been taking care of him since he was born. I was the first one to hold him when he exited the womb. His father, Eddie, was a friend and brother who was killed in a deal that went south. I blame myself every day for it. Even if Mikey wasn’t my nephew, I would still make sure he didn’t want for anything. This is why I don’t want kids or an old lady. With the life I lead, I don’t want any woman of mine left alone, or raising a child without his father. My sister, Ellen, walks up behind me and places a gentle hand on my shoulder.
“Thinking of having one of your own, big brother?”
“Not likely, shorty.”
Ellen is the spitting image of my mother. She has the same nose, lips, and brown hair. We both got her blue eyes, but everything else I got from my dad. She even has Mom’s mannerisms, which is uncanny because she was just a baby when Mom died.
“I’m not short. I’m fun-sized.”
“Yeah, I’ve seen that shirt.”
“Come on. Let’s go downstairs.”
She leads me to the kitchen and I sit around the table while she unpacks groceries. Eddie bought this house the moment he proposed to Ellen and she accepted. Too bad he didn’t get to live in it.
“Want a beer?”
“Sure.”
She opens a bottle and hands it to me then returns to her unpacking.
“You seen Chopper yet?” I ask.
“No, I haven’t seen Dad yet. He’s coming over tomorrow.”
“Cool.”
“So…”
I know that tone. She’s about to stick her nose in my business. I take a deep breath and wait for it.
“Who’s the lucky woman who’s been warming your bed at nights?”
“No one’s ever been that lucky, little sis.”
“Oh, please! I know you haven’t been celibate.”
“Didn’t say I wasn’t fucking. Just don’t keep ‘em around long enough to do any warming.”
“You’re so crude. You’re telling me not one woman has slept in your bed?”
“Don’t need a woman for sleeping.”
“You’re such a whore.”
“I know, but I’m so good at it,” I reply with a smirk.<
br />
“Just wait. When the right one comes along, you’re going to fall flat on your ass and the best part is, you won’t even see it coming.”
“Okay, that’s my cue to leave.” I finish my beer, set the bottle on the counter, and kiss her cheek. “You can keep that love shit to yourself. I’m out.”
I flip the hood on my jacket over my head as I walk out.
“Just wait, Gage Hunter. You’ll see.”
Yeah, right. The day I fall in love is the day flying pigs make snowmen in Hell. I open the car door and, against my better judgment, look up the street. Ellen is just a few houses away from Raven. A small part of me hopes to see her, but I see him instead, the boyfriend. He throws a look over his shoulder and then jogs off. That’s it. I slam the door and march off toward her house. It’s time to settle this once and for all.
***Raven***
I’m barely through my bedroom door when I hear the knocking. I turn around, shaking my head in disbelief. What more can I say to appease him? I yank the door open without even looking through the peephole.
“Chris, I told you –”
No, not Chris. I lift my gaze from a rapidly rising and falling chest to an angry stare. What the hell is he doing here?
“We need to talk.”
Oh, great. Another man who needs to talk.
“We have nothing to talk about.” I try to close the door but he stops it, steps in, and closes it behind him. “You can’t be here.”
“Why? Are you scared?”
“Not of you. I don’t need people seeing you here.” And I don’t need this getting back to Lonnie.
“It won’t take long.”
I turn my back to him so he won’t see my amusement, but I can’t stop the giggle that escapes me. Lord, I have a dirty mind. I face him once more, desperately trying not to smile but failing horribly.
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