by Jamie Begley
Reaper was at least able to keep his shit together, while Nickel turned bright purple, trying to find his way out of explaining why they had been talking about her.
“I was just talking about … Jewell. Reaper was asking how she was doing managing the factory.”
Rolling his eyes at Nickel’s entreating expression to back up the lie, Reaper decided not to throw himself into that fire pit. Nickel was on his own.
“You need something?”
Ginny quirked an eyebrow at him. “No. It’s time for me to be back on stage.”
It was his turn to be embarrassed. How had he lost track of time?
Nickel’s smug smile at having Ginny’s focus turned on him had Reaper considering several options for payback when they got back to Treepoint. The fucker wasn’t going to know what it was like to have a Saturday off.
Nickel started after Ginny as she headed toward the stage. “Cool. It’s my turn—”
A hard elbow shoved him back.
“Nothing’s wrong with your ears. You can listen here,” Reaper ground out, going after Ginny before Nickel could catch his breath.
Sparing the hunched-over brother a gloating glance, he bumped into Ginny.
“What happened to Nickel?”
He unrepentantly lied to a concerned Ginny who started to go back down the corridor. “He ate at Dirty Dan’s for lunch. The greasy fries are catching up with him.”
“Oh.” Blushing, Ginny quickly spun around, hurrying in the direction of the stage as if the hounds of hell were after her. Nothing embarrassed women more than men’s bluntness on having to take a shit.
He was two steps from the top of the metal stairway when he looked up to see Ginny standing above him.
“You’re very handsome when you smile.”
Mesmerized, he watched Ginny move closer to the edge of the step until a centimeter separated them, he then warily watched her hand reach out to rub her knuckles down his bearded jaw.
“I like your beard.”
Fighting the instinct to rub his jaw back against her hand, he snatched her wrist to jerk her hand away when the metal under his palm broke the spell she had placed over him.
“Who gave you the bracelet?”
So close to her, Reaper saw her pupils dilate. He knew before she answered that Ginny was going to lie.
“I bought it for myself.”
He narrowed his eyes up at her, letting her know without words that he didn’t believe her.
She trailed her hand away from his, leaving him standing alone on the steps, as she moved into position behind the curtain.
Coming up the remaining steps, he stopped at her back. “Who gave you the bracelet?”
When Ginny didn’t answer immediately, he thought she wasn’t going to answer at all or repeat the same lie.
“It was a Christmas gift.”
“From whom?”
“My sister.”
Chapter Eighteen
Ginny’s answer made sense. Wearing her dead sister’s gift would carry an intense sentimental value. What he couldn’t understand was why she lied to him in the first place, but he wouldn’t be able to harp on why she lied without coming across as the world’s biggest a-hole.
Before his talk with Nickel, it wouldn’t have bothered him to be cast in that role. Hell, he had been working on that role since getting on the plane to Nashville. However, something told him if he handled it the wrong way, he would get his wish, and he wasn’t sure he wanted it to come true any longer.
Catching Ginny’s stalker would save The Last Riders’ manpower to use elsewhere right now. Having to worry about Ginny removed from Viper’s shoulders was another plus, as well as making him feel as if he was pulling his own weight since returning to the club.
Each excuse could be good enough on its own merit, yet there was an excuse he didn’t want to acknowledge—the fear of Ginny cutting him out of her life like she had Moon and Doc. Refusing to admit the truth eliminated the fear of Ginny getting close to breaking through the barrier he placed around his heart.
After Taylor, he believed no other woman would be able to get past his defenses, yet Ginny was managing to twist him inside out in a matter of days.
When the spotlight hit the side of the curtain, Ginny stepped out onto the stage as the music switched from grating high notes to soft strands that floated over the heads of the cheering audience. The applause was cut off as the music dived low. The onlookers went silent, wanting to hear the new chords of a song they had never heard before.
Moving closer to the curtain so he could get a better view, Reaper saw Kaden and Ginny together behind the microphone. Seeing them in the spotlight, he understood why the crowd had gone silent. They were a perfect foil for each other. Kaden’s raw masculinity gave an illusion of a sexual chemistry to Ginny’s more feminine allure. Reaper was sure more than one onlooker was imagining Kaden and Ginny fucking. The image was so powerful that it even had him going there, despite having proof that Kaden was a faithful husband.
The new song played to Kaden’s more dominant personality, while Ginny’s voice was weaker, the idea of her not arguing back. But as the song progressed, Ginny’s grew firmer, while Kaden’s softened.
As the song trailed off, you could hear a pin drop in the nightclub. Even the waiters and waitresses had stopped, caught up in the heartache of the song.
The applause was deafening as the audience rose to their feet.
Kaden gave a sweep of his hand, as if giving Ginny all the applause. Grinning as an upbeat song started playing, Ginny started this time, with Kaden joining in intermittently. The audience didn’t bother taking their seats.
When the second song ended, Kaden thanked the audience for coming to their show, but he had to start over when the audience wouldn’t stop calling for another song.
Reaper saw a look of surprise cross Kaden’s face when Ginny’s hand covered the microphone as she said something to him. Kaden nodded at her, then stepped aside to go to Ax, who then began playing another song. The band joined as Kaden walked back to the microphone with Ginny.
When the third song ended, the audience tried for another, but Ginny raised a hand above her head, silencing them.
“I want to thank you all for letting me share my voice with you.” Ginny’s voice had a small catch that had him studying her from where he was standing. She was staring out over the crowded nightclub as if she were taking a picture.
Walking off the stage, Ginny left Kaden to deal with a crowd who demanded more.
A subdued Ginny walked past him as if he weren’t there. When they reached her dressing room, Nickel gave him a quizzical glance, as if he also noticed something was wrong.
“I won’t be a minute to get changed,” she said, going into her dressing room and closing the door behind her.
“Something happen?”
Perturbed at the change, Reaper shook his head. “No. Is she usually like that when a show is over?”
“No, but it’s been a couple of months since I’ve been here.” Nickel turned his head away from the closed door. “You sure nothing happened?”
“If you’re wanting to know if I’m the one responsible, ask. Don’t beat around the fucking bush.”
“Did you?” Nickel asked.
“No. We went to the stage, she sang, she came back, that’s all. I didn’t see any new faces in the crowd, either,” Reaper added.
The sound of the door opening had them ending the conversation. Ginny changed into a pair jeans and a dark navy sweater and was carrying her garment bag over her arm.
“You guys hungry?” Ginny’s friendly inquiry was a turnaround from the lukewarm demeanor she displayed before going inside the room. Reaper had noticed the change in her after the first set; Nickel only noticed after the second. Never having seen her perform—outside of the wedding—Reaper wouldn’t know if her behavior was out of the norm.
Nickel took the garment bag from her. “I could eat.”
“Are you sure?
” Ginny asked doubtfully. “Gavin said your stomach was upset.”
“Did he?” Shooting him a dirty look, Nickel took Ginny’s arm as they began walking. “I have an iron stomach. What are you in the mood for?”
“I thought we’d just grab a pizza on the way home. If it’s okay with you guys?”
“Sounds good to me,” Nickel agreed, holding the back door open for Ginny.
Reaper wondered if Nickel would be so fucking agreeable with his boot shoved up his ass.
The private parking lot for employees was brightly lit. Reaper saw Ax, Sin, and Jesse talking by Kaden’s car, with Kaden sitting in the driver’s seat.
Nickel placed Ginny’s bag in the trunk while Reaper checked out Ginny’s car before motioning for her that it was safe.
“We’ll grab the pizza and meet you back at the apartment,” Reaper ordered Nickel after he shut the trunk. Reaper flipped Nickel the finger at his disappointed expression, then got in the front seat with Ginny.
“What do you like on your pizza?” Ginny asked with her phone in her hand.
“I’m not picky, just what you normally have.”
“I’m ordering a Hawaiian special, with extra pineapple.”
Reaper pretended to make a gagging noise. “Order an extra-large meat lovers. Nickel and I can share.”
Laughter filled the car. “I didn’t know you were capable of doing that.”
Reaper looked at her as he buckled the seatbelt. “Doing what?”
“Making a joke.” Grinning, Ginny started the car.
He didn’t know he could, either.
As he studied her in the dark interior of the car, she took her eyes off the road long enough to give him a quick smile.
“Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone,” she teased.
“No one would believe you.” Turning his head, he stared out the dark window.
“Why? The big bad Reaper doesn’t know how to tell a joke? Don’t you know laughter is soup for the soul?”
“You’re in a good mood all of a sudden.”
“Why wouldn’t I be in a good mood?”
“You weren’t earlier.”
“I guess it just hit me that singing at the nightclub is coming to an end.”
“What will you do next?”
“I haven’t decided.” It was the same evasive answer she gave everyone.
“Bullshit.
“I have a few options I’ve been thinking about.”
“Such as?”
“When I decide, I’ll let you know.”
“In other words, being your soul mate doesn’t invite me into your confidence?”
“It does if you believe I’m your soul mate. If you do, tell me and I’ll be completely transparent about my future plans.”
Reaper locked his jaw shut. He could wait until she was ready to tell him. He had never been good with ultimatums.
“I can wait.”
“Then we have that in common.”
Slowly braking, Ginny pulled into an open parking spot in front of a pizza restaurant.
“At least it looks cleaner than the last one you took me to.”
“You should lighten up. It’ll make the pizza go down easier. You can wait here. I won’t be a minute; my order is ready.”
“I’m coming inside with you.”
“Suit yourself.”
“I will.” Getting out the car, he went inside with her.
Two teenagers were behind the counter and greeted her as she came in the door.
Reaper stood beside the cash register as Ginny talked. The chitchat went on so long that Reaper picked up the boxes. “Nickel is waiting,” he reminded her.
“Oh … you’re right.” Smiling at the teenagers, she reached into her jeans pocket and took out some cash, giving it to the girl behind the counter. “That’s for you two to share. There should be enough in there for you to get the prom dress you wanted, Annie. Jason, you can get those tennis shoes you’ve been saving for.”
Both teenagers looked shell-shocked at Ginny’s generosity. They weren’t the only ones.
“You’re kidding?” The young girl, holding the thick wad of bills in her hand, was able to get her wits together to respond.
Reaper felt for the pimply-faced boy who was staring at Ginny as if she hung the moon.
Ginny gave them a sweet look. “No. You two are working every time I come in here. You deserve to have something nice done for you. I’ll be leaving Nashville soon, and I wanted to give you something to remember me by.”
“You’re leaving?”
Ginny gave the boy another gentle smile at his stricken expression. “Yes.”
“You won’t be coming back?”
“No.”
Reaper liked the way Ginny didn’t give the boy false hope.
“I’ll miss you.”
“I’ll miss both of you,” she stressed, not singling Jason out. “In a few months, you won’t even remember my face.”
“I’ll remember.”
Reaper bet the boy would; it was hard to forget a first crush.
That Ginny was aware of the boy’s feelings was plain. She wasn’t overly friendly, nor did she come across as anything other than a good customer who appreciated their work.
“Can I—”
“Ginny.” Reaper broke in, knowing what the boy was gathering his courage to ask.
Ginny gave him a grateful look. “We should be going. A friend of ours will be wondering what is taking us so long. Bye.”
Holding the door open for Ginny to walk through, Reaper caught the envy and resentment from the teenager.
Reaper let the door close after them. “You have an admirer there.”
Ginny waited until they were back in the car before she acknowledged the crush. “He’s a really sweet guy. The first month Jason started working here, his mother sat across the street in her car, watching him, afraid he was going to be robbed. His dad passed away when he was just a baby, so it’s just the two them.”
While listening to Ginny, he took out his cell phone. “That’s a lot to learn in the few minutes it takes to get a pizza.” Shifting in his seat, he tilted his phone to the side as he started texting Shade.
Ginny turned her head to the side. “If you’re texting Shade about Jason, save yourself the trouble. Jason has never been out of Nashville.”
He put his cell phone back in his pocket.
“Did you seriously think Jason could be my stalker?”
“No, but it wouldn’t be the first time I was wrong, either.”
“I’m sorry.”
He jerked his head to the side. “What for?” he snapped. Reaper didn’t want Ginny’s pity.
“For talking so long. I’ll tell Nickel it was my fault.”
Every single time he expected Ginny to say something to piss him off, she managed to take the wind out of his sails. Everything in him told him that she was just that fucking nice. Ginny was the type of woman you could take home to meet your parents, who your friends would be fortunate to catch.
He had never been attracted to a woman like her. No, he had set his sights on the ones who had a certain oomph, and he wasn’t talking about looks. It was the type of oomph that screamed one word… sex. The type of woman who could handle the freestyling exploits within the club, feminine enough to give in to him when he was determined to have his way. A woman who, when you made her yours, made you feel as if you scored the winning touchdown during the Super Bowl when you fucked her. He had a woman like that once and lost her. His thoughts turned morose.
A sarcastic voice in the back of his mind had his fingers curling into fists so hard his short nails dug into his palms. So, how well did Taylor work out for you?
Chapter Nineteen
Reaper groggily turned the handle of the shower on. Stepping closer to the tile wall, he let the driving force of the cold water hit him in the face. The freezing temperature accomplished what two cups of black coffee hadn’t—clearing away the fogginess and making him feel
twice his age.
Becoming more clearheaded, he turned the water to lukewarm and started shampooing his hair. Running his hand over the smooth portion of his scalp, he felt the small stubble beginning to grow. He would run his electric razor over it when he got out of the shower. With Ginny gone with Nickel to meet Kimmy at the nightclub to try some new clothes, he had time to kill before she came back.
Getting out of the shower, he dried off, wrapping the towel around his hips as he buzzed off the tattooed portion of his scalp. His head was bent over the sink as he washed away the loose hair when he heard the sound of his phone going off.
Grabbing a clean towel, he rubbed his head dry as he reached for the phone without looking to see who was calling.
“Your bird has taken off.”
Shade’s voice on the other end of the line had him dropping the towel to his shoulders.
“What in the fuck you talking about?”
“Ginny. She ditched Nickel. He can’t find her.”
“Why in the fuck didn’t he call me?”
“He’s afraid you’re going to kill him when you see him. He wanted me to tell you not to.”
Reaper strode into the bedroom, quickly getting dressed. “He’s safe until I find her. Where did she ditch him?”
“At the nightclub. She asked Nickel to get her and Kimmy some coffee from the kitchen, and when he came back, she was gone. Kimmy told him that Ginny told her she was going to get them some snacks from the VIP lounge and she never came back. When Nickel checked, she wasn’t there.”
“How do we know the stalker didn’t take her?” Shoving his boots on, Reaper stood to grab his jacket as he rushed out of the room.
“Nickel found a note she left in the lounge; it was addressed to him.”
“Her stalker could have left—”
“Nickel checked the security footage. She left on her own steam,” Shade cut him off.
“Fuck.”
Instead of going to the front door of the apartment, Reaper went into Ginny’s bedroom. Giving it a quick glance, he saw a pale blue envelope propped against her lamp.
“How long ago?” he asked Shade.
“She has a thirty-minute head start on you.”