by Jamie Begley
There was still a chance she could escape Gavin’s wrath with a little luck. She had formulated the plan on the drive. She would lag behind the girls as they went into the club, then duck upstairs and change clothes. If Gavin was in the room, it wouldn’t matter, because none of men had seen her dressed in the woo-woo outfit. Ginny conveniently forgot that Gavin would consider Train, Cade, Stud, and Calder men.
Fat Louise’s husband parked beside Stud’s van. Sex Piston, Crazy Bitch, and Killyama were out of Stud’s van before she and Trudy.
“Took you long enough.” Sex Piston took out her comb to make last minute adjustments to her hair. “Don’t look like a scaredy cat. Reaper isn’t going to eat you. Wait—that’s the whole point. If he doesn’t, I’ve wasted my whole Saturday.”
The women burst into laughter.
“Move ’em out, girls. Diamond is on her way with the burgers.” Crazy Bitch, Calder, Fat Louise, and Cade walked to the steps of the club.
Train came from the other side of the van. “Where are they going?” he asked Killyama. “You said we were picking up Reaper. Why didn’t he just meet us at the diner?”
“Change of plans.” Killyama took Train’s hand and began walking toward the club as she explained, “Diamond wanted to join us, but Knox refuses to step foot in the diner with Marty there. She placed an order and is bringing it here with Knox. That way, we can all still hang out together.”
“Damn, she’s good,” Ginny whispered to Trudy so Train couldn’t hear.
“She’s my idol,” Trudy whispered back.
As they neared the top of the steps, Ginny released Trudy’s arm to let her go inside first.
“Hi, Nickel, do you happen to know if Gavin is in his room?”
Nickel gave her an unblinking stare. “I wouldn’t know. I’m out here.”
“Oh … yes. I meant, do you know if Gavin is in the club or out?”
“He’s inside unless he went out the back door.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
When she turned from talking to Nickel, Trudy was waiting inside the doorway. She had waited for her. Darn it.
Time to switch to plan two.
Inside the club, Ginny put her foot on the bottom step.
“I need to run to the restroom.”
Trudy pulled her back down the steps. “Hold it.”
“Trudy—”
“Evangeline,” Trudy mocked. “Why is it you’re the bravest person I know until it involves Reaper and sex? Then you wimp out.”
“I don’t want to pressure him.”
Trudy made a face at her. “Save me.”
“Ditto.”
Left with no choice, Ginny was ushered into the main room with Trudy hanging onto her arm like a leech. Moon was playing pool with Jewell. Cade and Train joined them while Calder and Stud took the other table.
Viper and Shade were coming in from the kitchen. They took one look at who was in the room and left.
“That was rude.” Ginny sent Trudy an apologetic glance.
The insult was like water off a duck’s back. “Who cares?”
Trudy dragged her to the bar. “Have a seat. I’m going to play bartender.”
Ginny slid onto a stool. “Barkeep, I’ll take a ginger ale.”
Trudy looked cute as a button, maneuvering her baby bump behind the bar to get her a bottle of soda. “I’ll take one of these, too.”
Ginny was unscrewing the lid when Crazy Bitch badgered Moon to turn the music on. His eyes lit up when Diamond and Knox walked in the front door carrying bags of food.
Everyone in the main room gravitated toward the kitchen to eat.
“Who got married?”
Puck went around the counter to slide the cake to the side.
“Willa made it for someone’s wedding yesterday. The groom backed out, so she brought it here for everyone to share.”
“Willa told me she was making a wedding cake for the doctor who checked me out at the hospital. I feel bad for her.”
“I don’t.” Crazy Bitch went searching through the cabinets to find a plate, then went rummaging to find the silverware. “The bitch is better off without the low-down motherfucker.” Cutting a humongous slice of cake, she then took her two burgers and order of fries and carried it out of the kitchen and into the main room.
Ginny had to smother her laughter when Puck stared after her, awestruck.
“She’s married.” Ginny felt bad dashing his hopes.
“Happily?”
“Yes.”
“Fuck.”
Ginny placed a couple of burgers on his plate. “I have a friend I can hook you up with,” she consoled him.
Puck cut himself an extra-large helping of cake. “No, thanks. I’m going to need some time to get over her.”
Ginny was getting Crazy Bitch to set out several trays of appetizers from the refrigerator when Beth, Razer, Lily, and Shade came in from the back door.
Hungry, Ginny ate a couple of burgers. She had tried to sneak out a couple of times, but one of the women would catch her each time. Doomed to fail, Ginny began loosening up when it was apparent Gavin wasn’t in the house. Either that or he was asleep, which was a win-win in her eyes. She would stay thirty more minutes, then go upstairs, even if she had to climb up there from the tree outside the bedroom window with one hand.
Once everyone was done eating, they went back into the main room, where other members came in and out.
A few of the couples were dancing. Ginny watched them jealously. She loved to dance, and the one and only time she had danced with Gavin, he had accused her of rigging the tape deck.
“Come dance with me.” Trudy took her hand, pulling her off the stool.
Ginny loved her sister. Trudy knew her too well.
“I love this song.” Ginny moved to the music. “I wish I could sing a song like that.”
“What do you mean?”
“A song that, no matter how many people sing it, they will never achieve the same perfection. The song was meant for the original artist.”
“Like Katy Perry and ‘Fireworks’?”
Ginny wholeheartedly agreed. “Yes, also like, ‘Girl on Fire’ by Alicia Keys.”
“You’ll do it.”
“No, I’m meant to write those songs for other singers.”
Trudy frowned at her as they danced. “Why don’t you think you can?”
“Because I’m not going to sing anymore. My singer career is over.”
“Why?”
“I’m not going to risk what I have with Gavin. To be popular, you have to do concerts and be willing to make sacrifices. I’m not willing to do that. I want to be here for Gavin and our children.”
“There’s still time. Just put off having kids for a while.”
Dancing as they talked, Ginny noticed that Jewell was dancing with Jesus, and Puck was dancing with Jade. Space was running out, forcing couples dance closer together. Killyama and Train joined the throng behind them, crowding Jesus and Jewell even more.
“We’ll see,” Ginny said noncommittedly.
“Mayday, Mayday.” Killyama leaned her head between Trudy and her, alerting them.
Ginny gave a silent groan. She meant to go upstairs fifteen minutes ago, but she’d been enjoying dancing with Trudy.
Dalton and Gavin came in the door to the main room, searching the crowd with their eyes. Ginny was tempted to duck down and crawl out of the room.
“Why is Gavin with Dalton?”
“I might have texted Gavin that he could pick you up at my house.” Trudy continued dancing, unperturbed that her husband was glowering at her.
“Oh God. He’s going to kill me. I’m dead.”
“You’ve always been so melodramatic. We won’t let him kill you. We got your back,” Trudy promised.
“That’s right, bitch!” Killyama clenched her hand in a fist. “Bitches stick together.”
Dalton went to the end of the crowd and crooked his finger to her.
“Aw …
isn’t that cute.” Sex Piston had danced herself and Stud nearer to them. “He thinks you’re a puppy.”
Ginny didn’t spare a glance for Dalton, her concentration on Gavin. His cold features stared at her, then went behind her. Whatever he saw had his lips tightening into a thin line.
Ginny turned her head to see Jewel and Jesus dancing. Gavin’s eyes went down her body before raising them to hers. Breaking the contact, Gavin then turned and went up the steps two at a time.
“I’m so dead.” Ginny made a move to go after Gavin.
“Hell no,” Sex Piston warned. “Make ’em come get you. Stud came after me.”
Ginny was tempted to ignore Sex Piston, but truth be told, she was kind of afraid to go upstairs until he cooled down. There were couches in the back room off the kitchen and in the basement; she could sleep there.
“I need some water.” Ginny slid between the twisting bodies, heading toward the bar.
“Me, too.” Trudy hastily followed after her when Dalton gave up trying to get her to come to him and was coming after her with a thundercloud expression.
Ginny got her and Trudy waters as Trudy grabbed a bottle of whiskey and poured some in a glass. Giving Trudy the bottle of water, Ginny stood to the side, interested to see how her sister talked herself out of trouble. She might need a few pointers for when she was brave enough to go upstairs.
Sex Piston, Crazy Bitch, Killyama, and Fat Louise ditched their husbands on the dance floor to make their way to the bar. Ginny teared up at watching the sisterhood in action.
“Babe”—Trudy gave Dalton the glass of whiskey—“I’m so sorry. Diamond called and wanted us to stop by to show off the new shoes that Knox bought her, and I lost time. I was just about to call you to come get me. Train told me he would take me home an hour ago, but he and Stud started playing pool.”
Dalton emptied his glass before lowering it to the counter. “I’m just glad you’re okay. I was worried.”
“Aw ….” Trudy reached over the counter, pulling Dalton over the bar top to kiss him.
Ginny shifted her gaze, embarrassed at the way she was kissing Dalton. She had never kissed Gavin that way. Her shoulders slumped. It was her inability on top of the trauma that Gavin had experienced. She was a dud in the bedroom.
Pulling away from Dalton’s kiss, Trudy wiped the smear of lipstick on his bottom lip. “Why don’t you go play a couple of games with Stud and Train? I’ll just stay here and chat with the girls, if that’s all right with you?” Trudy reached in the bar fridge and gave Dalton a beer to take with him.
Dalton took the beer, twisting off the cap. “One game and then we’re leaving.”
“Of course. Go have fun. I’ll be waiting right here.”
Dalton gave her promising kiss before striding off.
“I wish I could handle Gavin that easily,” Ginny said dolefully.
Trudy rubbed her belly. “Thanks, kid.”
Ginny closed her bottled water, setting it on the bar morosely. Dalton had immediately gone to Trudy. Gavin hadn’t. Feeling deflated, she decided to go upstairs.
“I’m going to call it a night.”
Sensing her hurt, Trudy took her hand to prevent her from leaving. “Don’t leave. Dance with me one more—Holy shit …” Trudy broke off, her eyes going wide. “Is that Reaper?”
Killyama, Sex Piston, Crazy Bitch, and Fat Louise turned in unison at Trudy’s expression.
Ginny lifted her eyes, and her breath caught in her throat.
The man standing on the small landing at the top of the stairs had to be Gavin. He looked just like him. What made it difficult to tell was the clothes the man was wearing.
“Mother fucking hell … Come to mama.” Sex Piston gaped at Gavin, then turned to look at her. “You lucky bitch.”
Was it physically possible to swallow one’s own tongue when confronted with pure man candy?
Her eyes were glued to Gavin as she took in tight, cream-colored shirt that had been left casually unbuttoned, exposing his neck tattoos and the top of his chest. Gazing down his body, the slim-fit brown pants drew attention to the muscles of his legs. He’d swapped the normal boots he wore to a soft leather dress boot.
“Where’s Train?” Killyama put one foot on the bottom rung of the stool so she could raise herself higher to find her husband.
“What you wanting Train for?” Sex Piston asked, her eyes just as glued to Gavin as hers were.
“Because I’m a fucking married woman, and I plan to stay that way.” Killyama waved to her husband again.
Ginny frowned. “What about being my backup?”
“You have four other bitches here to take your back; you don’t need me.”
“What do you need?” Train asked, coming up to Killyama.
“We’re leaving.”
“What’s the hurry? Dalton and I have a game going. I’ll lose a hundred bucks …” Train turned his head to see what the women were staring at as Diamond stopped dancing with Knox to stand next to Sex Piston.
“Is that Reaper?”
“Fuck no, that’s what you call God’s gift to women,” Sex Piston said in awe.
“God bless America,” Diamond reverently muttered.
Train took out his wallet, pulling out a one hundred dollar bill. Giving it to Knox, Train grabbed Killyama’s hand and hustled her out of the room.
Fat Louise waved her hand in front of her face. “I’m burning up in here.”
“He can come and light my fire.” Crazy Bitch picked up the bottle of water to take a drink.
“That’s mine,” Ginny protested.
“The Last Riders share. You with Gavin, that means you’re a Last Rider. Bitch, you need to learn to share with your friends!” Crazy Bitch’s eyes went down Gavin’s body like hers had. “Jesus … please share. I’ll share Calder—”
“Who you giving me to?” Calder went behind the bar, hearing the tail end of Crazy Bitch’s offer. Following the women’s line of vision, he started to take a drink of his beer when he carefully set it back down. “We’re leaving.”
“Hell no, we aren’t. Bitch, why didn’t you tell us he’s packing? A woman needs a snack someti—”
Ginny’s eyes widened when Calder lifted Crazy Bitch over his shoulder and headed out the door. Calder did stop to say a few words to Gavin before carrying his wife out.
What was he waiting for? Was he wanting her to go to him? She needed more water but was afraid one of the women in the room would make a move on him if she dared to look away.
The music switched to another song. Recognizing “I See Red” by Everybody Loves an Outlaw, Ginny felt the sexy vibe of the song to the marrow of her bones.
Gavin motioned to where everyone was dancing, indicting he wanted her to meet him there. When Gavin took the final step off the stair landing, Ginny felt her womanly parts clench in aching need. She hadn’t had this reaction when he had worn the dinner suit on Sherguevil Island. This was different. This was like what she had felt when he had been sitting at the table and she had rushed away … on steroids.
Gavin was excluding a powerfully sexy quality that drew women like an erotic scent enveloping them into a fantasyland where all you wanted to do was lick him like a snow cone to cool the heat.
Walking to a spot four inches away, Gavin motioned for her again.
Sex Piston shifted so she was no longer looking at him. “Bitch, go,” she hissed. “Or in the next two minutes, I’m going to give Stud a reason to divorce me.”
Moving from behind the counter, Ginny felt her feet crossing the floor, stopping two inches from him, afraid to go any farther. Her top felt as tight as a corset, and it had a stranglehold on her heart.
Belatedly remembering the advice, she licked her bottom lip and took the step needed for their bodies to meet. Sliding her arms around the lower part of his waist, she hooked her hands over his belt and held on for dear life. She wanted to ask if he was mad at her, but she took the advice she had been given; the less talking, the bett
er.
Someone in the room turned the overhead light off, leaving the room bathed in soft lamplight.
The song ended and the playlist replayed the first song that she and Trudy had danced to. “This Girl Is On Fire.” Sweet Jesus, this was the last song she needed to listen to with the sensual way Gavin was holding her.
Song after song played, each one ratcheting up the sensual tension between them.
“Did you have fun at Sex Piston’s slumber party?” The sensual quality in his whispery-soft voice had chills going up her back.
Ginny managed to get out a strangled, “Yes.”
“Did you enjoy me running around Treepoint trying to meet up with you?”
This was so not good. The hair on her arms stood up.
“I didn’t know Trudy texted you to meet me.”
Gavin curled his hands around the back of her neck. “You would have known if you had answered my texts or calls.”
“I forgot my phone in my bag and I rode in Sex Piston’s van.”
Ginny stopped speaking. He didn’t want to hear excuses of why she hadn’t kept her phone with her.
“I screwed up,” she admitted.
“Shh … don’t be afraid.” When his hand went to her ass to jerk her hips to his, it pressed her breasts tighter against his chest. “I would never hurt you, Ginny, ever.”
Ginny couldn’t relax. The slow, sensual way he talked to her was scaring the bejesus out of her.
“I would never hurt you,” Gavin repeated. “But I am going to punish you. So, are you ready to go upstairs?”
Ginny felt his hand slide along her arm until he linked his fingers through hers. Then he pulled arm behind her back until they were dancing with her arm twisted behind her back. There was no pain, as her injured arm was still cocooned in her sling. With both of her arms out of commission, however, it gave her a helpless feeling, as Gavin danced with her, controlling their movements.
“No.” Ginny pretended the strangled word that came out of her mouth was articulated perfectly. It would have worked, too, if Gavin had made a modicum of effort to hide the knowing gleam in his eyes. The jerk didn’t.