Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 84471 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 338(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84471 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 338(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
“She repainted,” he notes from the kitchen. “It looks nice. The old brown made it too dark in here. The yellow's a lot better.”
I nod. “We did it together one summer when I was visiting. She'd hated the brown, it just took her that long to get around to it. I've got your stuff out here.”
“Thanks. You're brave, you know.” His voice moves from the kitchen to the pantry. “Living this close to the club, all by yourself.”
“They don't give me trouble,” I respond.
“Yeah? Well, it’s been a few years. I’m sure they’ve cleaned up their act. You on friendly terms with them? Sure seems it.”
How exactly? I want to know, but I don't want to risk saying the wrong things while there's only the two of us here. And honestly, him knowing anything about me when we just met is sketchy. I move so the table will be between us when he comes back into the dining room.
As if to save me, Dragon calls. I answer so freaking fast. “Hi!”
“You got my message?” There's a rumble of bikes starting up in the background. “We're about to head back, but it's getting a little late for the ride I wanted to show you. Wanna meet us at the club instead? Maybe we can figure out something else to do.” It’s so obvious what he’s thinking of that he might as well say it. If I want a smooth innuendo, I think I'll ask Skyhigh or Blackout instead, but right now I'm so happy to have an excuse to cut this short that I'll take anything.
“Yeah, that sounds great. I'll head over right away.”
“You guys got the load secured?” sounds Skyhigh's voice in the background.
“Ready to go,” someone I don't recognize answers, and then Blackout agrees.
“Nice,” Dragon answers me. “We'll see you soon, then.”
“Yeah. See you soon.”
There must be something about my voice that he catches. “Everything okay?”
“All good. Promise.” My cheer feels forced, but I'm relieved. Not only do I have an excuse, but Tanner knows there's someone waiting for me. I feel safer already. When I hang up, he comes back into the room. “Sorry, but my boyfriend's expecting me. I'm going to have to go.”
He nods. “Sure. He doesn't mind that you live right next to an MC? I'd think he'd be worried about you.”
“He's um… he's one of them. I'm safe here.” Hopefully letting him know that will make him keep his distance.
“Gotcha. In that case, would you mind not telling them that I was here?” He picks the jacket up out of the box, looks at it wistfully before putting it back down, then picks the whole box up. “No reason to dredge up the past.”
“Sure.” I'll agree to most anything to get him out of here. Maybe I'm overthinking, but there are warning bells going off, and I'm choosing to listen. “Mum's the word.”
“Thanks.” He must notice me move around the table as he moves towards the door, even if I try to be subtle about it, to make it seem coincidental, but he doesn't show it. “I appreciate you calling. Piece of my past I never expected to get back. You have a nice day, alright?”
“Yeah, you too.”
He grins, and for no real reason I can discern other than my own unease, it makes goosebumps rise, making my arms tingle. And not the good kind.
25
WILLOW
Tanner's car is barely out of sight when I grab my keys, lock the house up tight and jump into my car to drive to the clubhouse. Even though it's an easy walking distance, having a ton of steel around me feels like armor. I'd rather make a short drive than to be caught out on foot.
God, I'm so paranoid right now, but something about him gave me the willies.
Crank, the biker at the gate—I'm starting to remember some names—raises his eyebrows curiously, but he waves me through. I find a spot to park in the cracked parking lot on the far side of the church where I won't be in the way, and then I finally feel safe again. Surrounded by the walls of the Outlaw Sons compound, no one can get at me, not without laying siege to it first. And creepy or not, I'm pretty sure Tanner isn't able to do that.
After a couple of long moments gathering myself, I get out, just in time to almost bump into Bonnie, Paige and a woman I haven't met yet. Bonnie's leather biker jacket has a “Boss Bitch” patch over her heart.
And they're all armed.
“What's going on?” I eye their guns skeptically. Maybe I thought wrong that I'd be safe in here?
Paige grins. “We're going to the shooting range. Ladies only. Want in?”
This place just gets wilder, but at least it's not something new to worry about. “Thanks, but I'm here for Blackout, Skyhigh, and Dragon.”