Silently praying she’d never have to use Jace’s number, she mumbled, “Thanks.”
He ran his hand through his hair. “Have a seat. I gotta explain a couple of things to you.”
She sat on the edge of the bed and waited for him to do the same. He didn’t.
“The club. Remember I told you about it?”
“You said they were like family.”
He nodded. “Yeah, they are. The guys you met today are brothers. There’s more of them. We work together, live together, and ride together, but Allie, they aren’t the type of men you’re used to—”
She smiled. “You mean rich cheaters?”
He chuckled. “Only a few have steady women or are married. They’re called ‘old ladies.’ The rest play the field.”
Her eyes widened. “They call their wives ‘old ladies’?”
He fought a smile and nodded.
“And their wives don’t mind?”
He grinned and shook his head.
She shrugged. “I guess it’s a biker thing.”
“Yeah, it is. We got thirty here in town. Like I said, most play the field. When I say that, I mean they rip and dip, and they can ’cause there’re women who don’t care as long as the guy’s wearing a cut. They take what’s offered and leave. No strings attached.
“Living with me, especially living here at the compound, you’re gonna run into a lot of these guys. You’ll run into the women who are okay with being just that, too. It’s club life. We live by our own rules, we don’t judge ’cause we’re family. We eat, work, and play together.”
He paused then added, “They aren’t your type, Allie. They’re rough around the edges, crude, and partake in questionable activities. You get me?”
She understood, completely. In fact, he didn’t have to tell her any of this. She knew exactly the type of men they were, having been crudely initiated earlier. Then again, from her experience, the type of man didn’t matter. Her ex-fiancé was the opposite of them and ended up cheating. “Ty, I appreciate everything, but I think I should get a hotel until—”
He sat beside her and held her hands in his. “What’re you afraid of? What’re you uncomfortable with?”
Reason why she loved her brother, whatever she wanted, whenever she needed it. It had always been that way with him. “You know I’ve never been one to judge, Ty, but think about it. I know what I look like. I know what I appear to be, what I’ve been my whole life. I don’t fit in here with your life. I won’t judge them, unless I catch them cheating on their old ladies,” she half-heartedly joked. “But they’ll judge me.”
“What’d they tell you?”
It totally caught her off guard. She didn’t want to admit exactly what happened. “What?”
“Before I got here. What happened?”
She avoided his eyes, knowing it’d be easier to keep the truth from him. “Well…”
“Don’t lie, Allie.”
She met his stare again. “It wasn’t bad.”
“Ripper.”
“Is that his name? Ripper?”
His eyes narrowed. “He’s not gonna mess with you, not after—”
“Ty, I’m not letting you get into fights with your family over me.”
He flinched like she’d struck him.
She hadn’t meant to hurt him, so she attempted to rephrase. “I know they mean a lot to you, and I don’t want to come between you—”
He shook his head. “Allie, they’re my brothers by choice. You’re my sister by blood and choice. You get me?”
The magnitude of his words hit her square in the chest, spreading warmth all over. What he’d said meant the world to her. God, she loved her brother. Understanding completely, she nodded.
“I love you, Allie, you know that, right?”
“Yeah, Ty, and I love you, too.”
He gripped the back of her neck and pulled her into his embrace, kissing her head. “Remember, anytime, anyplace.”
She smiled. “Anytime, anyplace.”
****
Near seven p.m., Allie hadn’t eaten in close to twelve hours. Her stomach growled so loud she didn’t know how Ty hadn’t heard it. She followed Tyler down the stairs past the living area and into the kitchen dining area. Larger than she expected, dark cabinets lined the right side where the stove, refrigerator, and double ovens were. Marble countertops circled half the room and separated the formal dining area from the kitchen.
The moment she walked in, voices died, heads shifted, and gazes hit her. She didn’t recognize any of them, but figured she’d be polite. “Hi.”
It got her several chin lifts, much better than being scanned from top to bottom like a piece of meat. She smiled and looked toward her brother.
He opened the fridge, cursed then shut it. “Looks like we’re getting take-out tonight.” He glanced around the room. “My bad, Allie, this is Blaze, Cuss, and Trick.” He paused, shifting his attention to them and said, “This is Allie.”
Blaze was blond, blue-eyed, and tall. She could tell, since sitting on a stool, he was taller than her. Cuss looked in his early twenties, his hair so dark it looked midnight blue, and his eyes were round and big, a captivating sapphire-blue in color. Trick appeared mid-twenties, probably around her age. He had long, dark hair pulled back in a ponytail, and he wore a black shirt with the sleeves cut off.
Blaze took a sip of beer and chuckled. “Pleasure to meet the reason Ripper’s got a broken nose.”
Trick’s gaze hit her. “Class act like you, it’d be my pleasure to show you the ropes.”
Cuss shook his head just as her brother jumped to her defense. “There’ll be no showing her anything.”
He laughed. “She ain’t my type. ’Sides, I think you made your point earlier.”
Her cheeks heated.
“He’s messing with you,” Blaze told her. “Don’t pay mind to it.”
She smiled softly and nodded.
Her brother rolled his eyes then faced her. “What’re you in the mood for?”
“At this point, anything will do.”
He lifted a brow. “Even Chinese?”
Chinese was not her favorite, and Ty knew this. At that point, she was so hungry she’d eat raw chicken. She laughed. “Yeah, Ty, even Chinese.”
He shook his head. “I know this great Italian place. I’ll take you there.”
“You thinking of takin’ her to Anthony’s?”
She turned. Cuss’s sapphire gaze met hers, that captivating color enthralling. Like a fly caught in a web, she had to fight to look away.
Ty nodded. “Yeah.”
“Might wanna give Trig a call. Place is usually packed Saturday.”
“Where is he?”
Cuss shrugged. “Fuck if I know.”
“Right.” Ty fished his phone out of his pocket and brought it to his ear. “Trig. Thinking of takin’ Allie to Anthony’s tonight.” He paused for several seconds, listening to the other end. “Meet you here.” He snapped his phone shut. “Gotta get my keys.” He strode out, telling her to wait for him there.
He’d been gone a minute when two others entered. She recognized them immediately. How could she forget the warm welcome they’d given her?
Tatted Chest and Tatted Sleeves.
Seeing those two, she’d known the moment would eventually come, but she hoped she would have more time.
Tatted Sleeves closed the distance between them, stopping only a foot away. “Honey, could’ve told us you were related to Army.”
Like it would’ve made a difference, considering she didn’t know who Army was until later and considering they’d thought she was Tyler’s woman and still hit on her.
Tatted Chest drew closer. “Know what you’re thinkin’, Doll, and yeah, it would’ve made a difference. Family’s off limits.”
“No hard feelings, yeah?”
She had the feeling this was some sort of apology. Releasing a breath, she nodded. “No hard feelings.”
“Name’s Bud,” Tatted Chest said then nodded toward Tatted Sleeves. “This is Dash.”
“Alyssa.”
Bud lifted his brow and grinned. “I think I like ‘Doll’ better.”
She smiled. “If you get to call me ‘Doll,’ then I get to call you ‘Tatted Chest.’ ”
He threw his head back and laughed. Dash grinned and shook his head. “You’re gonna fit in nice here. Damn shame you’re off limits.”
“Unless you wanna rile that brother of hers, suggest you call her something else,” Cuss warned.
Bud turned to Cuss. “Any ideas?”
Blaze’s brows furrowed. He looked her up and down then grinned. “Classy.”
“I say we vote,” Dash said.
“The only thing you’re gonna do is clean your blood off the floor if you don’t step away from her.”
She jolted at the sound of his voice. Rough, deep, and thick. That deep, startling feeling reignited in her gut. She didn’t have to look to know who the voice belonged to. In fact, not wanting to be reminded how hot he was, she tried her hardest not to look.
Bud and Dash turned to him, paving the way for her to get a glimpse, and that unsettling feeling intensified.
Shit. Hotter than she remembered, his dark hair, short on the sides and longer on top, was disheveled like he’d been running his fingers through it. Still, it was too appealing. He wore a blue-collared polo that fit snugly against his broad chest and a pair of faded jeans. His expression made her lose her voice. Looking angry again, his square jaw clenched, the muscle in his jaw jumping.
Dash shrugged. “Just talkin’ to the girl.”
“Don’t gotta be that close to talk,” Jace shot back.
“You see Doll upset?” Bud asked.
Jace’s eyes narrowed, taking a menacing step in their direction.
The perfect moment to interrupt, so she did. “They weren’t bothering me.”
The muscle in his jaw jumped again. He angled his whole body toward her. His gaze met hers and held for a long moment.
The heat of everyone’s gaze was on her, but she couldn’t look away from his eyes. A powerful emotion shined through their deep, dark depths.
She saw it.
She felt it.
She just didn’t know what it was or why he showed it to her, but it knocked the wind out of her.
“Thought we’d agreed on Classy,” Blaze spoke, breaking their moment.
Thank God for Blaze. She didn’t know if she would’ve ever summoned the courage to look away.
She faced Blaze. “I thought we’d agreed on a vote though I get unlimited vetoes.”
“Fuckin’ shit. You tryin’ to bargain with bikers?” Cuss asked.
Still a bit shaky, she tried to hide it with a smile.
Trick chuckled. “Yep, gonna fit in real nice here.”
“J!” The squeal tore her gaze away from him toward the threshold into the kitchen just in time to see a girl slam into Jace’s side and wrap her arms around his legs. Five, maybe six years old, she had dark hair like Jace, but hers was long and curled at the ends. She wore a frilly pink dress and white sandals, matching the barrette in her hair.
Resting his hands on her back, Jace looked down at her, smiling.
And holy shit, could Hot, Angry, Badass Biker smile, a great smile that softened the harsh lines on his face, making him that much more attractive.
“You said hi to Mia and Lynn?”
She nodded, and then she turned to them. Her gaze scanning the men then landed on her and held.
“Is that who I think it is?”
The girl’s smile widened a second before she turned to look behind her where Tyler stood. She nodded.
Tyler shook his head, grinning. “Naw, can’t be. She’s too big.” He kneeled and opened his arms.
The little girl jumped on him, hugging tightly then pulled away. “J told me you’re coming with us.”
Ty nodded. “Yep, you in the mood for pizza or spaghetti?”
She shrugged. “Don’t know yet.”
Her brother chuckled, then met her stare. He lifted his chin, a silent signal it was time to go.
She turned to Blaze, Cuss, and Trick. “Nice to meet you guys.” She then faced Bud and Dash. “See you around.”
Allie strode toward her brother, feeling the heat of Jace’s gaze. She avoided looking at him, avoided his eyes because she didn’t think she could handle seeing anything else in them. He made room for her to walk past him.
“Della, this is my sister, Allie,” her brother introduced. “Allie, this is Della, Trig’s niece.”
Her brows furrowed. “Trig?”
“That’s my uncle. He takes me out to dinner every Saturday. I call him J. His real name is Jace, but everyone calls him Trigger or Trig because he was a sniper in the Army, and he was really good and—”
“Del, you gonna write her a book?” Jace teased.
Della looked to her uncle and giggled. “Maybe.”
Her jaw dropped, her gaze gravitating to him, unable to believe what she heard. She couldn’t wrap her mind around a hot, angry, badass biker who took his niece out to dinner every Saturday. Not to mention, it went against the speech her brother gave her.
Jace’s gaze went to her. She quickly looked away from him to his niece. “Nice to meet you, Della.”
“Nice to meet you too, Allie.”
Chapter Five
Trig didn’t know whether to thank his lucky stars or curse fate. No doubt he wanted to see her again. He’d wanted that since the last time he saw her and realized she’d been crying. That, in itself, bothered him. He shouldn’t care. He didn’t get attached. He couldn’t afford to. If that wasn’t enough, she was way out of his league and deserved more than someone like him.
Yes, she was beautiful, but he’d seen plenty of beautiful women. He’d had them, too. There was something else, something about her. He felt it in the pit of his stomach every time he looked at her. He didn’t know what it was, only knew it was more than lust.
All it took—one look, and the woman had him doubting shit, thinking about shit he shouldn’t be worried about, and craving shit he had no business wanting.
So when Army called him and told him about Anthony’s, coincidentally where he took Della every Saturday, he’d jumped on it. But it didn’t mean it was a good idea. It was a bad idea. The woman was beautiful and off limits. He needed to remember that and feared the more time he spent with her, the more likely he’d forget.
He swung open the door leading into Anthony’s, allowing Della and Allie in first, Army trailing behind. He then headed to the hostess and gave her his name, requesting a table for four instead of two. A moment later, they were seated in a booth. Della and Allie sat first, then slid in. He sat beside Della, and Army next to Allie.
Allie, eyes on Della, with a smile on her face, asked, “So what’s good here?”