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I shake my head. Isn’t it obvious? “My side is that I’m not supposed to want the jerk. And now he knows I do because of my stupid dream. I was begging for him to touch me. Which is bad. So bad. Because he’s the last person I want to be with. He wronged me, Riley. The asshole doesn’t deserve to know that I find him so freaking sexy, I dream about him.” I practically stomp out my rant, and once again, Riley looks like she wants to laugh, but she’s holding it back this time.
“Look, Maisy Day.” Her little nickname has me rolling my eyes, but I secretly love it when she calls me that. “I know what he did hurt you. And I’m not saying you should forgive him or that it’s any type of excuse for what he did back in high school, but he was a kid when he wronged you. He was young and immature and has probably since realized what a mistake he’s made by letting the best damn girl in this town go. So maybe he’s trying to get a second chance.”
I go to cut her off and tell her that it’s never going to happen, but she cups her hand over my mouth. “I’m not saying you should give him one. What I’m saying is that maybe it wouldn’t hurt to get to know him now as an adult. To get to know the man he’s become. Because from what little I know and have seen, he is a good man, Maisy. An amazing one, actually. And if he weren’t, he wouldn’t be my husband’s best friend. And the soon-to-be godfather of our baby.”
Wait. What? All thoughts of Ice fly out of my head as what my friend just said hits me. “Are you pregnant?”
She nods with a huge smile, and I can’t help but bounce up and down and pull her in for another hug.
“Oh my gosh, that’s amazing, Rye. I’m so happy for you. So when? When is the little sucker going to come and make me an auntie?”
She squeals and tells me she’s not sure yet since it’s so early, but I’ll be the first to know when she and Axle find out from the doctor. “So will you be the godmother then?”
“Of course!” My heart melts at her request. I’d never say no to the girl anyway, but there’s not a chance I’d give up such an incredible honor. “I’ll be the best godmother there is. That baby is going to be spoiled, and when he or she is with me, they’re going to get anything and everything they want.” Yep, if I ever had plans to move away from this town, they’re gone. I’m never leaving the people that I call family, especially not when there’s a little nugget on the way.
“We’ll see.” She cocks a brow. “I’m not sure I want my child coming home all hyped up on sugar because their auntie didn’t know how to say no.”
I roll my eyes at her, and we both giggle because we both know that her baby will be a spoiled little munchkin no matter what. Wow! I’m so freaking excited for her. And now, my sour mood is gone.
The door slams shut behind us, and we both turn to see who made such a loud entrance. Hailey is walking in and mumbling to herself, looking seriously frazzled. Like her day is going as good as mine was up until about two minutes ago.
“Are you okay, Hailey?” Riley turns and asks.
Hailey looks up from the hole she’s burning into her phone with her eyes. “Peachy.” She shakes her head and walks over to us. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound so snippy. Just dealing with men.” She rolls her eyes, trying to play it off, but I can tell something’s really eating away at her.
“You want to talk about it?” I ask. “Riley and I can be really good listeners.”
Her cheeks tip up. “It’s just I thought something was happening with this guy, that he was interested, but I was wrong.”
Riley and I know exactly which guy she’s talking about, but for some reason, Hailey wants to keep it on the down low, so I’m going to hold my tongue on that one. All I can say is, if Grit doesn’t step up to the plate and make his claim on the girl, then someone else definitely will. Hailey is as sweet as molasses and a walking sex kitten, and the men have definitely taken notice.
“Then to top it off,” she continues, “my brother just gave me another lecture about what I’m wearing tonight. I swear he still thinks I’m eight years old.”
She gestures to her cute little outfit of jean shorts and a tank, and I mean…the girl does look like jailbait, but the guys here love that. She’s only been on the floor for three days, and her tips are already off the charts. But the fact the girl looks like she’d rock some pigtails, and is really well endowed, sporting some very generous cleavage, is obviously what has her brother up in arms. But it’s not like she’s dressed as skimpy as some of the other girls who work here. Some practically show up in a bikini.
Besides, she’s working at a dive bar owned by an MC club. What does her brother expect her to wear? A sweater and flannel pants?
“I know it’s infuriating, but don’t be too mad at him.” Riley reaches out and squeezes her shoulder. “Your brother is just worried about you, which shows he cares. You’re gorgeous, and the guys are definitely going to bite. He just doesn’t want to see you get hurt. But he can rest assured, no one will mess with you in this bar. None of the Savage Knights will allow it.”
“That’s another problem. Bentley doesn’t even want me working here. He thinks that just because he’s a cop, he can lay down the law and tell me what I can and can’t do.”
Oh my God. Did she just say Bentley? And cop? Is her brother who I think it is? Officer Bentley? Holy shit.
No wonder he doesn’t want her working here. The Savage Knights don’t get along with that man. Mainly because he’s always trying to pin every crime that occurs in this town on the MC. I’m actually shocked that Trigger gave the go-ahead to hire Hailey. Unless…maybe he doesn’t know who Hailey’s brother is? Or maybe he does, and this is a keep-your-enemies closer situation. Either way, I’m not going to ask. Club business is club business, and I’m keeping my nose out of it.
“Well, the good news is you’re an adult and get to decide for yourself,” I state, trying to keep my voice calm. Riley’s eyes, on the other hand, are anything but. The girl is married to the president of the MC, so she knows that when it comes to police and the Savage Knights, that’s a recipe for trouble. And the look on her face is definitely one of concern.
“Yep. Exactly,” Hailey states. “Thanks, ladies. I really like working with you girls, by the way. Y’all have been so nice, and I really appreciate it.”
Thankfully, her sweetness soaks up the bitterness of what she just revealed. But I’m guessing her brother may be the reason Grit isn’t jumping to make the claim on the girl he couldn’t seem to take his eyes off the other night.
“And we love working with you too,” I say, and Riley echoes my sentiment right before Max enters the room and puts us to work.
* * *
I place the drinks down in front of my regulars and turn. The bright smile on my face immediately transforms into a scowl the moment I see that Ice has arrived and is heading to his table. I hate the excited butterflies that flutter in my stomach and the fact that my eyes betray me by drinking in every single inch of his sexy, thick body. His shoulders are so strong and broad, yet his waist is narrow. Talk about a serious V. And that ass. Damn, when he takes a seat on that perfect firm butt, I’m bummed by the loss of the view.
Shit. I look up from the part I was just oggling and see him cock his brow at me with a smirk on his face. Dammit, I’ve been caught staring and lusting. I don’t need him thinking I want him. I need him to think I’m still pissed as hell I ended up in his bed last night and that my dream was just a fluke and not a regular occurrence.
