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I slide down his chest still staring up at him. “Thank you. This is the best…you’re…I love you so much.”
He brushes the hair from my cheek. “I want you to be happy.”
“I’m always happy with you.” I sneak a glance at the car. “You’re a brilliant man.”
“You’re probably the only person who thinks so.”
“I doubt that.” I bounce up on my toes again and kiss his cheek one more time.
“Go on, check it out,” he encourages.
The door is heavy as I pull it open and stare at the buttery smooth leather seats.
“Blake?” I turn, hating the question rising up in my throat. “Can we afford this? With the house and—?”
He silences me with a finger over my lips. “Let me worry about finances. Club earnings are good right now. That’s all you need to know.”
Satisfied with his answer—more than most women might be, I suppose—I slide behind the wheel.
“Wow, I can tell you must have driven it last.” I laugh as I search for the seat adjustment.
He squats down next to me, explaining where everything is and helping me adjust the seat.
“I knew he wouldn’t be able to wait,” Jake shouts.
Blake and I turn as Jake approaches. I beam up at him. “Isn’t it amazing?”
He slaps Blake on the back. “Yup. He’s been planning it forever.”
“Jake drove me over to pick it up,” Blake explains.
“I even kept my mouth shut.” Jake grins at him. “Thought you were waiting until after graduation?”
Blake shrugs. “I wanted her input on the paint job.”
“Tell her about Eraser’s place?”
“Yeah.”
“Maybe you can make a little money out there.” Jake slaps the roof. “Even stock with no modifications, this will blow away most of their tuned up shitboxes.”
Blake shakes his head. “I don’t need her racing with those punks.”
“People still do that?” I ask. “Around here?”
“Not street racing,” Jake explains. “Well, maybe that, too. Zips is a track. Although the races aren’t sanctioned by anyone.”
My gaze slides to Blake, and he shakes his head again. “Not my scene.”
I go back to checking out the car while they talk in low tones.
“Remy needs another body for the big one. You in?”
Son of a bitch.
My body freezes, waiting for Blake’s answer.
There’s a smack of flesh hitting flesh. “Not now,” Blake growls.
They move to the back of the car, and I can’t hear any more of their talk.
Remy needing a body can only mean one thing.
Tears prick my eyes, and I suck in a deep breath, willing them away.
Blake promised me he was done fighting. I run my hand over the beautiful dash of the car. Is that how he paid for this? By getting knocked around Remy’s underground fighting ring? If so, I don’t want it.
Pissed, but knowing I’ll never confront him in front of Jake, I slam the door shut. I jab my fingers against the ignition switch, revving the engine a few times.
Three short knocks against the passenger side window draw my attention. Blake’s face peers in the inside, and he holds up his hands, silently questioning what the fuck I’m doing.
I’m livid, sure, but this isn’t really the time or place to argue. And I’m not stupid enough to tear out of the parking lot in a snit in a car I don’t know how to drive.
I shut down the engine and slide out of the driver’s seat.
Jake’s gone, and Blake rounds the car, approaching me slowly. “Like it?” he asks carefully.
“Throaty engine.” I drop the keys in his open palm. “Thank you. Sorry I ruined the surprise.”
“You didn’t ruin anything.” He wraps his arms around me.
No matter how furious I am with Blake for lying to me, I love him.
After a second or two, I return the embrace.
Fifteen
Murphy
It’s been a long day.
And it’s far from over.
Heidi isn’t stupid.
I could fucking murder Jake for mentioning the fights around her. Everything in her body, her words, her actions, before she left, told me she knew.
The irony is that I haven’t even been in the ring in weeks, maybe months. The combination of limited time and knowing how much it would piss Heidi off kept me from saying yes to any fights. Not to mention with the club’s earnings, I really don’t need the cash.
The rub of it? I need to spend time at the fights if I want to help set up the support club we need. Which falls under club business I don’t want to drag Heidi into.
I pull into the garage at the clubhouse and walk through the woods. Will I get pissed-off, hellcat Heidi, the silent treatment, or something else. Girl definitely keeps me on my toes.
Hope and Rock are snuggled on the living room couch with Grace nearby. After toeing off my boots, I lift my chin at Rock. “Heidi asleep?” I ask.
Hope sits up. “She’s over at the house. Charlotte brought some stuff for her, and she wanted to store it there.” Hope glances at the clock. “She’s been there for a while.”
Waiting for me no doubt. “I’ll let her know I’m home.”
I stop in Alexa’s room to make sure she’s okay before lacing up my boots again and heading back outside.
Our house is ablaze with lights. A huff of laughter escapes me. Heidi has never liked the dark. It’s a testament to how pissed she must be that she’s been waiting out here for me by herself.
; “Where you at, beautiful?” I call out as I slip inside the front door.
“Up here.”
I jog up the stairs and find her in the master bathroom. “What are you doing?”
She shakes a bag stuffed with colorful fabric at me. “Charlotte bought these cute towel sets for Alexa. I figured I’d store them here. Less stuff to move later.”
“Hope says you’ve been here for a while.”
She shrugs.
“Everything okay?” I ask carefully.
“Is it?”
I sigh and take her hand, leading her out of the bathroom. “I know you overheard what Jake said earlier.”
“Oh yeah? What’s that?”
She wants to force me to say it. That’s fine. “I’m not fighting.”
“Are you sure? Because I’ve heard that before.”
“I’m done with the fighting. I’m out.”
Heidi narrows her eyes.
“You think I’m lying?”
She bites her lip. “God damnit, Blake.”
“Why are you still pissed? I said, I’m out.”
She cocks her head and stares at me. “Because there’s something else you’re still not telling me.”
I blow out a breath and turn away from her for a second, walking over to check out the windows.
“I’ll probably need to help with security at the fights from time to time.”
“When?”
“Over the next few weeks. Maybe longer.”
“We’re getting really close to the wedding.”
“I’m not fighting. Just supervising. That’s all.”
“Then take me with you.”
Is she nuts? I turn and face her. “Hell fucking no.”
She glares at me.
“It’s not someplace you need to be.”
“Aubrey’s worked as a ring girl there. Remy lets Molly go. She’s still in high school. What’s the big deal?”
Ah, Aubrey. That explains how Heidi figured it out that one time. Not much I can say since she’s not a brother’s ol’ lady.
“Remy doesn’t let Molly go. Molly’s a brat who doesn’t listen. You’re an ol’ lady who knows better.”
Just because I know which buttons to push to set Heidi off, doesn’t mean I should casually poke at them on the rare occasion that we argue.
