I frown, but it’s not a big deal. Right now, I need to sort out my plan for tonight. I punch in a number and make a call.
After tonight, everyone who matters will know Amelia Davis is my girl.
…
Amelia
Gage told me to meet him at Odin’s at nine, which suits me, since there’s no way I want him picking me up from home. I spent the whole afternoon at the diner obsessing over every word he said on the phone, and am still no closer to figuring out what exactly he’s up to.
I didn’t expect another date. We’ve already slept together, and he knows I’m up for completing the smexy triad challenge. If he was anyone else, I’d think he wants more than just sex from me, but I can’t help remembering how the Wolves categorized girls, and there’s no reason to think the Bastards are any different.
Just because IwantGage to be different doesn’t mean a thing.
So, why’s he taking me out tonight?
I take one final look in the mirror and pull a face at the strategically knotted scarf around my throat. It’s lucky Abby has a huge collection, and also lucky it’s winter, so Mom didn’t ask any questions when I left for work this afternoon. I know I could just shrug it off, but why upset her when it’s an easy fix?
Besides, the last thing I want is her asking me, in that tearful way she has, what my dad would think.
I take a deep breath, and my glance falls on my laptop. This will be the first time in two years I’ve gone more than one night without meeting my daily word count goal. Then again, until last night it’d been more or less two years since I’d had any kind of social life. I think my self-imposed deadlines can take it.
Mom’s in the living room with her sister, binge watching another show on Netflix. She gives me a smile as I hover at the door. “Drive safe, honey.”
“I’ll be back late tonight. I have a date.” Okay, so I chicken out of telling her I’m staying out all night, but my sisters know. There won’t be a mad panic in the morning because I’m not here.
“Good for you,” my auntie says with a wicked grin.
“Really?” Mom looks so amazed it’s kind of embarrassing. “That’s great, hon. You’ve become a real recluse since you started doing your writing. Where’d you meet him? How long have you known him?”
I knew she’d ask me all these questions. She’s always going on at me about working all the time and not having fun like my sisters. Of course, by “having fun” she doesn’t mean enjoying hot biker sex.
“A couple of weeks.” As soon as the words are out of my mouth I know it’s a mistake. I should’ve said a few weeks. Then she wouldn’t immediately realize it’s someone I met at my new bar job.
“Someone you met at your new job?” she says, right on cue.
“Yeah, kind of.”
She frowns. “What’s the matter? Something wrong?”
“No.” Why did I tell her about my date? I could’ve just told her I wasn’t back tonight. Except I know why. And even though my head thinks it’s a bad idea, I can’t stop myself. It doesn’t matter what we say in front of my auntie; she knows everything’s that happened with us. “Mom. Do you think kids should pay for, you know, the sins of the father kind of thing?”
For a second she looks as though I shot her through the heart. Then she’s on her feet and takes my hand. “Of course not. Don’t ever think that, Amy. What your dad did—it’s nothing to do with you. No one knows about our old life. Why do you think I made you girls take my name? You don’t ever have to tell anyone about the Wolves. You know that, don’t you?”
Of course, I do. She’s hammered that into us enough over the years. It’s not like I ever disagreed. Why would I want to let anyone know about my past, when the Wolves turned their backs on us?
And although she has no idea that she misunderstood my question, guilty relief streaks through me at her reply. It’s what I wanted to hear.Neededto hear. Because if I shouldn’t be held responsible for things Dad did while he was the Wolves’ enforcer, then it stands to reason Gage can’t be blamed for his dad’s actions.
I’m clutching at straws. I’ve no idea whether Gage wants something serious with me, or if tonight is just an extended good-bye. But at least I’ve planted the seed in Mom’s mind, and if she ever meets Gage—big if—well, she said herself the old sins of the father don’t mean shit.
Keep dreaming, Amy.
…
He’s waiting for me outside Odin’s, leaning against the doorframe and looking so hot and badass in leather pants, a black T-shirt, and his cut I nearly rear end an SUV. I pull into a parking space down the street, and by the time I’ve changed into my spiky-heeled boots, he’s pulling open my car door.
“Hey, gorgeous.” His smoldering gaze rakes over me.
“Hey.” I step out of the car into his waiting arms. God, I’ve missed him, and we’ve only been apart for a few hours. “You’re pretty gorgeous yourself.”
