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Raven
I hear his voice and freeze in my chair. Maybe they think I can’t hear them. Maybe they just don’t care. But each word that Spider speaks opens the wounds that I promised myself had been cauterized a long time ago. Humiliation fills me and my stomach clenches in protest. I hate the memories of how I was right after Bash had left me, hate that he still has the power to make me hurt to my bones and even deeper—to my soul.
Unable to just sit there, I toss my pencil aside and stand. I’m in the back office with the door open so I don’t make much noise as I moved down the hall and enter the front room of the shop. Spider stands with his arms crossed over his massive chest, glaring down at the man that had once been his best friend. Bash just sits straddling his chair as he returns the glare.
I clear my throat, forcing their gaze to me. Instead of continuing to look at them I glance at Tim instead. “I’m sure Brandie is going to love that surprise. When are you two getting married?”
Tim offers me a small smile but doesn’t make eye contact. “A few more weeks now.”
“Well, congratulations. I know she’s excited.”
“Thanks, Raven.”
I move toward the front counter where a mini fridge is stocked with Cokes and bottles of water. I pull a water out and take a long swallow before turning back to face the three men. “Well, since the conversation seems to be so entertaining out here, I think I’ll get back to work.”
Before I disappear down the hall, I glance back over my shoulder to see Spider with an apology in his eyes. I flip him the finger and keep walking. In the back office that no one ever uses except for me, I start working on Razor’s books again. Of all the Originals who I do books for, I hate doing Razor’s the most. Even after spending three solid weeks organizing things so I won’t have to dig and dig and dig to find the things I need each week, it’s a serious headache to find what’s what.
I know he was standing there before I even raise my head. Bash is a predator that can move quietly so his prey won’t even know he was coming in for the kill. Only he doesn’t understand that I have a sixth sense where he’s concerned and I can feel him. A delicious shiver slithers down my spine while my fingertips tingle so badly I have to clench them into fists to keep from reaching for him.
My nipples harden as soon as I feel his eyes on my bent head, and I hate my own body for betraying me. Slowly, I lift my head and boldly meet his silver-blue eyes. “Did you get the answers you came for?”
“Has there been anyone else?” he asks, his eyes not holding the apology that Spider’s offered me. This is the possessive beast that had captured my heart all those years ago. Christ, I’m a masochist when it comes to him.
I raise a brow and offer him a smile that doesn’t reach my eyes. “Who would be stupid enough to even come running if I happened to crook my finger, Bash? Between you and Jet, every man within a hundred mile radius is too terrified to so much as make eye contact. In case it’s slipped your mind, I don’t go for pussy boys.”
“Why Spider?”
“Because I knew it would hurt you the most,” I tell him honestly. “And because he was man enough to give me what I wanted. Only, I wasn’t able to feel anything. I knew after the first kiss that I wasn’t going to be able to go through with it. He bundled me up and took me home.”
There’s no use in lying to him about any of it. Spider has already told him the majority of it anyway. I was broken when Bash left. For days, I walked around like a zombie, shocked that the man I wanted above anything and everything else had just walked away from everything that he’d ever known just to get away from me.
Refusing to let myself feel that pain ever again, I turn the tables on him. “Has there been anyone else?”
“No.” His answer is firm without a single hesitation. There’s no flutter of his lashes, the only sign that he’s lying. Maybe no one else has ever noticed that about Bash, but I did. Just as I notice everything else about him. “There hasn’t been anyone but you since the night you stitched my arm.”
“If you say so.” I may believe him, but I’m not going to make it easy for him. “I’m busy here, Bash. And once I’m finished I have to get over to the garage and start on Uncle Jack’s. He’s expanded the bike shop and I have a shitload of work that needs my attention before I make it into the bar tonight.” Between Razor and Uncle Jack, my Saturdays are busy. I usually have to make time for the other Originals’ books later in the week.
“Hawk needs to hire more help.”
I roll my eyes. “Raider does the hiring. Guess what happens once the new girls find out that he’s got a line of girls.”
“You end up having to work yourself to death.” He drops down into the chair in front of my desk. When he stretches out crossing his legs in front of him and putting those deadly arms behind his head, I glare at him. “What? You don’t have your car. Spider is busy. Once you’re finished you are going to need a ride over to Uncle Jack’s.”
“I can call Flick.”
“I will take you, Raven.” He gives me a smirk that tells me he’s not going anywhere. “Just pretend that I’m not here.”
Easier said than done! I glare at him for a full minute before forcing my attention on the numbers and invoices. It’s hard to concentrate with him sitting there. The numbers start to blur I’m focusing so hard on them in my attempt to block him out. Muttering a curse, I drop the pencil and glare at him again. “I’m hungry.” I didn’t have breakfast that morning and it’s well past lunch time now. It’s also the only thing I know that will get him up and out of the office.
He stands. “What would you like?”
“A steak sandwich from Aggie’s,” I tell him, and my stomach actually growls at the thought of getting one
of her sandwiches. “With onion rings and blue cheese instead of ketchup.”
“Anything else?”
I shake my head. “No.” I watch him walk away, relieved to have at least thirty minutes of alone time so I can focus on getting this done.
