Page 27 of The Price of Love

“Just right?” Halo waves her hand in front of her mouth. “I’m breathing fire over here.”

I know they’re all watching me, gauging my mood, so I make a show of picking up a glass from the table and taking a gulp.

My eyes widen as the heat hits my mouth, but at least they don’t water. “Whoa. I gotta get one of these.”

“You can have it.” Diesel, one of our old-timers, pushes her drink toward me.

I push it back. “Nope. That’s yours.” I grin. “I think I’ll ask her to pour me a little more heat.” I don’t mean it because my mouth is still burning, but I know it will play well with the girls.

“Hell yeah!” Rouge lifts her drink and elbows Halo. “Grow a pair of ovaries and stop drinking straight tomato juice.”

I laugh. “I’ll leave you girls to it. Do you know where Dimples is?”

Rouge shakes her head, and her brow furrows. “She came downstairs, walked toward the bar, then shot out of here like something bit her in the ass. Haven’t seen her since.”

The fuck. “She’s making me ride with her today, so I better get my drink before she comes back.”

Making my way to the bar, I exchange words with other groups. With each stop, I feel the tension in the room lessen.

“Hey, Prospect,” I say, putting an edge in my voice. “Why have you been hiding things from me?”

The prospect’s eyes widen, and her face turns ashen.

Jesus. Sometimes I forget how heavy my title is, especially to a prospect. I smile. “You never mentioned that you make a mean Bloody Mary. How long you been here—nine, ten months—and I’m just finding out?”

The prospect blinks and then grins as the color returns to her face. “It’s my secret weapon. Tryin’ to score a few points with the patches.”

“Well, hit me with one. And make it good.”

“Yes, President.” She grabs a glass and pours from a large pitcher. “I’ll start you with my base mix. Then we can add more heat if you’d like.”

I consider telling her to put in more, but the burning still in my mouth stops me. Before taking a drink, I stir it with the skewer sticking out of the glass. “Damn, this is good. Your base is perfect.”

“Thanks,” she says with a sheepish smile.

I haven’t spent as much time with the prospects, which needs to change.

“Excited for the ride next weekend?” I ask.

Her eyes light up. “Yes, President. It’s been a long winter.”

“You know it.” I run a hand through my unruly hair. “Goddamn it. I can’t do a thing with this wiry shit.”

The prospect smiles and grabs a handful of locs that fall past her shoulder. “These come with their own issues.”

“Maybe we should all get buzz cuts. New MC policy.” I twist my face into an expression of horror, so she knows I’m teasing.

“As a prospect, ain’t I supposed to say, where’s the clippers?”

I like this prospect. She’s got spunk. “I’ll give you a pass.” I lift my Bloody Mary. “Especially when you make drinks like this.”

She wipes her brow. “Whew. That was close.”

“So how’re you liking the club?”

“I like it a lot.”

There’s something behind her eyes I can’t read. “Why do I sense you have more to say?”