Page 185 of Romeo

I knew exactly what he meant. We’d had enough conversations lately that began with soon and ended with another reason he couldn’t come. This time, he’d waited until he was already here.

I pulled back enough to see his face. “You’re here now.”

“I am.” His thumb brushed lightly along my jaw. “Missed you, Cher.”

“I missed you too.”

The words weren’t enough, but I wasn’t sure anything I said could’ve explained how different the last few weeks had felt without him. For a moment, none of the tension inside the clubhouse mattered. Neither did the strange men who’d arrived before him or whatever club business had brought so many people to Rosewood.

Then the rumble of another engine rolled into the parking lot.

Jasper’s attention shifted over my shoulder.

His hand dropped from my back as he stepped away to watch a dark SUV pull in, and the loss of his warmth felt more noticeable than it should’ve. I folded my arms loosely across myself and followed his gaze.

I recognized Morgan as soon as the door opened.

A large man climbed out after her and moved around the vehicle to help another woman down. The woman was blonde and elegant even in jeans and boots, but I barely had time to wonder who she was before Jasper headed toward Morgan.

“Morgan!” he called, genuine pleasure in his voice. “Girl, you get more beautiful every time I see you.”

Something small and unpleasant pinched beneath my ribs.

I hated it immediately.

Romeo flirted.

I knew that.

His road name wasn’t exactly a mystery, and he’d never pretended he’d lived like a monk before meeting me. Hearing about that version of him over the phone was one thing. Watching him turn that effortless charm on another beautiful woman was apparently different.

Morgan hurried toward him with a wide smile, raised her hand, and smacked him across the back of the head hard enough that I heard it from the porch.

“What the fuck was that for?” Jasper demanded, grabbing the back of his head as he stumbled dramatically away from her.

I covered my mouth, but the laugh escaped anyway.

“For telling King. And when I see Gator, he’ll get the same thing. If Devlyn hasn’t killed him yet.”

“Had to, babe.” Jasper’s grin made it clear remorse wasn’t anywhere in sight. “You know that.”

Babe.

The tiny pinch returned.

Ridiculous.

Morgan sighed. “I know. I guess all my secrets are out now.”

I might’ve continued arguing with myself over one harmless word if the large man from the SUV hadn’t looked toward the porch.

His attention landed on me with enough force that every other thought disappeared.

The blonde woman beside him followed his gaze, said something too quietly for me to hear, then touched his arm. He answered without looking away.

I knew who he was before anyone said his name.

King.