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“The receptionist at my job is good with all that stuff. She’s helped me out a few times.” Aubrey seems like a safer person to mention than any of my club brothers—since technically I’m still not supposed to be associating with any of them.
She glances at her desk and then the calendar hanging on the wall. “Do you have a date and place in mind for your trip?”
We’re back to that. Good sign, I hope. “I was thinking next weekend. Maybe the Catskills. To do some hiking. I just want to be outside as much as possible these days.”
“I can understand that. The Catskills. That’s close.” She nods. “Call me with the dates and an address for where you’ll be staying. I’ll leave an approval letter with the receptionist. You can pick it up before you go. Just keep it with you in case you get pulled over or something.”
I open my mouth but I’m not sure what to say. I hadn’t expected this to be so easy. Thankfully, no guilt from lying plagues me. “Thank you.”
“Believe it or not, I want you to get back to normal. And not go back inside.”
“Well, we want the same things, then.”
After my appointment, I return to Strike Back ready to work.
“Everything go okay?” Sully’s brother, Jake, asks.
“Yeah.” I shrug, uncomfortable talking about it, even though Jake always acts like taking off to visit with my parole officer is no big deal. As if he hangs around tons of felons and it’s totally normal.
I get to work, cleaning what needs to be cleaned, and helping Jake with the few things on his list. Sully and Aubrey won’t be in until later in the afternoon, so I keep an eye on the front door and help clients who need instruction on different equipment.
Around one, the bell over the back door goes off. The hair on the back of my neck prickles. The slow, tentative steps over the hardwood floor send my pulse racing.
“Grayson?” Serena peers around the corner.
“Thought that was you.” I can’t hide my grin. God damn she’s a sight for my jaded eyes.
I close the distance between us fast, sweeping her into my arms and slamming my lips against hers.
“Oh!” she shrieks and laughs against my mouth, pulling away. “I’m happy to see you too.”
I set her down. Keeping my hands around her waist, I draw back to look her over. Hair pulled into a high ponytail swinging down her back. Tight black leggings that end above her ankles, a thin purple hooded shirt, and black sneakers with purple stripes. “Did you come to work out or drive me nuts?”
She glances down. “What do you mean? I’m running errands. It’s comfy.”
“You look beautiful.”
She tilts her head in that adorable way she does when she’s uncomfortable with a compliment. “Thank you.” She runs her hand over her stomach. “Figured I should wear all my body-con stuff now before I start showing,” she whispers.
“You should wear whatever you want, whenever you want.”
She opens her mouth—probably to argue with me—but Jake’s voice interrupts us.
“Everything okay, Grinder?” He turns the corner and stops dead. “Well, damn. I didn’t realize…” He stops and stares.
In the short time I’ve worked here, Jake’s made it obvious he enjoys the ladies a little too much. I couldn’t care less when it’s women who don’t belong to me. Serena’s a different story.
“Eyes to yourself,” I growl.
But he continues eying Serena in a way I don’t care for. Her nervous eyes dart from Jake to me.
Blowing out an irritated breath, I take her hand. “Jake, this is my girlfriend, Serena.”
“Serena,” he says slowly. “We’ve met before, right?”
She blushes and drops her gaze to her sneakers, then slides it my way. The way I’ve heard about Jake plowing through women, I’m almost dreading her answer.
“Uh, I think we met at one of Murphy’s fights once,” she says quietly.
Murphy. Fine. I already knew about that and set it aside.
“Right.” Jake snaps his fingers, then taps the side of his head. “I never forget a pretty face.”
“Useful skill,” I grumble.
“One of my many talents,” Jake agrees with an impish smile. Christ, he’s almost as much of a dick as Wrath. No wonder they’re such good buddies.
“Murphy is missed at the Castle,” Jake says.
“I’m sure he is,” Serena murmurs as if she’s done talking about this. I know I’m done with it.
“We’re going to be out back, if that’s all right.” I curl my arm around Serena’s shoulders.
“Yeah, go on. We won’t get busy for a little while,” Jake says, waving us away.
I turn, steering us toward the door.
Serena holds up a blue plaid, soft-sided cooler. “I brought lunch.”
“I was so distracted by your gorgeous face, I didn’t even notice.”
She laughs softly, as if I’m feeding her a line, and pushes through the door. The parking lot behind the buildings is mostly empty this time of day. So are the picnic benches scattered behind each of the Main Street businesses.
