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Yasmina preheated the ovens and pulled her hair into a tight bun on top of her head. “This is true. For now, we bake for the many hungry tourists.”
The two grinned and started collecting the necessary ingredients for the recipes. Jupiter let the conversation drift away from Yasmina’s feelings for the MC’s madame. If it were meant to be, it’d happen one way or another.
She poured sugar into the mixing bowls, doing the mental calculations for the recipe. Listening to Yasmina’s sweet, accented voice helped calm Jupiter’s nerves. Rubble left out a few details from the skirmish and she needed to hear them.Just like I need to find a way to get Lyle away from here, so he doesn’t hurt anyone else.There was only one way she was positive would work.I have to go to him.
CHAPTER31
RUBBLE
Nursing a glass of cola,Rubble leaned back in the booth. Normally, he wouldn’t come to Booze and Tattoos, but with the recent firefight, he needed to get a little distance. Jupiter was so entrenched in his mind that everything else seemed murky.
Two nymphs swayed their hips to the Led Zeppelin song playing on the jukebox. Before Jupiter, the two might’ve enticed him into a night filled with inconsequential sex. Now, though, he didn’t want any woman’s touch but Jupiter’s.
“Sure you don’t need a splash of Jack in there?” Brewer asked, settling across from him in the booth. Only a handful of patrons were scattered amid the tables, not unusual for the early afternoon.
“Nope. You know I don’t drink much.”
“Sure, I do, but you’ve barely had a drink since Jupiter strolled into town. Care to explain?”
Sizing up the bartender, Rubble took a sip of the soda. Brewer didn’t typically volunteer for the gun fights. Fists were more his style. A fact Rubble appreciated, since Brewer was the best spar partner in the club.
“I’m worried.”
“About the club or her?”
Rubble rested his gaze on the door that led to the tattoo parlor. Legs and Snoopy were there, lips locked as per their usual stance. “Can’t it be both?”
Brewer shrugged. “I guess, but you’ve never been this concerned about a woman before. Hell, you gave Kevlar and Doc plenty of shit when their old ladies needed help.”
“But I still helped them.”
The song changed and more customers filed into the bar. They were tourists, judging from the look of their wide eyes when the men saw the nymphs making out on the dance floor. Rubble’d never get sick of watching those reactions.
“Since Mr. Texas didn’t play nice, what’s the next plan?” Brewer knocked his knuckles on the table. “Plan B isn’t that appealing, honestly. The less Feds around the better.” He lowered his voice. “Doesn’t bode well for business here.”
Rubble glanced around the bar. Sure enough, several men and women looked perfectly at home, but no doubt had a hit or two of drugs on them. The club didn’t judge. They couldn’t. All he cared about was ensuring Macha survived whatever it faced. Unfortunately, he couldn’t predict the whirlwind Jupiter brought or the outcome now that her ex found her.
“Nikita is a last resort. I’m hoping that guy will leave Jupiter alone once the club has made a proper introduction.”
“Without bodyguards, I presume.”
“Exactly.” Rubble finished his drink and sighed. He was tired. Tired of always having his defenses up. He never realized how sick of it he was until Jupiter.Damn women ruin everything.He smiled inwardly. He’d let Jupiter ruin every one of his days.
“You heading to the finals tonight?” Brewer asked, standing and waving at incoming Macha members. “The snowboarders look pretty good this year.”
“Yeah. I was thinking of bringing Jupiter. She’d enjoy watching, I think. Would get her out of the clubhouse too.”
Hawk and Kevlar reached them and squeezed into the booth.
“Double whiskey for me and a Guinness for Hawk,” Kevlar called to the nymph behind the bar then turned toward Rubble. “I’m surprised to see you here. Figured you’d be handcuffed to your girl.”
“I’ve got two prospects watching Yasmina and Jupiter,” Rubble said, shifting in his seat.
Hawk lifted his brows. “Hold up. You, the sergeant at arms and protector of all things Macha, aren’t watching your old lady when she’s in potential danger. What the hell is wrong with you?”
Rubble narrowed his eyes. “Fuck off, Hawk.”
“Yeah,” Kevlar piped up. “Delegating is important in the club. Especially when it’s something you don’t care about or want to do.”
