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“Deputy Miller, good to see you,” the Sergeant at Arms said. I was super curious to know if he was Hero or Wolf. “We were just leaving with our new friends.”
“And the women? Why are you at this table?” Dane asked, eyes locked on me.
My chest tightened. Storm was going to lose his shit. Lose it majorly when he found out my ex was in law enforcement.
“That your lady, Deputy?” the Hunter asked.
“No,” I exclaimed. “Just an old... friend.”
“Right. I get it. Friends with benefits, aye? Just what I’m looking for.” The Hunter licked his bottom lip, eyeballing me.
Tara patted my knee under the table. Knowing her, it was her way of assuring me everything was okay. She could always read me when I was stressed.
“Let’s go and leave the women alone.” Dane and his partner Sonny blocked our table, and the bikers went to the exit.
The Knights glanced back at me. The one doing all the talking gave me a short nod. I took it to mean he’d be waiting for me.
“Jesus. That was intense,” Kim said. “I nearly peed my pants. I’ll be back.”
“I’m coming with…” Steph got out of the booth.
With great trepidation, I returned back to Storm. “They’re gone.” No response. Just heavy breathing. “Storm? You there?”
“I want you here in an hour.” The call ended.
My eyes burned with tears, hearing the anger in his voice.
Tara grimaced. “Shit. I heard him. He sounds pissed.”
“He does.” I exhaled a deep breath. “He doesn’t know Dane is my ex. I mean, he knows his name is Dane, but he didn’t know he’s a deputy here in Winters.” I had a feeling Storm might have connected the dots after Dane said my name.
“Oh, man. I thought you told him.” Tara bit her bottom lip, picking at her blueberry muffin.
I sagged in my seat. “No. Stupid, I know. I was just afraid he’d want nothing to do with me.”
“I’m sure it will be fine.” The compassion in her voice made me more nervous. I wasn’t so sure it would be okay.
“Madeline? I need a minute.” Dane stood at the end of our table with his typical,you don’t have a choiceexpression.
I nudged Tara to let me out, to avoid making a scene. If Dane wanted to be a jerk, he would arrest me for a lame reason. I wouldn’t put it past him, so I’d talk to him just to get him off my back.
I sighed as glances shot our way from people in the bakery. “What do you want?”
He ignored me and strutted out of Sugar Bliss. Despite the gnawing in my gut, I followed him out to the sidewalk.
American flags hung from lampposts up and down the street and blew in the breeze. Confetti was strewn about from the parade earlier. I’d hoped the patriotic festivities would help bring me out of the funk I’d been in all week, but no dice.Especially not now.
I spotted AJ with the other two Knights. They were perched on their bikes next to the hardware store. No question they’d tell Storm about me talking to the deputy.
Dane turned abruptly on me with rage in his eyes. I recoiled, taking a step back.
“What were you doing talking to those bikers?”
“I wasn’t talking to them. They stopped at our table. The girls and I were just having a late breakfast. Why are you angry with me?”
“Why do you think? I go into Sugar Bliss, and my ex-girlfriend is surrounded by a bunch of dirty bikers.” He took my hand. Instantly, fear skirted up my spine. He had the same look in his ice-blue eyes he’d get when he knocked me around.
The Knights were staring at us. There was no telling what they’d do if Dane hit me. Unless a woman getting hit didn’t faze them. They were one-percenters. It sure as hell never bothered Dane when heput me in my place.
