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“No, you just flirted with another woman.”
My nostrils flare as I glower at the counter. “I didn’t flirt with anyone, least of all Candy. I tripped. She helped me up. Opal walked in at the wrong time. That’s it.”
“Not what Candy’s saying,” Chase drawls, digging into his breakfast. “She’s running her mouth, saying you threw yourself at her.”
“Fat fucking chance,” I mutter, but Chase’s words cause panic to rise in my gut. I look over my shoulder at where my beautiful woman sits in a booth with Ebony and Punk. Her eyes land on mine. I see the hurt I caused clear as day in those cool blues of hers. She pivots her attention back to the others at her table, shutting me out.
Maybe it would be better if I didn’t fix things with Opal. I couldn’t hurt her anymore, and she could find someone more deserving than me. Letting her go will destroy me, but I’ll do it if it means the woman I love finds the future she deserves.
Distraught, I nearly miss the little sprite walking into the diner. The woman is attractive, dressed like she’s about to rule the boardroom. She scans the room, completely unaffected by our crew. The woman either is used to rowdy men or hasn’t a clue of how dangerous some bikers can be. By the way she carries herself, I’m guessing she can hold her own with any crowd.
Her eyes land on Atlas, coming to a screeching halt. My brother is grinning like a shark staring at a seal, ready to devour her. The two of them stare at each other with familiarity—the way two lovers gaze at each other.
“Fuck me,” Chase mumbles beside me. “Is that the architect Atlas hired? You think she’d go for me?”
I turn on my stool to face Chase. “You’re out of luck, bro. Atlas already claimed dibs.”
CHAPTERTHIRTY
GAUGE
Atlas took the architect—Jo—on a date.A fucking date. The guy doesn’t date. He’s never had more than a one-night stand. All I foresee is a shitload of trouble with Atlas getting involved with this woman, especially since we’re going to be stuck working with her for the next few months on the new headquarters. But can I talk sense into my brother? Nope. The idiot has developed selective hearing and won’t listen to reason.
With Atlas out for the night, I’m stuck manning the ship. Opal avoided me all day, preferring the refuge of the kitchen to my company. It hurts, but I need to get used to it if I break things off.
More than a few of my brothers have chewed me out for my behavior toward my woman last night. Even after explaining, they still are all over me for not making things right with Opal. If I were to tell them I was thinking of walking away from her, it would cause more arguing between the crew. Not to mention, a few of them may start looking at Opal with hopeful eyes. That shit won’t fly with me. If I give her up, I won’t tolerate them moving in on her.
It’s screwed up. I don’t want to imagine her with anyone else. In my heart, she’s always going to be mine. However, if I let her go, I’ll have to accept her moving on.
To keep my mind off the impending doom of my relationship, I’ve started a new search of Opal’s abuser. Though I’m losing her, I love her and want to give her justice. I focus on local law enforcement around Bountiful, Utah where Opal was raised. I know the perp is my age, limiting some of my search, but I can’t eliminate the surrounding counties in case the piece of shit traveled to visit her and her mother.
Chase is busy running a thorough analysis of Jo’s ex-boyfriend at Atlas’s request, making me shake my head. It was bad enough when he asked Chase to dig around in Jo’s personal information, but investigating the ex seems extreme. Atlas is acting like a possessive boyfriend, hellbent on keeping his woman safe.
My brother must read my thoughts. Chase asks, “Do you think Atlas is serious about this woman? I mean, he’s calling her Pixie. Who gives a pet name if they aren’t serious, right?”
“Hell if I know,” I mutter before adding, “He’s never been taken with a woman before, but it happens.”
“Like you and Opal?”
I bite back a groan. “Things aren’t what they seem. Opal is a wonderful woman—any man would be lucky to have her.”
Chase’s fingers hover over his keyboard. His brows pull together as he scrutinizes me. “Why are you talking like that?”
“Like what?”
“Like she’s not your old lady.”
Heated, I glare at Chase. It’s not his fault he doesn’t know what’s going on inside my head. But it burns me to be reminded of what I can’t have. “Because she’s not my old lady and never will be.”
Chase has a horrified look on his face, but it isn’t directed at me. It’s at someone behind me.
Without looking, I already know who it is. Anytime she’s near me, my body responds with a raw current of energy sweeping through my veins. I glimpse over my shoulder in time to see Opal spinning quickly around, walking back inside the rental.
Fuck. Fuck. FUCK!
Chase shoves me in the chest. “What the fuck is wrong with you? Go after her.”
The two halves of myself war before I’m on my feet, striding after her. I’m so weak. My need for her is too strong. I don’t make it a foot over the garage door threshold before my cell rings shrilly with a designated sound used by state security.
