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I smile up at him with my hands on my hips. “In my own defense, a lot of times you can tell what’s in a package just by shaking it.”
“That sounds like a pretty useful skill to have,” Smoke says.
Cleo calls Siege away. When I glance over, one of my nephews is throwing a fit in her arms. He’s a dramatic one, arching his back to the point that she’s about to lose her grip on him. Siege deftly lifts the child from her arms and cuddles the little one on his shoulder.
I turn back to Smoke to find that he’s looking at me, rather than Siege’s family drama.
“I was hoping to meet up with you later on today,” I tell him.
He looks at me curiously. “Why is that? Did you want to talk shop?”
“Of course. Doesn’t every attorney want to talk shop?”
“Not this one. All he wants to do is have a bourbon on the rocks from the bar and chill out for a few hours.”
Miffed, I say, “We wouldn’t want all work and no play to make Smoke a dull boy, so I’ll catch you later.”
“Well, Serena, you get extra bonus points for quoting a vintage horror flick.”
I flash him a quick smile and walk away disappointed. It’s just my luck that talking business is the last thing on his wish list for today, but I’m pleased he caught my reference to The Shining, it was him and my brother who got me into those movies.
I stroll back over to visit with my mom. It’s been ages since I spent any time with her, and I don’t want to waste the opportunity.
Chapter 7
Smoke
I’ve got to be the world’s biggest fuck up when it comes to women. Either I’m interested in them, and they’re not interested in me. Or they’re interested in me, and I’m not interested in them. Or I finally find someone I’m crazy about and proceed to stick my foot directly into my mouth. I would have loved to spend some time talking with Serena later today, but like a big dope, when she asked, I turned her down. Why in the hell did I do that? For a smart guy I’m pretty damn stupid sometimes.
I take my dumb ass out to the bar and get that bourbon I’ve been thirsting for. It’s cold consolation for not being able to spend time talking with Serena. Minutes turn into hours. Every time the door to our meeting room opens, I can hear jovial voices raised in celebration. When Siege and Cleo leave to take his mother home, I’m still sitting in the bar swirling bourbon around in my glass and kicking myself.
It suddenly occurs to me what my problem is. I didn’t like watching every brother’s face light up when they were introduced to Serena earlier. Even our club president hovering protectively over her, didn’t dampen their enthusiasm. My brothers are all good men, more than worthy enough to catch Serena’s interest. Not one of them would be stupid enough to turn down conversation on any topic she wanted to discuss. I’m green with envy.
Yes, that’s what my problem is. I’m in the unenviable position of being jealous over a woman that isn’t even mine and probably never will be. And given our new dynamics of boss and employee, never could be. That placed me neatly into the idiot category. I didn’t like how foolish that made me feel.
While I’m licking my wounds Lori stumbles over and sits on the barstool beside me. “Are you avoiding the fucking princess party too? That girl is way too full of herself.”
My head slowly turns to stare at her. I’m astonished at the sheer unmitigated gall of this woman. Instead of answering her I take out my cell phone and text the prospects to come and take her away. Although she doesn’t know what I’m texting, she can tell by my demeanor that I didn’t appreciate her last comment. I assume that’s why she starts backtracking.
“Not that there’s anything wrong with our club president’s sister or anything like that. It’s just that she’s not a brother, so I don’t know why everyone’s making such a big deal about her.”
“They’re making a big deal about Miss Serena because she’s a big deal. For starters, she is our founding father’s daughter and our current club president’s sister. If I were you, I would steer clear of her and drop the bitching.”
“It used to be the women of this club had the right to speak their mind. Now Siege went off and got himself married and his sister came back to town, so by comparison we’re somehow all less than we were before. Now we need to shut the fuck up and do as we’re told. Is that what I’m hearing you say?”
“I don’t think you’re hearing anything. Because I’m telling you point blank to stop talking shit about Serena and the other old ladies, but you just keep talking.”
“I’m just tired of nothing ever going my way. I’ve been here for years. I try to make myself useful and be a good companion for the brothers, but no one seems to care. It feels like the brothers are always trying to bite the hands of those of us that feed them, and then they want to come crawling back to us to get sex. I’m seriously over that dynamic.”
At that moment, Talon comes strolling through the bar and I see Lori making eyes at him.
“Oh hell, no,” my club brother says and does an about turn back to the office.
“What’s the matter? You too good for me?” Lori slurs after him.
“Leave the man alone, he’s married,” I say, wondering where the fuck the prospects are. The sooner she’s out of sight the better.
“Might wanna tell his wife that, I saw her out the back with—”
