Chapter 2

Nicole

“Trick?”

I looked up from my fake absorption of the huge planter next to the door of the florist shop and found my best friend scowling at me. “What?”

“Seriously, Nic? You can’t even pretend to play nice with my friends? These guys are Zag’s family. They’re in my life and they aren’t going away. If you want to be my friend and bridesmaid this week, you have to learn to suck it up.”

“But I just—”

“I don’t wanna hear it. At least do me the favor of faking it for the rest of the week, because I really don’t have the time or patience to put up with your shit right now.”

Jessica left me standing by the door as she marched to the waiting florist at the counter. I heaved a huge sigh and reminded myself that she was stressed. I shouldn’t risk the wrath of Bridezilla and our friendship of thirteen years because my panties were in a bunch.

But seriously, was that the way she saw me? The über bitch who didn’t care about anyone’s feelings? I thought I’d been harmlessly flirting with Tank. He was an adult and a biker who could obviously take care of himself. I mean he was tall, muscular, and gorgeous. So gorgeous. He had the good looks and badass confidence of a rock god.

Only I was pretty sure he had the street cred to back up his badass-ery. The way he made my heart pound when he threatened to spank me earlier? Oh, good God. Yes, please.

If only he weren’t a biker. Why did he have to be a biker?

Ugh.

I heaved another huge sigh—this time of regret—and waded back into the world of weddings and my own personal Bridezilla. I nodded along and made comforting sounds to Jessica when the roses in the sample arrangement were a shade off the ivory that Jessica had wanted. I really doubted anyone would notice, but I didn’t say that. I knew better than to be too placating this week. I didn’t want her to think I was patronizing her.

I just didn’t get what all the mania was about. She was marrying the man she loved, the father of their cute baby girl—who cared if the flowers weren’t perfect? Jessica was getting her happily ever after—why couldn’t that be enough for her?

Hell, if it were my wedding I’d have done the destination wedding thing so practically no one came along and I’d have a built-in honeymoon. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

But it wasn’t my wedding. And the way I’d been going through guys lately, it would never be my wedding. Maybe I really was a bitch.

This much introspection was depressing. I really wasn’t liking myself much at the moment.

Instead I faked it. I faked interest in the florist’s solution to the rose “problem.” I acted like I gave a shit in the selection of boutonnieres. And I faked interest when Jessica started haggling over the final bill. Actually I did care about that part—the guy’s math was all wrong.

Jessica was more cheerful when we turned to leave, but she stopped me when we reached the door. “Maybe we should drop you off at home.”

“Jess. I’m sorry, okay? I promise I’ll play nice with Zag’s family. I’m here for you—to make this week flow as seamlessly as possible.”

She didn’t look convinced, judging by her raised brows.

So I dug a little deeper. “I’ll even apologize to Truck.”

“Tank!”

“Sorry! Sorry. Freudian slip. He’s waiting in a truck. I was thinking about him waiting in the truck. I swear.” I gestured to the huge black-and-chrome lifted four-by-four parked at the curb, just as badass as its driver. The thing was enormous and shiny new, and always lurking in my peripheral vision as if I needed a reminder of the gorgeous pickup and the even more attractive guy behind the wheel.

“I know you haven’t been around the biker lifestyle, but respect is a huge thing to them. If you don’t show respect to the guys…” She trailed off like it would make the difference in our friendship.

The thought cut me to the core. We’d been best friends ever since my family moved to Reno when I was in middle school. Jessica and Emily were the two constant people in my life. I don’t know what I’d do without them.

The fact that she was lecturing me about biker life and respect didn’t escape me, either. I wasn’t touching that one with a ten-foot pole.

“I will. Okay? I’ll apologize to Tank and make nice. I hereby promise to be a good girl for the rest of the week.”

“Okay.” Jessica enveloped me in a huge hug. Her voice was muffled by my hair when she spoke again. “I know I’m being a total Bridezilla, but I just love Zag so much. I want everything to be perfect. I want him to know that he’s worthy of me and my friends and family. He’s just…He’s everything to me and I want him to know that he deserves everything I can give him.”

I pulled back and looked into Jessica’s teary brown eyes. “He knows, Jess. I’ve seen him with you—in the hospital after you were shot, at home when you were recuperating, with your daughter—that is a man in love. He knows.”

“I just…They’re all so damaged, Nic. Every member of the club that I’ve met. They all have stories that will just break your heart.”

I smiled wearily and shook my head. “You have the biggest heart of anyone I know. Zag is an awesomely lucky guy.”

“Ahem.” An irate voice came from behind us. “If you ladies are done with your mutual respect circle, you’re blocking my entrance.”

I looked up, but no one was trying to get in despite our “blocking” the doorway. “Listen, buddy—”

“We’re just leaving, Mr. Kane,” Jessica cut in. “Can’t wait to see your amazing arrangements this weekend. Bye!” Then she pushed me out the door. “What happened to playing nice?”

“Hey, I only promised to be nice to your biker buddies. I said nothing whatsoever about douchebag florists.”

Jessica’s shoulders shook with her suppressed laughter. Or maybe she was pissed. Kinda hard to tell with her current expression of disbelief. After a beat she gave in and burst out laughing.

We piled into the truck, still giggling. Tank turned and gave us a confused look. Apparently he saw nothing fun about visiting a florist. Or maybe it had something to do with his conversation with Jessica before she came into the shop. Suddenly I really wanted to know what she’d said. Was it about me? Him?

But that reminded me.

I buckled my seatbelt and faced the windshield. “I’m sorry if you were offended by my lack of respect earlier, Tank. It won’t happen again.”

Tank’s eyes met mine in the rearview mirror, and I could see the confusion reflected in his green eyes before they were veiled by his ridiculously long eyelashes. He grunted. “Not a problem. Don’t worry about it. Where to next?”

“Heritage Bakery on California Ave.” Jessica happily buckled her seatbelt, then swung around and gave me a huge grin as if to say “See, everything’s all right.”

But I couldn’t help but notice that Tank didn’t once meet my eyes in the rearview mirror again. Unlike the drive to the florist that had been so full of sexual tension and possibilities, the rest of the day was just empty. Soulless.

It was probably for the best. With the craziness of Jessica’s wedding, my demanding job, and my inability to hang onto a guy lately, I didn’t need the complication of a man in my life right now. Besides, I’d never have room in my heart for a biker.

I’d learned my lesson the hard way with bikers.