Chapter Twelve
Gage
I toss my cell onto the bed, still grinning from our conversation. She didn’t say anything about our date tonight, but I’m taking her silence as a yes.
No way is she walking out on me in the middle of the night again. I was fucking pissed when I realized what she’d done, until I remembered the only reason she hightailed it was because of her mom.
I link my hands behind my head and can’t stop another stupid grin from cracking my face. I’ve never had a chick worry about what her mom might think before, but somehow it’s so Amelia.
A loud banging on the front door pulls me out of a memory of the look on her face as she rode me last night. I consider ignoring the door and taking a shower to relieve my hard-on, but some masochistic streak I never knew I possessed wants me to wait until tonight, when I’ve got my girl back here, where she belongs.
I drag on my jeans and leave the fly open in fear of irreversible injury. Gotta be in full working order tonight. It’s crazy how much I want to see her again.
Zach’s at the door. Might’ve guessed. Ever since he told me he didn’t want me rocking up to his place like I still lived there, in case he was fucking Grace, he’s stopped using his key here. Although, now I’ve got Amelia, that’s not such a bad thing.
If only Tod would just shift his ass and find his own place.
We go into the kitchen, and I refresh the coffee while Zach paces the floor like a caged lion. I shoot him a sideways glance.
“What’s up?” Something occurs to me. “Heard any more about Rex Abbott?” I’ve hardly thought about him since Zach texted me a couple of old pics. And I mean old, like ten years. While I respect my brother’s sharp wits, it’s possible he was mistaken.
He frowns at me as though he has no idea what I’m talking about. “Need to talk to you about something.” He folds his arms and leans his butt against the counter. I shrug and mirror his stance.
“Fine.”
He doesn’t say anything. Just glares. What the fuck’s eating him?
“I’m doing Christmas with Grace this year.”
“Okay.” I’m not sure why he says that like it’s a huge revelation. He can’t get enough of her. Although we’ve always tried to make an effort for Kat’s sake, it’s not like we ever do much for Christmas, anyway. She spends the day with Savannah’s family, and Zach and I usually drop by for the big spread Jett’s old lady does.
“She wants you and Kat there for the evening.”
That sounds fun. “Yeah, might give that a miss, bro.”
His scowl deepens. “It wasn’t a request.”
Fuck that. I wanted to hang out with Amelia. Does she spend the whole day with her family? I guess she does. Would she leave her mom on Christmas Day to come see me?
What. The. Fuck. I’m as pussy-whipped as my brother. It’s hard not to snort with laughter, but the mood Zach’s in, he’d probably give me a black eye.
“Something funny?” He sounds ready to launch at me whatever I respond.
“Just thinking.” Not that I’m going to share what I was thinking. I’m still trying to figure it out myself.
“It’s not for my benefit,” he says, eyes narrowed in warning. “I’d rather spend the day just me and her. It’s Grace. She thinks families should be together at Christmas.”
I can’t help myself. “Why isn’t she spending it with hers, then?”
Zach gives a shudder, and while he’s still glowering, he no longer looks as though he’d like to punch my brains out. “We are. Four hours of torture. Fuck, the things I do for that girl.”
Amelia could split the day between her family and me. I’m down for that. “Still can’t make it. I’ve plans.”
“You’ll be there.” It’s a threat, and I can’t help smirking. My big brother, led around by the dick by his girlfriend. “Bring the chick if you have to.”
My smirk freezes. He and Ty are best friends. Of course he knows about Amelia. Except he just invited her to a family thing. You don’t do that for random chicks. How does he know she’s more than that?
I grunt in response, not sure if I even care that he’s guessed Amelia is more than just a hookup. Doesn’t change things. Why the hell would she want to tag along to some boring family get together?
“I want to give Grace Mom’s ring.”
Shock punches through me, and finally he has my whole attention. So, this is the reason he came around. It had nothing to do with inviting me over for Christmas, because he could have done that in a text.
Not this, though. I don’t know what to say.
He shifts his weight and rolls his shoulders, obviously waiting for my response. “You sure?” I manage at last, my voice guarded. “You’ve only known her a month.”
“Nearly two.”
My point still stands but clearly not for my brother. And while I’ve known for weeks that he’s serious about Grace, we’ve never talked about it. Fuck, it’s not the kind of thing you talk about. But Mom’s ring?
Before she died, our mom gave Kat her grandmother’s engagement ring, which Mom had always worn, and the other two rings that Dad had bought her had passed on to Zach and me with the understanding they were for our old ladies.
I grip the back of my neck and let out a long breath. “You told Kat yet?”
“Nah. Wanted to let you know first.”
“Have you asked Grace?”
“We’ve talked about it.” He shrugs and avoids my eyes. I pour us both a coffee, mainly to give us both some space. As brothers go, we’re close, and we’ve been through a lot together. There’s no one else I’d trust more to have my back, but it’s all action with us, not emotional shit.
“Big church wedding?” It’s not necessary, but somehow I know marriage is what Zach wants when it comes to making Grace his old lady.
“If that’s what she wants.” He swallows half his coffee before placing the mug in the sink. “Catch you later.” He’s clearly relieved to have gotten this conversation out of the way, and as he strolls out, I frown.
While I’ve every intention of getting out of the family thing Grace is planning, it’s a reminder that Christmas is only a few days away. And I want to be with Amelia. Which means I need to get her something.
I’ve never bought a chick anything before, unless you count drinks or dope, and then it was only as a prelude to sex. I go into the living room, but the change of scene doesn’t give me a brainwave in the chick-gifts department.
It reminds me of last night, though, and a weird warmth fills my chest. I sprawl on a chair and search the web on my cell, but can’t pull up her name. Huh. Shouldn’t she be online if she’s selling ebooks?
I frown, but it’s not a big deal. Right now, I need to sort out my plan for tonight. I punch in a number and make a call.
After tonight, everyone who matters will know Amelia Davis is my girl.
…
Amelia
Gage told me to meet him at Odin’s at nine, which suits me, since there’s no way I want him picking me up from home. I spent the whole afternoon at the diner obsessing over every word he said on the phone, and am still no closer to figuring out what exactly he’s up to.
I didn’t expect another date. We’ve already slept together, and he knows I’m up for completing the smexy triad challenge. If he was anyone else, I’d think he wants more than just sex from me, but I can’t help remembering how the Wolves categorized girls, and there’s no reason to think the Bastards are any different.
Just because I want Gage to be different doesn’t mean a thing.
So, why’s he taking me out tonight?
I take one final look in the mirror and pull a face at the strategically knotted scarf around my throat. It’s lucky Abby has a huge collection, and also lucky it’s winter, so Mom didn’t ask any questions when I left for work this afternoon. I know I could just shrug it off, but why upset her when it’s an easy fix?
Besides, the last thing I want is her asking me, in that tearful way she has, what my dad would think.
I take a deep breath, and my glance falls on my laptop. This will be the first time in two years I’ve gone more than one night without meeting my daily word count goal. Then again, until last night it’d been more or less two years since I’d had any kind of social life. I think my self-imposed deadlines can take it.
Mom’s in the living room with her sister, binge watching another show on Netflix. She gives me a smile as I hover at the door. “Drive safe, honey.”
“I’ll be back late tonight. I have a date.” Okay, so I chicken out of telling her I’m staying out all night, but my sisters know. There won’t be a mad panic in the morning because I’m not here.
“Good for you,” my auntie says with a wicked grin.
“Really?” Mom looks so amazed it’s kind of embarrassing. “That’s great, hon. You’ve become a real recluse since you started doing your writing. Where’d you meet him? How long have you known him?”
I knew she’d ask me all these questions. She’s always going on at me about working all the time and not having fun like my sisters. Of course, by “having fun” she doesn’t mean enjoying hot biker sex.
“A couple of weeks.” As soon as the words are out of my mouth I know it’s a mistake. I should’ve said a few weeks. Then she wouldn’t immediately realize it’s someone I met at my new bar job.
“Someone you met at your new job?” she says, right on cue.
“Yeah, kind of.”
She frowns. “What’s the matter? Something wrong?”
“No.” Why did I tell her about my date? I could’ve just told her I wasn’t back tonight. Except I know why. And even though my head thinks it’s a bad idea, I can’t stop myself. It doesn’t matter what we say in front of my auntie; she knows everything’s that happened with us. “Mom. Do you think kids should pay for, you know, the sins of the father kind of thing?”
For a second she looks as though I shot her through the heart. Then she’s on her feet and takes my hand. “Of course not. Don’t ever think that, Amy. What your dad did—it’s nothing to do with you. No one knows about our old life. Why do you think I made you girls take my name? You don’t ever have to tell anyone about the Wolves. You know that, don’t you?”
Of course, I do. She’s hammered that into us enough over the years. It’s not like I ever disagreed. Why would I want to let anyone know about my past, when the Wolves turned their backs on us?
And although she has no idea that she misunderstood my question, guilty relief streaks through me at her reply. It’s what I wanted to hear. Needed to hear. Because if I shouldn’t be held responsible for things Dad did while he was the Wolves’ enforcer, then it stands to reason Gage can’t be blamed for his dad’s actions.
I’m clutching at straws. I’ve no idea whether Gage wants something serious with me, or if tonight is just an extended good-bye. But at least I’ve planted the seed in Mom’s mind, and if she ever meets Gage—big if—well, she said herself the old sins of the father don’t mean shit.
Keep dreaming, Amy.
…
He’s waiting for me outside Odin’s, leaning against the doorframe and looking so hot and badass in leather pants, a black T-shirt, and his cut I nearly rear end an SUV. I pull into a parking space down the street, and by the time I’ve changed into my spiky-heeled boots, he’s pulling open my car door.
“Hey, gorgeous.” His smoldering gaze rakes over me.
“Hey.” I step out of the car into his waiting arms. God, I’ve missed him, and we’ve only been apart for a few hours. “You’re pretty gorgeous yourself.”
“Yeah, I know.” He laughs and threads his fingers through mine, so I slap his chest with my other hand.
“You’re still so full of it.”
“That’s why you can’t get enough of me.” He tugs me close as we make our way to his bike, parked outside the bar. “You good to ride in that?” He eyes my short skirt, fishnet-covered legs, and leather ankle boots. “I’ve got leathers you can wear.”
“Hell, no. I’m fine.” I’ll probably freeze, and if we’re in an accident I’ll be toast, but I was practically weaned on the back of a bike, and until I met Gage I hadn’t realized how much I missed the freedom of riding.
Admiration glows in his eyes. “That’s my girl.”
I love the way he says that, and can’t stop myself. “This feels like a date to me. Our second one, in fact.”
“You got a problem with that?”
“You said you didn’t date. I’m just trying to figure out what we’re doing here, that’s all.”
“What do you think we’re doing?’ He grabs my other hand and pulls me toward him. “I’m taking you out and showing you off.”
There’s no mistaking the possessive note in his voice, and I remember the way the Wolves were when they laid claim to a girl. I can’t keep comparing Gage to them. But I can’t help it. The Silver Wolves were a huge part of my life, and I’ve measured every guy I’ve known since to their standards.
The Wolves are the reason why I’ve always avoided bikers, guys with ink or any links to a shady underworld. I didn’t want to get mixed up with someone who thinks more of his club than of me, a guy who’d never take my word above that of one of his brothers.
The Wolves only took a girl out and showed her off if they were serious about her. Jesus, I’m doing it again. Gage isn’t a Wolf. His comment doesn’t necessarily mean anything.
Stop jumping to conclusions, Amy…
Somehow I drag my tumbled thoughts together. “Okay. Well, so long as I can show you off as well, I guess that’s fair.”
He gives a snort of laughter and swings his leg over the bike. “Get on before I change my mind and tie you to my bed all night.”
…
Gage
This time she wraps her body around me, and if I hadn’t already decided that tonight I’m going public with my claim on her, I would’ve made good on my threat and taken her inside.
The Hammer is in downtown L.A., and I park in the small private lot behind the club—one of the perks of knowing the owner. I wrap my arm around Amelia, and she’s shivering so bad she can’t keep still.
I pull her closer and whisper in her ear. “I’ll soon warm you up.”
She nods, her teeth chattering, and I grin down at her as we approach the entrance to the club. Her gaze sweeps over the fuck-ugly brick wall, and I can guess her thoughts. “Wait until you see inside.”
“It’s got a real unwelcoming vibe going on.”
“Yeah. It keeps out the wrong kind of clientele.”
She gives a huh of laughter. “Let me guess. It’s got connections to the Bastards, right?”
“This is Ty’s baby. We’re nothing if not subtle.”
“Like a flying brick.”
There’s a new bouncer at the door, but he takes one look at my colors and lets us in without a word. The thudding music from the live band downstairs hits us straightaway, and as soon as we’re inside, Amelia starts fussing with her hair.
“You look great.” I tug her around so she can see herself in the huge mirror that takes up half the wall in the small reception area. She frowns and fusses some more, forking her fingers through her hair and tugging at her bangs before heaving a sigh and shaking her head. Her earrings jiggle, catching the light, and for a second I stare, mesmerized, as a gift brainwave hits me right between the eyes.
She pulls off her scarf and catches my gaze in the mirror. I give a satisfied smile at the marks of my possession on her throat, and she rolls her eyes in mock disgust. “Animal,” she says.
“Don’t you forget it.” I wind my arm around her waist and head toward the iron staircase that leads to the subterranean club. The bar and seating area are on the far side, and I lead Amelia over there, away from the band and dance floor and past a small stage where a couple of strippers are doing a show.
Amelia leans her back against the bar and surveys the club as I order our drinks. “Do you come here often?”
“Cheesy. Is that your best chat-up line?” I take her hand and stroll toward a table with semi-circular padded couches that’ll not only give us the best view of the place, but will ensure everyone can see us. The occupants take one look at me, grab their drinks, and beat a hasty retreat.
She gives me a frown that tells me she’s not impressed. I shrug, sit on the center of the couch and then pull her onto my lap. There are some things she’s just going to have to get used to now that she’s my girl.
“Huh.” She wriggles as though she’s trying to get comfortable, and my hard-on just keeps on getting harder. “Okay, Mr. Macho, I’m not that easily distracted.”
I slide my hand beneath her pink cardigan. She’s wearing something silky underneath, and it takes a few tugs before it pulls free of her skirt. “What’s that?” I’m kind of distracted myself as I finally connect with naked skin.
She sighs and winds her arm around my neck. “You. Here. Often?”
“Sometimes.”
“You don’t bring all your hookups here?”
My fingers caress her waist under cover of her cardigan, and it’s hard not going any further. But there’s no way I’m going to allow any other guy to see more of her gorgeous body.
I catch her gaze. She’s smiling, but there’s an odd tension, as though there’s more to her question than she’s letting on.
Enough with the fucking about. I lean in close and kiss her earlobe, and she gives a little shiver. “You’re the only chick I’ve ever brought here.”
She pulls back, just enough so she’s looking at me, and there’s a startled expression on her face, as though she hadn’t guessed the significance of tonight. Sometimes I forget she doesn’t know the unspoken rules, since she fits in so well with my life.
“That sounds…” She bites her lip for a second. “Special.”
“Too right.” I give a smile of thanks to the chick who brings our beer, but have no interest in taking her up on the unspoken offer in her eyes. Been there a couple of months ago, and we both knew it was a one-time thing only. I push a strand of Amelia’s hair from her cheek and tuck it behind her ear. Why do I need any other girl when I have her?
Her fingers stroke the back of my neck, threading through my hair, and it’s driving me crazy.
“I never expected any of this.” There’s a strangely wistful note in her voice that I don’t understand because it almost sounds as though she doesn’t want more from me than a side-alley screw.
“I might only date nice boys, but tonight I’m with you.”
That’s what she said in the alley. I didn’t like it at the time, but now the words thunder around my head, crashing through my mellow vibe. It’s fucking insane—why should I care if all she wants is hot sex?
That’s all I’ve ever wanted in the past.
I chug down half the beer, but it doesn’t help with sorting out the shit pounding in my mind. She’s frowning at me like she doesn’t understand what the problem is, and I slam the bottle back on the table and cradle her face in my hand.
If she wants me to spell it out for her, I will. “We’re dating, Amelia. You and me. And just so you know, I don’t share well, so don’t even think about going out with one of your nice boys again.”