Chapter 7
LAURENT’S LOOK HARDENED AS he patted the barstool next to him. I didn’t move.
“Didn’t see a ‘property of’ stamp anywhere on her.” Beanie’s voice made Laurent turn. “We gave her a pretty good look over last night.”
As he said it I was remembering some of that. Beanie’s eyes glistened and he looked at me. His voice reminded me of our night’s explorations. Beanie’s and mine, Priest’s and Carlie’s.
The hot scent of the four of us in the room came back to me, and my stomach fluttered.
Laurent narrowed his eyes at Beanie. Beanie’s young, strong, tattooed torso rippled and flexed in the low light. He lifted his eyebrows to meet Laurent’s gaze. Beanie seemed to be growing up right in front of me.
The challenge between Beanie and Laurent grew and it hung in the air with a weight, almost like a solid object. Priest and Carlie both straightened a little, like they were making room.
Priest said that he was going to play pool. Carlie went with him, and I asked Beanie to come along and make a four.
I told Laurent that I would see him later on. When he moved to get up, Beanie looked in his eyes. Laurent stayed on the stool, but I could see he was getting steamed.
That was okay with me. I wanted him to see me having fun, to watch me relax and live the new life that I’d begun to build, right out of the wreck he’d made of my old one.
I hoped that he would feel bad. I wanted him to. I knew it meant that I wasn’t completely done with him, and I wished that I was, but it couldn’t be helped. At least, not right now.
While Priest and Beanie and Carlie and I moved around the pool table taking shots, it felt like we were in a bubble. Something invisible connected us—a bond from the night before, perhaps. Maybe something else, something stronger.
As we played and drank and Carlie and I played songs on the jukebox, Laurent slumped lower on his stool and his face darkened.
As we fetched beers to the pool table, Carlie told me, “Priest’s definitely got an eye for you.” She watched my reaction. I was looking to see if there were traces of jealousy or rivalry—simple envy, even—but I didn’t see any.
“His name means something around here. Not just the club, you know—he’s respected all the way to Vegas. Priest’s not what you’d call a sentimental man, though, Belle.”
“You mean…” I’d started, but I wasn’t sure how to finish. Carlie did it for me.
“I mean he doesn’t get attached.” I looked at Priest and wondered as I handed him his beer. I watched him as we played. Leaning over the pool table, he was certainly a gorgeous hunk of a man.
Next time we went to the bar, Carlie said, “Beanie, now, I think he really likes you,” and there was surprise in her voice. “Belle, nobody gets close to Beanie. Far as I know, nobody ever did.” She looked at me with a kind of curiosity as she said, “Beanie lives for his bike and the club. Nothing else matters to him. Nothing at all.” She looked me up and down. “Until now.”
While Beanie stretched over the table, his leg lifted and his fine ass tightened. Carlie and I both drew a breath.
Later she leaned to speak in my ear, “Gotta say, though, I seen how you and Hawk look at each other.” Her eyes were wide and her mouth made an “O.” “Sneaking little peeks and glances when you don't think the other one's watching…”
She bit her lip as she shook her head slowly. “You’re an earthquake on legs, girl.” And she punched my arm playfully.
When Hawk showed up at the clubhouse later on, Priest and Beanie both looked surprised, but we carried on playing. He waved a greeting, but then he went to the bar.
Jascinta—tall, olive-skinned, and elegant—swished over to Hawk almost as soon as he was in the door. I was beginning to see that as well as managing the girls in the clubhouse, Jascinta acted as a kind of a house-mother.
She might have approached Hawk to offer him company from one of the dancers, but she was just as likely to be giving him an earful. Representing the club and taking care of Hawk as a guest, while she watched out for signs of him causing trouble. Taking care of the club’s interests.
It struck me as odd when later I saw Hawk in a huddle with Laurent, but I thought no more about it.
Beanie and I stepped out for a spliff in the hot night air.