CHAPTER FOUR
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LIZ
THE NEXT DAY was a rough one. I hadn’t slept well after leaving our date. The tossing and turning didn’t help me with my interview at the Nashville Medical Center. After the interview, I stopped by Nix’s office to give him a briefing on the night before. I hadn’t seen him since I left for our date and knew he’d be anxious for the details.
With it being lunchtime the bar was quiet with only a couple members and a small group of customers drinking and playing pool. As I approached Nix’s office, I heard Pat inside with him. I put my back against the wall and listened.
“Can you believe this shit? Now they want us to make a deal with the Wild Royals. Don’t they know it doesn’t work like that? We’re rivals. We can’t step foot in their territory without guns blazing.”
“Of course, they know. They don’t care. They expect us to come up with something. I say we do it. Bring in a third party. Pay them to buy from the Wild Royals. See if the agency will give us marked bills.”
“It’s too risky, and if the Royals found out, we’d be seen as traitors.”
“Think about it, Nix. It’s a hell of a chance to eliminate them. We owe them for what they did to Bear and May.”
“Don’t share any of this with the brothers until I have time to think about it.”
I hurried down the hall at the sound of them leaving their chairs. By the time Nix reached the bar, I was sitting there with a drink in hand.
“What are ya doing here?”
I turned my stool toward him as he took the one next to me. “I came to tell ya about the date.”
“And?” Nix rubbed his thumb over the other like he always did when he was nervous.
“I didn’t sleep with him. We had dinner and drinks, then I asked him to take me home.”
Nix’s arm reached out and took hold of my neck, pulling me closer, so he could kiss me on my forehead.
“I’m proud of you.” As he stepped off the stool, he turned his head toward me. “Why don’t you come back tonight. There’s a party. Dillon will be here. You can reschedule your date now that the deal with Jake is over.”
“I’ll think about it. Before you take off, I want to talk to you.”
“About what?” Nix turned back to me with concern in his eyes.
“Let’s go in your office.”
Nix rested his feet on his desk and leaned back in his worn-out office chair as I settled into the seat across from him.
“So, what’s the need for secrecy? Spill it.”
“I overheard you and Pat. I didn’t like what I heard.”
“You shouldn’t be listening in on our business.”
“It wasn’t intentional. I came to speak with you and overheard.”
“Uh huh, I know you better than that. Besides, I don’t want you worrying about the Club’s or my business. I’m a man, Liz. I can take care of myself, and I’ll do what I think is best. You know that.”
“Getting involved with the Wild Royals is dangerous, and you know it.”
Nix’s eyes wandered off toward the window facing the woods and our house, just down the street. “This isn’t open for discussion.” His gaze fell back on me. “Don’t tell anyone what you heard in here and don’t ask questions about it either.” Nix’s phone rang and he pulled it from his pocket and looked at the screen. “I gotta take this. It’s a supplier. I’ll see you later?”
“Yeah, I’ll make an appearance. This conversation isn’t over though.”
Nix smirked before answering his call.
I walked back to our two-story, white siding, ranch home and climbed into the shower. The hot, soothing water eased some of the worry and tension I had building in my neck and shoulders. It seemed Nix was considering the deal with whatever investigative agency he was working with. The thought of it terrified me. The Wild Royals were outlaws and unpredictable. The consequences of dealing with them could be detrimental to everyone involved.
Once out, I wrapped the towel around me and headed toward the closet for something fresh and casual to wear. I pulled the string of the light bulb and started sorting through my clothes. The old hardwood floor creaked behind me, and I jumped at the sight of the delicious man standing in the closet doorway, holding the frame as he leaned in and looked at me, a smirk smearing his face. His hungry eyes did a slow burn up my legs, to the towel, then lingered on my breasts before settling on my face.
“Don’t leave the front door unlocked anymore. I don’t want a man sneaking up on you like I just did.”
“Why are you here, Jake?”
“Get dressed and meet me downstairs. I’m taking you out.”
“No, and you have no right barging into my house and waltzing into my bedroom. What if I was naked?”
“I would’ve been one lucky bastard.” Jake leaned his weight against the frame of the door. A devilish grin stretched across his face. “If only I’d arrived a few seconds later.”
“You’re impossible.” I let out a frustrated breath. “Get out of my room.”
“See you downstairs.” He turned and headed toward my bedroom door.
When I walked into the living room, Jake was sitting on my dark emerald couch with his legs spread, his elbows on his knees, a beer in his hand. His black t-shirt revealed the intricate ink designs along his arms. Part of me wanted to have a closer look and discover every detail of his artwork. I squashed those thoughts immediately when a flutter of butterflies did a loop in my stomach.
“I see you’ve made yourself comfortable.”
He raised his head and his eyes landed on me beneath his worn out, tore up, black ball cap.
“You look good.”
“Yeah, I’m really working it in my jeans, tank, and ponytail.”
Jake set the beer on the glass end table and stood to his full six-foot height. At five-foot-four, I had to look up into his warm, chocolate eyes. His hand reached up and thumbed my lip, a habit I noticed he was developing.
“I think you’d look good in anything, but even better with nothing on.”
I stepped closer and placed my hands on his hips as I spoke just within reach of him kissing me.
“You’d really like that, wouldn’t you?”
His hand took hold of my ass and squeezed it as he pulled me against him.
“You already know I would.”
Before I could say another word, his mouth crashed into mine, bringing my lust surging to the surface. His tongue invaded my mouth with wanton need and his firm hands held me steady as he palmed my ass and fisted my hair and neck in his other hand. His kisses were like little tastes of fire on my lips, burning straight through to the core of me that yearned to have every sexual desire sated.
His hand moved up, his fingers finding their way beneath my shirt. His warm, firm grip pulled me toward him, locking me against him, so I could feel his arousal pressing into me.
His lips left mine, and I remained there in a daze, trying to regain logic and control the burning lust aching between my legs.
“Let’s go upstairs.”
Those three words snapped me right out of my daze. I slid out of his arms and headed toward the door.
“Goodbye, Jake.”
I opened the car door to my old, red Camaro, not looking back at him. I pulled out of my driveway as quickly as I could and took off toward the restaurant where I was meeting my friends.
While sitting at the booth in the restaurant, I couldn’t shake a nagging feeling. I wanted more than Jake’s kiss, but I refused to be just another club girl he’d toss aside when he was done playing.
“Liz.”
My head snapped back toward Jenna’s perky voice.
“Sorry, I was lost in my thoughts.”
“Yeah, you were. So, what time is the party tonight? It sounds fun.” Jenna’s big, brown, doe eyes locked on mine, obviously eager for details.
“It’s at seven-thirty. There’ll be lots of cute guys. I’m glad you both wanna come. It’s not fun going by myself.”
“Of course, we’ll come.” Ashley swung her long arms around me. “We’re so happy you’re back. We missed you.” Her long, blond hair fell over her shoulders onto mine.
“I missed you guys too.” I flicked her hair out of my face and gave her a peck on the cheek. “It’s been too long since we got to do something together.”
“Now that you’re back we’ll have to make up for lost time.” Jenna wiggled in her seat. “I’m thinking girl’s night—slumber party at your house.”
“You just want another chance to kiss Nix.” Ashley looked at Jenna and smirked.
“Oh my God,” Jenna’s large, brown eyes widened, “shut up, that was years ago. We were teenagers.”
“You liked it, J,” I laughed at the fake traumatic look on her face. “Don’t deny it. You’d totally pucker up if he wanted to kiss you again.”
“He’s gonna be at the party tonight, right?” Jenna bit her lip and grinned as her cheeks took on a rosy hue.
“Of course, he is. He’s the President of the Club now.”
“That is really hot.” Jenna fanned herself. She let out a breath and scrunched her face. “Why does your brother have to be so sexy?”
My sweat tea nearly came out my nose as I laughed.
Ashley giggled next to me, then turned her head toward me. “What about you, Liz? Did you meet anyone at school?”
“Yeah, I did, but it didn’t work out.”
“Why not?” Ashley asked, jutting out her bottom lip.
“He wasn’t, I don’t know—”
“Bad boy enough for you?” Jenna finished.
“Ok, yes, he was a little too clean cut for me. After growing up with a bunch of tough badasses, I can’t help it. He didn’t own a motorcycle, and you know that’s pretty much a deal breaker for me.”
“When you gonna get your own?” Jenna asked.
“Don’t really want one of my own, I want a man who will take me riding on his. There’s a guy I’m interested in who’ll be there tonight. His name’s Dillon. Has an Australian accent.”
Jenna and Ashley’s eyes widened.
“Yum! Can’t wait to meet him,” Ashley said.
“You’ll get to tonight.”