“Seriously?”
“Yeah.Why?”
“I don’t know.Just surprising is all I guess.”
He seems to shrug and takes off to join the party that’s raging out back.
I rummage through my bags and find the denim skort Low insisted I get and pair it with a yellow tank top.I leave my hair down and wavy and freshen up my mascara and lip gloss, then switch out the boots I’ve been wearing for a pair of the sandals I picked up.
I don’t know why I’m putting so much effort into how I look.Part of me doesn’t want to go out there, but sitting here in this room isn’t good for me either.
When I’m left to my own devices, I think too much.Especially about Woods.I need to get him out of my system.The only problem is my own advice to anyone trying to get over someone would be to get out there and meet someone new.
I do a once over in the bathroom mirror and paste a fake smile on my face.My stomach churns and burns.I’ve not eaten anything since this morning when Low and I got coffees and muffins at this cute bakery near the outlet mall.
Fuck it.I square my shoulders and go to the party happening out back.
Some of the older bikers have pushed some of the tables in the bar together for a poker game.
“Get me a beer, sweet cheeks,” the biker I saw on the porch yesterday orders me.
I do as he asks.They are letting me crash here.It’s the least I can do.I go behind the bar and open one of the coolers.There’s at least three different brands of beer, but I go with what I saw most of them drinking with their pizza last night.
I step between Hoss and some guy I don’t know.“Here you go.”I set it on the table next to him.
The other guy slides a rough palm up the outside of my right thigh.“You can lift up that skirt and sit right here,” he tells me as I try to remove his hand.
“Excuse me,” I tell him and attempt to walk away.
“Bitch, no one dismissed you,” he snarls and digs his fingers into my wrist, yanking me down onto his lap.
“Let me go.”I wiggle against him, trying to break free of his old, as the men at the table laugh at my discomfort.His erection pokes me in the ass, and I realize I’m in a dangerous situation.There’s five of them and one of me.Tears burn at the creases of my eyes.
“Let the girl go, Meathead.Unless you want your ass kicked.My nephew rolled up with her riding bitch on the back of his bike yesterday.”
“Oh yeah?Which one?”
“Me,” Woods growls from behind us.
“Shit, Prez.I didn’t know.She’s not wearing a property patch.I thought she was free game.”He releases me and I shoot up from the table.
Woods pulls me into his side, wrapping a possessive arm around my shoulder.“I don’t give a fuck what you thought.Is that how you treat women?”
“I didn’t mean no harm.”
“I know exactly what you meant.Get your ass up and pay the fine for touching what’s mine.”
My head snaps to Woods.His?
Woods releases me as Meathead pushes his chair back.The room has grown quiet, and all eyes are on him and Woods.He pulls a wad of cash out of his back pocket and slaps a few hundreds in Woods’ palm, which he then hands to me.Before I even really register what’s happening, Woods rears a fist back and lets it fly right into the man’s face.The guy’s head jerks sideways, and he spits out a tooth on the floor.
Holy shit.
“When a woman says no, she fuckin’ means no, motherfucker.Now get the fuck out of my clubhouse and don’t come back until I give you permission to return.”
Woods doesn’t wait for him to respond.He turns his attention to me, and the poker game picks back up where it left off, minus a player.“You okay?”
“I’m fine.You didn’t have to hit the guy.”
