“Yeah, I planned for this week to be flexible with when people are available.”
“Can’t tell if I’m flattered that you asked me or offended that you waited till the last minute. Got me thinking I wasn’t your first choice.” I know he’s teasing me with the tone he takes, and I can’t resist doing the same.
“Can’t ask if I don’t have your number.”
“Damn, baby, if I’d known that was all it took, I would have hacked your phone that first night.”
“Pretty sure if you did that, I would have made you work double hard to get me.” Doubtful, but he doesn’t need to know that.
“You might be a troublemaker, but you sure as hell are worth it.”
Swoon.
Chapter 19—Gator
“Can I help you?”
I put on the smile I use on any woman I need a favor from and saunter over to the front desk. “Yes, ma’am. I’m here to see Bailey Haven.”
The receptionist gives me the eye. The typical kind but more pronounced, her cat-eye glasses sliding down her nose as she looks over all of me. I might have come to talk about the military, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to wear my colors. I feel honored to wear them, and other than when I’m in a cage or doing a mud run, I ain’t about to put on anything else. I wear these with honor, just like each scar I got in the military, even if some of them are internal and I alone known they’re there. Each scar is a testament to survival, just like my cut. I survived hell and lived another day with both.
“ID, please.” I hand it over, and she looks at me for a second before scanning my card. “She in some kind of trouble?”
“No, ma’am. She asked me to talk to her class about the military.”
“A Hound and a military man. Law sure is getting himself a nice cluster of you all these days.”
“Come again?” Not sure if I’m more surprised that she knows my prez or that she seems to know more about the club other than just the name.
“Law. He was always into diversity. Before he came along, it was just cranky old men who wanted adventure. Now he’s got his boys out recruiting to bring in the best of the best. And a few are easy on the eyes too.”
I don’t think I’ve ever blushed before, but I’m doing it now. Got a feeling that if I brought my dad like I’d thought about doing, this woman would make a run for him. And Dad’s in enough trouble after sleeping with the VP’s mom—allegedly. We don’t have complete confirmation, but we’ve got enough intel to be certain. Not that the old man or Margret is talking. Actually, he’s been pretty tight-lipped the whole damn day, not even saying shit about Bailey. Which is not like him, because he sure as hell has no problem giving me shit over a girl. Has since the moment I started noticing them as more than just a friend in the third grade.
“Janet, have you seen Troy?” a woman asks as she steps into the office. Then her eyes hit me, and she bats her lashes my way. “Oh, well, hello there. Can I help you?”
The receptionist, Janet, rolls her eyes as she hands me my ID back and a hall pass. “As you can see, Carolyn, I’m already doing my job, so no need to be asking when you’ve got better things to do. And I’m sure Troy, yourhusband, will be along shortly.”
I look down at my shoes to hide my smile. The glare Carolyn shot Janet at the husband comment is enough to freeze hell. Not that I needed it. Women like Carolyn have a warning label a mile long and a red flag so large that I can see it from Mars.
I’ve also seen this broad before. She wasn’t worth my time then, and she isn’t worth it now. But from the way she’s eye-fucking me, I guess she forgot. But hey, maybe she’s used to being referenced as a cum dumpster and what me and the boys said wasn’t something all that memorable. I’ll have to let Bass know he’s losing his touch.
“Just trying to be friendly. You can never have enough friends these days.” The way she saysfriends, followed by licking her lips, has me shuddering. Seeing it is almost worse than watching Margret flirt with my dad last night.
Ten to one, Carolyn is used to getting attention. The tight clothes leave very little to the imagination, and I’m sure she spends more time in the gym than she’s with her husband. Girls don’t put themselves together like this—makeup to the nines, hair all styled, and a shirt that’s way too low to be appropriate for the school dress code—without a reason. Sure, she’s got on tailored pants, but I bet that’s the only thing on her that’s looser than she is.
I ain’t saying I’m a saint, but I got no interest in a married woman. Hell, if a girl’s even talking to a guy in a serious manner, I step back. Not about to get my shit tangled with some dude for a chick who’s trying to play a game. Ain’t against sharing, but shit’s got to be talked about before, and only when it’s for a good time.
But I ain’t fucking sharing Bailey.
“Well, if it’s friendship you’re looking for, then be a dear and walk this gentleman to Bailey’s room, will you?” Janet says with a wink.
No way in hell has anyone ever called me a gentleman before.
“Bailey? Why are you here to see her?”
The snarl on Carolyn’s face has me grinding my teeth. Fucking hated this bitch the last time I saw her disrespecting Bailey before she became mine. Now that she is, I ain’t going to let this shit stand. Just fucking hope I don’t make anything worse for my girl, ’cause no doubt this tramp probably lives to do it if I go off her last attack on my woman.
“Because she asked me to. And whenmywoman asks, I do it.” I enjoy the punch-in-the-face reaction I get from her after hearing Bailey is mine. “Thanks, darlin’.” I return Janet’s wink as I make a move to exit the front office. I don’t need an escort to find my woman. Well, I probably do, but I’ve got no issue wandering the halls till I find her.
