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Stephanie
FOUR MEN JOINED HAR when he returned from whatever he had to do. I fixed one plate and handed it off to Brute, but he shook his head. “No, Stephie. The rest of us will fix our own. You eat.”
Ten minutes later, I had eaten all but one bite and I watched the men milling around, eating.
“Why are we eating in the President’s room?” a dark-haired man with a well-groomed beard asked Roman.
Roman swallowed. “Fuck if I know, but I know I don’t care if it’s home cooking like this.”
Har sidled up to me. “You sure you like dealing cards? Thinkin’ as much as my brothers like your dinner, you could open a restaurant.”
I shook my head, a small grin pulling my lips. “No. I worked for Turk at the Flat Iron Bar and Grill. Things get way too crazy for me.”
He nodded and took my plate from me. I grabbed the empty pot and followed him to the kitchen.
He looked over his shoulder at me. “What are you doing?”
“Dishes don’t do themselves, Har.”
He put the plates in the sink. “No, prospects do them. Put that next to the sink. It’ll be clean in the morning.”
“Well, I could get used to that.”
He slung an arm around my neck. “One of the few upsides to staying here. Believe me, privacy outweighs dish-duty every day.”
He was not wrong, since I was a huge fan of my privacy.
I wrapped my arm around his waist, leaning into his hold, smelling the faint scent of his cologne and his leather cut. “Do you have things to do tonight? You don’t have to keep watch over me.”
A low grumble came from his chest. “Funny, you keep saying shit like that, and every time I like it less. It isn’t that I want to keep watch over you, it’s that I like having you around to watch.”
I exhaled and turned my head to the side. “Not sure you’re allowed to be so sweet in your position.”
His brow lowered. “‘My position?’ What position is that?”
“President of a motorcycle club, you’re not supposed to be sappy.”
“Fuck that, I don’t adhere to anybody’s rules, babe.”
We reached his room and he let me go so I could walk ahead of him.
“All right. You’re all my brothers, but it’s time you take your plates and get the fuck out of my room.”
The man with the well-groomed beard laughed knowingly as he sauntered by us.
Brute looked at me shaking his head, but said, “I’m glad to know you can cook better than your mother.”
“You’re welcome,” I joked.
He grinned as he left the room, a curly-haired prospect following close on his heels.
Roman sauntered by while Har had his back turned, and he winked at me before he left. I couldn’t ignore the thrill that gave me, even though I knew he was a player. Still, it oozed sex appeal and would pique any woman’s curiosity. He closed the door behind him loudly.
“Guess I owe you some meals later in the week,” Har said, while he sat on the bed to tug off his boots and socks.
I shook my head. “No. It’s fine. Hell, it was more enjoyable getting those conversational nuggets from your brothers.”
His eyes narrowed. “What nuggets?”
I tilted my head and smiled playfully. “A girl can’t give away all of her secrets, you know.”
He stalked my way. “You can give your secrets to me, but you want to hold on to that idea, go ahead. I’ll be more than happy to teach you otherwise.”
My hands pushed along his t-shirt and under the lapels of his cut. “Is that so? You’d be happy to teach me otherwise?”
His green eyes flared. “Damn right. Are you trying to rile me up?”
I shrugged. “Not really.”
He wrapped his arms around me. “That’s too bad. I love to thwart your best intentions. But, can you keep it down tonight?”
I pulled my head away. “Pardon me?”
He chuckled. “Can you keep your volume down? I plan to do things to you which might... make you scream. So, are you a screamer?”
My eyes widened. “Don’t think so, but I guess we’ll find out.”
***
I WOKE UP EARLIER THAN normal, probably because sunlight filtered in through the high windows. Har’s arm rested on my ribs. I shifted away and he stirred, but fell back to sleep as I moved into the bathroom.
After a I did my business and washed my hands, I stood in the bathroom doorway for a moment watching Har. My stomach growled at the same time he let out a small snore and I decided to let him sleep.
Last night, I’d learned Sandy kept the kitchen well supplied. There were at least three dozen eggs in the fridge and some sausage, so I figured I could make breakfast.
Pulling Har’s door closed behind me, I froze.
Roman was wearing a skin-tight black tank-top and it didn’t take much for me to imagine that dip between his pecs. His bronze, sculpted shoulders were inked beneath a sheen of sweat. He’d been working out was my guess, but seeing more of him, I knew he wasn’t hot, he was seriously hot. Bonus, his eyes weren’t looking through me now, they were looking at me.
His lips spread into a huge smile. “Wouldn’t look at me like that if I were you.”
My eyes rounded. “Why?”
His eyes heated. “You cook, you ride, and you look at me like that, looking like you do, it’s an explosive combination. Especially considering the room you just exited.”
My eyes slid to the side and I bit my lip.
He chuckled and came closer. “But then again, I’ve always loved explosives, Stephanie.”
The doorknob slipped out of my grip when Har yanked the door open. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
Har’s growl should have taken my attention, but there was something about Roman’s tawny eyes which held mine captive.
“Goddammit,” Har clipped out.
Roman held his hands up in front of his abs. “Chill, Prez. Just warning your woman. Even if you haven’t told us she’s your woman.”
Har’s arm wrapped around my waist. “You come back to bed.”
I shook my head and fought against his pull. “I’m hungry, and I was on my way to make some eggs.”
Roman lifted an eyebrow at that for some reason, but gave Har a wave with two fingers and went to his room.
“Eggs can wait, babe,” he murmured in my ear.
“I’m hungry, Har.”
“You making some for me, too?”
“Yes,” I whispered.
He let me go. “Then be quick.”
When I was one step away from him, he swatted my tush, making me jump.
Twenty minutes later I walked to Har’s room carrying two plates heaping with scrambled eggs, sausage links, hash brown patties, and biscuits. When I opened the door his eyes were soft, but once he caught sight of the food they widened.
“Are you trying to feed me or clog my arteries?”
My head tilted. “Feed you. As ripped as you are, I have no doubt you’ll work off the calories at some point. Besides, I told you I’m hungry.”
We settled at a small table in his room, and ate in relative silence since I couldn’t hold back my groans of relief.
My phone rang with Suzy’s ring tone and I frowned.
“This can’t be good,” I said, as I walked over to my phone.
“Why’s that?” Har asked.
“It’s my sister, but she shouldn’t be calling me at eight in the morning on a Monday,” I explained, while accepting the call.
“Hey, Suzy, what’s up?”
She sighed. “You won’t believe this, but your douchebag ex just came by the gym. He asked if I knew where you were.”
I shook my head. “Wycliffe was there?”
“Yeah, stunned the hell out of me, too. I tried to get his real name, and that scared him off. I probably shouldn’t have done that, but I couldn’t help myself.”
I sighed. “No, I would’ve done the same thing. This doesn’t make sense. It’s been two years, why in the hell—”
Har grabbed my phone from me. “Hi, Suzy, this is Har. Did you see what kind of car he drove when he left?”
I crossed one arm across my chest and propped my elbow on top, putting my fist to my lips to keep quiet. It wasn’t like I wouldn’t have asked her that, but I hated the idea of this guy knowing where Suzy worked. Then I realized, if he knew where she worked, he could follow her home.
Would this shit ever end?
“All right, no, it’s all good. I just hoped you had more for me to go on. Here’s Stephanie,” Har said, handing me back my phone.
“Hi. Sorry about that. I didn’t know he’d do such a thing.”
She giggled. “I’m not surprised. He was always protective of his sister and mom, that doesn’t just go away.”
I nodded. “Right. So, did he say why he was looking for me?”
She blew out a breath. “Honey, my mouth ran away from me when I figured out who he was.”
I sighed. “You’re gonna have to be careful when you leave there.”
“He’s not going to post pictures of me on —”
“He could follow you home, Suze. And who’s to say he hasn’t become more aggressive?”
Har’s voice startled me, and I saw he was on his phone. Before I could make out who he was talking to, he walked out of the room.
Susy kept silent, and I said, “I’m sorry, Suzy. I never thought—”
“Don’t apologize, Stephie. You can’t control what this asshole does, and it damn sure isn’t your fault he’s back.”
Har’s door flew open, and Brute strode in with his hand out. “Gimme the phone.”
Suzy heard him, and muttered, “Geez, who else wants to talk to me. I mean—”
“Sammy does. Hang on.”
I gave Brute the phone before his glower set me on fire.
“Susan. You don’t leave work until Turk shows up, got it?”
These guys. So bossy, and pushy.
Then his words fully registered.
“Y’all didn’t need to tell Turk,” I cried.
Brute arched a brow at me just before he grinned. “Funny, your sister says you just told her she had to be careful when she left. No better way than with a Riot brother at her back.”
My lips pursed and I gave him a hard look and he chuckled. Then he responded to something Suzy had said. “If he’s got that, we definitely want the parking lot footage. Most of that shit’s gone digital now, so he can email it direct to our treasurer, Block.”
Har strode into the room and put his cell phone on the dresser. He jerked his head toward Brute, “He talking to your sister?”
I nodded.
Brute smiled. “Well, you drag your ass over here, you’re more than welcome, Susan. You give us advance warning, we might even put together a low-country boil.”
I looked at Har. “Can I get a low-country boil?”
He stroked his cheek while giving me an assessing look. “Maybe. You gotta be good, though.”
My eyes narrowed, but Brute interrupted my look saying, “Yeah, she’s standing right here, giving Har a dirty look. Take care, Suze.”
With the phone at my ear, I said, “So, are you all sorted thanks to the alpha men surrounding me?”
She chuckled nervously. “I suppose so. I don’t like Turk having to swing by when I get off work, but I guess I have to get over that, huh?”
I laughed. “Yeah, you will. Somehow I suspect you’ll have no problems doing it, either.”
***
Har
HE LISTENED TO STEPHANIE and her sister for a few minutes before he remembered he hadn’t finished his breakfast. Since the food was cold, he took both plates to the kitchen and nuked them. When he returned to his room, she was sitting at the table with her forehead in her hand.
He slid the plate in front of her. “It’s gonna be fine, babe.”
She looked up at him. “It just doesn’t make any sense.”
He sat down. “Assholes like this will never make sense, Stephanie.”
She took a bite of a hash brown patty. After she swallowed it, she asked, “But why now?”
“Fuck if I know, but part of me is glad while the rest of me says he couldn’t have worse fuckin’ timing if he tried.”
Her eyes narrowed for a moment. “What are you talking about?”
He took a deep breath to keep hold of his temper. “I don’t have time for this shit, Steph. Bad enough I got two brothers gone rogue – which makes me question my ability to lead this club – now I gotta deal with some asshole who’s fuckin’ with you.”
She sat straighter. “I’m so sorry, Har. It’s not like I asked for any of this to happen. And just to say, I’ve dealt with it before—”
He couldn’t control his tone when he spoke. “If you’d dealt with it, it wouldn’t rear its head now, would it?”
Her eyes widened with her gasp. “How is this my fault?”
“Didn’t say it was,” he grumbled.
“Your actions do,” she whispered.
He stiffened. “My actions?”
“Your emphasis on if I’d ‘dealt’ with it, I wouldn’t be dealing with it now? My inability to deal with something I didn’t think, let alone know could rear its ugly head again is my fault.”
Any other woman, he’d have told her to get out of his room, because he hated fighting with women. But he knew she was right. He’d insinuated she hadn’t dealt with it. After hearing her tell him how the police didn’t take her seriously, he should’ve been careful with his words.
But it infuriated him that this asshole was looking for her.
“I’m sorry,” he said evenly. “In no way did I intend to even hint at this being your fault. I got my shit together by a thread, baby. Tears me up to think this jackass wants to come after you again, in any fuckin’ way. But, at the same time, I wish Suzy woulda told him exactly where you are so he’d come to us.”
“What?” she gasped.
“Yeah. I want to get my hands on this fucker so bad it’s not funny.”
Her head came forward even as her chin lowered a touch. “But... why?” She shook her head. “I mean, I know why, but seriously, we’ve been together like three days. You make it sound like he, like I’m...”
“Like you’re mine?” he supplied.
Her eyes slid to the side and then her lips formed an ‘o’ shape.
“Yeah. You’re mine, we been together four days now, but bottom line, I don’t fuckin’ like this shit.”
“That makes two of us, my man.”
He liked hearing her call him ‘my man,’ but he had to focus. “Don’t get sassy, Steph.”
She shook her head. “I’m not being sassy.”
“Good to know. Thing is, I’ve always known what I want. Last time I came across a woman I wanted was close to ten years ago, and I was too damn late. Been feeling something with you I haven’t felt ever before.”
She raised a finger, drawing an arc in the air. “Can I just point something out?”
He lifted his chin.
She grinned. “You sound awful close to analyzing your feelings.”
He clenched his teeth and speared a bite of sausage. “Eat your breakfast, Combes. I got a bunch of shit to do this morning, and I’m not lookin’ forward to any of it. Especially since my original plan for this morning got shot to shit.”
Her lips tipped up a touch. “What was your original plan?”
He stared into her deep hazel eyes longer than necessary. “Eat what you brought me, eat you, then depending on my mood, shower sex or regular sex, but either way, you’d have gotten off twice.”
She smirked. “Unless I sucked you off while you had second breakfast. Then, you might’ve come twice too. Just saying.”
His dick twitched with that and he shook his head. “Woman. You cannot say shit like that to me.”
She sat back in her chair dramatically. “Really? But you can say shit like that to me?”
He shrugged. “Yeah. Because I get you hot and bothered, I’ll take care of it. You say shit like that, I have no guarantee you’ll deliver.” He grinned and added, “At least not after three days.”
Her eyes widened, and satisfaction like he’d never known coursed through his body. That expression also forced a chuckle from him, which only irritated her further, making him laugh harder.
“Do not laugh at me, Michael Walcott!”
He leaned back and let his laughter wash over him. She growled, and it forced him to double over as he tried to squelch his humor.
He hadn’t laughed like that in years.
God, he loved having her around.
That brought him up short. Did he love her? That was the very reason he wouldn’t analyze his feelings.
Someone knocked at the door. “Come in!” he hollered.
Brute poked his head inside. “With the exception of Wreck and Massive, all the brothers are here. You want me to have Layla brought in, or what? Figure Mass and Wreck could roll in any time after ten under the circumstances.”
He nodded. “Got it. Leave Layla where she is for now, but have the prospects get her ready. And she needs to be gagged coming from the shed to church.”
Brute nodded and closed the door.
Stephanie took a small bite of her hash browns, but he could tell from her expression she didn’t have an appetite.
“Don’t eat if you’re not feelin’ it, baby.”
She looked up at him. “I cook something, I eat that something, but I’ll keep your advice in mind.”
He stood up. Then he lowered his hand to brush his knuckles along her cheekbone. “You want, I’ll have a low-country boil brought to the house tonight. Make up for the roast you fed to half my brothers, love.”
She nodded once. “We’re definitely at the house tonight?”
He returned the nod. “Think so, but if that changes, I’ll text you, so be sure to check your phone at the end of your shift.”
“Gotcha. I assume you’ve got a meeting or church to attend now, so if it’s all cool with you, I’m taking a long hot shower.”
He did a long blink to ignore visions of her naked in his bathroom. When he focused on her, he smiled. “Yeah. You’re good, baby. Text me before you leave, though, understood?”
She sighed. “Understood, though I think it’s overkill since he just visited Suze an hour ago.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Humor me, babe, yeah?”
“Yeah,” she sighed.
Before he made it a foot from the table, a memory hit him from her first visit to the clubhouse. “By the way. I got soap in the shower. But if you need something special, tell me now, so you don’t have to interrupt us later.”