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“When’s this girl going to show up?” Saks groused. He leaned against the bar in a manner of which his cousins distinctly disapproved while tipping his beer bottle to his lips. He’d spent three hours listening to the extremely loud, lousy, live band, and nursed two beers waiting for the Serafina woman to arrive. Bad enough that he was pushed into showing up, but the woman had some nerve keeping him waiting. Who did she think she was? Some sort of princess?
Yeah, he thought. A Mafia princess. So, what did that make him?
A sucker.
If she didn’t show soon, he'd join his Hades’ Spawn brothers who came to the party. The Spawn held club night last night, so those who wanted to come to the Roccos’ rare party could. Oakie wasn’t here, but Spike, the VP came, and Luke promised to bounce in at around ten with Emily.
Saks made up his mind right then and there. No way was he getting pulled into marrying this woman.
He set his empty bottle on the counter a little too hard, drawing a sharp look from John.
“She’s not showing,” Saks said over his shoulder.
John’s eyebrows furrowed as he poured a draft. “She’ll be here. Go get yourself something to eat.”
Saks glanced at the ravaged table of near-empty platters. The crowd had gone crazy at the all-you-can-eat buffet. Sheldon didn’t take into account the ravenous hunger of bikers, and the kitchen staff hustled to fill the table for, like, the third time. “Dude, did you see what's left of the food?”
John arched an eyebrow. “Have another beer, then.” He pushed another bottle as Saks gave a desultory glance at the brew over his shoulder.
“If it were me,” said a brunette sitting at the bar, “I wouldn’t stand you up, handsome.”
Great, now he looked pathetic. And his stomach rumbled.
“Thanks for the thought, but I’m sure she’s stuck at work.”
He didn’t want to talk to this woman. Or any woman tonight. Damn. He was getting cranky at the ripe old age of twenty-eight.
The brunette pouted. “Ok, Sugar. But I’m just saying I wouldn’t keep you waiting.”
Saks frowned. He was falling deeper into the rabbit hole with each passing second. He didn’t want it getting around that he was involved, and in this bar gossip flew faster than a jet plane. It’d take two minutes before Uncle Vits would be coming through the door, questioning him.
The front door flew open, and Saks glanced over, half expecting to see his uncle. A young woman with blue-black hair came in. Her eyes scanned the room predatorily, as if searching for someone. She stood five-foot-five, with full breasts and a round figure. Her eyes were dark, and her face had the aquiline nose that marked the Serafina family.
Saks realized with a sinking heart that this must be the girl his family wanted him to marry.
No freaking way.
Not that she was unattractive, but no way that she could compare to Chrissy with her long blonde hair, and to-die-for body. Or her lips. Or just about every freaking thing about her.
John stood at the opposite end of the bar and she asked him a question. Over the music of the band Saks couldn’t catch what she said, but his worst fears were confirmed when John nodded in his direction.
She walked to him and stuck out her hand. “Hi,” she said.
“Hi.”
“I’m Gloria Serafina.”
“Hi, Gloria. Anthony Parks.”
“Anthony? That’s Italian enough. Where did the Park name come from?”
“Dad. Maria Rocco is my mother.”
“I see.” She pursed her lips as if in concentration. “Can a girl get a drink around here?”
“Sure.” He motioned to John. “What would you like?”
“Rum and Coke.”
Saks relayed the order to John, who nodded.
“So, I hear you’re not in the business,” she said.
“Nope. Momma wanted me to be a priest.”
The young woman laughed. “She got you wrong, didn’t she?”
Saks stiffened. Something about this woman set him on edge. “Maybe, maybe not,” he said noncommittally, reaching for his beer.
“So, what do you do for work?”
“Didn’t they tell you?”
“No.”
“I’m a mechanic.”
“Like in cars?”
“No. Motorcycles.”
“Cool,” she said. “Though my sister isn’t into riding much.”
“Your sister?”
Before she answered, Saks caught Luke and Emily coming in the door. Luke waved before taking off his Hades’ Spawn jacket and hanging it by the door. The couple quickly made their way to Saks, and Saks motioned to John to bring their usual. “Hey, Luke,” Saks greeted.
“Nothing for me,” Emily said.
“You sure?”
“Get her a Coke,” Luke said with a smile.
“Oh shit, something I should know about?” Saks started grinning, momentarily forgetting about the woman beside him.
“Little Robbie’s going to be big brother in about six months.”
Saks held out his hand. “Congrats, man.”
Luke gave Emily a quick hug around her shoulders. “Yup. I’m a lucky man.”
“Who was your friend, Saks?” Emily asked. “I hope we didn’t scare her away.”
“Was?” Saks looked around and found Gloria had deserted the group. He spotted her checking out the buffet. “No one important.” Instantly he felt like a shit for saying it. What if one day he had to introduce her as his fiancée?
Not if he could help it.
The door swung open again, and Saks’ breath caught in his throat as a flash of golden hair caught his attention. His heart beat faster when he confirmed what his body already knew. It was Chrissy standing at the door. A dark-haired man also pushed into the room just behind her, and Saks’ heart sank as he helped her take off her coat. Of course, she’d have a boyfriend. A beautiful woman like her had to have one.
He watched as her brilliant caramel eyes scanned the room. He had no idea why she was here. She’d barely answered his texts, and he’d finally given up trying. He got it. She was slumming it, getting a piece of the bad-boy biker before she hiked back to her regular life.
But now she dragged her life into his by showing up here. Why would she do that?
As she walked, her pretty skirt clung to her thighs and the top seemed to have been made for her breasts alone. She and her boyfriend took a booth, and the guy went to the bar and spoke to John, who shrugged as he spoke. Then the man craned his neck and nodded, then walked toward the buffet.
Saks took one last pull of his beer, eyeing the guy. What did he have that Saks didn’t? A fire lit in him. His mother called it Italian ire, though it was more La Morte as his eyes swiveled to Chrissy. Whatever was going on, she had no business treating him so coldly. And he was going to give her a piece of his mind.
Once his course of action was set, he crossed the bar without thinking about what he was going to do. He slid into the booth and plastered a big smile on his face. “Hello, Chrissy.”
Her face morphed into pure shock. “Hi, Saks. I didn’t expect to see you here tonight.”
“Oh, I get that, sweetheart. You seem to be a very busy woman.”
“Work has taken up my time. But, really, I’m supposed to be here to meet someone.”
“Really? Wouldn’t your boyfriend object to that?”
“Boyfriend?” Her eyebrows pressed together. “What’re you talking about?”
“Don’t play innocent. You should’ve been straight with me from the beginning. I don’t fuck other men’s women.”
“Fuck?” Her face flushed. “Is that what I was, a fuck?”
“No, darling,” Saks said, surprised at how angry she looked, and more surprised at his own indignation. “I was the fuck. But I’m glad you enjoyed it. At least you seemed to when you were screaming my name when you came.”
Her eyes flashed in pure fury, but Saks didn’t care. Had he known the truth, he’d never taken her home regardless of what his dick thought.
WHAP!!
Her hand connected with his cheek, sending a shower of white sparks through his vision.
“You ass! Get the fuck away from me right now!”
Saks stood, ignoring the pain in his cheek, and glared at her. “With pleasure,” he snapped.
“Hey!” a male voice behind him hissed. A strong hand spun him to meet the face of the guy that arrived with Chrissy. “This guy bothering you?” The guy glanced at Chrissy before turning back to Saks. “What’s your problem?”
“Ask your girlfriend,” Saks spat.
“My girlfriend?” he said with confusion.
“Yeah, your girlfriend. And get your hands off me.”
“Make me,” the man threatened.
“Oh, I don’t have to make you. My brothers will do that for me.” Behind the man, the Hades’ Spawn in the bar lined up, with Luke front and center.
The man twisted his head to see them and released Saks.
“I don’t know you from Adam, but this place, it’s my territory. So, make yourself scarce.”
But the idiot was either very brave or very stupid, because he raised his fist and smashed Saks’ jaw.
“No, Marcus!”
Saks heard Chrissy’s words as he staggered backward, into the arms of a Spawn member.
“You okay?” Luke called out.
“Let me at him,” Saks snarled.
“Easy, Saks,” Luke said. “Not sure if the company health insurance covers bar brawls.”
“Fuck that,” Saks growled. The frustrations of the past week flared through him, to blaze into pure white heat. He launched himself at Marcus and swung, but failed to connect. Chrissy’s hand was on Marcus’ arm, and she managed to yank the man off balance before Saks landed his blow. Saks stumbled and unintentionally fell against her.
Her eyes registered stunned surprise, but then she pushed hard, shoving him away from her. Damn. Saks was surprised. She was stronger than she looked.
“What the fuck is your problem?” Chrissy snapped.
“What the hell is yours? What’s wrong? A grease monkey not good enough for you?” The words tumbled out of Saks’ mouth before he could stop them.
Her faced colored a bright shade of red, confirming his suspicions. Chrissy’s mouth opened as if to say something, and then shut.
“Come with me,” he snarled. He motioned toward the front door, then stopped the growl in his voice. “Please.”
“Chrissy?” Marcus called.
“It’s fine,” she said. “I can take care of myself.”
“Anthony!” John yelled.
“Stay out of this,” Saks replied. “I’m fine. This is between her and me.” He reached for her hand and kept walking until he reached the back of the building. He turned as the motion sensor light came on, illuminating her face.
“Take your hands off me!” Chrissy spat.
“Really? That’s not what you said the other night. What changed? Or is one slice of bad-boy enough and it was time to go back to your boyfriend?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Not that it’s any of your business, but I don’t have a boyfriend.”
“Yeah. Right,” Saks snorted. “Big boy back there was awfully protective of you. Or do you do the same thing to all the guys you fuck? One and done? Only they don’t know it?”
“What the hell is with men today?” she said, as if talking to herself. “You’re ridiculous,” she snapped. “What makes you the lord and master of my life?” Her eyes were blazing, and she took her breaths in ragged gasps.
Fire, ice, and all that blazing heat.
She was the most beautiful thing he’d even seen.
“This,” Saks said, no longer thinking. He pulled her to him, claiming her mouth with a searing kiss that sent electric shocks coursing through his veins. Her mouth was so luscious, so velvety, he had to have more. He pushed his tongue against her lips, teasing them with its tip, urging her to open. She melted against him as he held her as close as physically possible. Her chest pressed against his and her scent filled his nose. “Seriously, baby,” he murmured as her mouth opened to his and his tongue entered, tasting the delights within. “How can you not want this?”
