Rooster needed killing. Everyone in the club agreed on that. The ex-President of the Red Dragons MC was merciless, and he was also calculative. A bad combination. Rooster would never stop gunning for him and those closest to him. He’d keep resorting to dirty and dishonorable tricks until the deed was done.
Saint’s past was soaked knee-deep in blood. He couldn’t alter the past, but slowly but surely, Olivia was changing him into a different man. Hopefully, a better one.
Chapter Eleven
“You have makeup on. Going out on another date with your man?” Jean teased Olivia in the locker room.
Olivia was still staring at her phone, so she didn’t really hear Jean. A month. Thirty days had passed since she moved back to Redemption, started her new job and dating Saint. Two weeks ago, Brett stopped messaging her. Was it wishful thinking that she hoped Brett had finally lost interest in her? After all, there were plenty of beautiful and naïve women back in the city.
She even told Saint that perhaps there was no need for Iron to always hang around her. Having a big, burly biker as her bodyguard made things a little awkward for her, especially when she ran errands. The locals she interacted with always acted skittish whenever they saw Iron looming behind her. Saint wouldn’t hear of it. He insisted on her safety, that he didn’t want to take any risks.
“Hello, earth to Olivia,” Jean said.
“Oh. Sorry. Distracted.”
“I’d be distracted about my boyfriend too, especially if he’s a hot and sexy biker.”
Olivia felt color rise to her cheeks. Saint was beyond her league, she knew that, but somehow, he stuck with her. Jean and she had gotten close over the past few weeks. No surprise there, given the other nurse and she worked closely together. They were the same age. Jean wasn’t born and raised in Redemption, so she also knew what it was like, being an outsider.
“I take it things are going well with you and Saint?”
“Well enough,” she admitted. Olivia let out a breath. “I’m surprised he hasn’t gotten sick of me.”
“Why would he? Olivia, you’re a knockout. Any man would be happy to have you on their arm.”
She laughed. “Saint’s not like every other man. He’s used to women falling at his feet.”
“But you’re not like every other woman, at least to him. Be more confident.”
They changed out of their scrubs and into their everyday clothes. They walked out of the hospital together. Olivia wasn’t surprised to see Saint waiting for her.
“Oh, Iron’s gone,” Jean said. Her friend hid her disappointment poorly.
“Just say the word and I’ll give you his number,” Olivia joked.
Not long ago, she didn’t have a good opinion of Saint or any of his men. Then she spent more time with him, with Iron, and any of the MC members he sent to guard her back whenever Iron wasn’t available. A majority of them might be vagrants and criminals, but underneath their dark past and sins, they were good men. Mostly.
“No, it’s okay. I’m not ready for a new relationship yet.”
Olivia nodded in sympathy. They bid each other goodbye. Saint, she knew, was giving them some space, but once Jean left for her car, he approached her. Saint eyed her up and down, approval in his gaze.
“I can’t wait to rip that hot little dress off you,” Saint said by way of greeting. He leaned over and kissed her chastely on the mouth.
She batted his hand away. “I’m hungry. Let’s have dinner first.”
“Let’s,” he agreed. Saint took her to a fancy French restaurant in town. This, she decided, watching him pursue the menu with a frown, was definitely not his style. He was trying, she realized, for her. Saint wasn’t doing this to impress her. They were long past that stage. This restaurant had a reputation for having snooty waiters, but they bent over backward for Saint. Even the manager came over to greet them, asking them what wine they wanted.
“She’ll choose. Beer for me,” Saint said.
If he were a normal man, this establishment would refuse to serve him beer, but somehow, the manager found him a bottle. They ordered two entrees and their main dish.
“Why did you take me here?” she asked, curious.
“I wanted you to have a good time,” he answered simply. “Besides, I got money to burn.”
“It’s really a sweet gesture,” she said. “I haven’t eaten anywhere like this.”
“Good. Let’s just enjoy ourselves.”
Olivia wondered if Saint was really enjoying himself. He kept eyeing the staff, the customers, and the door. He seemed tense tonight, although he did his best to hide it.
“Is something the matter?” she asked.
“Not at all.”
“Saint,” she said. “You told me there wouldn’t be any secrets between us. Are you expecting trouble?”
“Just being paranoid. Remember the little errand I did a few weeks ago?”
Saint mentioned he went after the enemy MC that had tried to kill him and Bonnie. She nodded.
“They’re still out for my blood. Maybe it would be better if—” He paused. “Forget it. I don’t want to talk about business tonight. I want to focus on us. Tell me about your day.”
If Olivia had to pick one favorite part of their relationship, it was this. Talking with Saint. Baring her heart to him. Saint was a good listener. Olivia wasn’t worried about Saint not wanting to talk about his problems. Sooner or later, he’d open up to her when she was ready.
“So, you like your job?” he asked.
“I do,” she admitted. “The first few days, I missed the environment of the private hospital I used to work for. St. Luke’s took getting used to, but I’ve got the swing of things. Besides, it’s nice working in a small town. You get to know everyone, and their backstories.”
“I know you’ve certainly been invaluable to me.”
“You’re just saying that because I’ve come down to the clubhouse to patch up some of your men,” Olivia pointed out.
“One of the benefits of banging a hot nurse.”
Olivia kicked him under the table. She knew Saint was teasing her. He definitely saw her more than a simple conquest or prize. Why else would Saint pull all the stops for her? She didn’t think he’d do this for the club whores he’d slept with in the past.
Their food soon arrived. Olivia felt stuffed afterward. Dinner was rich and tasted expensive. She had no other word for it, but she certainly enjoyed herself. She told Saint this as he paid for their exorbitant bill.
“I’m glad,” he said. “Want to take a walk around the neighborhood?”
“I’d like that. We can walk off some calories.”
“Sex burns plenty of calories.”
She laughed, nudging him in the ribs. Olivia couldn’t recall the last time she felt this light-hearted. This happy. When she’d been with Brett, she lived in a constant state of fear and worry. She never knew when he’d suddenly blow his top. Brett had two sides to him. The man constantly wore two masks. Brett thrived on deception, but Saint? He was honest, sometimes too blunt at times. Saint never hid his true self, and that was one of the things Olivia liked about him.