“Shut up.” I laugh and smack him. “Yeah, probably.”
Acorn leers at me. “Heather showed me some of your girl’s yoga clips. Surprised you let her post that shit on her social media.”
And I’m back to wanting to punch him again.
I growl at him and turn to head to our room. Jiggy catches up with me.
“I can’t believe you let that go.”
I glare at him. “And I can’t believe you brought that up in the first place.”
“Yeah.” He hangs his head. “I need to learn it’s more appropriate to mess with you in private.”
“That doesn’t sound any better.”
We stop at the door and I tap my knuckles against the wood.
“Why are you knocking on your own door?”
“Because you’re with me.” I blow out a breath. “Are you in a contest with yourself to see how irritating you can be this morning?”
He taps his fingers against his chin. “I hadn’t really thought of it that way.”
I push the door open, hoping I’ve given Shelby enough warning. She’s sitting in the middle of the bed shuffling through her Tarot cards.
“Can you ask the universe if I’m getting lucky tonight?” Jiggy quips.
A slight smirk plays at the corners of Shelby’s mouth. “Why waste a question on the universe that I already know the answer to? Nope.”
Not insulted, Jiggy busts up laughing. “Such a funny little songbird.”
“How was your meeting?” Shelby asks me.
“Not bad.” I lean over and kiss her cheek while she scoops up her cards and tucks them away. “You ready to go?”
She points to her bags stacked up next to the closet. “Just waitin’ on you.”
“You plannin’ to lift anything heavier than your dick today?” I ask as Jiggy watches me pick up the bags.
He palms his crotch. “It’s a two-hander, for sure.”
Christ, I walked right into that one. “Big help. Why are you here again?”
“Supervising your work.”
Seems more like he wants to avoid alone time with anyone in our old charter, so I drop it.
“I’ll meet you downstairs,” Shelby says, scooting off the bed. “I want to ask Heather about that thing we talked about.”
In the hallway, Jiggy bumps my elbow. “What thing is she asking Heather about? A three-way? Four-way? God, you don’t wanna four-way with Acorn—”
“The fuck is wrong with you?” I stop at the top of the staircase and stare at him. “She wants to try to get Heather tickets for tonight’s show.”
“Oh.” He snaps his fingers. “Yeah, that makes more sense.”
“Jesus Christ,” I mutter, stomping down the stairs.
We get the bikes ready without any more idiotic conversation.
“Don’t suppose we can get out of breakfast?” Jiggy stares at the clubhouse when we’re finished.
“Probably not. Let’s get it over with and hit the road.”
Shelby’s already sitting next to Heather. I take the chair on her other side.
“Oh my God that sounds amazing,” Heather gushes, then bites her lip. “Shoot. I can’t tonight. Oh, dammit. I’m sorry.”
Sounds like Shelby extended the invitation to tonight’s show. Does the relief coursing through me that Heather can’t go make me an asshole? Maybe. Do I care? Nope.
“It’s okay.” Shelby pats Heather’s arm. “I didn’t mean to spring it on ya at the last minute.”
“No, thank you for asking. I’d love to.”
“Maybe next year.” Shelby lifts her hand in the air, crossing her fingers.
“It’s a date,” Heather promises.
They move on to other topics and a few minutes later, Heather jumps up to help someone at the coffee bar.
“No go?” I whisper to Shelby, draping my arm over the back of her chair.
“Nope.” Her shoulders jerk up quickly as if she doesn’t want to admit she’s relieved.
“You tried and that’s what matters.” I kiss her cheek. “I really appreciate it.”
A bunch of the guys shout and cluck out some cock-a-doodle-do noises to draw everyone’s attention to our display.
Although her cheeks turn a little pinker, Shelby’s not intimidated by the chatter. She twists her fingers in my T-shirt and yanks me closer, sliding her lips against mine for a long, deliberate kiss. I cup her cheek and tip her head back, ignoring the louder taunts.
“Shoulda claimed you like that in front of everyone when we got here,” I whisper against her lips.
A devilish smile lights up her normally angelic face. “Next time.”
Fuck me, but that promise will be the only thing that’ll make me want to return to Washington.
Shelby
The hotel parking lot’s empty except for our RV, my band’s van and Dawson’s bus.
Rooster leads the guys in a lazy circle through the lot, pulling up behind the RV and shutting down the bike.
He and Jigsaw are discussing loading up the truck when someone calls out my name.
Squinting toward the hotel, I spot Trent waving and jogging over the pavement.
I wave back and meet him halfway.
“Have fun on your time off?” he asks, giving me a quick hug.
“I did.”
“Get any writing done?”
Hoo-boy, Trent’s got that eager beaver, wild-eyed look.
“No, but I have a few ideas floating around.” I twirl my upright finger around my ear a few times.
“I have something,” he promises. “I’ll play it for you when we get to the arena.”
“You don’t want to send me a file or somethin’?”
“Not this one.”
“Okay.”
He turns away from me, walking toward the guys. “You need help loading up?” he asks Rooster.
Normally, Rooster would decline offers of help from anyone except his club brothers. But I’ve noticed he’s been trying to include or at least get to know Trent a little better lately, which I appreciate.
“Sure.” He motions Trent closer.
While I’m watching the guys at the back of the RV, Dex steps alongside me. “You all right after yesterday?” he asks in a low voice.
Startled by the question, I peer up at him. “I think so. Are you?”
“Yeah, darlin’. It caught us by surprise. Shouldn’t have happened when you were with us.” He glances away. “That’s not a regular thing.”
Is Dex worried I’ll somehow blame Rooster or the club? “Rooster’s had me around a couple different clubs now, and that’s the first time any trouble popped off.”
He nods and pats my shoulder. “Ready for tonight?”
“Not yet. But I will be.”
His lips twitch.
“Let’s hit the road!” Rooster calls out.
Dex waves at him. All the guys convene to decide what positions they want to take. Pants and Steer decide to ride behind the RV. Jiggy and Dex plan to ride in front.
Pants gingerly touches his shoulder. “If I need to pull over, I got Steer with me and don’t have to worry about your giant cage barreling down on me.”