“I’m takin’ my ride, and at six.”
“I’ll be ready. Ryo—”
“Already cancelling, Wolf.”
“Excellent.” Moving over to the coffee maker, which happened to be by Ruin, I asked, “Would anyone like a coffee?”
“I will make it,” Ryo offered. When I glared, he turned his back, but I saw his shoulders shaking.
“I’m good, thanks,” Mimi said.
When I stopped at Ruin’s side, he seemed tenser than before. “Ruin?” I said softly.
“Sure,” he replied.
“Milk and one sugar?”
His attention snapped to me. “How’d you know?”
I had overheard the cooks mentioning his coffee preference. I shrugged. “A guess.” I reached around him to grab the sugar canister and took in a deep breath. He always smelled delicious. I bit my bottom lip and met his gaze. When he swallowed thickly, I smiled and finished making the coffees.
In the background, Mimi spoke to Ryo, but I was too focused on the man next to me. Ruin shifted, and I was sure he adjusted himself in his jeans, but when I looked, he was leaning back against the counter.
“For you,” I said, handing him his coffee.
His hand shook a little when he reached for it, until he clenched his teeth and glared down at the mug as if it offended him. “Thanks,” he mumbled.
Turning with my mug in hand, I asked, “Are you sure you won’t mind me coming?”
He choked and spat coffee out. Puzzled, I cocked my head to the side and thought over my words, then started laughing.
“You have a dirty mind, Ruin,” I commented.
His face was red as he pounded his chest.
“Are you all right?” Mimi asked.
Ruin nodded. For the first time, I wondered what his real name was. I doubted his parents had named him Ruin.
“Fine,” Ruin coughed out. He glared out the corner of his eye at me. “And I wasn’t thinking that.”
“Really? Then what were you thinking?” I teased.
“Nothing, I just took it down the wrong way.” I snorted. He groaned and quickly added, “The coffee.”
“Sure,” I drew out and glanced over to see Mimi and Ryo watching us. Both had smiles on their faces.
Ruin must have also noticed, because he quickly straightened and announced, “Gonna hit the gym. You up for it, Mimi?”
“Sure,” Mimi said, climbing off her stool.
“See you both tonight,” I said.
Ruin nodded. “Yeah.”
It would be a sight watching Ruin work out, but I’d already had my fill of him, and I didn’t want to fluster him more than necessary, or else he would revoke his offer for me to go to the bar. Something I was looking forward to. Though, if I was honest, I was a little nervous walking into a bar run by bikers who hardly knew me, but they probably knew of my family name and businesses. Still, I wouldn’t miss seeing Ruin in his own element. It could show me more about the man than I already knew.
Once they were gone, after a quick hug from Mimi, Ryo turned to me. “Are you certain you want to walk into a Hawks bar?”
“No doubt they would have more information on me and the family’s dealings by now.”
“No doubt, and from what I have learned, they’re a clean club. Refuse to deal in anything illegal. I have heard the only trouble they get into is when it involves someone they care about.”
“Then I guess we’ll see how they react to me going.”
“Wolf, our family runs drugs and weapons.”
“You’re not surprising me in this. I do know.”
“I know you know, but their club is large and all over Australia. We do not want any trouble with them.”
“Talon already knows we don’t want trouble, else I wouldn’t have given up my own men when they went out on their own and messed with their club.”
Ryo sighed. “I thought the Hawks would only be in our lives for a short time, but I see how wrong I was.”
“They took care of Mimi, and she wants to return there once this is done here. As long as she has them in her life, then I will also.”
“Will they accept you though?”
“Only time will tell. I’ll have a meeting with Talon once she goes back and make sure he understands what it will entail, having a Takahashi family member in their lives.”
“That it comes with putting up with random visits from the head of house?”
“Yes. I will not lose my sister again.”
“And this has nothing to do with a certain biker? That he’ll be back there with her?”
Glancing away, I said, “Not at all.”
“With respect, Taro-sama, but you are full of shit.”
Snorting, I commented, “You’re lucky we have been lifelong friends, Ryo.”
“I know this. Let’s eat and get some work done.”
Yes, because the sooner the day sped by, the better. It would mean more time around Ruin.
Chapter Nine
Wolf
The drive took over an hour to get to the bar, but I didn’t care since it gave me time to speak with Mimi. When I asked why she didn’t go with Ruin, she informed me she wasn’t allowed on the back of Ruin’s bike because she wasn’t his “old lady.” Mimi went on to explain they were what the bikers called their girlfriends or intended wives.
“Taro,” Mimi said. I didn’t want to look away from Ruin on his ride. He wore a long-sleeve Henley, a club vest, and leather pants.
Leather pants.
The view was nicely seared into my mind because they hugged his arse sweetly.
“Hmm?” I answered as Ryo turned the car into a street, following Ruin.
“You like Ruin, don’t you?”
Turning in my seat, I told her, “He… appeals to me.”
Ryo snorted. I ignored him.
“I just wanted you to know it’s okay with me if you do. But Ruin has become a friend. You need to be careful with him.”
“Careful in what way?”
“He’s never been into guys.”
“I know.”
“He’s fighting this.”
My heart expanded in my chest. “Are you saying you see something from him towards me?”
I had thought I’d seen signs, but having reassurance from another party wouldn’t hurt. I didn’t want to push further if I was wrong and the “interest” was all in my head.
“I’m pretty sure I am.”
I could not contain my smile as I faced forward and caught Ruin pulling into a parking area in front of a crowded bar. “Then I’ll be careful with him.”
Mimi’s hand rested on my shoulder. “Good luck.”
“Thank you, and Mimi?”
“Yes?”
“It’s good to have you here.” In Melbourne, back with me.
“Love you,” she whispered before climbing out of the car as Ryo parked.
“Are you ready?” Ryo asked.
I watched Mimi approach Ruin as he climbed off his bike and removed his helmet. His smile was broad, happy. I liked seeing it.
I wasn’t ready and could not believe my nerves had risen once more over walking into a bar the Hawks owned. Usually, I didn’t care where I went or what people thought, but this time it mattered to me… because of him.