“I’ll consider it,” I say.
“What are you goin’ to consider?” Hugh asks, walking into the room at the clubhouse where we’re all sitting while they have their weekly meeting.
“Nothing,” I say, shrugging.
“How’s Star?” he asks.
“She’s fine, still asleep.”
He nods, and glances at the girls. “You lot look like you’re up to no good.”
“Us?” Eve asks, pressing a hand to her chest. “Never.”
The guys all walk into the room, and Hank is busy shaking all their hands like he’s made the deal of a lifetime.
“What’s going on here?” Poppy asks, rubbing her belly as she uncomfortably gets up. “Why does Hank look like he’s leaving us?”
“Because he is,” Riggs tells her. “Hank is goin’ nomad for a while. He needs a break and we’re givin’ it to him. He’s goin’ to ride alone.”
I stare, confused as all hell. I know nothing about the biker life, but I do know that Hank going out on his own must be a pretty big deal because these guys really do tend to stick together.
“What?” Eve says, frowning. “Why are you going out alone, Hank? We love you here.”
Hank shrugs. “Just need a break. Been a long time comin’. I’ll be back, eventually.”
“Oh, that sucks.” Gabby frowns. “You were kind of growing on me.”
Hank grins.
“Anyway, we got business to take care of. You ladies good here?”
Eve huffs. “Of course, we’re going to my café to have some coffee. We’ll be there when you’re done.”
Riggs leans down and kisses her.
So bloody cute.
That’s the kind of love I want.
The kind I need.
The kind I crave.
Maybe one day I’ll get it.
8
“Did you hear about what Rhett is doing?” Gabby asks me, a few days later when she comes around for a coffee.
“No, what?”
“He’s opening some big camp out there at the ranch. You know how he has that big lake and all those horses and cows and that huge house, he wants to do something to give back and his dad left him a shit load of money when he died including that ranch so he’s going to build a bunch of cabins and all this other fancy shit and open it up to camps for people who need a break. It can be anyone who needs it, groups of people can book at once.”
“Oh wow,” I say, shocked. “That is incredible.”
“It’ll take a while to get up and running, but it’s pretty amazing. It’ll draw people from far and wide. He’s planning a lot of events that they can do while there.”
“I didn’t realize Rhett was so into giving back. Those guys seem like a bunch of bad boys.”
“Oh, they are, and I have no doubt that’ll never change, but Rhett has always been into helping people after his mother took her own life and his father drank himself to death. He is pretty firm on it.”
“I didn’t know all of that,” I say, frowning. “That’s horrible.”
“Yeah, he’s had a pretty hard time of things. I think it’s amazing he’s doing something so incredible and imagine all those hot cowboys running something like that. Water sports, dancing nights, horse rides, groups of people looking to feel better. Just one look at them and they’re bound to feel better. He was saying he’s going to encourage the groups to actually get out and help him run the ranch.”
I nod, impressed. “Damn, man is driven.”
I spent a bit of time with Rhett, and we certainly had a fine time together, the man is wild in bed, but because of his friendship with Gabby, we didn’t take it any further. Still, he is the kind of bad boy you want in your life, and the guys he has working for him make your panties drop with just one look. Anyone would be lucky to go out there and be in their world.
Even if they are into some pretty illegal shit.
Still, you can’t judge a book by its cover.
“He sure is.” Gabby nods. “Someone is going to snap him up.”
“No doubt.”
“How are things going with you and Hugh?”
I snort. “There is nothing going on with me and Hugh, so there is nothing to tell.”
“Mmmhmmm, you tell yourself that.”
I throw a piece of my cookie at her.
She laughs.
“Well, when everything goes south with him and Delilah, you better be ready to jump in.”
“I don’t think I can handle anyone after Dion. I’m ruined,” I mutter.
Gabby frowns. “That douchebag. He’s long gone.”
I look away, feeling suddenly guilty.
“He is long gone, right?”
I swallow. “Well, I guess. Kind of.”
“Honey, what’s going on?”
I exhale and tell her everything.
She listens, the way she always has, and when I’m done, she frowns a little. “You know he’s toxic. Don’t feel bad for hurting him, he’s only telling you that because he wants you to be below him. The fact that you’re the one to end it and you’re the one to stand strong doesn’t sit well with him. He wants you to be the weaker one and you’re not. He’s going to do whatever he can to make you doubt yourself.”
“I know that, yet when it comes to him I still feel weak. It’s pathetic.”
“It’s not pathetic, you’re human and you loved him. But you need to understand that he is a manipulator and you’re stronger without him. You are.”
“Then why do I feel so weak when he’s around?”
“It’ll take time, but you have to cut contact. Truly cut it. Don’t even engage in conversation, even as simple as telling him it’s over. You’ve made that clear, now you go about your life without giving him any more explanations.”
“You’re right, I know what I need to do, and now I am finally in the position to do it.”
“Change your number again if you have to. Whatever you need, I’m here.”
I smile and lean forward, hugging her.
I’m glad we’re friends again.
I’ve needed her more than she’ll ever know.
LOOK AWAY, MAGGIE.
God dammit, why can’t I look away?
My eyes are fixed on the couple that are currently hauled up on the couch. She’s on her knees, head bobbing up and down on his cock. He’s staring at nothing, eyes fixed straight ahead, not looking like he is enjoying it as much as he could be.
That couple is Hugh and Delilah.
They’re on the sofa and I’m not meant to be here this early.
I came home but I told them I’d be out with Star for a few hours doing some shopping. I got bored, and Star was fussy, so I came home only to walk in and find the two of them ... tangled up.
I know I should immediately turn away, but it’s hard to look at anything else.
She’s frantically sucking his dick, like it’s the only one she has seen in a very long time, and it’s horribly awkward to watch. It’s clear neither of them is into it, and when she stops to stroke him, I can see he’s no way near as hard as he could be. I can also see he has an impressive dick.