“Yes, anything you say, sir,” Lena says mockingly. “I’ll go get ready now,” she adds, before rushing off, as if worried that if she hangs around, I’ll change my mind.
I’m glad to see she’s cheered up. I’m also looking forward to spending more time with Lena outside of this little bubble we’ve created and getting to know her as a woman, not just as a mom.
Rex seems happy about the situation as well. Perhaps he’s hoping to remind her of happier times or finally get to the bottom of why she left.
***
A short while later, when we’re ready to leave, Lena comes back downstairs looking breathtaking in a pair of tight leather pants and a slinky top with tiny spaghetti straps.
“You found that in my mom’s wardrobe?” Judge asks in surprise when he sees her.
Lena looks stricken with worry. “Yes, sorry, should I not wear this one?”
Judge shakes his head. “No, you should wear it. I just don’t remember my mom ever dressing up that much. Though I was only young when she died, so I guess there’s a lot about her I don’t know. But you look great in it,” he adds, and she blushes with pleasure.
We’re all a bit taken aback by Judge’s admission. He’s not much of a talker, nor does he usually speak about his mom.
“Thank you, I’m honored that you let me wear them.”
Judge dips his head in acknowledgement. “Have a good evening,” he says before slipping away.
“You look stunning. I’m jealous that I won’t get to join you tonight, but I promise I’ll take good care of the rugrat. So you enjoy yourself and don’t take any shit from these two,” Doc tells Lena.
“Thank you, Doc. You can call one of the guys if you need me to come back, right?” she asks, looking worried about leaving Mia.
“Of course, but nothing will go wrong.”
Rex comes down the stairs, having showered and changed for the night. He does a double-take when he sees Lena, and I have to stop myself from laughing at him. My boy’s got it bad.
“Lena, you look fantastic,” he says.
“Thank you,” she replies curtly before turning to me. “Shall we go?”
“Sure. Do you want to take the car, or could we go on the bikes?” I suggest hopefully. I always prefer riding my bike to taking the car.
“Sure, I’ll go on the back of yours,” she says.
“Wear this,” I say, handing her my leather jacket. “It gets cold on the bike.”
Lena takes it and shrugs it on. I like how it looks on her. Lena doesn’t know, but in our club, we only let members and our old ladies wear our prized jackets. Rex is fully aware of it, and I can feel his stare on me as we leave. He’s going to make me pay for this one. But as Lena climbs on my bike and wraps her arms around my waist, it’s hard to care.
Chapter 10
Lena
It’s maddening being stuck in the house with Rex, especially given the fact that he always has that hangdog look about him, as if I’m the one who broke his heart, not the other way around. The other guys have been great, and I won’t lie, I’ve fantasized about them all, especially after what Cole told me about them sharing. The problem is, I don’t want to be fantasizing about them, especially not Rex. Hell, I know I shouldn’t be fantasizing about them. Rough and ready bikers who are twice my age and into god knows what kind of stuff aren’t exactly the kind of guys you should be dating.
I wonder what Big Joe will make of them. I suppose the fact that they saved his life will work in their favor; I’ll be forever grateful to them for that. Discovering that Big Joe is going to make it, that Zeke didn’t kill him like I thought, was the biggest relief.
After a week of close proximity with the man who broke my heart and his dangerously attractive, flirty friends, my nerves are shot. The only silver lining is that it’s distracted me from the reason why I’m stuck in the farmhouse in the first place, because a vindictive man wants me dead.
I know it’s still not safe, and that it probably makes me a bad mom, leaving my daughter in the care of two men I’ve only known a week, but I need to get out of the house before I lose my mind. I have to let off some steam.
The clubhouse is exactly as I remember, with some familiar faces who smile at me politely, curiosity dancing acrosstheir faces as they wonder where they recognize me from. I’ve changed in the three years since I was here last. My figure is fuller, my thighs are thicker, and my stomach is more rounded from motherhood. My hair is longer, I’m not platinum blonde anymore, but a more subtle version. I wear less makeup, I’m the same person, but a more muted, mature version. At twenty-two, I should be partying and making all the mistakes you make in your twenties, but motherhood has changed me. You can’t go out all night partying with a toddler in tow.
However, tonight I’m determined to let my hair down a bit and live a little. I smile to myself as I notice Rex’s jealous expression as Cole places a hand on my waist to gently move me out of the way of a drunken club member about to bump into me. Perhaps having him come tonight won’t be such a bad thing after all. Maybe I can get a little payback?
We head to the bar and order drinks. The crowd parts like the sea as the guys walk through, with people greeting Cole and Rex with deference. If I thought Rex was a big deal around here, then Cole is next level. Everyone tries to speak to him, to get a scrap of that intense focus. He politely but firmly rebuffs them, informing them he’s out tonight with me and Rex.
