It’s not a date…
Yes, it fucking is.
“No, of course not.” She presses her palm against my bicep to keep her balance, but I’ll take it. “This is awesome. I was going to see this movie with my sisters next week.”
“Huh.” So, she has sisters. Not sure why I think that’s important, but I file it away.
“Do you want me to get popcorn and drinks?”
I can’t help it and glance around, just double-checking that I don’t recognize anyone. If this ever gets back to my brothers, my life won’t be worth living. “I’ll get it.”
“No you won’t. I pay my own way, remember?” She gives me a challenging grin before sauntering off to the counter.
We sit in the back row, and as far as I know that’s for one reason only. The place is half empty, and it’d be too easy to slide my hand under her sweater and play with her gorgeous tits. My dick stirs, and I grit my teeth. It can’t be good that I have a permanent hard-on whenever she’s near me.
I watch her from the corner of my eye as she digs into her popcorn. The lights dim, and it’s real hard not to sling my arm around her shoulders, but I have the weird feeling she expects me to—just to prove that I can’t keep my word.
She’s only a chick, and the only time my word is everything is when it comes to my brothers. If Amelia wasn’t interested, she wouldn’t be here with me now. We can spend the next ninety minutes making out like a couple of horny teens, and I won’t think any less of myself for breaking my word.
Or I can be a fucking martyr and call her bluff.
When the movie starts, she wriggles in her seat and rests her arm next to mine on the armrest. Is she doing it on purpose? We’re barely touching but it’s like an electric charge zaps through my body.
This is going to be the longest ninety minutes of my life.
…
When we finally leave the movies it’s late afternoon and dark, which is a relief. Not that I’d expect to see any of my brothers hanging around, but I guess I’m paranoid. As we reach the bike, Amelia bumps her shoulder against my arm.
“You didn’t fall asleep. I’m impressed.”
I shrug. “I’ve seen worse.” No way will I admit the movie wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be. It’s still way too early to take her to a club, but I’m in no hurry to let her go, even if she isn’t going to put out at the end of the night. Guess we could get something to eat.
Before I can figure out whether I’m ready to ask her that, becausemoviesandeating outin one evening is kind of full-on, she takes the helmet and hugs it, like it’s a shield.
“Well, thanks for inviting me. Can you take me back to my car now?”
What thefuck? Is thatit?
“Sure.” I’m pissed off and don’t know why. I’ve had some shit ideas in the past, but taking Amelia out has got to be one of the worst. If this isdating,then they can keep it and I’ll stick to my easy no-need-to-think-about-it hookups.
“Only, I need to get home and freshen up before my shift starts at Odin’s.” She pauses for a couple of seconds, as if she’s letting that sink in. Christ, I’ll never understand how chicks’ minds work. “That’s if the offer’s still open?”
Chapter Eight
Amelia
It’s been two weeks since I started work at Odin’s. I’ve had all the shifts I can handle, which is great for my bank balance, but every time Gage turns his sexy-as-hell smile my way I lose a little more of my mind.
There’re a couple of other girls who work here besides Kat, who apparently only fills in when her brother’s desperate, and they’re real nice. I’ve gotten to know the regulars, and it burns me to admit that a couple of Viking Bastards who hang out here are quite hard to hate.
I know Gage has a hands off his staff policy, which is why we don’t get hassled, but even so, it’s hard not to remember how things used to be, when my dad was a respected member of the Wolves and all the brothers treated me and my two sisters like little princesses.
Before they kicked us out in the cold.
But it isn’t just his staff Gage looks out for. Last night a drunken SOB kept trying it on with a totally uninterested girl in the bar. I’d never seen her before, although the guy’s been in a few times. Before I even realized it, Gage had thrown the guy out with a warning.
It’s crazy how much that impressed me. After all, heaps of girls come in here for the sole purpose of hooking up, but he still noticed when one of his regulars overstepped the line.
