“That explains it.” Bishop shook his head, exasperation deepening the furrow in his forehead. “I’ll talk to him.”
“Is he going to be okay?”
It took a minute for me to decipher the worry in Noelle’s voice. “Bryce? Yeah, he’ll be fine. Bishop will read him the riot act, threaten to take away his jacket, then show him how to stand guard like a good biker man.”
I snorted a laugh at the way Noelle’s face scrunched. “You don’t believe me?”
“He’s…” She held out both hands. “I’m a reporter. I should have the right words.”
“He’s Bishop.” I tapped her elbow and pointed at the pool table. “You play?”
She shook her head. “Nope.”
“No better time to learn.” I picked up Bishop’s pool stick and held it out to her. “What kind of questions do you have for me?”
She eyed me, then the table, then the room.
Her throat dipped in a hard swallow, and my eyes narrowed on the pulse fluttering in her throat.
I counted the beats and frowned.
Why was she so nervous?
I followed her gaze to where Bishop and Bryce talked in the corner.
Bishop towered over the poor guy, and he wore his soldier face as he motioned toward the stairs.
Bryce gave a clipped nod.
“They’re fine. Bryce ignored the rules and left his station. If you’d been an assassin, Rafe might be dead right now. He needs to understand that when he’s given a responsibility, he needs to follow through, no matter how great the distraction is.”
“I should apologize. It was my fault.” She took a step.
I grabbed her hand, pulling her to a stop. “No, you shouldn’t. Unless you manhandled Bryce into leaving his post, none of thisis your fault. And if you want your story, you need to stay with me.” I winked to take some of the heat from my words.
Noelle’s attention returned to me.
I knew what she saw, what everyone saw.
Blond hair, blue eyes.
Tattoos were hidden beneath my shirt, but the hints of them covered the backs of my hands and wrists.
I wore my happy-go-lucky personality like a banner, my face always pulled into a smile.
It was easy to maintain when I lived the life of my dreams.
“I’m not sure you’re the guy to tell me the truth about this place.” Noelle arched a red brow and crossed her arms. “I know when people are lying to me, and you look like the type who knows how to spin a good story. That’s probably why he stuck me with you.”
“You want the truth about us?” I matched her tone while lining up a shot on the pool table.
I nicked the cue ball and sent it flying into the striped ball near the corner pocket.
It sank home with a satisfyingsnickthat widened my smile.
Two of Rafe’s newest recruits came up behind Noelle.
Freddie, the youngest of our club, ran his arm around Noelle’s waist. “Hey there. Anything we can do to help with your article?”
