“So? Does that matter? Does it change the way I feel about you? The way I know you feel about me?”
She opened her mouth again, and then snapped it shut and glanced at Annabel and Jayson, as if suddenly remembering they were there. “We should talk about this later.”
“Fine, but don’t dismiss my role in your life because you’re uncomfortable. You’re better than that. You’re a fuckin’ queen and you shouldn’t give a damn about anyone’s opinion.”
Her gaze locked with mine, and the emotions raging behind her eyes were too complex and layered for me to peg down. Anger, gratitude, respect, fear, passion, it all lingered beneath her professional composure, begging to be freed.
And my god, I wanted to free her.
“Complicated,” Emily admitted, finally, releasing my gaze to answer Annabel. “Our relationship is complicated.”
“And hot as hell,” Jayson said, fanning himself with his menu. “The sparks coming off you two are liable to burn us all up. Man, I need to find myself a big, sexy biker.”
Annabel watched me thoughtfully, sipping her water. “Link? Such an unusual name. Is it a nickname?”
My blood was still boiling. Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to calm down before answering, “Tyler Lincoln’s the name my mom gave me. Link’s what the club calls me.”
She nodded. “My Andrew was an architect. Probably twenty years ago now, he did some volunteer work for a man by the name of Jacob Lincoln. Any relation?”
Taken by surprise, I felt the last bit of anger leak out of me. “That’s my pops. Twenty years ago? Did your husband help with the fire station remodel?”
“Yes. He was a Navy veteran and happy to do it. Had nothing but good things to say about your father and the club. Is he still the club president?”
“No ma’am. He retired a few years back. He’s still an active member, but didn’t want the hassle anymore. He and my step-mother have been doing a little traveling.”
“Good to hear.” Her gaze took in the patches on my cut. “Oh, you’re the president now.”
“Yes ma’am.”
“And you served in the Army?”
“Yes ma’am. Special Forces, just like Pops.”
The waitress stopped by to take our orders while I made a mental note to ask Pop about Emily’s grandpa. When the waitress left, Emily questioned her grandmother about some fence that had blown down.
“Jayson found me an excellent repairman,” Annabel replied. “So professional and fast. Had it back up in no time.”
The four of us fell into easy conversation until Emily and Jayson both excused themselves to use the restroom.
“She’s been alone for a long time,” Annabel said with a sad smile. “But you’re good for her. Give her time, and she’ll come around.”
Realizing this might be the best chance I had to find out more about Emily, I asked, “What happened to her parents?”
“They were killed in a car accident when Emily was ten.”
“And she’s an only child?”
“She’s an only everything. Matthew, her father, was our only child, and her mother, Elana, had some sort of falling out with her family before Emily was born. They’ve never been a part of her life. Didn’t even come to the funeral,” Annabel tutted. “I tracked Elana’s parents down and reached out to them, but they never saw fit to reply.”
“You and your husband raised Emily?”
“Sure did. She was a handful, too. We had no experience raising a girl, so we raised her just like we raised Matthew. Andrew taught her how to fish and shoot, and I taught her how to cook and clean. She’s compassionate and kind, but she doesn’t put up with any nonsense.”
Smiling, I admitted, “I noticed.”
“She’s quite the catch,” Annabel replied. “It’ll take a strong, determined man to keep her, but like you said, she’s worth it.”
“Oh, trust me, I’m aware,” I replied before Emily and Jayson rejoined us.
