“Thank you,” Claire murmured.
I shrugged and grabbed her hand. “Should we go?”
“Yeah, I’m ready,” Claire said, adjusting her large purse on her shoulder and following me to the door.
“We’re just gonna take a car over,” I said.
“No bike today?” Claire asked.
“I’m gonna have some beer at the barbecue,” I said. “I don’t drink and drive.”
The barbecue was being held in the parking lot behind Blue Dog Saloon. We had gatherings like this at least once a month. A few of the guys would drag out grills and make hot dogs and burgers. We started in the afternoon, but usually the barbecue lasted long into the night. It wasn’t much, but it was my family.
As Claire and I walked up to the parking lot, a flurry of nerves rose up in my stomach. I had never so much as flirted with a girl at a biker barbecue. And I had certainly never brought a date. I hooked up with girls who were far removed from the biker world. I would never bring them to meet my brothers because there was no point. The Outlaw Souls were long-term only.
Yet here I was, walking into the barbecue hand in hand with Claire. Even before we reached the tables in the center of the lot, I could feel eyes on us.
Then Claire squeezed my hand a bit. I looked down to see her smiling up at me, and the tension in my chest eased in a heartbeat. As we approached a table, Moves appeared at my side. He reached out to shake Claire’s hand with a wicked grin.
“I did not think I would ever see you again,” Moves said.
I rolled my eyes, but Claire laughed, and the sound made me want to laugh as well.
“Don’t worry, I’m not scared off by sub-par wingmen that easily,” Claire said.
Moves blinked in surprise. “Fair enough.”
A flurry of black leather and dark hair appeared at Claire’s side.
“Kim!” Claire said. “It’s good to see you.”
“Girl, we need to talk,” Kim said. “I clearly need to catch up on a lot.”
With that, Kim pulled Claire away from me and over to a table. I watched her go with pride. Claire could fit in with the Outlaw Souls. Kim and Moves already adored her. She was different from us in many ways, but there was something in her spirit that we all recognized.
“Jesus, Pin,” Moves said. “You’ve got it bad.”
I focused back on Moves. I couldn’t deny his point, so I just shrugged.
“I have to say, I do like her for you,” Moves said. “Can’t really put my finger on it, but it works.”
He shrugged and made a move towards the food table. I followed. Claire could chat with Kim, and I would get her a plate of food and a beer.
Moves was right. There was something about Claire that just made sense. She was never going to be an obvious choice. I thought Claire was gorgeous, but she wasn’t the type to walk into a room and have all heads turn. Her legs were too short, her clothes were too simple, and she moved just a little too quickly to the side of parties where she could observe and comment.
But that was what I liked about her. She was sly and clever, and she did whatever she wanted. She didn’t need anyone else. Claire was the most independent woman I had ever met. So somehow it made it all the more flattering that she wanted to spend time with me and my brothers.
After I had picked up two plates of food, I wandered over to the table where Claire and Kim sat. Claire had Kim laughing, and it seemed like she had already met a bunch of guys.
As soon as she saw me, Claire scooted over on the bench to make room. I sat down and placed her plate in front of her. “I guessed cheeseburger.”
“You guessed correct,” she said. “I also would have accepted hot dog, burger, or grilled mushroom.”
I laughed as Claire dug into her food. Of course she wasn’t a picky eater. She was too full of energy and life to waste time complaining about food.
“So,” Claire said as she gave Moves a focused look. “I think I need a rundown on your role in the club, it sounds intense.”
A slow smile crept across Moves’ face. Anyone who didn’t know him would think it was a harmless grin. But everyone who had seen Moves in action knew that smile. It was a dangerous smile. He wore it whenever he had to channel his inner violence.
