Just…not right now. And not with a biker like Wingman who was simply passing through town on his way to somewhere else.I didn’t need to give my heart to another man who had one foot out the door already.
I needed a man who was willing to stay.
Chapter two
Wingman
“Attractive woman, isn’t she?”
Ironside pulled a cigar from the breast pocket of his cut, along with a silver lighter. He flicked the wheel until the flame jumped to life.
“This feels like a trick question,” I replied, draping my coat over the back of my chair. My gaze strayed to the kitchen door, hoping for another glimpse of that curvy waitress.
Ironside puffed on his cigar, shielding it with his tattooed hands until the tip glowed cherry red. Then he blew a slow, steady stream of smoke into the air, looking like a dragon.
“Ever since you showed up,” he said. “You haven’t taken your eyes off Elaine.”
Elaine.I liked the sound of that. Crisp. Elegant.
For some reason though, Ironside had his hackles up about her, and I couldn’t figure out why. Even though bikers were generally known to be a lawless bunch of hyenas, they still had toabide by clubhouse rules. If a woman didn’t want to be touched, no one was allowed to lay a finger on her. And Ironside had a zero-tolerance policy when it came to enforcing that. He didn’t grant three strikes or second chances. One offense was all it would take to get your teeth knocked out of your head, and you’d be banned from the clubhouse for life on top of that.
“It’s not a crime to look,” I said with a shrug.
Ironside hummed in thought, rolling his cigar between two fingers.
“This is different though. It’s almost as if you’ve never seen a woman before in your life. And I know that can’t be true. I was there for your Prospect days. Bunnies swarmed to your babyface like bees to honey.”
I huffed and rolled my eyes.
“One day, you’re going to be too old to remember embarrassing shit like that.”
He chuckled.
“Don’t get excited. I’ve got a few more years left before my mind starts to slip. So I’m not letting you off the hook anytime soon.”
I crossed my arms and tipped my chair back on two legs.
“In other words, you’re still a hardass and some things never change.”
Ironside braced his elbows on the table and leaned closer, pointing his cigar at me.
“Leave her alone,” he said, low and firm. “She’s been through enough.”
I searched his gray eyes, but I saw no hint of his usual teasing. He was dead serious.
“Last I heard, you’re still a cranky bachelor,” I said. “Which means you have no claim on her. And it’s a free country.”
A beat of silence settled between us. Ironside met my gaze with an unblinking stare. There was more to the story he wasn’tsaying. But he wouldn’t run his mouth and spill someone else’s business if it wasn’t his to tell.
Elaine returned, placing a shot of whiskey and a plate of food in front of me, piled with ham, roasted vegetables, and mashed potatoes swimming in gravy.
“There you go. Eat up and enjoy,” she added, turning away.
My gaze flicked to Ironside. He arched an eyebrow, as if to say,keep your damn mouth shut.
I flashed a shit-eating grin in his direction and did whatever the hell I wanted, ignoring his warning.
“You forgot something, sweetheart,” I called after her.
