“I… uh…” She doesn’t know what to say.
“So you like this one?” I point to the GMC, and she nods. “What about the Escalade?” I gesture across the lot at the luxury SUV I’ve had my eye on since I heard she needed a new vehicle.
I want to kiss those ruby lips as she pinches them together, cocks her head, and squints her eyes, thinking it over.
“I like the Yukon Denali because you’re not paying for the Cadillac name. Plus, the feature I want comes standard on the Denali, but on the Cadillac it’s an upgrade, one it might not even have.”
I’m so fucking hard right now it’s embarrassing. The salesman is shocked too. My girl just proved she does her research before showing up. Then she does something even better. She glances at the sticker, then at him.
“I also think that you could drop this price by a couple thousand. We’re paying cash. I won’t pay a dime over the cost of the car. Don’t try to push extras, like warranties or add-ons. I’m sure my man”—she pats my chest—“will have one of his guys go through the vehicle before we sign papers, so we’re assured it’s not a lemon.”
“Of course. I will help you with negotiating.”
“No, you won’t,” I interrupt him. “I’ll help her. Let me call someone to come check this out.”
I immediately text Miner. He tells me to test drive it to his shop.
“Ready for a test drive?” the guy asks Marnie.
I smirk. He thinks it’s just going to be her, but I’m not letting this prick be alone with my girl.
“Yep, we need to stop by and see Miner. He’s going to personally check out the rig for you.”
The salesman walks off to get the keys and make a copy of both our driver’s licenses.
“Ry, you don’t need to be here.” She immediately tries to get me to leave.
“Oh yeah, I do. That fucker was checking you out.”
“He was?”
I love that she just doesn’t realize how beautiful and sexy she truly is.
Acouple of hours later, after talking him down a couple thousand and Miner confirming he’d handle all upkeep and maintenance on the rig, I watch Marnie pull out a cashier’s check and hand it to him. Once we’d negotiated the price, she had the check drafted, then ran across the street to the branch to grab it.
“Let’s go. Follow me,” I order her, and she just smiles, like she already knows what I’m going to say. “We have to go to Shock and LowLow’s. There are prewedding things they want us to help with,” I say, and her smile grows even bigger. I know she contacted my sister and talked her into making plans, blocking me from taking her out on my own like I wanted.
Again, she’s giving me hell and won’t let me be close to her.
Marnie
Iwatch my best friend vow to love the man she’s been in love with since she was a small girl. My eyes drift to Rylan. He’s not watching his sister and best friend. He’s watching me. I slowly drop my gaze, the moment heavier than I’m ready to acknowledge.
Last night, when we all came out to Sutton to get ready for the wedding, Rylan got drunk and propositioned me repeatedly.I almost gave in, but I knew if I did, I’d ruin everything I have already prepared.
My friend said he hasn’t seen any new searches, but he did notice someone else trying to cover my tracks. The only thing I can think of is Vortex, under Rylan’s orders.
My bakery has become a club hotspot, between the men Rylan has on me, the fact that Aftershock makes sure GB is always on Harley, and then there’s my newest assistant, Quinn. Gunny keeps protection on her all the time too.
As soon as she healed up, she showed up at the bakery. I hired her on the spot. She’s tall and willowy, with soft blue-green eyes that show so much emotion she tries to hide.
Quinn quickly became the third piece of our friendship. Harley and I both took her under our wings and protect her. Although Gunny doesn’t let her go far. He’s tried talking her into working at his veterinary practice, but she won’t have any of it. She told me she wants to get out on her own.
She’s staying at a small house the MC owns. Her parents don’t live up here anymore, and she’s on her own. I couldn’t stop myself from taking her in. She’s twenty-two, just a year younger than Harley. But she seems to have led a more sheltered life than either Harley or me.
“Momma,” Oly whispers from her front-row seat beside Quinn.
She reaches for me, but Rylan opens his arms, and she goes to him. My heart does that extra thump when I see them together.
