It’s after ten. Of course she’s still working.
“Wasn’t waiting for anyone,” I lie.
Kya snorts and steals my whiskey. “Sure, Stone. That’s why you’ve been staring at the door for the last hour.” She takes a sip and grimaces. “This is terrible, by the way.”
I take it back from her. “Then stop drinking it.”
She slides off the stool with a knowing look. “Just talk to her. It’s been eight months. Whatever happened between you two?—”
“There’s nothing to talk about.”
Another snort. She walks away, leaving me alone with my shitty whiskey and shittier thoughts.
Josie hasn’t come to a club celebration event in eight months—not unless one of the old ladies forced her into it. And I know exactly whose fault that is.
Mine.
We can’t.
Two words. That’s all it took to destroy whatever was building between us. I pulled her close, told her I wanted her, then shoved her away before she could even catch her breath. And she rebuilt her walls so fast I got whiplash watching it happen.
But I’m the one who handed her the bricks.
I don’t blame her. I’d have done the same thing.
But Christ, I miss her.
Not just the heat between us, though that’s there too. No, I just missher. Her sharp tongue and sharper mind. The way she calls me on my bullshit without flinching. The way she sees past the patch and the reputation to a man underneath that I’m not even sure exists anymore.
I’ve suffered through months of sitting across from her in meetings, watching her avoid my eyes, feeling the chill radiating off her like a physical force. Eight months of telling myself I did the right thing, that she deserves better, that the club has to come first.
Eight months of knowing I’m full of shit.
I take another sip of whiskey and force myself to look away from the door.
Let it go, old man. She’s not coming. And even if she did, what would you say? “Sorry I broke your heart, want to try again?”
My phone buzzes. I glance at the screen, expecting club business.
It’s a prospect.
Knox
Got a situation. Mack got himself arrested at Ole Killa. Aggravated assault. Some rich prick started harassing a woman, Mack stepped in, guy took a swing, Ricky put him down. Now the prick’s daddy is screaming for blood.
I pinch the bridge of my nose. Prospects. Every goddamn time. This is what I got for giving them the night off. A fucking migraine.
Stone
How bad?
Knox
Bad enough. He says they’re looking at AA charges. We need a lawyer, boss.
A lawyer.
The thought hits me like a bolt of lightning, and I hate myself for the relief that floods through me.
