“That's amazing.” Maria works hard. She deserves it. “Tell her congrats from me.”
“I will. So how's your little charity thing going?”
Your little charity thing. Notyour joboryour career. Your little charity thing, like it's a hobby. Like I'm playing at being a grown-up.
“It's going well. I secured a big partnership today, actually. A local MC is going to help with the Valentine's event.”
“MC?”
“Motorcycle club.”
A pause. “Bikers? Karina, is that safe? I don't want you getting mixed up with dangerous people. You know how you can be.”
“Be?”
“You trust too easily, sweetheart. You always have. Remember that roommate situation in college? And that awful boyfriend who borrowed money?”
My face burns. “That was years ago.”
“I just worry. Your sister is so good at reading people, but you've always been more... open. It's a lovely quality, but it makes you vulnerable.”
Dolly has climbed onto the bed and is staring at me with something that looks almost like sympathy.
“I should go, Mom. I have to get ready for a meeting.”
“Of course, of course. Love you, sweetheart. Be careful.”
I hang up and sit on the edge of the bed. The jeans are still lying on the chair, but now they look foolish. A little girl playing dress-up. What am I doing? Clay is intense and powerful. He probably has gorgeous women throwing themselves at him constantly.
Dolly nudges my hand with her cold nose.
“You're right,” I say. “That was a spiral.”
She huffs in agreement.
Screw it. If I'm going to make a fool of myself tomorrow, I'm going to do it looking like me.
Chapter Four
CLAY
“Let me get this straight.” My twin brother Colt leans back in his chair, boots propped on the table in the clubhouse's meeting room. “Chet Morgan is back in town, running a fake charity, and you volunteered us to help with his Valentine's Day scam?”
“I volunteered us to help with the event.” I pour two fingers of whiskey and slide one glass across the table to my twin. “So I can keep eyes on the situation and protect the woman he's using as his front.”
“The cute one in the pink dress?”
I don't answer. Colt grins. He's got the same build as me, the same jaw, but his hair is longer and his whole demeanor is looser. People always say I got the storm and he got the sunshine. It's annoying as hell, mostly because it's true.
“Viper told me about the hug,” he says.
“Viper needs to learn to keep his fucking mouth shut.”
“You held this woman for a full minute in front of the whole club.” Colt takes a sip of his whiskey, eyes gleaming. “That ain’t reconnaissance, Clay… that's you getting soft.”
“It's protection.” I drain my glass. “She has no idea what Chet Morgan is. When his house of cards falls, she's the one who'll take the hit. I'm not going to let that happen.”
Colt studies me for a long moment. The teasing fades from his expression.
