He stepped away, keeping his gaze on the shower door while I scanned the truck stop and tried not to listen to his conversation.
Failed, naturally, because it sounded tense as fuck, and for once in his life, Rubi couldn’t get a word in edgeways. I watched the life drain from him, humour evaporating, big shoulders slumping, and could easily deduce that River O’Brian was breaking his heart all over again.
The call ended.
Rubi sighed and pocketed his phone.
“Bad news?”
He glanced at me and shook his head. “I texted Riv a warning to keep his head down for a while, like I always do when shit hits the fan. That was him telling me to go fuck myself.”
I winced, sympathetic but unsurprised. Cam’s younger brother was a spitfire who hated the club and being told what to do almost as much as he loved Cam, Orla, and Rubi.
That’s right. River could be as nasty as he goddamn wanted. Kid wasn’t fooling anyone except maybe Rubi.
I socked the big man’s shoulder. “I’ll help you watch him. Just give me some shifts, man.”
“Cheers, bro. Don’t really work like that, though. He can spot an MC tail a mile off and it makes him take more risks.”
“Can Alexei help? The bloke’s half ghost, I swear.”
“Maybe we should call him Casper.”
“He ain’t friendly.”
A faint smile returned to Rubi’s placid features. Then he nodded at something behind me.
At someone.
Embry.
I steeled myself, but I was unprepared for the sight of Embry emerging from the shower block, damp and shirtless, towel drying his hair while his favourite sweatpants sat sinfully low on his hips.
Kill me. Just kill me now.
Rubi snorted into a real laugh. “All right, kids. Off you fuck. I’ll watch your six.”
He gestured for us to head back to the vehicles. Embry continued on his merry way without comment.
I needed a fucking moment.
A lightning strike.
Anything to calm me the hell down.
Nothing happened, though, and unable to look away, I watched Embry cross the truck park, transfixed by his slender hips and bare back. It took an unceremonious shove from Rubi to get me moving.
I jogged to catch up.
Embry tossed me a look I couldn’t dissect but said nothing.
Suited me. I’d said enough for the both of us. And in any case, words had failed me the millisecond I’d set eyes on his bare torso.
We reached the HGV. Embry climbed up and disappeared between the seats.
I hauled myself behind the wheel.
Sat there for five whole seconds before my body moved of its own accord.
