“Hey,” Candy greeted us breathily, glancing around. “Where did your ol’ lady go?”
My chest flared with annoyance, and I bit out, “She’s not my ol’ lady.”
“Right,” she murmured, her eyes sliding between me and Boot. She trailed a finger down Bootneck’s arm. “You boys wanna go somewhere for some private time?”
Boot got up from his stool, fisted the back of Candy’s blonde hair, and touched his mouth to hers. “I think you should come into our office, darlin’. It’s time for your performance review.”
“You coming, Prez?” Candy asked, her tone filled with innuendo as she looked at me expectantly.
I drained my beer, placing it back on the bar top, my stare resting on Aislynn’s cell. Picking it up, I weighed it in my hand while I glanced at the exit.
“Luiz,” I called to the bartender. “Call the clubhouse and let Scrap know Aislynn left her cell here. Tell him I said to come get it for her.”
Luiz took the phone from me with a nod.
I clambered to my feet, my body tensing like a coil as Candy burrowed under my arm. The three of us turned to head for the offices at the back of the club, and Bootneck grabbed Candy by the back of her neck, angling her face up to drop another kiss on her mouth. As soon as he let go, she leaned up and pulled my head down and kissed me, her lips pressing against the side of my jaw.
My gut twisted, and I jerked my head away, growling, “Don’t fuckin’ touch me again.”
Boot chuckled and gave her ass a loud slap, just as we approached the door that led to the back office. “S’okay, Candy. You can touchmeall you like, darlin’.”
Her answering giggle was so jarring, I almost shuddered.
Boot grabbed the handle and held the door open, ushering us through and giving Candy’s ass another love tap as she walked past. He grinned at me. “Stick with me, Prez. I’ll make sure you’re sleepin’ like a baby as soon as your head hits the pillow.”
The door clicked closed behind us, and something tugged inside, pulling me back. The sick feeling in my gut intensified, but as I went to turn back, Candy grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the office.
I should have listened to my instincts, turned my ass around, and headed back to the bar. I was a Marine for twelve years; the only reason I was still alive was that I listened to my goddamned gut.
Maybe I was exhausted and being sloppy, because usually, I would’ve been aware of my surroundings, and also the dark blue-eyed beauty who, unbeknownst to me, was watching my every move.
CHAPTER 11
AISLYNN
“Won’t be long,” I called out to Scrap, throwing a smile his way.
“Not goin’ anywhere, babe,” he called out the window, shaking his head at me like I was a kid who forgot to pack her homework for school.
I was always leaving my phone places, but that night I hadn’t taken a purse out, so I left it on the bar with Pagan for safekeeping while I was dancing with the girls. Scrap and I were almost back at the clubhouse by the time I realized I’d left it behind.
Greeting the guys at the entrance, I waited for Bounty to hold the door open for me, shooting him an appreciative grin. I walked in and went to the bar, then, seeing it was empty, I did a quick scan of the place and stopped dead.
Pagan was walking across the room with Bootneck, and he had his arm around Candy, one of the strippers.
I watched, confused as Boot leaned down, grabbed her face, and kissed her. And then, my brain exploded as she leaned up and kissed Pagan on the mouth.
My breath caught in my throat.
What the fuck?
“It doesn’t mean anything, Ash,” a soft voice said from behind me.
I whirled around to see Roxanne standing there, her eyes glued on the scene.
“Where are they going?” I whispered, feeling all color drain from my face.
“Back office,” she informed me dryly. “That’s where they take all the girls when they wanna have their fun. Nox goes there with his side chicks, too—not that he’s aware that I know.”
