“From a while back.”
Her eyebrows pinch like she’s trying to read us, but her focus mainly stays on him. “Well, it’s nice to meet you. I don’t know that I’ve ever met one of Chaos’s friends from outside the clubhouse. Let me know if you need anything.”
“Thanks.” My tone is as forced as my smile.
Dean watches Wren walk away, not saying anything. But it’s clear there’s tension of some sort. Not even the hot coffee scalding my tongue is enough to distract me from the awkward way they looked at each other.
“Are you two a thing?” I ask when he hasn’t stopped staring at her.
Dean turns toward me. “Me and Wren?”
“Yes, you and Wren. That was awkward. She knows we’re just friends, right? I’m not trying to get in the middle of anything you have going on.”
“You’re not.” He takes a sip of his coffee.
“Okay…” I look down the bar and notice Wren is still watching him. “Does she know that?”
He clears his throat, running his hand through his hair like he’s suddenly uncomfortable. “She knows. Wren and I aren’t a thing anymore.”
Notanymore. But clearly, that wasn’t always the case.
It’s none of my business, so I don’t push. But when a group of girls walks through the room, led by a blonde who scowls at me, I get the impression Dean might have history with quite a few of the women here.
A little knot tightens in my chest, no matter how much I try to ignore it.
“Don’t go there, Willa,” Dean says, watching me from the corner of his eye as he takes another sip of coffee.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yeah, you do.”
My back straightens, hating that it’s so easy for him to read me. Hating that I’m jealous at all. I have no right to Dean, just like he has no right to me. There’s nothing to be jealous of.
“It’s your life. You can do what you want—andwhoyou want.” Bile stings the back of my throat.
“I know. And I do.”
“Wonderful.” My voice pitches; there’s no hiding my irritation, so I change the subject. “So why am I here? I assume you have more you want to talk to me about than the karaoke machine at Ransack or your relationship status.”
“I don’t have a relationship status.”
“I don’t care.”
He chuckles, angling toward me. “All right. Ghost started digging through your list last night. He’s going to see if my attorney can use any of it. But we haven’t been able to track down Kincaid’s men. Until I do, you need to stay put.”
“Kincaid won’t hurt me.”
“Maybe not intentionally. But the guys he hired to find you clearly don’t know what the fuck they’re doing.”
“Then I’ll go back peacefully. I delivered what I needed. I’m done here anyway.”
“You’re far from done here, princess.”
“Oh yeah? Why’s that?”
Dean leans close. So close I can see every fleck of amber in his dark eyes.
“Let me make one thing clear.” His voice is smooth as honey.
