Then I got stuck on Stevie, and I didn’t have eyes for anyone else. Pining for a woman I couldn’t have. She was just as deeply entrenched in this lifestyle as I was. Fighting to earn her place among the Desert Howlers MC. I didn’t have to sugarcoat anything involving the club because we were in it together.
But Keely was sweet, bubbly, and full of joy. Club life could be rough, dangerous. She might have second thoughts and decide to back out. I had to be prepared for that.
“Can I take you to dinner?” I asked. “Tonight. Seven o’clock.”
Keely made a noise of surprise. “We just saw each other last night.”
“I know. But I thought we should make this thing between us official with a proper date.”
She hummed. “I like the sound of that. Keep talking, big guy.”
Big guy.
The breath rushed out of me at those words. I closed my eyes, attempting to cool the hot blood that raced south below my belt.
“How about the Old Spruce Pub? I’ll make reservations. Unless you prefer something more casual, like Pepper’s Pizzeria.”
“As much as Ilovepizza,” Keely replied. “I’m not looking for casual here.”
I smiled to myself. “Me neither. Glad we’re on the same page.”
For the rest of the day, a low boil of anticipation simmered in my stomach. Rummaging through my moving boxes for clothes, I found a brand new pair of jeans that I’d only worn once or twice, and a dark green button-down shirt. I wouldn’t be wearing my cut tonight, which felt strange, as if I was leaving behind a piece of myself.
“Honey, I’m home,” Teddy called with his usual level of little brother sarcasm. “I grabbed some groceries and I thought we could grill burgers on the barbecue—”
He broke off when I rounded the corner. His eyebrows shot up and he let out a low whistle.
“Well, hot damn. You’re looking classy as fuck, brother. I take it you’re meeting up with Keely?”
I nodded, scrubbing my sweaty palms on my jeans in an attempt to quell my nerves.
“I really,reallylike her, Teddy.”
He softened slightly, his expression sincere. “Then I hope she feels the same way about you.”
A beat of silence settled over the kitchen. Then Teddy grinned.
“Don’t forget to use protection when you two have all that sweaty, baby-making sex. Oh, and remember that condoms can fail. And you should totally name your firstborn after me.”
I groaned and shoved him in the shoulder.
“You’re disgusting.”
Teddy laughed as I headed for the door.
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you!”
Chapter six
Keely
“Wow,” Tarzan rasped when I found him waiting for me at the curb, right on time. His gaze roamed over me from head to toe, drinking me in. “You look fuckingincredible.”
I blushed, pleased at his appraisal. Working in the diner, I didn’t have much room for self-expression when it came to my standard uniform. All I could get away with were my pin-up curls and some lipstick and eyeliner.
But on a date, I loved to get dolled up as much as possible.
Tonight, I’d chosen a pink flared skirt with rose buds along the hem, cinched at the waist with a little black belt. My vintage T-strap heels were pink and white, with little bows on them. My off-the-shoulder black blouse felt a little scandalous and inviting—exactly the vibes I wanted to convey when I was in Tarzan’s presence.
