I snorted, choosing not to acknowledge Cian’s childish behavior. I’d be lying if I said his jealousy didn’t make me wet. But now here I was in an elevator with a man who, while absolutely fucking hot, was in fact closer to my daughter’s age, and for that reason alone would never be someone I would sleep with.
“I’m sorry I got you involved in that.”
“Don’t apologize. I wasn’t lying when I said you were fucking gorgeous. But I knew the score as soon as he stepped into the hall. That man is obsessed with you. I knew I didn’t stand a chance.” Dread winked at me, and I smiled. “I still want to have lunch with you. Did you know Darcy? King’s mom?”
“I did. She was one of my closest friends,” I answered.
“Did you know anything about why she left?”
I shook my head. “Not at the time, no.”
“And now?”
The elevator opened, and we stepped out into the lobby, then out into the city. The motorcycle on the street was beautiful. I’d never been on one and considered, for half a second, asking for a ride. But I knew what it meant. After we learned about King, I’d done some reading into motorcycle clubs. I hadn’t met my nephew yet, but I wanted to know as much about his life as I could.
“There’s a nice place right down the street here.” I pointed it out, and Dread nodded.
We walked in silence until we entered the restaurant.
“Caity!”
I smiled at Lucy as she walked toward me, her arms open wide, engulfing me in a warm hug. Lucy Travers was an implant from the West Coast. She’d grown up in Oregon, on the outskirts of a small town. She’d always dreamed of living in the city, New York being her first choice, but like it was for many people who didn’t grow up there, she found it too overwhelming. Instead, she chose Boston.
Big-city life without big-city problems.
It was a bonus for us because the woman could cook like nothing I’d ever tasted.
“Hi, Lucy. I’d like you to meet Dread.”
Lucy looked behind me, and her eyes went comically wide. “Wow,” she whispered with awe. I shook my head.
Lucy was a few years younger than me and wasn’t hung up on one of her brother’s best friends, like I was, so I leaned forward and whispered, “After we have lunch, I’ll send him your way.”
Lucy’s smile beamed. “Follow me.”
I noticed the way Dread’s eyes followed Lucy’s ass as she walked ahead of us, and I knew he was interested. I got the impression that there weren’t many women Dread wasn’t interested in.
“Order whatever you like; it’s on me.” Lucy winked at Dread, and I swear the man blushed.
He bit his lower lip and watched her walk back to the kitchen. When he turned back to me, his mouth opened, and I held up my hand. “Let’s eat, then you can go find Lucy for dessert.”
Dread threw his head back and laughed so loud it drew the attention of the other diners.
“I like you, Caity O’Malley.”
“Well, I figure I owe you since you’re losing out on all this,” I said with a smile as I waved my hand over my body.
Dread laughed again and said, “Yup, I definitely like you.”
We ordered our food, and while we waited, we talked about why he was in Boston. He shared with me what King had asked him to do and admitted that Sal and Duncan hadn’t given him much to go on.
“In the elevator, it seemed as though you might know more than your brother.”
“I do. But what I know will change the lives of everyone who knew Darcy. And not for the better.”
“I’ll be honest with you, Caity. I count King as a friend. It’s why I took this job on personally. My club is filled with men and women with special skills for locating what no one else can. My fees are steep and they don’t always include money. I don’t normally leave Florida. I send out my club brothers and sisters depending on who has the right skill set for the job.”
I listened as Dread explained what his club did. Some of the jobs they’d completed in the past and the fees they’d acquired.
