CHAPTER ELEVEN
Starlet
His unexpected presenceis throwing me off in a big way—like I want to run as fast as I can and never look back. My heart skips a few beats and my mouth goes instantly dry. Now I have no choice but to leave Juanita’s. She can’t afford to let me stay, not with another biker sniffing around.
She left her old man on uncertain terms, though under better circumstances than mine. Her ex replaced her quickly, giving her the freedom she needed to start over. Not me. I’m Devil’s Crusaders royalty.
Juanita breaks the awkward silence and directs my customer to the register. I still can’t look Brick in the eyes, so I just stand there like an idiot, waiting for something to happen.
Once my customer leaves the shop, Juanita locks the door behind her and turns back to me. “I couldn’t get the asshole to leave,” she says, throwing Brick a fuck-you look.
“Is that how you treat all of your customers?” he asks. “No wonder this place is fucking deserted.”
They stare at each other for a long minute before I finally find the courage to speak up. “I’m okay, Juanita. I’ll take care of him.” She studies me, then nods. “I’ll be in my office. He paid for a session, so give him the VIP treatment. Tell him the worst of it, that he’s going to be burned at the stake, his cut stripped off his body and shit on by rabid dogs.”
I watch as she walks down the hallway, leaving me to face the biggest mistake of my life.
“Why’d you lie to me, Starlet?” Brick asks.
“I-I don’t know…” It’s the truth. I never expected to see him again, especially in Shreveport. “I don’t like surprises.” I meet his intense gaze, those eyes burning holes in my already damaged soul.
“I could give a fuck about you not liking surprises… you lied. I deserve an honest answer.”
He shifts on his booted feet, disappointment written all over his handsome face.
“I moved to Shreveport to get lost.”
“Why? Who are you running from?”
I hug my middle, uncomfortable with his questions. “Wouldn’t it be easier to walk through that door and never look back? I didn’t promise you anything, Brick. We slept with each other, nothing more.”
He chuckles. “That’s what I thought at first.” He reaches inside his vest and pulls out a folded piece of paper. I groan as he opens it, recognizing my own handwriting. “This note says different.”
“Another mistake.” I toss the explanation at him with a shaky voice.Stupid liar, I tell myself, knowing he’ll see right through my useless defensive wall. “I was caught up in the moment. Orgasms can do that to a girl.” I force a smile.
He takes a step closer, reaching for my face. I flinch, retreating several feet. “Don’t.”
“Don’t what?”
“Touch me.”
“Okay.” He spreads his arms wide. “I’m not here to hurt you. Just want to know what’s going on.”
“Nothing you need to worry about. Please…” I beg, my voice coming out as a whisper. “Pretend we never meant.”
“I can’t do that, Starlet.”
I roll my eyes, trying to force the memory of being naked with him from my mind. But I can’t. I know what’s hidden beneath his layers of leather and denim. Muscles and ink—all brother—all bad ass biker. “You paid for a reading.”
“Yeah,” he says dismissively. “Already told you I’m not into that shit. Keep the money.”
“No.” I head for the register but he catches my arm, his hand light on my skin. I close my eyes, his touch hard to resist. “I’m sorry.”
He reels me in slowly. “Does this have anything to do with the property of the Devil’s Crusaders tat on your left shoulder?”
Jesus Christ. I whip around, knowing I took extra care to cover my tattoo with waterproof makeup. How did he see it in the dim lighting of our hotel room? And my hair—it covered it so well. I swallow hard, staring up at him—mesmerized and afraid. Brothers protect the interests of brothers, even if they’re from rival clubs. “Get out!” I want him to go away, need him to.
He shakes his head and clutches my upper arms, holding me in place. “Whose old lady are you?”
