Jack.
He’s clearly contacted Vani, or one of the others, and told them what’s happened, and that I’m safe.
I’m still a little hurt that no one has been in touch, but I guess it’s a good thing, really, as it means rumors aren’t flying around about me and Ledger. Has Ledger even gone back there? He’d be an idiot to do so, but where else would he go? I mean, he fuckingshotat me. What the hell had he been thinking? He surely hadn’t been rational. His dick must have taken control of his brain and common sense had vanished.
A light knock comes at the door, and my heart jumps. My stomach flutters with butterflies, and I hurry to answer it, hoping to see Jack again, despite myself. But when I pull the door open, I discover someone else.
The guy standing on the porch is around my age. He’s tall, about six feet, though everyone seems tall to me, and has dirty blond hair that’s a little too long and messy. He wears blue jeans and the leather cut that seems common for this motorcycle club. I notice his cut doesn’t have allthe patches that the others do, though. One badge does catch my eye—one that says ‘prospect.’ I search my brain for the meaning of it. Does that mean he’s not a full member of the club yet? I’m not sure, but I think I recall reading that when I’d been obsessively googling MCs due to my Jack crush.
“Oh, hey.” His eyes are bright blue and kind. “Jack’s been called away, but he asked me to take you over to the canteen for breakfast.”
I’m kind of disappointed that Jack didn’t stay outside my door, but I guess it’s a good thing. It must mean he believes I’m safe. “The canteen?”
“Yeah, it’s nothing fancy, but they do have good coffee and a breakfast sandwich.” He gives a shrug. “Bikers take a lot of feeding.”
“Oh, I don’t really do breakfast.”
He widens his eyes at me. “You don’t say no to Jack.”
I can’t help scoffing a little. “Really? He’s going to make me eat breakfast?” I picture him sitting opposite me, feeding me pieces of muffin, holding my chin until I chew and swallow, then opening up to show him my mouth is empty.Holy fuck. Why does that send a direct ping between my thighs? That man has me all kinds of messed up.
“Err, no, but if I don’t take you over there like he says, then I’ll be the one who gets in trouble.”
He seems young and slightly off kilter, like he hasn’t quite found his feet yet. He reminds me of myself, and I can’t help but smile. “I wouldn’t want to get you in trouble with Jack. Just let me put on my shoes.”
He blows out a breath and rakes his hand through his hair. “Phew, thanks.”
The movement lifts the arms of his t-shirt, and I spotwhat looks to be homemade tattoos snaking around his bicep. Are those prison tattoos? Okay, so maybe he’s not as harmless as he looks.
The only shoes I have are my stupid high heeled pumps, but I put them on. They at least make my five feet three seem a little taller. Scooping up my purse, I leave the room and pull the door shut behind me.
“This way,” he says.
I wobble over the uneven ground, and he holds out his elbow to me.
“I’m good, thanks,” I say, not wanting to link arms with a biker I don’t know while on Jack’s compound. Although maybe it would make him jealous. After all, I got the impression he was with Ace in my room last night.
He jerks his elbow back at me. “I won’t bite, I promise.”
“I don’t normally hook arms with strange men.” I bat my eyes a little to show I am kind of joking, except my father would be pissed at me for doing it, so there’s that.
“I think we’ve met before. Were you at that party at Verona Falls University?”
“Yeah, that’s right. You were there with Jack?”
It’s a question. I’m not sure I noticed him, which I feel bad about. Jack did bring a few of his crew, though, and I was kind of distracted.
“I was, which means we’re not total strangers, right?”
I let out a small laugh and take his arm. “I guess not.”
His gaze drifts over my bandages, but he doesn’t mention them.
“I’m Rook,” he tells me. “Well, that’s not really my name, but that’s what everyone calls me.”
“How come?”
He shrugs the shoulder of the arm I’m not holding on to and gives a half smile. “I’m the new guy. The Rookie.”
