“I’m going to go and get a drink. Do you want anything?” she asked.
“I’ll take a beer, thanks.” I pulled out my wallet and she laughed and shook her head.
“I can buy my own drink, cowboy,” she laughed, and headed to the bar. and I watched her ass like a man possessed the entire time.
“Everythin’ quiet?” I asked when I finally turned back to the table, ignoring the knowing look some of my brothers shared.“And don’t fucking start with that shit. This is business—she’sjust business.”
“For now,” Moose said with a grin.
JD smoothed a hand down his beard in a pathetic attempt to wipe away his own smirk. He nodded toward Rowan. “She holding up okay?”
“Better than yesterday,” I said, pulling out my cigarettes and lighting one. I turned back to the bar where Rowan was standing, my eyes narrowing when a guy stepped up beside her.
Tall. Brown hair. Local-looking.
They hugged and something inside my chest tightened instantly.
“What’s got your attention?” Moose muttered, coming up close beside me. “Oh, now I see.”
I shoved him away. “Fuck off.”
Across the room, Rowan was laughing at something the guy said, one hand resting casually on the bar as they talked. He leaned closer to hear her over the music. It was too close for my liking.
A strange feeling curled low in my gut, sharp and possessive. And I didn’t like it one damn bit.
“You planning to go claim your girl or just keep glaring at that poor bastard in the hopes you’ll kill him off with a look alone?” Moose said dryly.
“She’s not my girl,” I replied as casually as I could, but the words came out rougher than I meant them to.
Moose smirked into his beer. “Sure. I mean, I can send over a couple of the boys if you want. Maybe she’d like club life? Piece like her hanging around the club would be good—fresh blood.”
A growl rumbled through my chest as I turned away from Rowan and glowered at Moose. “Have you been doing any work or are you just here to pull on my dick all night?”
Bear was at the table and he started laughing. “Careful, brother, you’re sounding more and more pussy-whipped by the second.”
“Never gonna happen,” I drolled.
Rowan eventually returned with two drinks in her hands. “You okay?” she asked, concern in her face. “Has something happened?”
“No. Why?” I asked. The two words were sharp enough to cut, and she flinched back from them.
“Who’s that?” I asked, gesturing toward the asshole she’d been talking to.
“Him? Oh, he’s just an old friend from high school,” she said casually as she handed me a bottle. “He runs a mechanic shop in town. Are we playing?” she asked, nodding toward the table.
I didn’t ask the guy’s name because I didn’t want to know. He could be her future and I didn’t want to fuck that up for her. Because sooner or later this thing would be over and we would all go back to our lives.
“Sure, go set up the table and I’ll be over in a minute. I just need to finish talking to JD.” I gestured toward the pool tables.
“Am I going to get to hear you sing tonight?” she asked, pointing toward the small stage.
“Maybe later, if you’re lucky.” I grinned at her, and she smiled and headed toward the pool tables. I watched her ass sashay across the room, my dick hardening in my jeans at the way her hips swayed. “Fuck me,” I grumbled.
When I turned back to JD and Bear, they both sat with knowing smirks and I rolled my eyes at them.
“Business?” I snapped, sitting down.
JD straightened his expression. “All right, all right. I’ve got a couple of guys heading out to question a couple of old-timers that used to drive trucks for us back in the day—see if they know anything, or anyone. I’ve put the feelers out on the new cartelleader, Mateo, to see if anyone knows anything more about him and see if we can maybe set up a meeting, and I’ve got Bolt looking into the device that triggered the fire in her barn. We’ve got practically everyone here tonight, and if they’re not here, they’re set up waiting at either end of the road.”
