“Oh, she has some fire in her,” Cherry remarked to another club whore, who chuckled.
“It’s just odd, you know,” Cherry said.“Wolf’s not exactly known for bringing women back here.You must be something special to him.”
Jade met her gaze, steady.
“I’m not,” Jade said shortly.“And if you’ll excuse me, I need to go back to work.”
Something flickered in Cherry’s eyes.Surprise, maybe, or irritation.
“Careful,” Cherry said lightly.“You don’t want to get on the wrong side of people here.”
Jade tightened her grip on her tray.“Warning noted,” Jade said.
She turned and walked away, pulse thudding harder than she wanted it to.I can survive this, the words settled in her mind, firm and steady.Luckily, Jade managed to avoid any further incidents like that for the rest of the night.As her first shift was coming to an end, she thought she heard Wolf’s voice nearby.
Jade glanced up and spotted him.Wolf stood near the back, talking to another biker.She didn’t mean to eavesdrop on them—heck, she barely understood what they were talking about.Jade did note that Wolf’s voice was unmistakable.It was controlled and neutral like before.
Nice to know he talks the same way to everyone, she thought.Lana called her name, and Jade was about to head that way when she sensed his gaze on her.Feeling like a deer caught in headlights, Jade looked right at Wolf, as if his stare had some strange magnetic pull on him.
Lana asked if she was Wolf’s girl.Cherry had been strangely curious about Jade’s relationship with the cold-hearted bastard as well.Worse, throughout the night, some of the bikers had asked that exact same question.That grated on Jade’s nerves.
Still, when he held her gaze, she let out a little breath.Wolf didn’t approach her or say anything to her.He merely gave her a small nod of acknowledgement.Nothing more.Then he was back to his conversation like she didn’t matter.
Frustration welled in her as she remembered their last conversation, with Wolf asking her if she knew where the MC clubhouse was.Did he really think Jade wasn’t going to turn up today?
Well, whatever.Wolf’s dismissive nod reminded her that this was merely a temporary arrangement.Jade was there to pay off a debt.There was nothing more between them.Did some part of her hope that maybe there was the possibility of more?
Maybe, but that was the naive part of her talking.Jade did momentarily think there was some connection between them before, but that was just her exhausted mind playing tricks on her.
She tightened her grip on the tray and moved toward her next table.It was only half an hour left until her shift ended and she could see Jane again.
When her shift finally ended, immense relief swept through Jade.She really made it through without any more conflicts or arguments.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Lana said, already turning away.
Jade nodded, barely hearing her.Her mind was already elsewhere, back to her small dimly lit apartment, and Jane.The thought of holding her again pulled at her chest, urgent and steady.Home sweet home.
She pushed through the clubhouse doors, the night air hitting her like a reset button.Jade inhaled deeply, then froze.
Wolf was leaning against one of the bikes, like he’d been waiting.
Her stomach tightened, something uneasy flickering to life again.
“What are you doing here?”Jade asked.
“I’ll take you back,” Wolf simply said.
“I can get home on my own,” she said .
Wolf straightened slowly, his gaze settling on her.“It’s late,” he said.“It’s a long walk.”
“I’ll take the bus,” Jade insisted.
Wolf’s expression didn’t change.“The last one left an hour ago,” he told her.
Jade stilled.Damn it.She hadn’t checked.Jade tightened her jaw as she glanced toward the road beyond the lot, already calculating.It was a long walk, and it would be dangerous out there.
She didn’t want to accept.Jade didn’t want to owe him anything more than she already did.
