“I’ve seen men like him before,” Jay said softly, his eyes on the man. “They’re usually power-hungry and dangerous.” And evil, he thought.
“Uncle Asher and Dan did some digging after the man came into the station to smooth things over between Lyntackyresidents and the Bandits,” Zoe added. “His name is Danny Luke, and he rolled Clover, who stepped up when Grill left, or so Dan told me.”
Jay moved to where Ryder had come to stand on the other side of the counter. Blue and Phoebe were to Jay’s right.
Looking around, Jay saw there were only a handful of people in the cafe, and all were keeping their distance.
“I’m Danny Luke.” The man held his hand out to Ryder.
“I thought we were done with you Bandits. I don’t allow trouble in here and definitely no colors,” Ryder said.
Jay turned, which put the girls behind him. The small hiss of angry breath he heard came from Blue. He was sure of it.
“I don’t want trouble,” Danny said, lowering his hand, but Jay had seen the quick flash of rage in his eyes.
“Then what do you want?”
Danny Luke looked over Jay’s shoulder at Blue and Phoebe and smiled. The look was interested.
Not fucking happening.The anger came fast and was white hot.
“Some food,” the man said, dragging his eyes from Blue.
Ryder exhaled. “If there’s no trouble, I’ll serve you, but you start anything, and you’re gone.”
Luke raised his hands, palms outward. Jay wasn’t fooled. This guy was trouble. He just hadn’t shown his hand yet, but he would.
Jay stood where he was while Ryder went around the counter and served the bikers. Blue and Phoebe never moved.
“Hi, I don’t know many people in this town because, let’s face it, the Bandits have a terrible reputation, but we’re planning to fix that. I’m Danny.”
Jay shook the man’s offered hand because he’d always been a believer in the adagekeep your friends close and your enemies closer. “I’m Jay.”
“And you ladies?” Danny said, moving around Jay before he could stop him, and the truth was, the only reason he didn’t want this man near those women was because of Blue.
She’s not your woman. You just slept with her once.
Jay didn’t move his feet but turned and watched the introductions. Neither of the women were exactly friendly, but they weren’t outright rude either.
“I’ll take three chocolate muffins and three wedges of that cake too,” Danny Luke said, pointing into the display case.
No one moved, not even the other bikers, who stood like statues a few feet away, watching while Ryder served their leader. Only after they had left did everyone else take their first real, deep breaths.
“What the actual fuck just happened?” Zoe said. “And how come you let him take all the muffins when I wanted one?”
Jay snorted, and soon everyone was laughing nervously as the roar of bikes outside signaled the departure of the Bandits.
“You need to watch out for him,” Jay said, leaning in to whisper the words in Blue’s ear.
She turned her head so their eyes met. “I can take care of myself, and I don’t need another man watching over me. I have two big brothers who do that enough.”
“I think we’ve already established that I’m not your brother,” Jay said. He then moved to the counter and willed himself not to look at Blue Jay McAllister again.
He told himself that the reaction he’d just had was normal. He’d just been protecting someone from the Bandits. But Jay knew better. He’d never felt the rush of irrational heat or need to protect like he just did seeing that shithead Bandit look at Blue.
It was because of what they’d shared. A memory would slide into his head at random times and unsettle him. The feel of her skin, warm and silky. The sound she made when he slid inside her.
“You all good there, Jay Jay? You’re looking a little flushed.”
