Brandy pushes a beer over to me, and as the ladies take their shots, I tip the edge of my beer to Carver’s. “Congratulations my friend.”
The minute the ladies have downed their shot, Pearl taps her empty glass on the bar. “More for my friends!”
Brandy smiles bright and even my recruit can barely keep the edges of his lips from turning up. This time, Onyx doesn’t hesitate, just slides her glass in with the others as they do the same. The minute they’ve downed this one, my other recruit on stage puts on some party sounding song that apparently all the women love. Leave it to dipshit to know just the right tune to get them up and moving.
Pearl and Shine are out of their chairs, pulling Skye, Onyx. and the others from their seats at the bar and onto the makeshift dance floor in no time at all.
Brandy leans over the bar. “I hope you guys don’t have plans tonight because when the ladies get like this, they’re going all night long.”
I give Carver who’s wearing a huge grin watching his new ol’ lady dance with abandonment out on the floor a smile. “Who would have thought a lone wolf like you would not only find a crew but settle down and marry, too?”
He laughs but as the party song ends and a slow song comes on it’s clear his mind is on nothing but his new bride tonight. He places his beer on the bar and walks out onto the dance floor, to gather Pearl in his arms while I’m sure we all just fade away from their minds.
That’s true love. I hope it lasts. Not like mine. Some fucking perfect dream shattered all to hell. I take another sip of beer and watch as the ladies return from the dance floor laughing with half glassy eyes to give Pearl and Carver some space and commence downing another round.
Skye’s quiet at the other end of the bar but talks with Carver’s best friend Lucky and one of our new members more than most. Lucky’s a quiet one, rode with Carver back in the day before he did a stent in Florence Pen for beating up a guy who almost killed a woman. Chivalry is not dead in the west and while it got Lucky leniency it didn’t keep him from doing time.
He’s been an asset for the crew though. Keeps his mouth shut, does as he’s told and no one’s going to get near one of us without going through Lucky. Protective and loyal as they come and I’m beginning to see why Carver cares so much about him every day I get to know him better.
The minute another party song comes on and the ladies hit the dance floor Skye slides off her stool and stops by my side and leans in to whisper. “You haven’t taken your eyes off Onyx most of the day. If you want her, you’re going to have to tell her. She doesn’t trust many people though. It’s going to be an uphill climb my friend.”
Damn I didn’t think it was that fucking obvious. I take a pull on my beer watching Onyx sway to the music in those tight-fitting jeans. “What’s her story?” I ask.
Skye shakes her head. “Not my story to tell, but she’s been through the fucking ringer. Tread lightly and don’t fucking hurt her or you’re going to have an angry crew of Harlots running tread marks over your ass.”
5
ONYX
The minute the song turns slow that electric prickle lets me know Hawg is near. I turn from the ladies and into a brick wall of chest only covered by a simple black T-shirt and his cut filled with patches from over the years.
His finger tips my chin, raising my eyes to meet his. “Dance with me.” It’s not really a question if I’m being honest, or one I want to turn down either. His arms go around me, drawing me closer as he lulls me into the melody of a love song crooning through the room.
His hand lays on my lower back, guiding me with competent skill making me wonder what his story is except what I’ve heard. He’s a hard ass through and through, and I know he doesn’t back down from a rumble or from protecting people when they’re in the right. I’ve seen that firsthand when the ladies were in trouble not that long ago. Gave us refuge, a place to stay, helped us get our kidnapped ladies back, but aside from that keeps his distance.
I felt the looks, but I also heard the rumors.
A player who never dates a woman more than one time, love ‘em and leave ‘em type of guy. The kind of guy a woman like meshould stay very far away from. Because I’m never going to be cheated on again. It knocks you on your ass, absolutely crushes you in the worst of ways. And it makes you leery, especially about guys like Hawg.
Those fucking smoldering eyes though. They burn a path of heat as his gaze takes me in, turning me on the dance floor as smooth as silk. “You dance a lot?”
“Used to.”
“The Harlots and I dance a lot because…” I’m rambling. He already knows we have dances here on the weekends. He doesn’t come often but when he does I see the dancing girls giving him the smiles and batting their eyelashes at the big bad prez from the MC club down the road. None of my business. I couldn’t care less what he does in his free time.
“I’ve never seen you dancing when I’m here on the weekend.”
I shrug. “Yeah, there’s so much work to be done for the others when the club is open. The ladies and I usually dance once we’ve closed up shop for the night.”
He spins me around slowly, but then settles his hand back, keeping it pressed firmly onto my lower back. “You give everyone the cold shoulder, or just me?”
My eyes meet his. “Is that what you think I’m doing? If so, you’re wrong. There’s just no point in starting something that’s doomed to fail. I know who you are, what you’re about, and it’s just not a good fit.”
He laughs out loud, a belly chuckle that raises my ire.
“What are you laughing about?”
The warmth of his breath caresses my ear as he leans down and whispers, “You know nothing about me, sweetheart.”
