Page 50 of Property of Player

He gives me a curt nod, and I brush past him, flinging the clubhouse door wide and going to Taylor. What other bullshit has this day got in store for me? I should be happy. I should be on cloud fucking nine. I had a night of incredible sex with Taylor after all this time. And even though we got interrupted, it was still the best night of my life in fucking years.

As I approach the bar, I see my brother, Beck, laughing it up with Taylor. I shove him aside and take my spot.

My eyes land on my father. He’s staring morosely into his whiskey glass.

I still haven’t gotten to the bottom of whatever is bothering him.

Could be anything. His buddy being murdered, moving out of the home he shared with my mother all these years, worrying that Sissy hates it, worrying he fucked up… Who knows.

Maybe I just need to give him time.

Checking the clock behind the bar, I see it’s 1:00 p.m. Taylor’s shift starts at four.

I spin her on her bar stool to face me and press my forehead to hers. “How about I take you out for a nice lunch?”

“Sounds great.”

I grin. “And maybe after, we can go back to my place for an afternoon nap.”

Beck leans toward her on the other side and loudly whispers in her ear. “You know what that’s code for, darlin’.”

“Fuck off,” I snap at him, over her head. “Get your own woman.”

Taylor waggles her brows. “A nap does sound good.”

I lace our fingers together and walk her out to my bike.

As we stand strapping our helmets on, her eyes meet mine. “I overheard you talking about a trip out to California. When is that?”

“June. Lots of stuff coming up. Sissy graduates next month. Dad’s gonna throw her a party out at the beach. Then we’ve got the National Meet in Anarchy. It’s gonna be a haul, so we’ll probably leave the week before to give us plenty of time to get out there.”

“California. That’s so far.”

“Yeah.” I pull her to me. “You gonna miss me?”

“What do you think?”

“You better. Cause I’m gonna miss the hell out of you.”

I give her a kiss, we climb on the bike, and roar out of the clubhouse lot.

Chapter fifteen

Molly

“She’s graduating today. Her dad’s throwing her a party out on Slaughter Beach,” I say, watching Duck’s response.

He’s stretched out on the crappy motel bed. My car is parked outside next to his bike. It was easy to find the room he was in; all I had to do was look for his distinctive lime green Harley with the tall ape-hangers.

“Yeah? So what?”

“I’ve been doing what you said. Getting close to her.”

“You goin’ to this party?”

“It’s tricky. The club will be there. I don’t want them to know how close I’ve gotten to their little princess. I’ve been keeping it on the down-low.”

“Well, Prez isn’t ready to make a move with her yet. He’s got other things been takin’ his attention.”