Chapter 26 Willa
Willa
Dean grins, taking in the dingy bar. “Some things never change.”
“The day something changes in Ransack is the day all of Lanceleaf Valley falls apart.” I scan the bar until my gaze snags on a familiar dark head of hair. “Harloe?”
She spins around from where she’s standing at the bar, and her blue eyes widen as her dark ponytail whips her in the face. “Willa! I was told you left town.”
“I did.”
Dean lets my hand go so I can hug my friend.
We were inseparable when I moved here in high school. Her family’s ranch is at the opposite end of town from mine, and her father, Tony, owns Ransack.
After we graduated, Harloe moved away for college, but she would visit me and her brothers any chance she got. Still, it’s been at least six months since I’ve seen her, and it feels good to hug my best friend again.
We pull apart, and she eyes Dean, who immediately wraps his arm around me and pulls me to his side.
“Well, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes, Dean Graham. About time you got the girl.” She grins.
Harloe was always Team Dean. She hated when I chose Kincaid, even after I explained why I did it. So I know her smile is genuine.
“You got that right.” He laughs.
“Why are you here? You’ve barely visited lately; you’ve been so busy.”
“I know.” She frowns, glancing at her father down the bar. “Dad’s not doing well. My brothers have been helping out at the ranch, but I came back to help him with the bar.”
“I shouldn’t have left.” I frown. “He was doing okay a few weeks ago.”
“You deserve to live your life, Willa. Don’t apologize for that.”
“I know, but Tony was more of a father than mine growing up. I just wanted to help where I could.”
“And you did.” Harloe squeezes my hand. “I’m endlessly grateful, but I’m back now. So stop feeling guilty.”
Dean tightens his grip on me, and I look up at him. “I’m going to grab us drinks and give you a minute to catch up.”
“Thank you.” I smile as he kisses me on the forehead.
“Thank you, Dean.” Harloe practically sings it, grinning as she watches him walk away. “Girl, stop frowning and tell me how that went down. You finally did it. You left Kincaid and chose the hot brother.”
“You make it sound so dirty.”
“No.” She shakes her head. “You’re the one making it sound like that in your head. But I don’t think there’s anything wrong with what you’re doing. It was always going to be you and Dean. It was written in the stars.”
“Don’t start with the fate crap.”
“It works in funny ways.” She grins, watching Dean across the bar. “How is it possible he got hotter?”
“I have no idea, but he did, right?” He catches me checking him out and winks.
“So, are you guys together now?”
“It’s a long story that will require a lot more alcohol.”
Harloe laughs. “Well then, it’s a good thing your man is getting us drinks.”
I take a seat at the stool beside Harloe while Dean catches up with Tony at the other end of the bar, ordering our drinks.
With him out of earshot, I update Harloe on everything that’s happened after I left Lanceleaf.
Some things I leave out for the club’s sake.
It’s no secret Dean is a Twisted King. His cut is the first thing people seem to notice when they look at him.
But I don’t feel right sharing club business with anyone, even Harloe.
“Kincaid is such an asshole.” She shakes her head, frowning.
“That’s what you got from all of that? We’ve known Kincaid’s an asshole for years.”
“True. But seriously, he screwed your sister. Neither of them has limits.”
“She’s spoiled and thinks she’s owed everything.”
“Eden?” Dean asks, stopping beside me and handing me a beer.
Harloe waves out a hand. “See, he knew immediately who you were talking about.”
“It’s fine. I’m over it.”
I look up at Dean. How could I not be over it when I have him? Of all the outcomes, I’m thankful Kincaid and Eden inadvertently led me back to the man I love.
“You really were born in the middle of fucking nowhere.” A hand leans on Dean’s shoulder, and Soul steps between us. “What a cute little hometown, Chaos.”
Dean laughs, shaking his head. “What the fuck are you doing here? I thought I said I was good.”
“Figured if there was any chance of trouble, we couldn’t let you have all the fun. Especially with Venom’s nine lives. He’s grabbing food.”
“Nine lives?” My eyebrows pinch.
“I’ll tell you later.” Dean shoves Soul out of the way to pull me closer. “Stop blocking my girl.”
Soul glances around, his gaze fixing on Harloe.
“Soul, this is my best friend, Harloe,” I introduce them.
“Damn, they make them pretty in Texas.” Soul grins, kissing the back of her hand and flirting like he always does.
“I hope you’re not planning to crash at the ranch,” Dean says to Soul. “There’s only one couch, and you’re not sharing our bed.”
“Nah, we got rooms at the motel around the corner. No way in hell am I listening to you two fuck all night.”
“Says the guy always fucking in the middle of the clubhouse and forcing us all to watch?” Dean hitches an eyebrow, and Soul laughs.
But I don’t know what he’s talking about because I haven’t seen Soul with anyone at the clubhouse. If anything, Soul seems to keep to himself. And while he’s flirty, I’ve never seen him actually take a girl up on her offer for him to leave with her.
I guess I’ve only been there for a month, so what would I know?
“I need a fucking beer.” Soul scans the bar. “Or a shot. That was a long-ass ride.”
“You’re from Vegas too?” Harloe asks.
“Born and raised.” Soul stands up taller. “I’m grabbing drinks if you want to get a table.”
Dean nods as Soul heads toward where Tony is serving drinks at the bar.
“Want to go sit?” He asks.
“I think I’ll stay here for a minute longer so we can gossip about you.” I smile up at him.
“Is that so, princess?”
I nod.
He kisses me on the center of the forehead, leaving me at the bar to catch up with my friend.
“What the hell was that?” Harloe fans her face.
“A kiss?”
“Not that. Them.” She waves her hand at Dean and then Soul, who is balancing shots on his way toward the table. “You did not tell me they made bikers that hot in Vegas. Maybe I should move there too.”
“I didn’t say I was moving.”
She rolls her eyes. “Whatever you say.”
I open my mouth to argue but stop myself when my eyes land on Dean. If he asks me, I’ll move.
If he wants me to stay, I’ll stay.
I’d do just about anything for that man. I’m finally happy, and I’m not letting that go.