Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
Maggie—
Keno is picking me up any minute for the clubhouse party.
Checking my reflection in the mirror, I bite my lip. The party dress I have is more nightclub than biker club, but they did say it was a birthday party for Rock’s ol’ lady, and I have seen her out in the bar with him a time or two and she always dresses to the nines. Plus, she’s gorgeous.
I don’t have anything that will go with jeans besides some t-shirts or sweaters, and it’s too warm for sweaters. I’ve always been more of a sweatshirt kind of girl.
This is the only fancy outfit I have, and I only have it because I was invited to a party at Club Rico last year. It’s a silver sparkly number that falls to mid-thigh.
The shoes I bought to go with it are high heels with a dozen black suede straps and a zipper up the heel. They look killer and make my legs look long and lean.
It’s the best I can do.
I run a hand through my blonde curls and put on some dark eyeshadow.
A knock at the door has me rushing. I grab a bottle of perfume and spritz, then hurry out to answer.
When I swing the door wide, Keno stands there in his usual attire.
His eyes trail down my body.
“Wow. You look sexy as hell.”
For some reason he doesn’t look too pleased, and I swallow.
“Is it wrong? Should I change?”
“Nope. You’ll be the prettiest girl there. Come on.”
He leads me downstairs, and I pause at his bike, wondering how I’m going to ride it.
“Maybe I didn’t think this through.”
He grins and passes me a helmet. “Too late now.”
“But how will I ride?”
“Just hike your skirt up and climb on,” he says, swinging his leg over.
I bite my lip.
“Be brave, Six.”
With that, I climb on and scoot close to him so no one can see up my skirt.
Fifteen minutes later, we pull into the clubhouse lot.
It’s packed with bikes and vehicles, reminding me that this is an open party.
Keno finds a parking spot and backs in.
I climb off and Keno takes my hand.
“Slow,” I say. “Gravel is not made for heels.” I teeter on four-inch spikes, grabbing Keno’s arm to keep from falling.
“I can solve that problem.” Keno sweeps me into his arms, and I squeal.
“Don’t drop me.”
He stares into my face. “You really think I would ever drop you?”
He sets me on my feet when we reach the long, covered porch. Music throbs through the air the minute we’re through the door. The place is packed, and he takes my hand.
I follow behind his broad shoulders as he makes a path for us to the bar.
We weave our way through the crowd to the far end, where I see Rock holding court with his officers around him.
It’s crowded at the bar.
“Let’s find a table. Come on.” Keno takes my hand and leads me through the crowd. There’s a bunch of tables pushed together to the side of the big room, and with a jerk of his chin, the people sitting there clear out, taking their drinks with them.
Keno takes a seat at the end, pulling a chair out for me to sit next to him.
“Why did they do that?” I lean to whisper.
“Because I’m a Royal Bastard and they’re just a bunch of hang-arounds.” Then he motions over a prospect from behind the bar, who hurries over.
“Yes, sir?”
“Get us some drinks. What do you want, Maggie?”
“Um.” I hesitate, wondering what mixers they have.
“What’s your favorite drink?” Keno asks.
I look at the prospect. “Do you think I could get a Tequila Sunrise?”
The prospect leans his hands to his knees, dipping his head to hear me. “What’s in it?”
He looks about twenty, and I’m not surprised I have to explain it. “Tequila, orange juice, and grenadine.”
The kid taps out a note into his phone of everything I tell him.
Keno grabs the kid’s sleeve in his fist. “If you don’t have all that, go get it. Understand?”
“Yes, sir.”
Rock stops by our table, his eyes hitting me. “Thanks for coming, Maggie. And thanks for going to all the trouble of dressing up so pretty. I don’t think I’ve ever properly introduced you to my ol’ lady.” He turns and motions over the crowd’s heads. A moment later, she makes her way to his side.
She’s beautiful in a satin red mini dress and heels.
“Evelyn, this is Maggie from the Gaslight Pub. Maggie, Evelyn.”
She extends her hand, and I take it.
“Happy birthday. You look beautiful,” I say.
“So do you. I love that dress.” She slides in the seat next to me, and Rock takes a chair next to Keno.
“I’m so glad you could come,” Evelyn says. “We definitely have to get together. The girls are taking me out tomorrow for lunch. You must join us.”
I glance at Keno and Rock, then back to her. I wasn’t expecting this. “Um, sure. That would be lovely.”
Rock takes her hand. “Come on, babe. Your father just arrived.”
They move off toward the door.
“Well, she sure took to you,” Keno says with a grin.
“Are you pleased?” I ask.
“Definitely. Can I let you in on a secret?”
My brows lift. “Sure.”
“Today’s my birthday, too.”
My mouth goes slack. “Are you serious? How did I not know that?”
He shrugs. “It’s no big deal.”
“It is.”
The prospect brings my drink and Keno’s beer.
I lift my glass. “Here’s to you. Happy birthday, Keno.”
“Thanks.” He clinks his bottle to my glass. He leans closer to me. “I love that dress, Maggie, but any guy in here lays a hand on you, I’ll have to kill him.”
I roll my eyes. “No, you don’t.”
He flashes his teeth at me. “I do. So do me a favor and don’t smile at anyone else. Deal?”
“Deal.”
We both drink to that.
“How’s your drink?” Rock asks. “Did that kid get it right?”
“It’s delicious.”
“Good.”
After a while, I excuse myself and ask where the bathroom is.
Keno snags a woman’s hand. “Hey, Lola. Show Maggie where the restroom is, will ya?”
“Sure thing, Keno.” She smiles at me. “Come on, doll. It’s this way.”
She’s a tall blonde with long legs and hair to her ass. I follow her down a hall that’s much quieter.
“Who are you here with?” I ask.
“I’m Rock’s daughter. My ol’ man is Memphis.”
“Oh, wow. I had no idea Rock had a daughter.”
“Yep. So, you and Keno?”
“Well, he’s an old friend from home.”
“Really? And where is home?”
“Just outside New Orleans?”
“Did you date?”
“Us? No. He was my two older brothers’ best friend.”
She gives me a wink. “Oooh. The older brother’s best friend. That’s hot.”
“We were never an item. I mean there was one kiss, but that was it.”
“Well, it looks like that’s not it anymore. That boy is hot for you.”
“No, you’re mistaken.”
She arches a brow. “I don’t think so. That boy was looking at you like you were the only woman in the room.”
“I’m sure you’re wrong.”
“Wanna make a bet? Ten bucks says he makes a move on you tonight.”
“Are you serious?”
“As a heart attack. You better be nice to him, or you’ll break his heart.”
“I doubt that, though I did have a huge crush on him when I was a teenager.”
“I’ll bet. He’s a good lookin’ guy.”
“Want to know a secret?”
“What’s that?”
“I know this party is for Rock’s ol’ lady, but today is Keno’s birthday, too.”
“Really?” she replies with a grin. “Hmm. I wonder if the guys know.”
The door to the restroom opens, and a woman walks out.
“Isabella, have you met Maggie?” Lola says, introducing me to the dark-haired beauty who extends her hand. “She’s my brother’s wife,” Lola continues.
“Nice to meet you,” I say.
“We’re having lunch tomorrow. You should totally come with if you’re free,” Lola says.
“Are you going with Evelyn? She already invited me,” I reply.
“Wonderful. Well, I’ll leave you to it.” She loops arms with Isabella, and they walk down the hall. I overhear Lola whisper to her.
“Guess whose birthday it is besides Evelyn’s?”
I slip in the door, wondering if maybe I shouldn’t have said anything. It sounds like that bit of news is going to spread through the clubhouse in a matter of minutes. I hope Keno doesn’t kill me.
When I return to the table, Keno’s doing shots with a couple of his brothers, Utah and Baja, and Shack. A bottle of bourbon sits on the table.
Keno’s eyes meet mine. “Seems someone spilled the beans, and my brothers came to do shots with me for my birthday.”
I wince. “Sorry. I guess I let it slip to Lola.”
“Well, that explains why the entire clubhouse knows,” Utah says with a laugh.
Keno’s eyes darken. He has such an intimidating presence, but right now I feel that entire facade dropping away, like he’s letting the mask he wears slip to reveal the lonely man underneath.
The clubhouse is loud and crowded, but with his eyes on mine it suddenly feels like we are the only ones in it.
I finally tear my gaze away and clear my throat. “These parties get pretty wild, huh?”
“Any excuse for a party with this bunch. Gotta blow off steam every now and then,” Utah says.
I lean closer to Keno. “Do you like these parties?”
“Not especially.” He pours me a shot. “Here.”
“I’m not really a shot kind of girl.”
He lifts his glass. “You can’t say no. It’s my birthday.”
I tilt my head.
He grins. “If you don’t drink with me, I’ll make you sing to me.”
I smile and clink my glass to his. “Cheers.”
He holds my eyes for a long moment.
Some women come and drag the men off, and they leave us alone at the table.
Keno grabs the legs of my chair and drags it around to face him until my knees are between his spread ones.
A thrill shoots through me.
He leans forward, his elbows on his knees, bringing his broad shoulders and head so close I can hardly breathe. I’m sure we’re attracting attention, but I can’t look away from his penetrating stare.
“Ever have a one-night stand, Maggie?” His voice is a deep, decadent, rumbly thunder that shoots a zing straight to my core.
I shake my head. “My brothers would have killed any man who tried.”
Keno nods. “I suppose they would have when you were younger. I would have, too, but you’re a grown woman now.”
He releases my chair and settles those big palms on my knees. Heat radiates into my skin. They move up and curl around my bare thighs, just above my knees. How much farther will he go? I can’t drag my eyes from his, which are right now staring at my mouth. Is he going to kiss me?
He leans closer until I can feel his breath on my face and smell the leather of his cut mixed with the bourbon he drank.
His thumbs begin rubbing circles on the inside of my thighs in slow, sensual motions, and suddenly all I can think about is those thumbs doing that over my clit. Is he thinking about that, too? My heart is pounding.
A chair at the table scrapes across the floor, breaking the spell.
It’s Rock.
Keno straightens, his attention on his president.
“Come with me, Keno.”
Rock grabs the chair and carries it toward the center of the room.
Keno frowns, gives me a shrug, and follows.
Rock drops the chair, and the crowd moves back. “Have a seat, Nomad.”
Keno does as he’s told.
“We hear tell it’s your birthday, Nomad.
” Then Rock snaps his fingers, and a driving beat starts up.
A moment later I see a woman strut out dressed in just a tiny gold bikini with tassels hanging from her tits.
She looks like she could be one of the dancers from up at the Cherry Bomb, and I wonder if she is.
She straddles Keno’s lap and begins moving her body over him.
I get up from the table and move to the bar, having no desire to watch.
Lola moves in next to me. “Sorry about this. I didn’t mean for this to happen. The guys just sort of took the ball and ran with it.”
“Sure,” I bite out.
“You’re pissed. I get that. I would be, too, but that boy is not into that girl. Look at him, he’s barely looking at her.”
“Thanks, I’d rather not,” I say, keeping my back to the room.
Evelyn moves in on my other side, and I glance at her. “Sorry. He’s stealing your party.”
“Don’t worry about it. The boys are just having a bit of fun. They had to do something for his birthday, and this is what men come up with when left to their own devices.”
“Great.”
“Let it slide.” She passes me a key.
“What’s that for?”
“Rock keeps a room here. We’re not using it tonight. The sheets are clean. I’m just offering it if you want to use it. You decide.” Then she walks away.
I look at Lola, who grins.
“Lucky you.”
“I told you it’s not like that. We’ve never…”
“Well, I think that boy would love for it to be “like that”. So, if you want to give him a birthday he’ll never forget, use the key.” She shrugs. “Or don’t. It’s up to you.”
She walks off, and I’m left staring at the key.
“What can I get you, ma’am?” a prospect asks from behind the bar.
“Just some water, please.”
“Give me two shots of tequila,” a man says, moving in next to me, taking the spot where Lola had been standing.
I notice his cut has another club’s name on the back. Iron Death MC.
He looks at me. “Name’s Ox. What’s yours?”
“Maggie. Are you friends with the Royal Bastards?” I ask, lamely.
He grins, and his teeth flash behind his dark beard. “Evelyn is the daughter of our president. So, naturally, we came for her birthday.”
“Oh, I see. Where from?”
“Utah.”
“Wow, that’s a ride, huh?”
The prospect brings the two shot glasses and bottle of Tequila.
Ox tips it up and fills them both, then slides one toward me. “To Evelyn.”
I can’t very well not drink to Rock’s ol’ lady, so I take the shot and down it. Then make a face.
Ox grins and passes me a lime.
I bite into it and the prospect slides a glass of water in front of me with a wink.
“Thanks,” I gasp and down a good portion.
Ox puts his elbows on the bar and leans closer. “You’re really cute. I like that dress.”
A moment later, a hand grabs his collar and jerks him backward.
I see a flash of Keno’s face before his fist plows into Ox’s face.
The man staggers back and falls to the floor out cold.
Keno shakes out his hand, and suddenly Royal Bastards and Iron Death club members are squaring off until Rock whistles sharply.
“Knock it off. You two take it outside.”
Ox is still lying on the floor, shaking his head like he’s wondering what happened.
Keno’s dark eyes land on me, and he grabs my hand. “Come on.”
And then we’re moving through the crowd toward the front door.