Chapter 11
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Maggie—
The morning sun filters in through the blinds. Warm fingers trace the skin along my ribs, followed by a soft mouth. Sweet kisses move over me, making me moan.
Keno pushes me onto my back, hovering over me, those intense caramel eyes drilling into mine.
“How did either of us ever think this could ever be just a one-night thing? I already don’t want to be away from your side.”
But someday he’ll do just that. I know it. I can’t imagine the pain when he eventually leaves town one day. I stroke the side of his face. “Me, too.”
“Come on. Let’s go get some food. I smell bacon, so someone must be cooking breakfast.”
He doesn’t wait for an answer, just pulls me to my feet.
“But I don’t have any clothes except my dress from last night.”
“Hmm. True. Wait right here.”
He slips his jeans on and disappears out the door. I grab his t-shirt from last night and drop it over my head, then go into the bathroom and do what I can with the mascara and lipstick in my tiny purse.
Keno returns in about fifteen minutes, tossing some things on the bed.
“Here you go.”
“What’s that?”
“Club merchandise. Or I can send a prospect to get your own clothes. Sorry, you’ll have to wear those heels.”
I move to the bed, picking up the items. There’s a skimpy black tank with an RBMC support logo on the front and a similar pair of black panties. There’s also a pair of soft shorts made of fleece. Across the ass it reads Property of RBMC.
I arch a brow. “Oh, really?”
Keno grins and lifts a chin. “Put ‘em on.”
I shimmy into them, pull his shirt off, and shimmy on the tight tank top. It hugs my breasts, revealing my hard nipples.
“Fucking gorgeous.”
I slip into my strappy heels.
“Hell, I’m tempted to strip you naked again.” Keno comes toward me, catching me around the waist, the heat in his eyes warning me it’s still a possibility he’ll do exactly that.
I push on his chest. “No way. I want that bacon you promised.”
“Fine.” He throws on his shirt and cut and then takes my hand. “Come on, pretty girl.”
When we come out into the main room, a long table has been set up and people are eating. Several of the women are carrying platters of food in from another room in the back, where the kitchen must be.
Keno tugs my hand, and we find two open chairs.
“Cute outfit,” Shack says to me with a grin from across the table.
“Eyes on your plate, brother,” Keno snaps, and Shack laughs.
“And here I thought you’d be in a fantastic mood this morning.”
“I am. Just keep your eyes off my girl.”
His girl. He called me his girl. It’s a small gesture and probably doesn’t mean what I hope it does, but he just said it in front of all his club brothers.
“Yes, sir,” Shack says, with two fingers to his brow.
Lola carries out a platter, then takes the empty seat next to me. The man on her other side must be her ol’ man, because she leans and kisses him. I hear her murmur about them needing to get back to their kids soon and wonder how many she has.
She turns to me. “We’re still on for lunch later, right?”
“Sure, if I can,” I say around a mouthful of scrambled eggs.
She grins and looks over my head to Keno. “Make sure she can, Keno.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Memphis takes a strip of bacon off a platter and passes it down to us, then meets Keno’s eyes.
“Rock’s coming by later to talk to you. Something about Texas.”
I frown and glance at Keno, wondering what’s in Texas. My stomach drops at the thought that he might be leaving town sooner than I’d even expected.
“Thanks,” Keno mutters, but says nothing to me.
We finish our meal, and the men cut some jokes about Keno decking an Iron Death member last night.
I don’t know why, but they seem to think it's hilarious.
Keno doesn’t laugh, just cuts a look to me, then keeps on eating.
After everyone is finished, I join the women, clearing plates, and follow them to the kitchen.
Isabella is spraying them down in a big industrial sink. She glances at me.
“Good morning. How’d you sleep?” she says with a knowing smile.
Lola sets some platters down. “Probably not much, considering how Keno was devouring her body with his eyes last night.”
I blush.
“Evelyn told me she gave you the key to Rock’s room. You used it, I take it?” Isabella asks.
“We did. It was very nice of her.”
Lola folds her arms and leans back against the sink. “So? Spill. How was it?”
“Lola! Leave the girl alone,” Isabella says, spraying her with water.
“What? If she’s gonna be a part of this family, she better learn not to be shy.”
Part of this family? Is she serious? I frown. “Has Keno said he wants that?”
“No, but it’s obvious.”
“He’s a nomad. He told me it means he doesn’t belong to any one chapter.”
“So was my ol’ man when I met him.”
“That’s true,” Isabella adds. “Memphis gave it up to stay here and join this chapter so he could be with Lola.”
Lola tilts her head. “You don’t know how he feels about you, do you?”
“Well, Keno’s always been special to me, but I don’t know if he loves me or anything. I don’t know if he feels what Memphis felt for you.”
“If it’s enough to give up the road?” she prompts.
“Yes.”
“Well, I hope it is. I like you, Maggie. And maybe with a little help from us, we can fix that.”
“I hear you run the Gaslight. Is that true?” Isabella asks.
“Yes.”
“I hear they got robbed the other night,” Lola says. “Were you there when it happened?”
“Yes. It was scary. They had guns, and I was terrified they’d shoot someone.”
“Rock’s determined to find them. They shot Darko, you know,” Lola says.
“That’s horrible. They stole so much money the other night that I can’t even pay Rock this month for the money he invested in the bar,” I say.
“I’m sure he’ll understand.”
“I entered a race. The prize money should cover the losses.”
“A race?” Lola frowns. “What do you mean?”
“Motocross. There’s a race at a track near Denver in a few weeks.”
“Get out. You ride motocross?”
“I do.”
“How did you get into that?”
“My father was Tommy Laroche. He was a champion in the sport.”
“Wow. That is so cool. And he taught you how to ride? I love that.”
“I really need to practice. Keno took me out to a track nearby the other day. It felt so good to be on my bike again.”
“I’d love to watch you ride, maybe we can come watch you practice,” Lola says.
“That would be awesome. I’d love that,” I reply.
“You know who else loves to ride motorcycles? Evelyn,” Isabella says.
“No kidding?”
“Yep. Rock hated the idea, but he caved and bought her a bike. That’s what love will do to a man,” Lola says, nudging me with her elbow. “Don’t give up hope on Keno. You two make a cute couple.”
“I haven’t seen him this happy since he’s been here,” Isabella puts in.
I take a dry dish towel and begin drying.
“When are you going to practice again?” Lola asks.
“Maybe tomorrow.”
“How about this afternoon? The track’s not far. We could ride out after lunch.”
“Are you sure?” I ask.
“Why not? We were all just going to go shopping, anyway. No big plans.”
“I’d love that.”
After we clean up, Rock and Evelyn arrive.
The girls are pulling me toward the door. “Come on. Let’s go.”
Keno walks out with us to Evelyn’s car. Tugging me against him, he gives me a long kiss.
“Have fun, Maggie. Call me later.”
“I will.” I climb into the backseat, and he watches us pull out.
“Tell me that man is not obsessed with you,” Evelyn says, meeting my eyes in the rearview mirror.
I blush.
“I’m glad to see you put that key to good use,” she says.
“We did. Thank you for that.”
“No problem. I love helping a girl out.” She winks.
“Where are we going?” Lola asks.
Isabella leans forward from her seat next to me. “Someplace with good Bloody Marys.”
“Definitely,” Evelyn replies, sliding on a pair of sunglasses. “Give us some tunes, Lola.”
“I’m on it.”
We fly down the highway, and I feel like I just found my girl gang.