Chapter Fifteen #2
Lindsey scoffed. “Even if he is, something isn’t right. This won’t be the time for flirting, Mel.”
Shrugging, Melody sipped her iced tea. “I’m sure I’ll make it work.”
Okay, she could leave any time now. Too bad Beth wasn’t mean enough to ask her to go.
They ate in silence for the next few minutes. She and Lindsey exchanged troubled glances every few seconds, while Melody probably fantasized about Saint’s dick.
Which Beth could attest was a very nice dick.
Not the time.
About five minutes later, the atmosphere in the restaurant changed. Customer chatter fell to whispers and murmurs, punctuated by pointing and wide-eyed stares.
The Handlers had arrived.
Beth glanced right to find Zach and well, shit—Saint striding their way.
Her breath caught. He moved through the restaurant like he owned every inch of it, all that barely-leashed power on display, and her body responded before her brain caught up.
Heat pooled low in her belly. Her worry abated, but her heart kept racing for an entirely different reason.
Melody gasped. “Called it.” She sat straighter, pouting her lips.
Saint looked incredible, navigating through the restaurant, not giving a shit about the stares and comments.
Tall, strong, tattooed, and oozing confidence and capability from every pore.
His fierce expression matched the rumors about him being tough, ruthless, and brutal.
But Beth knew there were layers to the man.
He was protective to the extreme, without smothering her or making her feel overshadowed.
And when he touched her with those hands that were skilled at violence and destruction, he did so with nothing but the intent to bring extreme pleasure.
Zach went straight to Lindsey while Saint came to stand behind Beth’s chair, sending a thrill down her spine.
“Where’s my dad?” she asked, peering up at him.
“Hey, Saint, you’re looking good,” Mel cooed.
Beth could have smacked her.
He rested his hands on Beth’s shoulders, giving a reassuring squeeze, or maybe holding her back. To anyone else, it would look like a friendly gesture, but he circled his thumb along the back of her shoulder, out of sight of the others. The subtle caress had her fighting a shiver.
“Hey, Mel.” Then he looked down. “He’s outside on the phone with Shell.”
Beth studied his troubled expression. “Is everything okay? You look tense.”
His hands were warm and huge, cupping her entire shoulder joint. She wanted them everywhere. Wanted them to slide down her chest and cup her breasts right here in the middle of this restaurant. Wanted him to pinch and play with her nipples until she begged him for more, consequences be damned.
Shit, she really had it bad for this guy.
Even when she’d met Jason, whom at one stupid point she thought she’d marry, she hadn’t wanted him this badly. She hadn’t felt his hands on her skin even when he was across town. She hadn’t craved his kiss or thought about his lips the way she couldn’t stop doing with Saint.
Goose bumps erupted under his thumb, still making circles behind her shoulder. She was helpless to think of anything but the way that same thumb stroked over her clit the other night.
Maybe she needed to fuck him for real to get him out of her system. One good fuck, no one would ever find out about, then she could go about her life and move on.
Keep telling yourself that, girl.
“Some drama,” he said in a low voice while Zach spoke to Lindsey in the same tone.
Mel frowned. “Uh, anyone want to clue me in?” When Zach looked her way, she batted her lashes. Somehow, her chest seemed larger than it did five seconds ago. Was she arching her back?
Breathe. He’s not yours.
Not hers either.
Beth hid a smile at her internal bitchiness.
“Sorry, Mel,” Zach said. “No can do. Club business.”
Her expression darkened to a menacing scowl.
Is this what she wanted? To be on the inside? Did she even have feelings for Saint, or was her mission strictly to become an ol’ lady to gain deeper access to the club?
Saint shrugged. “You know how it goes. Sorry to do this, but we gotta steal Lindsey and Beth from you.”
Mel pouted, full-on, toddler-style pouted with her lip sticking out and her doe eyes blinking at Saint.
“Hey, Saint, why don’t you follow Mel home just to be extra cautious?” Zach said. “Copper and I will head to the clubhouse, and you can meet us there.”
Now Beth had the urge to pout, but she squashed it. She was a damn adult, after all.
The way she lit up, someone would have thought Zach offered her a million dollars.
Saint’s fingers flexed against Beth’s shoulders, pressing in just slightly before he released her. A wordless message she felt all the way to her bones. “Sure, I can do that.” His voice was flat. Unreadable. But his hands had said what his mouth couldn’t.
Mel had a victorious smile as if she’d just beaten Beth in a boxing match. Or maybe that was Beth projecting how she’d feel in Mel’s place.
Ugh.
He’s. Not. Yours.
If she thought it enough, maybe it would penetrate her thick skull.
“I’m done eating anyway,” Melody said as she stood. She came over and wrapped herself around Saint’s arm like a koala.
Beth clenched her teeth so hard her jaw popped, and Lindsey side-eyed her.
“I’ll go take care of the bill,” Zach said. “Meet you two outside.” He wandered over to the hostess stand to pay their check.
Beth pushed her chair back and stood. “Let’s go.”
“Really?” Lindsey gaped up at her. “You don’t want to finish?”
She’d only eaten half her food but couldn’t stand to look at it any longer, even though it was delicious. “No, I wanna know what’s going on.”
“Okay. Yeah, good point.” She placed her napkin on the table and stood. “Let’s go.”
Irrational anger swirled deep inside Beth.
All she wanted was to get the hell away from Melody as fast as possible, but that meant the woman would be leaving with Saint.
He’d be following her to her house, where they’d be alone.
And Melody was a damn octopus, hands flying all over Saint like she was marking her territory.
Beth’s nails bit into her palms. She couldn’t make eye contact with him.
If she did, he’d see everything, the jealousy, the possessiveness, the irrational fury at watching another woman touch what her body had already decided was hers.
Zach waited for them by the exit and escorted the group outside, where Copper stood near their three bikes.
“Good to go?” her father asked. One look at his face told Beth that everything wasn’t okay, and whatever reason they’d come for her and Lindsey, it wasn’t a good one.
“Yeah.”
“Okay, see you at the clubhouse. I’ll be right behind you,” Copper said. She wanted to ask him to explain what the hell happened between this morning and now, but he’d never talk club business in a public parking lot and especially not in front of Mel.
Speaking of the interloper, Melody had practically glued herself to Saint’s side. If someone didn’t unstick them soon, he’d be riding home with Melody dangling off the side of his bike.
“Hope you guys don’t need this stud back right away.” She giggled and snuggled even closer. “I might keep him busy for a while.” She winked.
Beth swallowed what felt like a mouthful of bees. How many tugs would it take to rip off Melody’s fake eyelashes? Would they come off with one yank, or would she really need to give it a few solid pulls?
Instead of giving in to that delicious urge, she merely smiled and murmured, “Try not to send him back to us with something we’ll all catch.”
The words were spoken too low for her father to hear, but Melody caught them. She gasped, and her jaw dropped. She turned to Saint, clearly waiting for him to jump to her defense, but his eyes sparkled, and he did a terrible job at concealing his smirk.
She shouldn’t take so much pleasure in getting under Melody’s skin, but after the mild ambush of a lunch, she couldn’t help but feel a little better after the cheap shot.
Score one point for the petty woman you are, Beth.
Now, if only she didn’t have to wonder what would happen when Saint got to Melody’s house.