Chapter 67
CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN
A myriad of expressions crossed Moon’s face. Larissa could tell he was trying to explain why he hadn’t been at the factory.
“Several new members from the Ohio chapter came in last night. We took them around town to show them Treepoint.”
Tearing a small bite off her bread, she popped into her mouth, watching as he continued eating. “Who rode with you?”
“I believe her name was Saffron.”
“Lovely name.”
Moon gave her a quick glance. “Are you angry?”
“Should I be?”
He set his fork on the table. “We went for a ride around town then came back. That’s all there was to it.”
Larissa nodded and took another bite, continuing to eat.
Assuming she was done talking, Moon picked his fork back up. She waited until he had a mouthful of food before asking her next question.
“I didn’t see Shade, Rider, Viper, Reaper, or Train with women on their motorcycles.”
Moon set his fork back down. Placing his elbows on the table, he linked his fingers together. “I see you do have an issue with me letting Saffron ride on my bike.”
“I’m just curious why she didn’t ride with someone else.” She shrugged. “Was it because Lily, Jo, Winter, Ginny, or Killyama would have been upset, or the men didn’t want her to?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t ask. It was no big deal.”
Gathering her courage, she met his gaze directly. “It is to me. I’ve asked you numerous times to take me for a ride, and you always make an excuse. Yet you don’t have a problem letting Saffron plaster herself against you. She was practically kissing you.”
“You’re exaggerating.”
She didn’t argue back, merely holding his gaze.
“If you want to go on a ride that damn bad, call your mother to come over to babysit. I’ll take you wherever you want to go,” he snapped.
Lowering her gaze to the table, she bit the underside of her bottom lip to keep from crying. She didn’t want him to know how badly his words had hurt her.
“I don’t want to ride with you anymore. I’ll never ask you again.”
“It wasn’t a big deal.”
Larissa heard him take a breath, as if to calm himself from arguing with her further, she supposed.
It’s a big deal to me.
“From now on, I won’t let any of the women ride on my bike unless there aren’t any bikes available. Satisfied?”
Larissa stared at him cooly, taking in what he said. What he wasn’t saying was that his motorcycle was off limits.
When he looked back at her, it was as if he was giving her a gift by conceding what practically counted as nothing. The hurt in her heart deepened.
“Let’s change the subject.”
“Thank God.”
It was everything she could do not to run from the table, go to her room, and have a good cry. Her backbone kicked in, however, preventing her from that humiliation. There was no way she was going to spend the rest of the night crying, shut away. Nor, on the other hand, did she want to spend the rest of the night in his company, pretending she wasn’t hurt.
“Sex Piston’s parents asked me over tonight with Mom, Priss, and Lana. They’re having a game night. Would you mind if I go?”
If he looked more relieved, she would bash him over the head with the pitcher of lemonade.
“No, I think it would good for you to get out of the house and have some fun. Jace and I have this, don’t we?”
Any other time, she would have been charmed by Moon pretending to high-five the baby. Instead, seeing the love Moon felt for his son plain on his face gave her an aching feeling.
When he turned back to her, she couldn’t even find a trace of affection for her.
“Then I’ll go get changed, if you’re sure?”
Moon helped himself to another serving of lasagna. “Why bother? You look fine.”
“It’ll be nice to get out of a mommy top for a couple of hours.” She slid out of her chair and carried her dishes to the sink.
After quickly checking on Jace, she left the living room. Then, taking the new dress from the hall closet, she went to the bedroom to change.
She texted her mother that she would be coming along, then hurried to pump. After changing into the dress, she brushed her hair out, realizing it had gotten longer without her notice. Left loose, it fell in soft waves past her shoulders. Quickly, she put on a minimum of makeup then dabbed perfume on her neck.
About to turn from the vanity, the earrings Moon had given her caught her eye. Shrugging, she put them on. Why not? It wasn’t like Moon had taken her any place special to wear them. To finish off, she grabbed a thin sweater and the milk, then left the bedroom.
Moon was sitting back on the couch. He had placed a blanket on the cushion next to him and was reading to Jace.
Unaware of his eyes watching her as she crossed the room to the kitchen, she placed the milk in the fridge.
“You look nice.”
She turned around at the compliment and walked to the couch. “Thank you.” Hunching down next to Jace, she lifted his shirt to blow bubbles on his stomach. Jace reacted the way he always did, with his tiny legs kicking and his face scrunching up into a happy smile.
“Mama loves her baby boy,” she crooned to him, nuzzling his neck. Then she placed a kiss on his cheek and rose when she heard her cell phone ringing.
“I put a fresh bottle in the fridge. If you need anything, just call. Good night.”
Moon caught her by the wrist. “Don’t I get a kiss?”
Leaning down, she brushed a kiss over his lips. When he tried to deepen the kiss, she pulled away.
“They’re waiting.”
“Have fun,” he called out after her.
“I will,” she called back, shutting the door. She was going to have some stinking fun, even if it killed her.
H er mom had been right; Sex Piston’s parents were trying to set her up. They had invited a smorgasbord of men in their acquaintance to a cookout at their house. From the different range of men, she also thought her mother wasn’t the only one they were trying to matchmake.
She was standing by herself, watching the men vie for her mother’s and sister’s attention. Sipping on a glass of iced tea, she watched in amusement as Lana became more and more flustered at the men gathered around her.
They had only been there about thirty minutes before Lana broke away and came to her side.
“Whoa!” she breathed out, grabbing the glass of tea from her hand.
“Too much?” She laughed.
“I thought two of them were going to start fighting for a minute there.”
“You said you wanted to get out more,” she reminded her. “They’re bikers, too. A couple of them are almost as good-looking as Moon.”
Larissa made a sarcastic sound with her lips. “There are several who are better looking.”
As they talked, she noticed Killyama shift in her seat at the patio table near them to blatantly listen.
“Just remember, my man is taken.” Killyama might have sounded like she was joking, but the threatening look in her eyes left the unmistakable impression that she wasn’t playing when it came to Train.
The subtle threat must have gone completely over Lana’s head.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Lana’s smile was friendly.
“I would—”
“Who’s the man with the long brown hair?” Larissa decided to save her sister in case she slipped up and said the wrong thing.
“That’s Jesus. Train invited him.”
“Who’s the man talking to Mom?” Lana asked, her prolonged gaze centered toward their mother, who was making her interest obvious.
“That’s Keller. That dude is out of both of your mother’s and your league,” Killyama answered.
“Why?”
“Just take my word for it. He’s from the Ohio branch of The Last Riders, or he used to be. He just got out of the service. Train said he’s trying to decide if he wants to join again or go his own way.”
“I can see that,” Larissa mused out loud. “He seems to be the type of man who wants to do his own thing.”
Killyama regarded her as if dissecting if she was interested in Keller or not.
“Moon decided not to come?” Killyama asked.
“No, he’s watching the baby.”
“He didn’t care you came?”
Larissa took her tea back from Lana. “No,” she admitted huskily, still hurt at the picture of the woman riding on his bike.
“He know how many people would be here?” Killyama perceptively stared her down.
“I told him that Sex Piston’s parents were having a game night, so he knew more people would be here other than my family.”
Killyama turned more fully toward her. “I bet he didn’t know so many bikers would be here.”
“He wouldn’t care,” she told her glumly, watching the ice in her glass melt. “We got into an argument before I left. That’s why I called and asked if I could come.”
Surprise filled Lana’s expression. “You didn’t say anything on the way over here.”
Larissa shrugged. “Moon said I was making a big deal of nothing.”
“He did?” Killyama’s eyes narrowed on her when she nodded. One of Killyama’s long legs came out to push the chair next to her out. “Sit,” she ordered. “Tell me about what Moon doesn’t consider a big deal.”