Prologue #2
“You ladies lost?” comes a deep voice from behind us.
We all turn. There’s a gorgeous man attached to that rough voice.
Even better looking than the one who greeted us at the gate.
But just like the one up front, his eyes go right to Meg, locking on tight.
He’s wasting his time on that one though.
She wouldn’t dream of dating a Savage Knight or even associating with one.
She’s probably going to go home and shower twice to get his eyeball cooties off her before she goes to bed tonight.
“I’m looking for Cage,” Payton answers. “He invited us out. Do you know where we can find him?”
“I’ll take you to him.” His eyes go back to Meg before he turns and leads the way inside.
I wish he’d look at me. I’d give him the time of day.
Then again… When we enter the clubhouse, my attention is instantly drawn to the corner.
The man over by the pool table may in fact be the hottest guy I’ve ever seen.
He’s taking a shot, his dark eyes focused on the cue ball, those carved muscles strained in his forearm as he aligns the cue stick.
Rugged. Strong. Just the right amount of stubble around his jaw. He’s so sexy I almost can’t breathe.
“Didn’t think you were coming.” Cage’s irritated voice draws my attention back to the bar. He’s staring forward, drinking his drink, not even bothering to look in Payton’s direction. I thought he would’ve given us a warmer welcome than that. But it’s almost as if he’s irritated we showed.
“Sorry, us girls needed some extra time to get ready,” Payton tells him, looking just as confused by his behavior as the rest of us.
He takes another sip of his drink, finishing its contents, still not looking at her.
I can feel her mood shift. Her entire demeanor changing.
She was so excited to come out tonight, and now she looks dejected.
I almost want to grab the drink from his hand and splash it in his face, yell at him to snap the fuck out of it.
This is not the guy who was at our place earlier, asking if we’d come out tonight for the party.
This is not the guy who was all googly eyed at my best friend as he kissed her goodbye. This guy is acting like a jerk.
“How many of those have you had?” Payton asks.
“Why?” His jaw clenches tight, turning a rigid stare in her direction. “You got a problem with drinking?”
My best friend visibly tenses at his remark. I think it’s time for us to leave. Payton’s been through too much shit to be treated like this. The last thing she needs is another asshole in her life.
“Told you so.” Meg’s whisper hits my ear. For once, she was right. We shouldn’t have come tonight.
Payton grabs the waitress’s attention then asks for her to pour him another drink.
Obviously trying to prove she’s not offended by his drinking.
But when the bartender slides it over, Payton takes the thing and drinks it down in one gulp then slams the glass onto the wooden bar top in front of him.
His eyes finally spark to life, but my friend’s eyes are narrowed in anger.
“I don’t have a problem with drinking, but I do have a problem with assholes. See ya around, Outlaw.” She turns and takes my arm, and we walk right back out the same door we just came in through. Her head is held high, but I can feel her pain as she holds my arm tight, seeking my support.
“What the hell was wrong with him?” I ask, leading her back to my car.
“Don’t go, baby. I’m sorry.”
She’s suddenly yanked from my hold as Cage wraps around her from behind. The look in his eyes is like he just swallowed a ton of guilt. There must be something going on with him. He doesn’t seem like himself right now.
“You want to tell me what happened today?” Payton asks, coming to the same conclusion.
“Will you come back in and let me get you girls a drink first?” He looks over her shoulder at the rest of us. “I’m sorry I was rude back there. Just got caught in a rough moment. Would you ladies like to come in and have a drink?”
That’s now two apologies. I don’t think I’ve ever heard Dusty Rockland say it once to me.
In all the fights we’ve ever had, in all the breakups, he has never once owned up to his mistakes.
Usually, he just ropes me back in with promises that he’ll do better in the future.
He fills my head with dreams of what our life is going to look like: kids, the house, traveling around the world.
Sometimes he doesn’t even bother with words.
He’ll just drag me to the bedroom and sway me into his favor with sex. But apologizing, he never has.
“I think we should go,” Meg says, her body standing rigid by my side. She’s not as forgiving as the rest of us, apparently. But I also know she cares about her sister and doesn’t want to see her get hurt. None of us do.
“I think your ass better get a drink and loosen up.”
It’s the same guy who led us into the clubhouse. Interestingly, he’s no longer giving Meg eyes. He’s glaring her down, looking just as annoyed as Cage did moments ago.
“Excuse me?” She whips in his direction, crossing her arms. “Who do you think you’re talking to, mister?”
I’m wondering who she thinks she’s talking to. Is she really speaking to a Savage Knight like that? She was the one who emphasized how dangerous they are. Now, she’s talking back to the guy like he isn’t twice her size.
“I know exactly who I’m talking to, Meghan Ellicort. But I gather you don’t remember me. I’m not surprised. You and your little priss friends never paid any attention to us ‘gutter rats.’”
Oh my God. They must know each other. It sounds like they went to school together.
The back-and-forth exchange has my jaw inching closer to the ground with every word.
They don’t just know each other, but he asked her out back in high school.
Of which, Meg unsurprisingly said no. The guy never would’ve made her father’s cut.
He’s from the wrong side of the tracks—wrong side of the law now—and Mr. Ellicort would sooner have him arrested than he would let his baby girl date him.
It’s not just her father who wouldn’t approve. This guy’s not Meg’s type. He’s too “dirty” as she would say. But I think the grease on his hands only makes him sexier. It shows that he actually uses his hands for something other than swinging a putter on the golf course.
“Are you ready to go, Payton?” Meg cuts a glare to her sister.
Her cheeks are crimson now. She doesn’t like being called out on her snobbery, but it’s about time someone pointed out the truth.
Everyone in Meg’s world is always blowing smoke up her ass, telling her how perfect she is.
I’ve never treated her with silk gloves.
I’ve always wanted her to break free from her father’s chains and shine in her own light, but my honesty has made me one of her least favorite people.
This guy though… may have just beaten me on her list.
“You all can head out if you want to,” Cage answers for Payton. “But she’s staying with me.” He locks his arm tighter around her waist, and I can see that my best friend wants to stay.
“I don’t want to go,” I tell her, making sure she has my support. “We just got here. And Cage offered us a drink.” I turn toward the others.
“Dakota! Tell them you want to leave,” Meg insists, growing redder by the second.
The quiet Ellicort sister shakes her head no, and there you have it, we’re staying. I’d only drive them back to town if Kota was uncomfortable with being here, but she wants to stay too.
“There you have it.” I wrap my arm around Meg’s shoulders. “Three against one. Now, come on. Let’s go get you that drink and loosen that stick you have up your ass.”
She gives me another huff, but at least she’s finally done arguing. Reluctantly, she walks with me. Her body rigid. Eyes glancing behind us to see if the guy she went to high school with is still following us. He is. And he’s still watching her with that angry glare.
As soon as we enter the clubhouse, Payton gets whisked away by Cage, leaving us alone with “Dozer”— much to Meg’s chagrin.
She makes a comment about his club name being stupid, and then the two of them are back to duking it out as they travel down memory lane.
I ignore their little lovers spat and scan the room, looking for the one who had me drooling the moment we walked through the door moments ago.
Unfortunately, I don’t see him. He’s no longer by the pool table. He’s…