ELLE
Zodiac repeatedly caught me checking him out.
I couldn’t fight my urge to look in his direction.
The sexy bastard had haunted my thoughts for months.
I even imagined I heard his voice sometimes.
One time, I thought he had shown up at Lula’s place two houses down.
I immediately ran outside to catch a glimpse.
I nearly cried when I realized I’d imagined the entire thing.
I was losing my fucking mind with this silly crush on a devious man!
Why Zodiac? Yes, he was painfully handsome. I also liked how he was a smartass. My dad rarely edited himself while Clint kept his thoughts closer to the vest. I preferred a man who didn’t hide because I was too lazy to figure things out.
Yet, despite Zodiac’s big mouth, I couldn’t tell if anything he said was true. He claimed he wanted to take the baby from me. That seemed like a lie meant to give him leverage in custody. He also talked about getting in my pants again. That definitely seemed true.
What would happen if we fucked again? Would I get over my crush? Would he check out emotionally once he got what he wanted?
I wasn’t even certain what I wanted from Zodiac. He felt like my guy, as if we were destined to be together. But there was no future with Zodiac. He lived and breathed his role as the Black Rainbow’s club president. Giving it up for me was never going to happen.
I had zero interest in moving to Baton Rouge. My life was perfect right now. I loved living with my parents. Sutter liked his routine. Nothing about our life needed changing.
Even if I was willing to start over in Baton Rouge, Zodiac could never be the man I needed him to be. A lot of club wives were willing to look the other way when their men cheated.
But my dad stayed loyal to my mom. Ford and Shay were constantly fooling around or flirting with each other. I wanted the same kind of commitment, but Zodiac always put himself first.
Rather than swoon over an unattainable man, I needed to put my drama in neutral and get on good terms with Zodiac. I’d never shared my kid with his father before. I wanted Wilbur to enjoy the same tranquil childhood that his older brother had.
“Would you like drinks?” I asked my dad, Zodiac, and Exile.
“Are you the waitress now?” Ford asked, frowning at me. “What is this?”
“I’m being a good hostess.”
“Because this fucker is here,” Ford muttered and jutted his thumb at Zodiac.
“Yes, so don’t expect me to serve you later when he’s gone.”
Refusing to let the topic drop, my dad demanded, “Why do it for him but not me?”
“I’m buttering him up for the eventual custody battle over Wilbur.”
Ford scratched at his jaw. “I thought you might name the kid after me.”
“No.”
“Crawford Reed is a solid name.”
“No way,” I insisted despite having considered naming the baby after my dad. “You should get Clint to name his sons after you.”
“How do you know he’ll have sons?”
“I always assume people will have boys. I’m right fifty percent of the time.”
Zodiac smirked. “I prefer Crawford to Wilbur.”
“Don’t kiss my dad’s ass. That’s Pax’s job.”
“I heard that, Elle,” Pax said, entering the house. “You ought to watch yourself with those insults now that you’ve gotten knocked up by another random fucker.”
Gasping, I looked to my dad for an assist. “Defend my honor.”
“Don’t worry,” Ford told me and offered a soft smile. “I’ll make him pay when he least expects it.”
Hugging my dad, I glanced at Zodiac. “The baby’s name will be Wilbur.”
“No,” Zodiac replied while holding my gaze.
Giving up on my hostess role, I hurried back to the kitchen. The other women had bailed on cooking and were outside with the dogs.
With no one to play interference, Zodiac followed me. I felt him behind me and nearly started running except I was inside my house. Where the fuck was I supposed to hide?
“Did you want a daughter?” Zodiac asked.
“If I had a girl, her name would have been Charlotte. But I knew it was a boy. Wilbur will be loved.”
Suddenly at my side, Sutter frowned. “Is he bothering you?”
“Yes, baby. He’s got no manners,” I said and stroked my son’s cheek. “But Zodiac didn’t have a good upbringing, so let’s not make him feel too bad for failing miserably.”
Zodiac must have disliked my comment because he did the unthinkable and spoke to my boy.
“Kid, tell your mom to look at me.”
“Why?”
“She obeys me when she looks in my eyes.”
“Why would I help you make her obey?”
“Don’t you want an obedient mother?”
“No,” Sutter said and then asked, “Can you make her stop smothering me with hugs when people are around?”
“Sure. Just get her to look at me.”
Sutter studied me, seeming torn between his needs and mine. I thought to offer to stop smothering him in front of other people, but I tried not to lie to my boy.
"My grandpa told me it’s important to be square with other men."
Zodiac nodded. "That's good advice."
"I’m glad you understand. Because no matter how wrong my mom might be about something, I'll never take your side over hers. No amount of campaigning on your part will change my mind."
“Ha!” I cried and made the mistake of allowing eye contact with Zodiac.
The son of a bitch instantly smirked, likely knowing he was so damn handsome that I couldn’t think straight.
“Your son will be named Wilbur,” I said and held his gaze. “Wilbur Crawdad Reed.”
“We’ll see,” Zodiac said as his sexy smile grew. “Oh, and I could use a beer.”
“I’m done with the hostess crap. Get your bitch Exile to do it.”
“Hey,” Lula snapped. “Don’t drag my man into your baby daddy dispute.”
“I can get you a beer,” Nova offered.
“No,” I insisted, stepping in front of the fridge. “You’re a guest here. Stay away from our beer.”
“I’m sorry,” Nova replied, instantly thinking I was mad at her.
“Don’t bully my mama!” Lyric yelled at me.
Skylar demanded, “Yeah, where’s your baby?”
“In my womb.”
“What?” Lyric yelled, refusing to back down. “Be nice!”
“You be nice! You’re yelling at my baby.”
“You have no baby!” Skylar shouted, waving off my words as a big fat lie before walking away.
“Why are your daughters so feisty, yet you’re a big wuss?” I asked Nova.
“I’m not a wuss.”
“You should stand up to me.”
“Okay, then, I’m getting Zodiac a beer.”
“Because you want to steal him away from me?” I told Nova, whose eyes widened in horror. Once I gave her a playful wink, she simmered down while I continued to lie, “Well, you can have him. I’ve already stolen his seed for my own diabolical use. You can keep the rest of him.”
“Hey, kid,” Zodiac said to Sutter. “What do you think of the name Wilbur?”
“I like it. I chose it. We’re using it.”
I smiled at how effortlessly my sweet boy lied right to Zodiac’s fucking face.
“I’m calling him Megatron,” Zodiac said as he took the beer handed to him by Nova.
Ford told Pax, “I like it.”
“Why are your grandchildren all jacked up with strange names?” Pax asked, unable to help himself. “My grandbaby is named after a character from ‘Gunsmoke.’ I don’t even remember the movie Sutter got his name from.”
“But you’ve heard of the Transformers movies, haven’t you, dumb-shit?” Ford demanded. “Why would Lula name your granddaughter after an old western show?”
“That’s not—” Lula said before her dad threw up his hand to silence her.
“She and I used to watch ‘Gunsmoke’ when she was little. It’s a sentimental thing.”
I spotted Exile frowning at Lula, who gave him a low-key head shake. Smiling at how my dad was winning the argument, I nearly forgot about the sexy man undressing me with his icy blue eyes.
Feeling brazen, I held his gaze and even smiled warmly.
“Are you happy to have a son on the way?”
“I’ve accepted he’ll likely kill me one day to steal my club.”
“Wilbur Megatron Crawdad Reed will make a great club president.”
“Congratulations,” Nova said, seeming nervous as if she still wasn’t totally sure about me kidding with her. “You won’t really name him Wilbur Megatron, will you?”
“Yes, probably. It’s a family name.”
Nova stared at me with her big blue eyes. I saw the exact moment when she remembered I was full of shit. A lovely smile warmed her face. She glanced at Zodiac.
“You’re going to be a father.”
“I’m raising the kid on my own in Baton Rouge,” he said immediately.
Rolling my eyes, I muttered, “Sure, bud.”
“You and this one can visit the baby,” Zodiac said and gestured at Sutter.
I had warned Sutter hours ago not to fall for anything Zodiac said.
“He’s an evil man who lies like he breathes,” I told my boy.
“And you made a baby with this person?”
“Well, he’s a very attractive evil man who lies like he breathes.”
Sutter cocked a little eyebrow, not believing me. “Are you sure his physical attributes were the only reasons you had sex with him?”
“No, the booze definitely played a role.”
“But I think you like him, too.”
“Of course, but he’s still evil and lies.”
Sutter frowned. “Then, why do you like him?”
“Because sometimes, a man exists in a way a woman can’t ignore.”
Sutter’s frown darkened. “That makes no sense.”
“No, it doesn’t because it’s not about logic. This kind of attraction is all emotion and hormones. One day, you’ll understand the situation better, and I won’t look so dumb.”
“I don’t think you’re dumb,” Sutter had said so sweetly. “I think you’re lonely. Also, Grandpa is an attractive, evil man who lies like he breathes. I read it’s common for people to be attracted to those who remind them of their parents.”
“Aww, that means one day you’ll fall for a crazy bitch with a big mouth.”
Though Sutter found my earlier comment funny, I suspected he was worried that I was, in fact, crazy.
After all, I couldn’t peel my gaze away from Zodiac. The longer we shared a room, the more I ogled him. How long would it be before I started following him around like a lovesick fool?