Chapter 7
CHAPTER
SEVEN
KODIAK
Watching the woman cross the car lot with a salesman at her side makes my blood run cold. She’s been giving me the slip for over three months now. Oh, I still see her here and there. She’ll be at Shock and LowLow’s place as the wedding plans are in full swing.
I ran into her at the fair back in August. But she avoids being alone with me. Her guards told me she’s been having car trouble lately. I was going to take her out to buy a new car, but instead I’m watching her walk around the used car lot, doing it on her own.
If I walked up there, she would push me away.
Then she wouldn’t get a car, and she needs one.
I know LowLow is babysitting Oly while Marnie does this.
I like that she’s looking at larger SUVs.
That will be safer for her. If it’s an all-wheel drive, it will better with the winter weather just around the corner.
The wind that’s usually ever-present cuts through the Valley, whipping her hair around.
She’s in jeans and a T-shirt, a black jacket over the top, and heels.
She bends over again to check the cargo space of the Denali SUV, the same one she’s circled more than once. I catch the salesman check out her ass.
That’s fucking it.
I drive down the frontage road, moving closer to where she’s at on the lot. I know she clocked me and is ignoring me, but I’m done with this bullshit. I swing off my bike and stomp toward her.
The salesman openly ogles her breasts as she climbs onto the running board and peers over the top of the SUV. I come up behind him, and for a brief second, I wonder if she expected me to show. Because when she turns around, she just smirks at me.
Fucking woman is going to kill me.
“Hey, fucker, don’t look at my woman like that,” I bark, and he jumps.
“Hello, darling,” she coos at me.
It takes me a moment to realize she’s fucking with me. She’s going to use me to get this rig at a decent price. The guy saw a woman and thought he could pull the wool over her eyes.
"Sugar," I growl as I step around him and pull her into my side.
My body settles, but only for a moment, when I remember how long it’s been since I touched her. Since I tasted her or was balls deep inside her body.
“I thought you weren’t going to be able to make it?”
“You know I’m not going to let my old lady purchase the rig that’ll haul our kiddos without putting in my two cents.”
Her body tightens at my words, and my grin spreads wider. I’ve got her. She wants that with me.
“I… uh…” She doesn’t know what to say.
“So you like this one?” I point to the GMC, and she nods. “What about the Escalade?” I gesture across the lot at the luxury SUV I’ve had my eye on since I heard she needed a new vehicle.
I want to kiss those ruby lips as she pinches them together, cocks her head, and squints her eyes, thinking it over.
“I like the Yukon Denali because you’re not paying for the Cadillac name. Plus, the feature I want comes standard on the Denali, but on the Cadillac it’s an upgrade, one it might not even have.”
I’m so fucking hard right now it’s embarrassing. The salesman is shocked too. My girl just proved she does her research before showing up. Then she does something even better. She glances at the sticker, then at him.
“I also think that you could drop this price by a couple thousand. We’re paying cash.
I won’t pay a dime over the cost of the car.
Don’t try to push extras, like warranties or add-ons.
I’m sure my man”—she pats my chest—“will have one of his guys go through the vehicle before we sign papers, so we’re assured it’s not a lemon. ”
“Of course. I will help you with negotiating.”
“No, you won’t,” I interrupt him. “I’ll help her. Let me call someone to come check this out.”
I immediately text Miner. He tells me to test drive it to his shop.
“Ready for a test drive?” the guy asks Marnie.
I smirk. He thinks it’s just going to be her, but I’m not letting this prick be alone with my girl.
“Yep, we need to stop by and see Miner. He’s going to personally check out the rig for you.”
The salesman walks off to get the keys and make a copy of both our driver’s licenses.
“Ry, you don’t need to be here.” She immediately tries to get me to leave.
“Oh yeah, I do. That fucker was checking you out.”
“He was?”
I love that she just doesn’t realize how beautiful and sexy she truly is.
Acouple of hours later, after talking him down a couple thousand and Miner confirming he’d handle all upkeep and maintenance on the rig, I watch Marnie pull out a cashier’s check and hand it to him.
Once we’d negotiated the price, she had the check drafted, then ran across the street to the branch to grab it.
“Let’s go. Follow me,” I order her, and she just smiles, like she already knows what I’m going to say.
“We have to go to Shock and LowLow’s. There are prewedding things they want us to help with,” I say, and her smile grows even bigger.
I know she contacted my sister and talked her into making plans, blocking me from taking her out on my own like I wanted.
Again, she’s giving me hell and won’t let me be close to her.
Marnie
Iwatch my best friend vow to love the man she’s been in love with since she was a small girl. My eyes drift to Rylan. He’s not watching his sister and best friend. He’s watching me. I slowly drop my gaze, the moment heavier than I’m ready to acknowledge.
Last night, when we all came out to Sutton to get ready for the wedding, Rylan got drunk and propositioned me repeatedly. I almost gave in, but I knew if I did, I’d ruin everything I have already prepared.
My friend said he hasn’t seen any new searches, but he did notice someone else trying to cover my tracks. The only thing I can think of is Vortex, under Rylan’s orders.
My bakery has become a club hotspot, between the men Rylan has on me, the fact that Aftershock makes sure GB is always on Harley, and then there’s my newest assistant, Quinn. Gunny keeps protection on her all the time too.
As soon as she healed up, she showed up at the bakery. I hired her on the spot. She’s tall and willowy, with soft blue-green eyes that show so much emotion she tries to hide.
Quinn quickly became the third piece of our friendship. Harley and I both took her under our wings and protect her. Although Gunny doesn’t let her go far. He’s tried talking her into working at his veterinary practice, but she won’t have any of it. She told me she wants to get out on her own.
She’s staying at a small house the MC owns. Her parents don’t live up here anymore, and she’s on her own. I couldn’t stop myself from taking her in. She’s twenty-two, just a year younger than Harley. But she seems to have led a more sheltered life than either Harley or me.
“Momma,” Oly whispers from her front-row seat beside Quinn.
She reaches for me, but Rylan opens his arms, and she goes to him. My heart does that extra thump when I see them together.
It’s so bad that no matter how much space I try to put between us, he’s still there. Still pushing to be a part of our lives, and it scares me. I know if he develops feelings for me, it could be a death sentence for him. Silas won’t allow another man to fall for me.
I shake my head, forcing those thoughts away and focusing on what’s happening in front of me.
Even though the wedding is the weekend before Halloween and carries that theme, Harley’s dress is elegant.
It was the one concession she made. She wanted a cream gown with rustic lace, giving it a boho feel.
I helped her set loose curls in her hair, and they spill down her back. I’m wearing black, and so is Oly. The guys are all in black tuxedos. Not only did Harley have her brother walk her down the aisle, but she asked Cyclops to give her away in her parents’ stead.
As soon as the ceremony ends, the partying starts. I don’t know why I do it, but I take a couple of celebratory shots with Harley. I don’t normally drink, so they hit me harder than expected. I notice Loki and Icarus playing with Oly, keeping her occupied.
“Let’s dance, sugar.” Rylan takes my hand and leads me to the dance floor, where Aftershock and Harley are dancing.
Rylan pulls me into his arms. It’s been so long. I can’t stop the moan that escapes my lips. I’ve missed touching and feeling him against me. We only had one weekend back in July, but it was by far the best weekend I’ve ever had. He was perfect and so attentive to me and my desires.
“Why do you have to be so perfect?” I smile up at him. My grin is too wide, and my head lulls for a moment. Oh shit, maybe I’m more drunk than I thought.
“I’m not perfect, Marnie. I have a lot of flaws.”
“No, you don’t. You’re perfect. I’ve tried so hard not to fall for you, but it’s impossible. I can’t, though. I won’t let you end up dead like Jean-Louis. I didn’t love him like I do you. Silas will kill you for that.” I lean into his chest, and his body tightens.
“Baby,” he growls.
Before I know it, I’m thrown over his shoulder, and we’re moving. My head is swimming.