Naomi
She saw why everyone had warned her about Taz, Karissa, and Glitch being around each other. The Devil’s Predators had left almost two hours ago, and the three of them were already arguing. Glitch tried to stab him, but Taz laughed, seemingly unworried for his life.
At least they were doing this outside the apartment, where Asher couldn’t see. That was the last thing she needed him to learn.
Asher woke up unfazed, as if his epic meltdown had never happened, and demanded food.
She was too tired to argue and got him a snack before plunking him down in front of a puzzle the twins and Scarlett had brought for him a few days earlier.
It was a bit more advanced, but he was already almost halfway through figuring it out, his little lip pursed as he stared at it.
“Motherfucker!”
Naomi rushed to the window and gaped at the sight in front of her.
Karissa was strung upside down, her feet wrapped in a long bungee-type cord, but no matter how much she struggled, she couldn’t free them.
From this angle, Naomi couldn’t see what it was attached to, but she figured it was on the warehouse roof, given the length and Karissa’s height from the ground.
From above her, came maniacal laughter. “Looks like we know it works, huh?” Taz shouted.
“I’m going to kill you,” Karissa screamed. “If I drop and crack open my skull on the steps, I’m going to make it slow and very painful, starting with that ugly cock of yours since you prize it above everything else.”
“Xena!” Taz gasped, his voice laced with what sounded like genuine horror.
“How could you? Besides, we both know you’re still pining for me after being with your man for so long.
It’s not as nice as mine, is it? You can be honest. Maybe if you’re nice, I’ll give your man some pointers, huh? Really make you happy.”
Naomi bit back a laugh. Okay, they were all ridiculous.
They started arguing again, so she turned away. It was too much for her to handle. She had to focus on getting something ready for dinner. Asher would be hungry once he finished his puzzle.
She browsed the fridge and freezer, but nothing looked appetizing. Shutting the fridge, she froze at a tap on the door. She crept forward and stood on her tiptoes to look through the peephole. Taz was standing there, with someone behind him she couldn’t make out.
She unlocked the door and opened it. Taz nodded. “Up to you if you want to talk to him.” He stepped aside, and Ink was standing there, holding boxes of pizza and a full plastic bag of something she couldn’t make out.
He glared at Taz before looking back at her. “I’d like to talk to you, Naomi, and I thought you guys might like something to eat.”
Staring at him, she wanted to slam the door in his face, but Simba’s and Jag’s words from earlier replayed in her mind. And the pizza smelled pretty damn good …
“Come in.” She opened the door, and Ink walked in with a smile. “Did you get Karissa out of your snare?” she asked Taz.
Taz’s grin was instant. “Yeah, she’s down. Her man came and ruined my fun. It’s fine, though, because I have a few more things planned. Just making sure no one comes up on us unaware.”
“Uh-huh.” Why did she think he was going to set those very things up in places to piss off his friends and probably a few of the bikers around here? “If you put me upside down, Taz, I’m liable to throw up on you.”
“You’re safe, darlin’. But is it only when you’re suddenly put upside down in a trap that makes you sick? Because I know of a great sex swing that—”
“Fuck off,” Ink snapped, glaring at him.
Taz laughed, and Naomi narrowed her eyes at Ink, which he ignored.
“Just asking,” Taz placated. Eyes bright with mirth, he said, “I’ll be up on the roof if you need me.” He saluted Ink then hopped onto the railing and boosted himself up onto said roof.
Her mouth dropped open. “Is he a monkey?” she muttered, thinking about the twins’ comments earlier and shutting the door with a shake of her head.
“He’s a pain in the ass and an idiot for the most part,” Ink griped.
She gave him a bland stare, and he had the decency to look contrite, gaze shifting down, ashamed.
“Yeah, I know. I’m included in that category.
” She remained silent, watching him. “Naomi, I really want to apologize and talk this out. Please.”
“Ink!” Asher shrieked.
Ink turned, and his face morphed into a warm smile. “Hey, buddy.” Moving farther into the room, he crouched down beside him. “What are you working on?”
Asher babbled on, some of the words slurring together and not making much sense, but something softened in her chest as Ink nodded along, pretending to understand whatever Asher was saying.
Damn it, he was making it really hard for her to stay angry with him.
She grabbed plates from the cabinet, and when she turned, she found Ink helping Asher into his chair, still listening to him talk.
He was so natural with him, and Asher clearly trusted him.
God, her head was a mess. She shouldn’t be okay with this after everything that happened. Letting Ink in would only allow her to get her hopes up again, and she didn’t know if she could stand it happening a second time.
Just because a man was good with her son didn’t mean he needed to be in her life, other than a professional relationship or as an acquaintance.
“Let me have those. You sit, and I’ll get everything dished up.” She didn’t protest as he took the plates from her and asked Asher what he wanted then expertly cut the pieces for him. “Baby, sit,” he urged when he realized she hadn’t moved.
“I’m not your baby,” she said, sitting. If he wanted to use this to get on her good side, she’d let him, but whatever else he was going to say, she didn’t have to believe or listen to.
Ink simply handed her a plate loaded with pizza. She took it without a word then waited while he filled his plate and sat beside Asher.
Was this man seriously trying to win her over by being good with her son? She narrowed her eyes at him as she ate, listening to Asher talk to Ink like they were the best of friends. Or as if any of them could understand him.
When they finally finished dinner, she got Asher cleaned up and settled on the couch to watch his favorite show, no closer to figuring out Ink’s angle. There was no way he didn’t have one.
“Naomi, let’s talk,” he murmured, sitting at the table again and watching her.
She really didn’t want to, but Simba’s words echoed in her head again. Damn it. She sat stiffly across from him, her hands clasped in her lap. She’d listen, but that didn’t mean she’d make it easy for him.
He sighed but held her gaze. “I wanted to say I’m truly sorry for everything. The last twenty-four hours have been … eye-opening. I know you’re pissed at me, but I want to fix it. For you and Asher. What do you need me to do to prove it? If it’s about Kayla, she won’t be back. Ever.”
“So you broke up with her?”
Damn it, she’d planned to not speak.
“We were never a thing, Naomi.” His words were firm as he leaned forward, lowering his voice.
“Look, I’m not a choir boy. I’ve fucked a lot.
That’s what the club girls are here for, and they know the score.
Right now, there aren’t many of us left who aren’t in a serious relationship, and it’s starting to make the girls think they have a shot with the single brothers they don’t.
Well, not me or Ice. The others, I can’t speak for.
I’ve never been interested in a relationship with Kayla.
I slept with her to let off steam when I didn’t want to go into town and find someone else for the night. ”
“So you’re a manwhore.” She was careful to keep her tone even.
He winced then shrugged. “Yeah, I guess so. Was, anyway. I can’t apologize for what I’ve done in the past, Naomi, because I don’t regret it. It was fun and exciting, and I wasn’t looking for anything serious.”
“I don’t know why you’re trying to tell me this.
” She let out a small huff. “Who you screw around with is your business and doesn’t involve me.
The only reason it mattered this time was one of the women you slept with might bring the cartel to the front gate.
Whether you broke it off with her, banned her, or whatever, doesn’t matter anymore. ”
“So, can you honestly tell me you weren’t jealous or upset that she told you I was seeing her?”
No way in hell was she going to tell him the truth on that.
Holding his gaze, she lied smoothly. “Why would it? Just because you’ve hung out here a couple of times and helped me with Asher doesn’t mean I thought there was anything to it other than trying to be helpful. Or me just helping you avoid the IRS knocking on your shop door.”
His brow arched. “Is that so?”
“You and I are nothing, Ink. Is that what all this is about? You want me to soothe your ego by telling you I’m devastated you picked her and not me?” She scoffed. “You really do need someone to knock you down a couple of pegs.”
“You’re going to sit there and pretend you don’t know we have chemistry? That I haven’t seen the way you’ve looked at me? And you haven’t noticed the way I look at you?”
She stilled. Wait, what? He was really going to call her out like that? Her face got hot. Was she that obvious?
“Even if I did, that’s done now,” she stated.
He held her stare, almost like he wanted to call bullshit but was being too polite. Or he didn’t want her to kick him out again. Or bite him.
God, she needed this conversation to be over with. This was mortifying.
“Naomi, I know that you—”
“Ink, stop. I don’t know why you’re bringing this up now. It’s over. Done. Even if I had a crush on you, it ended last night. I don’t trust you or your club. The only reason Asher and I are still here is Taz. And even with how crazy he is, he’s an extra layer that keeps anyone from getting to me.
“As for you and me, there is no you and me. I appreciate the time you spend with Asher, and I’m going to continue to do your business paperwork to keep you from making it a total mess of it again, but that’s where everything else stops.”
“I think it’s more than a crush, baby.”
“The twins were right—bikers have a hard time listening and the emotional intelligence of a monkey. Though, right now, that might be insulting to the monkey. Are you not listening to me? That was the only thing out of that entire statement you heard?”
“It’s the only part that matters right now.
I can rebuild your trust in me and, by extension, in the club.
I spend time with Asher because I like him, and I like kids.
My interest in you is separate from my interest in your son.
He’s a part of you, so that makes me want you more.
And you doing the paperwork for my shop has nothing to do with my interest in you.
Does it make my life easier? Hell yeah. But that has nothing to do with you and me.
” He grins. “Maybe we should work out a payment plan, huh? For every mistake I make, I have to make it up to you. I can think of a few creative ways.”
She blinked. Was he seriously trying to seduce her? Or some weird flirting?
She might have a very high IQ, but this man was rendering it useless right now.
He let out a low chuckle, making the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end and her belly clench.
Why did that sound so sexy? “You might want to argue with me, Naomi, but you can’t hide that you want me.
Your body betrays you every time. And that’s exactly why I’m going to do everything in my power to have you. ”