Page 14 of Single Mom's Biker Brigade
She stood and turned so fast it damn near gave me whiplash just watching her.
“You know what else is small?” She spat the words at Ricky, her tone glacier. “Men who touch women without asking. Do it again and you’ll lose something.” Her gaze flicked to his crotch. “I’m guessing you’d miss it quite a bit but all of humanity might celebrate.”
Ricky spluttered, his face going red.
“Beat it.” I hooked my thumb toward the pool tables. “You heard her. She’s not interested.” I waited until he did as ordered before I sat back and whistled. “Now that I know what ‘not interested’ really looks like, I think I’ll take my chances.”
Arms crossed, she stood several seconds, her body trembling.
“You hungry?” I motioned toward the kitchen behind the bar. “Prospects have been cooking all day.”
She shook her head. “I’m good.”
“How about a walk?” I stood and held out a hand. Several others eyed us, Callie in particular, and considered taking a shot.
“Where?” Her arms remained crossed, but the tension released, dropping her shoulders and loosening her grip on her elbows.
“You might not be hungry, but I’m starving.” I wiggled my fingers. “There’s a new guy who makes the most incredible onion rings.”
She shook her head. “I’m not hungry, but I could use a break. I’ll follow you.”
Not what I wanted, but good enough. I plowed through the crowd. They didn’t part for me like they did Hawk, but I didn’t mind. A couple guys tried to intercept, but I turned and put a group between us, making sure Callie stayed on my heels and didn’t get pulled into any of the tight pockets of people.
Several danced along to a bawdy tune screeching about love. A few more played pool in the back corner, smoke hanging thick overhead.
Callie stepped on my heel and didn’t apologize.
Diesel kept a clear line of sight as we crossed the room.
He’d taken up a position in the corner, his attention locked in.
Diesel was the kind of guy who found few things interesting, but when he did, getting him to let go was like trying to pry apart a bulldozer with a toothbrush.
We were going to have a conversation about that in relation to Callie. Later. He’d had his chance and he walked off.
“Is it always like this?” Callie shouted to be heard over the rising conversations.
Someone turned up the stereo, causing the bass to boom through the floor and up my legs.
“It’s Saturday.” I looked back long enough to take in her amused expression. “It’ll be quieter Monday.” Two steps later, I pushed open the kitchen door and stopped to appreciate the aroma of onion and cheese that never went away.
A prospect sat at a folding table cutting onions. He jerked to his feet.
“Sit down.” I waved him off, grabbed two plates, and waved them side to side. “Take whatever you want.”
“Really not into onion rings.” She scanned the kitchen, paused at the door leading to the back, then the second one that led deeper into the house.
I grabbed a couple drinks, two bags of chips, and headed straight across the kitchen to the hallway on the other side.
It wasn’t the best setup, but we’d had to make several modifications since taking over the old building.
We stopped on the other side, and I faced her, dropping everything onto a table sitting beneath an old mirror. “I’d like to touch you, Callie.”
I understood what she’d told Ricky, and even though she showed all the signs of being into me, no way in hell I’d lay hands on her without permission.
Her chin notched up. “Was that whole expedition through the kitchen a ruse to get me alone?” She looked left and right, then over my shoulder. “Where are we?”
“Main compound.” I pointed left. “My room’s that way. Hawk’s and Diesel’s are down the right, and behind me is the rear exit. Really hoping you don’t want that one.”
