Page 69 of Animal's Reformation
His eyebrows raised slightly. “You’re a ways from home. How did you end up in Pinewood Springs?”
“I stayed with a friend of mine in Denver for a while, but I wanted to get away from city living, so I applied for the teaching assistant job at Slavens.”
“Why did you move from San Diego in the first place?” Animal asked.
“Just needed a change.” The memory of her brother’s funeral flitted through her mind, replaced by the rough face of Iceman—her dad’s idea of the ideal man for her.
“From what?”
“Everything.” Olivia fiddled with the napkin in her lap, smoothing out the creases with her crimson-tipped fingers. “Are you from here?” she asked, diverting the attention off of her.
“Yeah, and so are my parents. I’ve been to San Diego. The Insurgents got a charter club there.”
Damn, if I don’t know that.“That’s nice. Do you have any siblings?”
“A younger sister. What about you?”
“I had a brother.” She plucked the olive from the toothpick as she drained her glass. “He was killed in a fight.” Popping the olive into her mouth, she looked away.
“Fuck, that’s tough. Were you close?”
“When we were younger, but we sort of drifted after he joined …” Her voice trailed off.
Animal sat still, fixing her with those dark piercing eyes, which made him seem even more handsome and … dangerous.
Olivia clasped her hands together. “I still miss him a lot. I probably always will.”
“Are you ready to order?” The redheaded server glanced earnestly at each of them.
Olivia picked up her menu and scanned it quickly then looked up at the waiter. “I’ll have the garden salad with balsamic dressing, the six-ounce filet mignon—medium—and mashed potatoes.”
The waiter took the menu from Olivia. “And you, sir?”
“Porterhouse—rare—loaded baked potato and give us an order of asparagus and sautéed mushrooms.” Animal handed his menu to the server and the man scurried away. “I hope you like asparagus and mushrooms.”
“I do. It smells so good in here that I can’t wait to try the food.” She buttered a piece of warm French bread.
“I want you to tell me why you came to the clubhouse a couple of weeks ago, and I’m not buying that BS that you were in the area. And for the record, I was shocked as shit to see you at the club party a few weeks ago. You’re the last person I ever thought I’d find there. I know your friend parties sometimes at the club, but why were you really there that night?” Animal grabbed a piece of dark bread from the basket and slathered on a thick amount of butter.
Olivia drew in a breath and locked gazes with him. “I had no intention of going to the party, but I was missing my brother so much that I just wanted to immerse myself in the club life again, you know … the smells, the loud music, all the guys in denim and leather, andfeelmy brother again. That’s why I came by looking for you at the clubhouse. Ever since the party, I’ve had the urge to go back and feel Leo—my brother, for a second time.” She turned away and brushed the crumbs off the table. “It’s hard to explain.” Olivia purposely left out the fact that she also wanted to seehim,but why muddy the waters?
Animal jerked his head back. “Your brother was a biker? He was in an MC?” Olivia nodded, her gaze cast downward. “What about your old man?”
She groaned inwardly. “A biker too,” she mumbled.
“I’ll be damned—you grew up in the life. What’s your dad’s MC?”
Her mouth immediately went dry and Olivia took a big gulp of water. She blinked rapidly and folded and unfolded her hands too many times.
He cocked his head to the side, his brow furrowed. “What’s the name?”
“East Bay Dogs,” she mumbled, watching Animal as he digested the words.
A silence fell between them, and his dark eyes looked directly into hers as seconds stretched into minutes. Olivia’s heart pounded so loudly, she was positive Animal must’ve heard it.
Finally he glanced away, breaking their contact, and stared out the window. “The East Bay Dogs are our rival,” he said in an even tone.
“I know,” she whispered. “But I don’t have anything to do with any of that. My dad pulled my brother into the MC, and I’ll never forgive him for that. My dad’s whole life was building up my brother, forgetting that I existed, and cheating on my mom. Instead of his life revolving around his family, it rotated around the club, the brothers, and the club girls.” Olivia gulped down more of the water. “My dad finally dumped me and my mom for a club whore. My mom’s life crumbled and blew away like dust in the wind. She was nothing without my dad, and even though he treated her worse than shit, she was the ever-forgiving wife until he left for good. So am I involved with the East Bay Dogs? No. Do I give a rat’s ass about them? Double no. I left all that far behind me.” A lump the size of a golf ball formed in her throat, and she blinked, trying to stave off the tears.
