Page 91 of Animal's Reformation
“Iknewit!” Harper cried.
“I’m happy for you,” Alice said.
“Are you fucking serious? Do you know what those Insurgents are capable of?” Kennedy said.
Her hands dropped down to the table and she splayed her fingers on it. “Animal is different,” she replied, looking at Kennedy.
“Oh, please. You’re not going to be one ofthosewomen, are you? These guys are players. You’re in over your head—you have no clue about the biker lifestyle.” Kennedy pushed her empty glass away from her.
“Leave her alone,” Alice said. “I’ve never seen Olivia happier.”
“But don’t you fall in love too fast? I mean that’s what you’ve told me. I’m just trying to be the voice of reason here. I’m all for partying and having a good time with the Insurgents, but fall for one of them? That’s just crazy.” Kennedy pushed up from the chair and took the glass to the sink.
Before Olivia could respond, Harper jumped in. “I’ve been through the ups and downs of your love life, but I’ve never seen you glow the way you have for the past month or so. You’ve got a serenity about you that has never been there with any of the guys you’ve been involved with. Whatever Animal has, it complements you.”
Olivia smiled at her friend. “Thanks, Harper. I’ve never been happier with anyone else like I am with Animal.”
“And the way he treats his daughter tells me he’s a good man. I say, good for you,” Alice said.
Kennedy turned around and leaned against the counter, her hands up in the air. “I’m not saying I’m not thrilled that you’re having a good time, I’m just saying watch your heart. Outlaws know how to shatter them. A guy can be great with his kids but shitty to the woman in his life. Take Marcus Thurber as an example—lovey-dovey with wifey and screwing women right and left behind her back, but he’s a great dad.”
Olivia nodded. “I agree with you. A guy can adore his kids but not be the best husband or boyfriend, but Animal isn’t like that. Believe me, I’m an expert on cheaters and louses, and Animal hasn’t checked any of those boxes.” She held her hand in front of her face, fixing her gaze on Kennedy. “And before you say anything about him being a biker and all the free sex he can get, I know that, but just because it’s there doesn’t mean he wants to take it. Several of the Insurgents have old ladies who they treat with love and respect, and they’re not screwing the club girls or hangarounds at all.”
“True, but I think you’re just being naïve, that’s all.” Kennedy shrugged.
Olivia took a deep breath and slowly blew it out. “I’m not naïve about the life. As a matter of fact, I know it too well.” Her friends’ eyes bored into her. “I grew up in the lifestyle—my dad, and then my brother were bikers—outlaw bikers.”
“Are you serious?” Kennedy asked, her hand flying to her mouth.
“Yeah, that’s why I was cool with going to the club party.”
“I thought you were pretty comfortable when we got there. I was shocked you even wanted to go. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I’ve tried for so many years to forget that part of my life that I pushed it away and tried to invent a new identity devoid of my past. My dad was a SOB and the stereotypical biker who treated my mom like shit and didn’t pay any attention to his kids until my brother was old enough to prospect for the club. My brother embraced the lifestyle, but he was still decent to my mom and me, and he was a biker through and through. He died because a guy disrespected him and his club in a barroom fight, a fight that proved to be fatal for my brother and left the other guy paralyzed from the neck down. The other guy was a biker, too, just not from the same club.”
“I’m so sorry,” Harper said. “You should’ve told us.”
Olivia shook her head. “I wanted to forget all of it, but I’ve realized that I can’t. I miss motorcycle rides, I love the smell of leather and oil, and I love a tatted, tough, take-charge guy who has a heart of gold under all the roughness.” She sat back in the chair. “I love Animal, and it surprises the hell out of me. From the first day we met, I felt the spark but fought it for so long. I held his biker lifestyle against him, and when I finally put my prejudices aside and looked at him as just a man, I saw all of his layers, and now I’ve fallen head over heels in love with him. The problem is that I don’t know if he feels the same way about me. I know he likes me a lot, but love? I don’t know.”
For several seconds the lounge was quiet, and then Harper cleared her voice, breaking the silence.
“You’re an amazing woman. You’ve been through so much, and if Animal doesn’t see how awesome you are and fall madly in love with you, then he’s crazy as hell.”
“I agree with everything Harper just said,” Alice said.
“The fact that you guys have been dating for a while speaks volumes. Since you’ve been around the biker world way more than I have, you must know that these guys don’t date unless they’re serious about a woman. I bet Animal is totally in love with you. He’s probably so shocked by it that he doesn’t know what the hell hit him.” Kennedy laughed.
Olivia chuckled. “I think you’re right. Sometimes he has this dazed, what-the fuck look, and I have to dig my nails into the palms of my hands to keep from laughing. I just want to hear him say it, that way I’ll be sure. I’m also scared because I think I’ve fallen for him too quickly, but it feels right, and I’m so comfortable around him. I’ve never felt that way with a man.”
The lounge door opened and Marcus Thurber strolled in, his gaze running up and down each woman’s body before he crossed the room and plopped down on the couch.
“How’re you ladies doing?” he asked.
“Okay. We were just talking about Mrs. Paulson. Her murder is so awful,” Kennedy said.
He pulled out an apple from his briefcase, took a large bite and chewed for several seconds, then smiled. “It is a shame, but what was she doing at that hotel anyway? The old saying ‘If you play with fire you get burned’ seems to apply here.” Then he bit into the apple again.
Olivia stared at her friends and they stared back at her as chills ran up her spine. How could he be so callous, so cold, about the mother of one of his student’s? And about a woman with whom he was having an affair. He must have hadsomefeelings for her.
