Page 28 of Ruled By Wizard

Doom gave him a confident smile. “Maybe, but when we get home, I can make her forgive me. You, on the other hand, are pretty much screwed.”

Wizard snatched the garlic knot out of Doom’s hand and pulled the brother’s full plate toward himself. “You know something, Doom? I liked you much better when you were single and unattached. The only reason I don’t beat the ever-loving fuck out of you is that you’d be useless to me in a wheelchair.”

Wizard paused to chew before helping himself to a slice of pizza from Doom’s plate. “But right now, if I were you, I wouldn’t brag about going home and getting laid when I’m in a bad mood because the woman I want just flipped me off. I might”—he took another bite of pizza—“you know, spill a couple or three of your secrets.”

Doom gave him a death glare. “I’ll find out how Natalia heard about the bet.”

“Cool.” Wizard smiled in satisfaction. “I knew I could count on you. Now go get me another slice of pizza.”

CHAPTER 11

GOOD THINGS COME TO THOSE WHO WAIT

Finding Mr. Right was easier said than done.

Staring woefully at the man getting out of his car, Natalia wanted to run into the ladies’ room and hide. Houston Weaver must have taken his profile picture a good twenty-five years ago. His age didn’t bother her; the deception did.

She might still have given him a chance to redeem himself if he hadn’t nearly mowed down an elderly woman walking to her car, then climbed out and yelled at the poor woman when she apparently objected.

Damn. Damn.

Despite his behavior in the parking lot, Natalia remained seated, telling herself she would have one quick drink with him before making an excuse to leave.

That resolve lasted until Mr. Wrong reached the restaurant entrance. Instead of holding the door for a woman struggling to maneuver a stroller through it, he slipped inside ahead of her.

Rising from the table, Natalia grabbed her purse and headed for the exit. Unfortunately, she had to walk past him.

“Natalia?”

She stopped and examined his face. Yes, he had definitely used a filter. She never would have swiped right if she had seen how pompous he looked in real life. Clenching her purse, she regretted not ducking into the restroom before he spotted her, especially when he gave her an arrogant once-over.

“Houston.” She returned the same critical appraisal. “Sorry,” she said insincerely, “but I’m not going to be able to stay.”

Mr. Wrong transformed into Mr. Ugly in a heartbeat.

“Why? You’re already here,” he snapped. “You get some cheap thrill wasting men’s time? I could’ve stayed at work. I have a busy schedule. The least you can do is have a drink with me.”

“I’d only be wasting more of your time.”

Having said all she intended to say, Natalia continued past him. Thankfully, she hadn’t ordered anything during the brief time she’d been in the restaurant.

Meeting her dates at the coffee shop near her home had been much easier, but she hadn’t been able to bring herself to return after seeing Chai at The Last Riders’ clubhouse. She didn’t want to risk running into Wizard there again.

Natalia grew angry with herself because, deep down, a small part of her was reluctant to admit she was jealous.

After climbing into her van, she noticed a biker sitting on his motorcycle and eating a hamburger. He wasn’t wearing a Last Riders jacket, but she vaguely remembered seeing him at the club when she’d visited two weeks ago.

She shrugged off the sight of him, wondering when her life would return to normal—when bikers would once again blend into the background.

She had three hours to kill before she needed to be at the restaurant, leaving her with nothing to do. Deciding to go home, she made the short drive, pulled into her garage, and went inside.

Dropping onto her tan leather sofa, she kicked off her high heels.

Despondently, she surveyed the living room. Her two-story house was huge, built for a large family, yet she was its only occupant. She had bought it, imagining it filled with at least four children. If she didn’t find a man to father those children soon, she would run out of time.

Turning on the television did nothing to ease her troubled thoughts. With a disgusted sound, she grabbed her phone and began scrolling through a different dating site.

“Come on, Mr. Right. Where are you?”