Page 28 of Fighting the Forbidden

Too tongue-tied to speak, I just stand there staring at him.

“She does, doesn’t she?” Hayden gushes. “Wesley’s gonna flip. He hasn’t seen you since, what, Christmas, Molly?” Hayden focuses her sly smile on Griff. “They’d make a cute couple, don’t you think?”

Subtle much, Hayden?

Hurt flashes in Griff’s eyes for a moment. Then his features settle into a blank expression, devoid of the tenderness he showed me last night. “Don’t know. Haven’t met the guy.”

A thousand pounds of disappointment steamroll over me.

Why can’t he just say, “No. Because Molly is mine?”

CHAPTER SEVEN

Griff

The hurt in Molly’s eyes chases me all the way down the Thruway. I could practically hear her plea for me to stake my claim on her in front of her brother and her best friend. Not twenty-four hours after I told her why now isn’t the right time. After last night I’m so damn twisted up inside.

Part of me wants to be mad at her. But mostly I’m just mad at myself. And maybe annoyed with Molly’s friend. She doesn’t need to play matchmaker for my girl.

Party. Tonight’s important and I need to focus. I’ll talk to Molly tomorrow.

Grinder’s house is full by the time we arrive. I was right. It’s all family at the party. There was no reason Molly couldn’t have come with us. I shoot a glare at Remy as he backs his bike into a spot near one of the garages but I’m not bringing it up again. If I keep bitching about it, Remy’s big brother radar will activate.

“Nice ride.” He holds out his fist to me, and I tap my knuckles against his.

“Always a good one when we don’t get pulled over.”

He chuckles and nods.

The back door on the patio slides open and Murphy, the vice president of the Lost Kings MC, waves us inside.

“What’s up, brother?” He holds out his hand and pulls me in for a quick embrace, then gives Remy the same greeting. “How was the ride?” He steps aside so we can enter the kitchen.

“A little chilly, but good,” I answer.

Murphy’s face quivers with laughter under his full red beard. “You need better riding clothes then, goof.”

He was the road captain for his club for years before he moved into the VP position, so of course that’s his answer. “Good.” I slap his chest. “How about I call you for a fashion consultation next time?”

He flicks his gaze to the ceiling. “Dex can help you out there.”

Somewhere deeper in the house, a baby wails. Murphy cocks his head, listening for a second.

“Yours?” Remy asks.

“No, but I’m still gonna go check on Heidi.” He slaps our shoulders. “Grinder and Serena are in the front room. Go say hi to baby Lincoln. Little dude’s pretty chill even though we’ve been fussin’ over him all day.”

After Murphy leaves, Remy stares at the hallway leading into the rest of the massive house. His mouth twists, like he’d rather run outside and weed the yard with a pair of tweezers than say hi to an infant.

“Stop being a jackass.” I smack his arm and scold him in a low voice. “You knew this was a family event. It’s literally a party for a baby.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

I shake my head and glance around the kitchen. I recognize Dex’s girlfriend, Emily, and raise my hand to say hello but she’s busy chopping carrots like her damn life depends on it. Remy flicks his gaze at her, then me, and rolls his eyes.

“Let’s go,” I say.

Walking through Grinder’s big, modern house leaves me feeling like a wild boar who’s been turned loose in a museum.

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