Page 57 of Break Out

“Right. My bike is getting dropped in Jacksonville. I’ll ride to Gainesville with you, it might give me a chance to patch shit up with Jordan. But Tuesday, I’ll have to hit Jacksonville for the rest of the week to start laying the groundwork for shit there.”

Nosy by nature, I asked, “What kind of groundwork are we talking about?”

He cocked a brow. “Not gonna tell you that, woman. How much club business does your mom get from Volt? Damned little, if I had to guess.”

I returned his brow arch. “You’re not Volt and I’m not Mom.”

He nodded. “You’re still not getting that info from me. Thought you wanted to see the wrestling today? Or would you rather spend all day in bed?”

I smiled and lowered my mouth to his ear to whisper, “The wrestling, but I’m wearing my dress sans bra, baby. It’ll drive you wild all afternoon.”

His head tipped back and he groaned.

It was music to my ears.

We arrived in the nick of time to see Jasmine win her first coleslaw-wrestling round. Steel stood ten feet away while I congratulated her.

After she wiped a hand towel across her face, she asked, “Is that him over there? All broody, dark, and handsome?”

Jealousy flared inside me, even though I knew she wasn’t interested. “Yeah.”

Her eyes locked with mine. “Not my type, but he’s fuckin’ hot.”

“Yeah,” I whispered. “So, you move on to another round, right?”

“Technically, yes, but it’s up against the woman who always lost to mom. Dad’s hell-bent on me bowing out with just the one win.”

My eyes widened. “You’re not going to do that are you?”

Her eyes scanned the area around us. “They don’t know I’m only seventeen. That bitch will rat me out… hell, I suspect she’d claim I’m seventeen even if I were older.”

I frowned. “That sucks.”

She shrugged, a couple strands of coleslaw falling off her shoulder. “Nah. I’ll be eighteen by October and it gives me plenty of time to practice.”

Her older brother Rafferty lumbered over to us. “All right, Jazz, let’s go. Your ass is falling out of your bikini bottom. Nobody needs to see that.” He nodded at me. “Simone. I’m surprised you’re here without your roommate.”

I smiled. “My roommate has a name, and Alexandra headed back early yesterday.”

He made a strange humming sound. “You take care, Simone. C’mon, Jazz.”

Jasmine rolled her eyes. She leaned forward to hug me, then realized she was covered in coleslaw and backed away. “He needs to get over his shit with Alexandra, but I’ll see you soon.”

Steel’s arms came around my waist from behind and he rested his chin on my shoulder. “She going to get ready for the next round?”

I sighed. “No. It’s a long story, but let’s just say Biketoberfest will be one to remember.”

His hands moved down to cup my small, but growing belly. “It sure as hell will.”

A tiny smile played at my lips as I caught his meaning. I’d be a new mom by then since the baby was due September eighth.

“You wanna get some food?” he asked at my ear.

I nodded and turned in his hold. “Yeah, that’d be good.”

He smiled down at me. “Barbeque beef? Noticed you made a face when you were near chicken.”

“Yeah, brisket would be great.”

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