Page 22 of Blade

Smirking, he looked me over from head to toe before he said, “You do.”

I turned and looked at the front door, as if Blade still stood there listening. Letting out a deep sigh, I remained there, not knowing how to walk away.

“Hey, Prez, mind if I steal Beck away? The girls in the kitchen are wondering where she is.”

Thank you, Jack!

Here was my chance to get away.

“I should get back and help them clean up.”

King grabbed me lightly as I walked away from him.

“Remember what I said.”

I just nodded. Though, I wasn’t entirely sure what he meant. My brief collection of courage had dissipated as quickly as it appeared.

With our plates full, Jack and I headed to a table to sit and eat with the others. Rachel, Cash, and three men I hadn’t met yet occupied the table we chose.

“Beck, this is Romeo, Ace, and Big Ben,” Jack said, quickly pointing at each man sitting at the table.

Romeo was a handsome man, almost too handsome. With his dark hair, bright blue eyes, and clean-cut face, he resembled a GQ model. He looked almost out of place, like he should be in a three-piece suit rather than a leather cut.

Ace was rugged, with his dark hair and full dark beard combined with the way his T-shirt hugged his shoulders. He reminded me more of a lumberjack than a biker.

Then there was Big Ben. There was no question how this giant got his name. I couldn’t tell exactly how tall he was due to him sitting in a chair, but if his shoulders were any indication, he was well over six feet. His dirty blond hair and quiet gray eyes didn’t make him any less intimidating as he sat there looking at me.

“Well hello, gorgeous!” Romeo stood, reaching his hand out.

I tentatively grasped his hand just as I heard Rachel yell. “NO!”

Swiftly pulling my hand back, I looked at her with concern.

“What the fuck do you mean, no? I’m just saying hello.” Romeo looked me over as he questioned Rachel.

“No, Romeo. You can say ‘hello’without touching. Just touching you is a risk of getting an STD.” Rachel said hello with air quotes and a touch of what sounded like disgust. “Beck is my friend, and she is off-limits!”

“Jack was touching her!” Romeo cried in outrage.

“She is off-limits to you!” Rachel pointed at his chest.

Romeo huffed back in his chair. Everyone but him and Rachel laughed to themselves, as I still stood there not understanding what exactly just happened.

“Beck,” Jack pulled my attention back to him. “Ignore them. Romeo got his name for a reason, and Rach is just looking out for you.”

“Cause he’s a man whore,” Rachel scoffed.

Rachel and Romeo just glared at each other.

I nodded to Jack as we finally took our seats.

“So, Beck, how are you liking our little town?”

This was a question from Ace, the lumberjack.

“I actually grew up here. Rachel and I graduated high school together.”

Romeo sat forward again, “Then you went to school— OW!” Romeo looked over at Cash and I noticed the barest shake of his head.

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