Page 26 of Loco

I had to give Rylie credit, it was good advice, but Loco would see right through it. I wasn’t desperate for a man, and that included Loco. Sure, I was attracted to him. And I had feelings. What woman wouldn’t feel hurt when a guy she’d recently slept with let another woman grind on him right in front of her?

Loco was right. We lived in different worlds. Better that I saw that now.

“Hello, beautiful.”

I felt the warmth of someone big move up behind me, forcing me to turn slightly so he could squeeze between me and the next person. Was he talking to me? Our eyes met, and the smile on his handsome face brought one to mine.

“Doc, this is Millie. She’s a friend of Loco’s.” Rylie said.

“Friend?” Doc questioned me with skepticism. “Didn’t know Loco had female friends.”

“More like acquaintances,” I corrected. “I don’t even like him.”

Doc laughed good-naturedly and looked at Rylie. “Whiskey.” Then he put his eyes back on me. “What’s a woman who doesn’t like the club man-whore doing here?” he joked.

I liked the teasing light in his eyes and easy smile. He had beautiful green eyes and wore his long brown hair tied back. His features were manly and pleasant, strong, not as weathered and dark as some of the other men I’d seen. I knew he was a member of the club by the cut he was wearing. And the most interesting feature about him was the purple birthmark on the side of his thick neck. I swear it looked like the state of Alaska!

“The jerk brought me here on what I thought was a date, and then deserted me for some action with one of the club women.”

His brows shot up. “Sounds like Loco.” He then gave me a wink. “You’re too good for him anyway.”

“I know! Right?” I was trying to play off the hurt and disappointment that I felt. We both laughed. “So, you’re called Doc. Is that your road name?”

“And profession,” he explained. “I’m the club doctor, but I also have my own practice.” He picked up his drink and took a sip.

As his eyes scanned the room over the rim of his glass, I took a moment to do the same. When I caught Loco urging the woman off his lap, and I breathed a sigh of relief to see that his pants were still done up. That was something at least, but not enough for me to get over the sight of her grinding on his lap. I pulled my gaze back to Doc’s.

He was studying me over the rim of his glass, and I got the impression that he was seeing more than I wanted him to.

I smiled.

“Already too late, huh?” he said in a knowing tone, the laugh lines at the corners of his eyes deepening.

My smile vanished in confusion. “What?”

“You’re already hooked on Loco.”

I shook my head. “I’ll admit that I was attracted to him, but he ruined that with his actions tonight.” I knew I was fooling myself, and I took a deep breath. “Saying you’re a man whore is one thing, but nothing drums it home better than seeing it in action.”

Doc laughed. “You hang out around here long enough and you’ll see a lot more of it. Loco isn’t the only brother who fucks every woman who comes through our door.”

“Do you?”

He thought about my question for a minute. “I wouldn’t if the right woman came along.” He finished his drink and motioned Rylie over for a refill. “Not looking, though.”

His tone had changed suddenly, and the faraway look in his eyes as he stared off past Rylie suggested that he was remembering something, something from his past, that had hurt him. My instinct to reach out and offer comfort for something that I knew nothing about evaporated when a fight suddenly broke out behind us.

Between two scantily clad women.

Their enraged screeches split the air and could be heard over the bass booming from the speakers. They were like two alley cats, scratching and pulling at each other’s hair, teetering on ridiculously high stilettos. Curse words and threats spewed from their bright red lips. I looked over the men who were watching them, surprised to see that they were laughing and egging the two women on. Others weren’t even paying them any attention.

Why was no one stopping them?

I looked at Doc, who sensed my interest and met my eyes. He was grinning, too. “Am I missing something?”

He shrugged. “Club whores fighting over one of the brothers. It happens. Especially when the girls are new.”

I snorted and looked back at the spectacle. Fighting over a man? They were making fools of themselves, and I couldn’t believe that no one was stepping in to break it up. Of course, I didn’t understand the inside workings of a motorcycle club. I was picking up bits and pieces as I went along, and if Viola and Bull ended up together, I would likely learn a lot from her.

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