Page 96 of Manny

Riot rolls his eyes. “What gives?”

I’m dressed for the occasion and even busted out my knee-high boots and pink motorcycle jacket. “Manny said I could ride with him.”

“Did he run that by Hawk?”

“Sure did.” In fact, I’ve no clue if he did or not, but that’s besides the point. What’s he gonna do about it, anyway? I try to hide my smile, but Halo’s eyeing me and I don’t want to giveanything away. “You know I love motorcycles and nobody else will let me ride with them.”

“Because you know what it means,” my annoying brother goes on.

“Pull your head out of your ass,” I sigh. “Seriously, bro, take a load off.” I turn as I hear straight pipes and my eyes almost bug out of my head when I see Manny and Bandit ride up either side of me.

I try to act cool, but I’ve no idea if I’m failing just a little bit, or a whole lot. My eyes skim over Bandit first. He looks hot. Freshly shaven, his hair mussed as if he just got out of the shower. He’s wearing his cut, of course, with the dirty patch on the front, jeans, a tight black Henley, and riding boots. He also has Eli on the back, dressed very similarly minus the cut.

I smile to myself as my eyes dart to Manny. He looks just as delicious. His motorcycle jacket doesn’t have any patches and I really would’ve thought by now that Cash would’ve patched him in. It’d mean so much to him, even if Manny will never admit it.

The two of them look at me as if I’m gonna decide which one I’m riding with, even when Bandit knows his kid is on the back, so that’s impossible. It would also raise eyebrows and I’d have Riot on my back, and Bandit’s. “Hey.” I wave at Eli. “You look so cute!”

“He’s not tryin’ to look cute.” Bandit rolls his eyes. “He’s tryin’ to look badass.”

“Daddy, don’t swear,” Eli laughs. He’s such a cute little thing and looks exactly like his dad. They have the same color hair, and green eyes. “Lace, do you like my motorcycle jacket? Dad got it for me.”

“It’s so cool!” I give him a high five and he laughs. He pulls the visor down on his helmet and I roll my lips.

“Ready when you are.”

Bandit’s shoulders shake. “Gotta wait for the others, bud.”

“Hey, Eli, when we get back, I have an ice cream sundae with your name on it, that’s if your Dad says it’s okay,” Manny sing-songs.

Eli claps his hands together. “Yes!”

“Didn’t say it was okay yet,” Bandit quips over his shoulder.

Eli just laughs. Clearly, his dad is a sucker and I’m betting there isn’t much he wouldn’t get away with.

Manny shrugs. “Looks like you win, little guy.” He flicks his eyes to me. “Hop on.” He hands me a helmet and I pull it on, securing the clip.

I can see Bandit watching me in my periphery, but I avoid his gaze. No need to make it obvious.

“You good back there?” Manny turns to ask me over his shoulder.

“I’m good,” I reply, the adrenaline pumping through me as I wrap my arms around Manny. I love that Bandit is watching, that he may be a little on edge right now, but he can’t do anything about it.

Cash rolls up, Deanna securely wrapped around him. Then the rest of the MC join and we take off. I hold tight onto Manny as he maneuvers the motorcycle expertly out of the clubhouse and we glide out onto the street. My knees press around his frame, my arms wrapped around him. A wash of peace runs through me like I’ve never experienced. Like I’ve finally found my place in the world. In this club. With my men. I just have no idea how to move forward if we’re more than just messing around.

20

JONAH

I watchmy girl ahead of me. In fact, I can barely take my eyes off the two of them. They look so good together that it starts to eat away at me that I’m not good enough. That I could never give her the things she needs.

Those thoughts and feelings always creep back in when I meet someone, which is why I’ve never let myself be in a serious relationship after Jill. I couldn’t have my heart ripped out like that again.

Commitment was never a problem when I got married. I was in love. I was faithful. I wanted it; a wife, a family, the white picket fence. But then everything changed. I’ve always had an urge, one that Jill never knew about, and maybe that’s why I’ve suppressed it all this time. I would never have wanted her to be ashamed of me.

I would never want to dull her memory or make it seem like what we had wasn’t what I wanted. It was. I loved her, I will always love her, but then life changed. Life threw up a brick wall and I hid behind it with Eli, never letting anyone new inside.

When I first met Lace, things were uncomplicated. I thought we’d just have some fun, but then I quickly learned that therewas something different about her. She’s not like other women and I don’t know how to explain that other than a feeling. The one where you could easily fall in love again.

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