Page 16 of My Dream

“Sounds like the guy’s living in a fucking fairytale,” I grunted. “He’s in for a rude awakening hanging around the clubhouse for the next couple of weeks.”

Fallon’s smile dimmed slightly. “I’d be careful around him, Compass. He needs a reality check, sure, but I don’t know if you guys should be the ones to give it to him. Not while he’s in charge of the shooting.”

I glanced at her, and her brow was furrowed in a way that told me she was overthinking. “Don’t worry about it, babe. Theclub can handle someone like Clay.” Guys like Clay were a dime a fucking dozen.

She studied me for a beat as if trying to gauge if I was being serious.

“Are you okay with us pretending to be a couple for the cameras?” she asked suddenly, her tone softer than before.

I shrugged one shoulder. “I don’t think it’s gonna be hard.” I glanced at her briefly and caught the way her lips parted slightly in surprise. It was true. Fallon was smart, quick-witted, and beautiful. I’d acted like it was a pain in the ass when Yarder told me about the whole arrangement, but the truth was, Fallon was starting to grow on me. Fast. She was a bit goofy but cute.

“At least we’ll have a few days before Clay comes back,” she pointed out and shifted in her seat.

“Thank hell for that, babe,” I muttered and pulled into the clubhouse parking lot. I eased the truck to a stop near the front doors and threw it in park.

Fallon sighed dramatically. “This is the part I hate about grocery shopping. Now we have to schlep it all in.”

I grinned and shoved my sunglasses on top of my head. “You’re about to see one of the perks of the club, babe.”

Before she could ask what I meant, I laid on the horn—long and loud. She jumped in her seat. “Jesus, Compass! What the hell?”

“Wait for it.”

Ten seconds later, the front door of the clubhouse swung open, and Smoke, Aero, Pirate, and Cue Ball came spilling out with Rocky trailing a few feet behind them.

“Holy crap, Compass,” Fallon whispered and stared wide-eyed as the guys made their way over to the truck.

“More hands to get the job done,” I said smugly. I reached for my door handle. “See? Perks.”

Smoke pulled open Fallon’s door before I could get out and grinned at her. “Shopping haul, huh? Let’s get this shit unloaded.”

Fallon blinked at him. “Uh, thanks?”

“You’re welcome,” Rocky called as he grabbed a case of water bottles from the truck bed. “We’re efficient as hell.”

Fallon and I both hopped out of the truck, and I stretched my shoulders, already feeling the heat of the sun.

“Hey!” Cue Ball scolded and pointed a finger at Rocky. “What the hell have I told you about swearing?”

“Brother,” Aero laughed and smacked Cue Ball’s shoulder, “you just told the kid not to swear byswearingat him.”

“Do as I say, not as I do,” Cue Ball countered with a grunt. “And I’m a hell of a lot older.”

“It’s really hard to believe you’re the father figure in Rocky’s life,” Aero chuckled.

Cue Ball shrugged. “He’s got Olive to help balance him out.”

“Hey!” Adalee’s voice rang out from the clubhouse doorway and cut through the chatter. “Did you get butter? Likea lotof butter?”

Fallon squinted against the sun and put a hand over her eyes. “Um, yeah,” she called back. “I don’t know if you’d say it’sa lot, though.”

“How much did you get?” Adalee pressed. “I’m trying out some new recipes.”

Fallon perked up beside me, and her face lit up. “For The Cakery?” she asked.

Adalee grinned wide and practically bounced on her toes. “Yup! Now, how much butter did you get?”

“We couldn’t tell if you wrote a six or an eight, so we went with eight,” I answered.

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