Page 81 of Dozer

Gabi stood next to me and leaned against the counter. Outside the window, Dozer, Blade, Romeo, and Vance drank beers, laughed, and worked on my car. They had it up on ramps. Parts and tools littered the area.

Romeo wore a gray T-shirt. Dirt and oil stained the front and back. He had his hair pulled into a man-bun and a cigarette clamped between his lips. He strode to the work truck with a flatbed blocking my driveway.

Blade, Dozer, and Vance squatted beside Dozer’s motorcycle, pointing out something mechanical. I may be intelligent, but I knew nothing about engines.

As if he could sense my stare, Dozer lifted his head. Just a glance had my legs turning to jelly. Warmth slipped through my veins, and my core clenched.

“Once Leo figures out that you’re dating Hellers, you’re going to be sent to a convent or married off to one of his business associates.” Gabi rarely referred to Leo as dad. They weren’t pretendinganymore. He wasn’t her biological dad, and she’d tired of being blamed for our mom’s infidelity.

And I was tired of being their princess.

Next time I took Dozer home, I was taking the real Dozer. The one who wore a cut, rode a motorcycle, and watched me with a dark intensity that stole my breath. His sharp edges kept others away, everyone except me.

“I’ve never seen Vance like this,” Gabi said, her voice laced with a touch of dejection. “This part of his life doesn’t include me.”

Hana came up behind her. “Gabi, you’re his fucking unicorn. He doesn’t want what he left behind. When Razor and the Hellers took his patch, they took his best friends. I don’t think he realized how much he missed them. But don’t think that means he’d go back.”

The smile fell from Gabi’s lips. “I can’t be part of a motorcycle club. Not even the hint of an association, but how am I supposed to ask him to walk away again?” She turned to Hana. “You’re involved. Pippa’s involved. I’m not delusional. He’s not going to walk away again.”

I turned her toward me. “He’d have to be involved to walk away. He’s not. He’s fixing my car with friends. Nothing illegal. Nothing to do with the MC. Just hanging out with his best friends.”

“Is anyone hungry?” Jazzy asked coming into the kitchen.

All four of us stood together, gawking out the window.

“Are they just going to let Romeo do all the work?”

Romeo rolled under the car on a creeper.

“Do you know where they got the parts?” I asked Jazzy.

“No, but don’t ask for a receipt. Pretty sure they didn’t come with one.”

Gabi turned to Jazzy. “Seriously?”

Maybe not totally legal. “Vance is just welding the parts. He’s good,” I said.

Jazzy laughed. “I’m going to order a couple pizzas.”

I left the girls in the kitchen and walked outside. Butterflies filled my belly. I hadn’t been with both Dozer and Romeo since our night together…since before Dozer and I had staked claim on each other.

Now, I wasn’t sure how to act with Romeo. Before he’d have pulled me close, kissed me, and teased me. I still wanted that, and I wanted Dozer to know I was his. My emotions were on a fucking roller coaster. I couldn’t just turn off my attraction to Romeo. No matter how strong my connection to Dozer.

Squatting down next to Romeo’s legs, I peered at him under my car. “Can I help with anything?”

Romeo slid out from under the car. “Not yet.”

Like always, his gaze raking over me sparked a flare of awareness between my legs.

“I’d touch you, but I’ll get you dirty.”

“It wouldn’t be the first time.” I sat on the concrete and pulled my knees to my chest. “Tell me you’re not angry.”

Strands of his dark hair had come loose from his bun and clung to the sweat on his brow and the side of his face. Those full lips pulled into a smile. I could smell cigarettes and exhaust. Those scentsshouldn’t have had my belly tight and my nipples hardening. He was a beautiful, dirty sight.

He tugged on my ponytail. “Wait until later. I’ll show you how I’m not angry. I’m going to miss not being able to grab you and kiss you whenever I want.”

“Negotiated point. You can still kiss me.”

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