Page 13 of Old Flame

A darkness had sunk into me, baring its fangs and latching on when I saw the diamond and wedding band on her left hand. I’d known she’d probably be married and have kids, a dog, a white motherfucking picket fence, and I’d always told myself that was what I wanted. Mom would have wanted it.

No one had prepared me for the ferocity of my reaction to it though. Seeing it was another monster. It was a fucking beast now, brewing inside me. I shouldn’t care. Eighteen goddamn years. I should not care!

“Tex!” Amethyst said my name, but I kept walking.

Her stiletto heels clicked as she hurried to catch me. Both her hands grabbed my arm, and I had to stop myself before flinging her to the floor.

“What?” I seethed, glaring at her with all the rage boiling over and flowing through my veins. Rage I didn’t have any control over, and I fucking hated it. Almost as much as those goddamn rings on Salem’s finger. My hands clenched into fists.

Amethyst dropped her hold on me as a trace of fear crossed her expression. She straightened and tried not to look scared,but her eyes gave her away. “Who is that woman?” she asked me accusingly. As if she had any right to ask me about other women.

“That’s not anything for you to concern yourself with. We aren’t a couple. We fuck. You suck my cock. That’s it, darlin’. Now, you can stop this jealous shit. I ain’t putting up with female drama. Especially from you.” I ended it on a snarl, then turned back to the booth that Salem had been at, only to see she was gone.

I began scanning the rest of the bar as I stalked in that direction.

Had she already fucking left? The panic I felt unraveling made me uneasy. I had to get a grip. Calm the fuck down. But I’d thought about what it would be like to see her again so many times, and now that I had, I wasn’t ready for it to be over. I wanted to ask her more questions.

Hell, I wanted to watch her lips move, hear her voice, and soak in her blue eyes. That was fucked up. This wasn’t the reaction I’d thought I would have to her. I had led myself to believe that it would be old friends catching up on life. She’d reassure me that I’d done the right thing all those years ago, and we’d laugh about old times. Talk about Mom.

No one else had loved Mom like I did. No one had known her like I did. Except Salem.

“Don’t tell me you’re the one who sent that woman running.” Pepper’s tone was annoyed.

Well, get in fucking line, Pep.

I continued to scan the bar for any sign of her straight, silky mane of coal-black hair. “Did she leave?” I asked Pepper.

“So, you are the cause. And she was enjoying herself. Dammit, Tex. When did you start looking at women who wore clothing and were over thirty?”

I swung my gaze to Pepper and had to remind myself she was Micah’s sister. Because right now, she was teetering real close tothe fucking edge of my temper. I could hear my teeth grinding, but couldn’t stop it. My jaw was as wound up as the rest of me.

Pepper crossed her arms over her chest, and her brows drew together. “This scary-face thing you’re doing doesn’t get to me. So, stop. And, yes, she left. Wasn’t the best day for her, and I was trying to give her a distraction. But seriously, she is not your type. Classy as hell. That skirt and those boots were designer. Hella expensive. I’d kill to pull off either of them, but I’d likely send this bunch rolling on the floor, laughing.”

“Why wasn’t today a good day?” I cut her off from continuing to babble on about Salem’s clothes. I was well aware of how sexy as fuck she looked with barely any skin showing. I didn’t need to be told what I could see.

Pepper lifted her shoulders slightly. “She was here to drink to someone. That’s all you need to know. What she shared with me was personal, and I don’t repeat shit like that. But again, Tex, not your type. You scared her right on out of here. I had promised I’d have one of my security guys get her back to her hotel safely, but she signed the tab and was gone before I got back with someone.”

“What can you tell me then?” I asked through my teeth, wanting to strangle her for being a pain in the ass.

She didn’t know Salem. What did it matter if she told me what she had found out about her?

“You tell me why first,” she challenged. “Because she isn’t into you or bikers for that matter. In case you didn’t notice the way she was looking y’all’s way with a slightly ill and terrified expression.”

That had had nothing to do with the MC. It had to do with me. She’d seen me.

“I know her, Pepper,” I said, hating to be forced to tell her anything. “She’s my…she lived with my mom for a few years. Mom helped her as a teenager. Got her into art school. I haven’tseen her since the summer after my mom passed away.”

Pepper’s eyebrows shot up. She’d not expected that. Seemed this was the night for surprises. I could see her thinking it over, and I tried to be patient while she decided what she was going to tell me, but it was fucking hard.

“Tex, I don’t have to put up with the way you treat me. I’m good to you. Too good!”

Amethyst’s high-pitched voice was suddenly grating. Maybe it always had been, but I hadn’t noticed it until now.

I didn’t turn around and acknowledge her outburst. Pepper’s gaze shifted to her though, and I could see the disgust on her face, but I wasn’t sure if it was for me or Amethyst.

“Honey, how many times have you been told you are wasting precious time on Tex? I swear you are hardheaded. You want to be an old lady, then pick someone who will marry. This one won’t.” Pepper sounded exasperated.

“Micah changed for Dolly,” Amethyst shot back at her. “And your brother was the biggest player of them all.”

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