Page 41 of Rage's Heart

I was pretty sure we were both aware that whatever was happening between us was feeling dangerously like something real. Although neither of us seemed to mind.

Which was why when he’d invited me to the club’s Saturday barbecue, I’d hesitated for all of three seconds before saying yes. This was his family and they were important to him.

Now my family, Jack specifically, would lose his ever-loving mind if he knew I was here.

“Come on,” Rage said, threading his fingers through mine. “Let me introduce you to everyone.”

Squeezing my hand in his, I followed him around rounded the corner of the clubhouse, and stopped short, momentarily stunned by the view.

The back of the property opened directly onto a private beach, with the endless blue of the Atlantic stretching to the horizon. To my left was a large covered patio that housed several picnic tables and a massive smoker that was billowing smoke.

“Wow,“ I breathed, thoroughly impressed by the digs. “This place is awesome. And that view… Wow! It’s gorgeous.”

Rage winked. “We got the best piece of property in Jacksonville.”

“Rage!” a booming voice called from the patio. I turned to see a mountain of a man waving us over, a beer in one hand and tongs in the other.

“That’s Killer,” Rage dipped his head and murmured in my ear. “Don’t let the name fool you. He’s a teddy bear.”

I snorted. “No. I’m pretty sure the name is fitting.” The man was enormous and looked scary as hell.

Rage threw his head back and laughed long and loud. “Okay. You got me there,” he finally said, after he sobered.

As we approached, I could feel eyes following us. I straightened my spine, determined not to show how intimidated I felt.

“About time you showed up,” Killer grinned, clapping Rage on the shoulder hard enough to make a normal man stagger. “Chief was about to send out a search party.”

Killer’s dark eyes shifted to me, his expression curious but not unfriendly.

“This is Mac,” Rage said, the possession in his tone clear as day as his hand settled on my hip.

“McKenzie,” I clarified, extending my hand. “But everyone calls me Mac.”

Killer’s massive hand engulfed mine, but his grip was surprisingly gentle. “Nice to meet you, Mac. Heard you saved his dog.”

I smiled, relaxing a fraction. “I think it was more of a team effort.”

“Don’t let her fool you,” Rage cut in. “She basically threatened to kick my ass when she thought I was hurting him.”

Killer’s eyebrows shot up, a grin stretching across his face. “That right? Damn, girl, you got balls.”

“Uh… Thanks?” I laughed.

Rage steered me toward a group gathered around the smoker, making introductions as we went. Zero was the club’s tech guy who barely looked up from his phone but gave me a nod. Reign had an Irish accent that was sexy as hell. Morpheus, the VP, looked me up and down appraisingly.

“Stop eyeballing my girl, asshole,” Rage warned.

My girl. I was quickly learning that Rage was very possessive where I was concerned. Usually that macho shit would piss me off but something about the way Rage claimed as his own sent a pleasant warmth through me.

“Can’t blame a man for looking,” Morpheus shrugged, winking at me. “Nice to meet you, darlin’.”

“Don’t encourage him,” Rage grumbled as we moved on. “His ego’s big enough already.”

I was just starting to think that I’d been nervous for nothing and that meeting his club had been a walk in the park when I spotted two women approaching from the beach. One was petite, almost pixie-like, with shoulder length platinum blonde hair and beautiful sleeves of tattoos decorating her arms. The other was tall and curvy, with fiery red hair cascading down her back and a pissed off look on her face.

“Ah, shit,“ Rage mumbled. “Here comes trouble.”

“Who’s that?” I whispered.

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