Page 13 of Taming Bull

Someone swore.

“Damn shame,” Havoc said.

Tavonte looked uncomfortable. Link watched him, as if waiting for more details, but Tavonte kept his mouth closed.

Jake stood, his eyes full of emotion. “We understand and appreciate your family’s sacrifice. We’re glad to have you here, brother.”

Jake’s brother had joined the service alongside him, but he never came home. Still officially listed as MIA, Link’s uncle’s disappearance had been the driving force behind the formation of the Dead Presidents MC. They say the hardest part of serving is coming home. Jake wanted to create a safe place for people like his brother to come home to, so they wouldn’t have to fight this battle alone.

Link must have finally recognized Tavonte’s discomfort and took pity on him. He stood and clapped the man on the back. “Tay here served as a 91B.” For those of us who weren’t Army, he added, “A wheeled vehicle mechanic. Bull, tomorrow can you show him around the shop before your shift starts?”

I usually went into work early and sat around trying not to think about Lily until it was time to take the tow truck out. Showing the new guy around would be a welcome distraction. “Yessir.”

“Good. Let’s adjourn for the night and go show this young buck a good time.” Link picked up the gavel and hit the table, releasing us.

Everyone stood and drifted toward the front of the room where they congregated around Tavonte, asking him questions and welcoming him to the club. The guy looked a little shell shocked, and I didn’t want to add to the chaos around him, so I slipped out of the meeting.

Located in a renovated old fire station, the clubhouse was a massive building. The main floor held the chapel, offices, bathrooms, an industrial kitchen, and a common area full of sofas, televisions, pool tables, dart boards, and a fully stocked bar. The chaos in the chapel would eventually drift down the hall to the common area, where drinks would be poured, stories would be shared, and shit would get loud. Glad to be ahead of all that, I made a beeline for the bar.

A few ol’ ladies were sitting around chatting on the sofas, waiting for their men to emerge. I didn’t have to even look to know Lily was in the group. I could feel this fucked up connection we shared pulling me toward her. I ignored it for as long as I could before giving in and glancing in her direction. Hard glares stared back at me. Lily had no doubt filled them in on what happened between us last night, and now I was in deep shit with the broad squad.

Great. Just what I fucking needed.

Sure, they were only looking out for Lily, but dammit, so was I. In fact, the more I thought about it, the more I realized allowing Lily to flirt with me over the past two years had been like leading her on. It wasn’t fair to either of us. The best thing I could do now was to lock that shit down and make it clear we had no future. It would be hard as hell, but I’d manage. I had to, or I’d go fucking crazy and do something unforgivable like fuck her senseless. Then shit would get really complicated. Doing my best to ignore them, I slid onto a barstool.

Shari, one of the club whores, was manning the bar. She greeted me with a smile, for which, I was grateful. Either news of my misdeeds hadn’t reached her, or she was staying neutral. “Hey, Bull, what can I get you?” she asked.

“Just a beer, please.”

She reached into the fridge and retrieved a local Belgian. Popping the cap, she handed the bottle over and leaned close. Lowering her voice so only I could hear, she said, “Better watch yourself. I think the ladies are plannin’ your funeral.”

Feeling the heat of their glares, I made a conscious decision not to look over my shoulder and nodded. “Surprised you didn’t spit in my beer or something.”

Her smile widened. “I’m neutral in all matters of war and the heart. Just call me Switzerland.”

Tilting my bottle toward her in salute, I said, “Thank you, Switzerland,” before taking a drink.

“You betcha.”

The common area started filling up. I turned on my stool and watched as Havoc strolled in. He went straight to the sofas and kissed Julia on the forehead before taking his son from her. Link and Eagle weren’t far behind. When I’d first prospected, the club didn’t have a single child in it. Now, we needed a fucking daycare.

My gaze involuntarily drifted to Lily. Fuck. My resolve hadn’t even lasted a full ten minutes, but I couldn’t help it. I clearly had a type, and she matched it. Seated on the sofa beside Monica, I could only see from her shoulders up, but it was enough to knock the wind out of me. She was so damn gorgeous I couldn’t force myself to look away. Watching the couples with their babies, her eyes filled with longing, reminding me of why I couldn’t be with her.

She wanted the forever I’d already promised to someone else.

Even now, I couldn’t help but compare the two of them. Lily’s eyes were a little rounder, and Amber’s cheek bones had been a little softer. Where Amber was sweet and innocent, Lily was fierce and jaded. Amber’s career choice was driven by the desire to help people—she wanted to work with special ed kids. Lily chose the electrician route because it offered the best pay for the least amount of schooling.

Regardless of their differences, I couldn’t stop thinking about how awkward it would be to take Lily home. My parents would see my dead girlfriend and think I’d lost my damn mind. Amber’s folks would probably have a coronary. Hell, the whole town would be whispering about how I couldn’t have Amber, so I brought home her twin.

And they wouldn’t be wrong. Lily’s likeness to Amber was what had drawn me to her.

It wasn’t fair to Lily, and I needed to give her space so she could get over me and find a man who could give her everything. A man who could take her home and be proud to introduce her to his family. A man who still had a future left to offer.

Determined to make myself scarce until she took the hint and stopped hitting on me, I picked up my beer and headed for the stairs.

I didn’t feel much like partying anyway.

4

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