Page 35 of Reignite

The two men embraced guy-style with slaps on the back. The worry lines around Gray’s eyes had gone and his stance had gone from guarded to relaxed.

I’ll be damned. If I’d known calling Jim would calm Gray down I’d done it a week ago.

I eyeballed Jim. He wore the same shit-eating grin as Gray.

What a pair they were. The love of my life and Jackass McScarington.

“Angel, Jim’s here.”

I extended my hand and my whole body was consumed in a bear hug. “So, the beauty has finally tamed the beast.”

“Nrrf, frrnnf.” Can’t breathe.

“Jackass. Put her down. You’re crushing her.”

He squeezed me harder for a quick moment and then set me down.

There weren’t very many people in the world that made me feel tiny. I was usually one of the bigger people in the room. Standing between Jim and Gray, I felt like a wee little Latina leprechaun.

Jim looked at the construction going on around us. “This is your place?”

“This is Angelina’s place.” Gray folded his arms and while there was iron in his voice, and he was practically peeing in a circle around me, he wasn’t wound nearly as tight.

If Jim could bring Gray’s stress levels down by being around, he and I were going to be BFFs.

“You’re the boss-lady.” He eyed me up and down and then winked. “That’s hot.”

I grinned. Jim was flirty and kinda sexy once you got past that KKK look he had going on. I’d take his compliment happily.

Gray threw an arm around my waist and pulled me close to him. “Back off, Jackass. She’s mine and only mine.”

Oooh. A shiver raced down my spine. That’s what I liked to hear. Double bonus if Jim inspired a possessiveness in Gray. I could use that to my advantage.

Jim had a devilish gleam in his eye like he was going to have fun torturing Gray into a good mood. He raised his hands and took a step back. “Whoa, whoa. I got it back then and I get it now. No touching. But you can’t stop me from admiring.”

Jim’s admiring was aimed straight at my boobs. He leaned in and whispered, “I peeked back then too.”

Hay, Dios Mio. Jim had just gotten here and now Gray was going to have to kill him.

“I can stop you if I knock your eyes out of your damn head. You’re not here to admire. You’re here to work.” Gray socked Jim in the shoulder.

I glanced up and Gray and then over to Jim. “He is?”

Jim guffawed. “You didn’t tell her?”

Gray didn’t reply.

“Tell me what?” This had better be a good surprise, like that Jim was here to save the world from evil-doers like Foster Bennett.

Jim laughed. “I’m your new bartender.”

Save the world, tend bar. Same, same, but different. “You’re a bartender? I thought you were…”

He waited for me to say it, and when I didn’t, he gleefully said, “A son of anarchy?”

Okay, so he was a straight shooter. I liked that, at least. “Pretty much.”

“He’s an old buddy from the unit.”

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