Page 119 of Steel

“True.” She drops her arms.

I look across the beach to where Austin is helping Jameson set up a grill. A few prospects are carrying chairs down the hill to the beach from where the motorcycles and trucks are parked up at the overlook.

We’re the only ones in this particular stretch of the lake, and even if it’s more rocks than sand, it’s a nice, secluded space for the club to relax.

Jameson gives Austin a one-armed hug for helping him with a folding table, and my heart expandswatching them.

It’s strange to think this is going to be our life now. I never would have imagined it, given my resistance to everything Helix represented. But Jameson changed my perspective. This isn’t just a club; it’s a family. For him, I’m thankful to be part of it.

“I should probably go to find the sunscreen.” Luna examines her arms, glancing up to where a few of the patch bunnies are applying lotion to each other in an attempt to get the guys’ attention.

“Maybe if you ask nicely, Ghost will help you rub it on.”

“You’re terrible.” Luna smiles, a blush painting her cheeks.

“And you’re in denial.”

Luna follows my gaze to where Ghost is watching her. But the second their gazes meet, his stare drops to his phone.

“What is it about a man covered in tattoos that’s impossible to resist?” Luna sighs. “Not that you’re on the hunt anymore now that Steel locked you down. The first of the ranked members to take an old lady. Honestly, I didnotsee that one coming.”

“Thanks?” I laugh.

“You know I don’t mean it like that.” Luna threads her arm through mine. “But those guys are better known for riding bikes and shooting guns than relationships.”

“Honestly, I’m just as surprised as you are. I wasn’t planning on any of this when I came here. I never wanted a relationship either. But something just… I don’t know. Something just makes sense when I’m with him.”

“You deserve it, Tempe. You both do.” A genuine smile creeps up Luna’s cheeks. “And who knows, maybe it’ll rub off on the rest of them now.”

“Maybe if you do something about it, it will.” I poke her arm.

“Yeah, yeah.” She releases me, pulling a hair tie off her wrist to wind her freshly dyed purple hair into a ponytail. “The second you have proof Ghost is pining after me, you let me know, and I’ll lock him down. Until then, I’m convinced he’s theleastinterested in me out of all of them. So I refuse to sit around waiting.”

I shake my head because she doesn’t see that he’s already pining after her, but there’s no use trying to convince her until they’re both willing to admit it.

“Let’s go get our feet wet,” Luna changes the subject.

“You have fun. I need to check in on Austin. Looks like he’s digging a moat around Pearl, so I should probably make sure she doesn’t need saving.”

Luna laughs, walking toward the water. “Good luck.”

I make my way across the beach. There’s a slight breeze cooling the air, making it the perfect temperature to be outside. A gust rustles my skirt, and luckily Jameson made sure I put my bathing suit on before leaving so I don’t give everyone a show.

Nearly half the club is here, patch bunnies included. Reina still glares at me every time we make eye contact, but she hasn’t approached me or said a word since Jameson stood in the center of the clubhouse and announced me as his old lady earlier.

Hopefully, we learn to coexist because I’m not going anywhere, and as much as I wish she would, I understand she’s as much a part of this club as any of the girls are.

Besides, just because Jameson’s past is staring me in the face in the form of a beautiful blonde doesn’t mean I don’t have my own history. What’s in the past is exactly that. If I’m going to accept this life, I need to embrace what I’ve signed up for.

There’s no being half-in with a man like Jameson Steel. I either need to trust him or leave. And when I look up to find him watching me walk toward the group, the smile on his face confirms I have nothing to worry about.

Ghost pulls Jameson’s attention with something on his phone, so I head over to Austin.

There’s not much sand on this side of the lake, but Pearl found a decent patch to set her chair up in. Austin and Bea carved a moat around her, and now they’re filling it with water.

“Safe in your castle?” I stop at the edge of the moat.

“Of course. So long as I have my little knight in shining armor.” Pearl smiles, watching Austin dump another bucket of water into the moat.

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