Page 24 of Stella
“I know. It literally smells like death.”
“Well, you still have a smile on your face, or is that just for show?”
“Do I do anything for show?” I laugh. “And I’d tell you if they were giving me hell. I can handle it.”
“As long as you can.” Her eyebrows knit together. “You know how worried your father gets.”
“He’s had that look on his face for as long as I can remember,” I say. “Nothing’s changed. He’ll still have that look on his face when I’m forty-five.”
She squeezes my shoulder. “You know it’s because he cares, not because he’s purposely trying to rule your life.”
“I know, he doesn’t know how not to be a dad.”
A funny look crosses her face; it’s crossed between understanding — she’s a mom after all — and sympathy.
“What?” I prompt. “You’re giving me that look again.”
She checks her watch. “There’s no look, but I’ve gotta get back. I’ll see you tomorrow at home.”
“I’m gonna find out what you’re up to!” I call after her.
I seriously don’t know what she’s blabbing about, but I’ve only got an hour to go and for once Tag isn’t hanging around pointing out all the things I’m doing wrong.
I don’t know why, but my mind flicks to Cale. Man, it’s been a while since I’ve seen him. I know he’ll pop up when I least expect it. I’ve only seen him once since our little love spat in the lunchroom when he had the audacity to question me. I don’t know who that sexy man thinks he is, but just because his eyes are prettier than mine, it doesn’t give him the right to go throwing his weight around and being all growly about my life decisions. There are enough growly men in my life, although I have to admit, their growls are nothing like his. I don’t go home and touch myself over anyone at the clubhouse, but I do Cale. Him in that uniform… It’s enough to drive a woman mad.
No.I am not going to think about him, or wonder what he’s doing, or how his cute dog is, either. Calli might just be the best thing Cale has going for him, not that women wouldn’t fall over themselves just at the mere sight of him. Standing impressively at six four, with wide shoulders, and beautiful toned arms, he’s so pretty it hurts. And that right there tells me there has to be something wrong with him. For one, a man shouldn’t be prettier than you. And since he’s technically the enemy, I shouldn’t be fantasizing about him using his handcuffs on me.Holy Jesus.
It isn’t my fault he fills out that police uniform like nobody’s business.
His eyes darkening when he caged me in against the sink will remain in my personal ‘get me off’ memory bank forevermore. The way his eyes changed from light blue to dark, narrowing as he tried to understand my logic. It was annoyingly hot. Like heactually cares about me and what I do, yet he’s never made any moves. I wouldn’t say no to Cale Callaghan, enemy of the MC or not. Though, that little indiscretion right there would be enough to get my ass fired, and my prospect patch removed.
It also isn’t my fault I’m not attracted to that many guys. I can’t help it if my body responds to him in a way that even I don’t understand. Wet panties aside, that man has a body made for sin.
the bachelorette party
It’s late at the club and the party is in full swing. The strip show is epic, and I shield my eyes when Bandit barely covers his dick with one massive hand. My god. I can see why Manny and Lace have bags under their eyes most days; I’d never get any sleep if I were them, either. Though I can appreciate the hotness, when you know the person and are best friends with one of his partners, it’s a little freaky. The other strippers I don’t know, and I enjoy watching them as they dance around the stage in various stages of undress. Indigo isn’t thrilled about her little brother stripping, but hey, he puts food on the table, and being a single dad to Eli since he was a baby, you gotta do what you gotta do.
When the show is over, we decide to go to another club where the Nomad Brothers, Brew and Haze; who are also Rebels, are working security. They’re on the door tonight, judging me. I still stop and say hi.
“Don’t look so glum,” I say chirpily, mainly to Brew because he’s a sad sack. “You might get lucky at some point in the near future.”
Brew cocks a brow, ignoring my insolence. “Since when did prospects get a day off?”
“Since she’s got the MC wrapped around that pretty little finger,” Haze finishes for him.
“Jealous?” I grin. “I’ll bet you two had to work way harder than I do.” And I like rubbing it in, just a little. I don’t need to tell them I’ve been working my ass to the grind 24/7.
“You’ve got no idea what’s in store once you get off the plantin’ posies stage,” Brew goes on.
“Is that what you think I do all day?” I fire back. “Were you one of the members who voted me off the island?” I add with a pout.
“I didn’t,” Haze tells me happily. “I think we need to bring back mud wrestlin’.”
I roll my eyes. “Of course you do. And we could, there’s enough men in the club to make that happen.”
“Funny.” Haze attempts to slap me upside the head, but I’m too quick for him, and I’ve been dodging his moves for years.
“Ooh,” I say, squinting. “Is that Erica?” I love teasing Brew about Amber’s sister-in-law. Amber is Bronco’s ol’ lady and escaped from a cult, along with Erica and her kid, Olive. Manny told me Brew has a thing for Erica but won’t admit it, and Olive attempted to talk to him once on school pickup when he was guarding them. That had me laughing my ass off because Brew doesn’t chat. Of course, you can’t really ignore a kid, and if you did, that would be kinda spiteful.
