Page 14 of Stella
“She didn’t,” Cale says, surprising me. “I saw the prospect cut.”
Tag’s eyes shift to the back of the chair where I laid my new cut when I got to work. “So now you know.”
A moment of silence passes and you could cut the tension with a knife. Cale breaks Tag’s glare. “I better check on Amanda.” He motions behind him. Then whistles to Calli, who walks ahead of him, the smart, sassy hound that she is.
I don’t want him to go, not like this. He also didn’t answer the question when he was interrupted. ‘If you were my’… his… friend? Sister? Girlfriend? What was he going to say? That is going to gnaw away at me for the rest of the day.
Cale takes his mug of coffee and strolls out like he owns the place. Tag watches him as he goes, then looks back at me.
“Rule number one, little lady. No consorting with the pigs.”
“I was being nice!” Well, maybe not the whole time.
“Well, don’t be,” he grumbles. “We don’t want him sniffin’ around here on the regular. He already shows up whenever the fancy takes him, don’t wanna make it a daily thing.”
“He won’t be back,” I say, and those words almost do me in.
I saw it in his eyes, even if I hadn’t told him he was a jerk and had a giant stick up his ass. Well, good. He will learn, just like everyone else around here, that I’m not a freaking pushover.
He wasn’t just acting like a cop. He was acting like a jealous boyfriend.
When Tag points at me and says, “He better not be. I see the way you look at him.” I all but freaking freeze. Oh, no.
“Like I said, I was being nice, next time I’ll throw a bucket of cold water on him, would that be better?”
For the first time in a while, Tag smiles. “Now that sounds promising.”
I shake my head as he takes off, and I chew my lip. If only we weren’t from two completely different worlds, maybe we could’ve shared something important.
Then I think about him calling me Firecracker, and I can’t help the grin that spreads across my face. He thinks I’m beautiful, and a firecracker. Well, Cale Callaghan might have played all of his cards just now, but I’m just getting warmed up.
Despite the fact that I don’t like being told what to do, I did like his concern. I liked how he backed me up against the sink, and how his eyes darkened when I admitted I was prospecting. I imagine what it would be like for his hand to grip my throat while he makes me tell him all my secrets.
Holy shit.
Judging by the mess I’ve made in my panties, I still want Cale Callaghan, even if he is a big jerk. Not that I stand a chance in hell because if I’m not mistaken, I think we just had our first fight. Wait. Can you really have a fight with someone you barely know, and who isn’t a friend, or a boyfriend? I guess there’s afirst time for everything, including Cale using those handcuffs to…
“Stella!” Tag yells from somewhere in the workshop. “Get back to work!”
There goes my good mood.
4
STELLA
Two hours prior
Church
Now is notthe time to be intimidated, not by the men I’ve known for most of my life.
The ones around the table are important members who make all the decisions within the club, and while I want to be mad at Cash and Ryder for not telling me the entire fucking committee would be here, I save that for the punching bag I’ll be hitting later tonight. All they’re trying to do is get under my skin, I know that.
Pipes and Manny have both told me, along with Luna and countless others, that I have to keep my cool, no matter what. This club will be looking for any excuse to say ‘told you so’ to my supporters for even giving me a shot, and I don’t want to give them any reason to doubt me. Fuck that. I’ve worked too hard to get here for that to happen.
I head for the chair usually reserved for Priest; right at the very end, facing Cash at the helm. Priest gallantly gave up his chair, earning him a few looks, and sits on the other side of me.Such a gentleman. The men of this club could learn a thing or two from him.
Fine, club members. Have it your way with the stony faces and odd chuckle, but I will not be intimidated. I carry my bag and my mug and set them down on the table as all eyes watch me.
