Page 23 of When It Reins
Stetson had been nice about it, but when Jax found out about what happened with the horse, that was a different story. Hebrought up the many bulls and broncs I’ve ridden over the years, claiming I’ve lost my touch and a stamp out of my man card.
He wasn’t wrong that I lost my touch. I have. I haven’t been riding in years, and I haven’t felt the want to with all the memories I have attached to riding.
Not that anyone knows about that.
I definitely could have called in tonight, told them I wasn’t feeling up to it, but I have more than one reason for wanting to come in.
One is because I have a gut feeling that Corporate Douchebag isn’t the knight in shining armor that Juniper is thinking he is.
And two is I need to have a word with her and see what the hell she was thinking snooping around the development.
I know she knows more about David than she said before. The look on her face that night at the clubhouse told me everything. She was denying the truth because it hurt. I can’t blame her for that, though. I hope with time and learning about what the asshole is really doing, she’ll come around to believing it.
The place is busy tonight, as it is most nights. Though, when I step over to the bar to clock in, I’m stuck in place by the sight in front of me.
Juniper smiling, leaning over the bar, and David on the other side, taking it all in.
My blood hums under my skin as I jab the screen behind the bar, punching in a code I’ve done hundreds of times, and then clenching my fist. I turn away from them and take a deep breath, the frustration from the day piling on.
I thought it was taking a turn. ThatIwas taking a turn. I got back in the saddle today. Things were supposed to be looking up, but just like the sight before me when I turn around, it seems like nothing is actually going to change.
The night progresses uneventfully, and I am kind of disappointed. None of my brothers or family showed, which is to be expected some nights, so there isn’t even anyone to distract me.
I am grateful no one from my club came in to hassle me. Loki’s already been blowing up my phone all night, trying to get me to answer him.
Truth is, I’ve been avoiding Juniper all night. The sight of her flirting with him after finding out what he’s been doing makes my gut churn and my blood boil.
The night winds down, and as usual, I find myself walking out employees. I say good night to one of the waitresses and turn back around to see Juniper standing there, waiting for me by the door. I walk to her, even though my brain is warring inside my head.
I can’t decide what to do.
Part of me wants to avoid her, pretend I don’t even know her, and walk by.
Another part wants to march up to her, throw her ass over my shoulder and take her to my place, never to let her go again.
That’s probably illegal, but I can’t deny that I feel like doing it still.
“Hey.” Her smile takes over at the nod of my head, and she tucks her hands into her sweater-coat thing she likes to wear. “Walk me out?”
I nod again and stand close enough to keep her safe, but not close enough to smell her.
Fuck. I am so messed up.
I don’t need this kind of back and forth in my head. This whole obsession with who she is and what she is doing, it is killing me.
“So who’s avoiding who now?” There’s a lilt in her voice, and when I look over at her, I see a raised brow and smiling lips.
“Not avoiding you,” I lie, continuing our path to her car.
“Really?” Her sarcastic reply sets my teeth on edge, and I want to turn and shake the woman. “Because I brought you water on multiple occasions. I asked how you were, to which you ignored me. I told you about my new music, which normally gets you talking, but you didn’t say a word.”
And I hate every second of this. Because I don’t feel like I can be honest with her. Honesty would lead me down a path that she wasn’t ready for. I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready for it.
“Sorry. Just…” I blow out a breath as we stop near her car, and her big eyes meet mine, making me want to blurt out everything that is going through my mind.
Instead, Loki’s words come back to me, and I sigh. “What the hell were you doing snooping around Four Foxes?”
She tilts her head as if the name of the development was new to her. We both know that’s not true.
