“Will I what?”
“Think about it.”
Clasping her hand in mine, I lead her out of the reception area to find a quiet place to talk. The ballroom is packed, so I end up heading outside. When I find a secluded spot, I turn to face her.
“Okay, talk to me, Ellen. What’s going on?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean why, after all this time, you suddenly want to ‘hook up’?”
“I’m just….” Her shoulders slump in resignation. “I’m lonely, Einstein. It’s beenfouryearssince Eddie died. I need some human contact. Every guy I know keeps a wide berth because they’re afraid of Gage or Daddy. Or they look at me and see Eddie’s old lady. I’m sick of it.”
“Wait… are you saying there’s been no one since Eddie?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying. I think my cooch is closing up from lack of use.”
I chuckle, not only at her turn of phrase, but that it proves she’s Gage’s sister. Just a few minutes ago, he told me my dick will fall off for the same reason.
“You think it’s funny?”
“No, beautiful. I don’t.”
“Why are we even talking right now?” She moves forward, sliding her hands under my jacket. “We could go back to your place. Mikey is staying with Daddy tonight.”
“Ellen….” I carefully remove her hands.
“Oh, God. Not you, too!” she exclaims in exasperation.
“It’s not that. I’m not going to take advantage of you.”
“You’re not. I want this. I just want to have some fun.”
“You can’t—”
“Can’t what?” she demands. “You’re cowards, the whole lot of you! Outlaw MC, my ass. All the men in Stony View, too. If none of you want a ready and willing woman, I’ll just have to go out and find someone who does.”
I grab her hand before she can storm off. “You need to be careful, Ellen. Everyone knows who you are. You know how many people out there would jump at a chance of getting back at the MC through you?”
“Then I guess I’ll just have to go someplace where no one knows me, huh?”
She twists out of my grip, marching back toward the building.Fuck me.I follow, intent on keeping a close eye on her. I wasn’t being dramatic. She could get into serious trouble. Especially since she’s so small. She can’t be more than 5'3". Motherfuckers will look at that as a weakness.
I wasn’t trying to brush her off, either. Ellen is gorgeous. All that thick, shiny brown hair, those sapphire eyes, and a curvy body built for driving a man crazy. I did mean what I said, though; I’ve never seen her as more than Gage’s little sister. Hell, she’s been like a little sister to me.
When I walk back into the reception hall, I find her working once more, talking to the caterer. Still, I’m not dismissing what she said. In her emotional state of mind, she might do something she’ll regret.
I spot our new prospect by the buffet and head in his direction.
“Prospect.”
“Yes, sir.”
His plate almost falls from his hand, but he catches it and gives me his full attention. I jerk my head in Ellen’s direction.
“Keep an eye on her. From now on, you’re her shadow. You see anything out of the ordinary, you let me know. Got it?”
“Yes, sir.”