Page 5 of Damascus & The Wildfire
“Jack, meet my best friend, Kenna.”
Jack stretched out a grease-stained palm. “A pleasure,” he said in a Southern drawl.
Before I could respond, a woman with a hot-pink pixie cut pressed up beside him.
“This is Leah, my old lady.” Jack kissed the top of her head as she suspiciously eyed me like I might try to steal her man.
I forced a polite smile as I bit back a comment about the old lady label.Their world, their rules, I reminded myself.
“Nice to meet you both,” I said. I threw back the rest of my whiskey, savoring the burn as it slid down my throat.
A roar split the air as a Harley rumbled up the long gravel driveway.
The man who swung off the bike was massive, all muscle and tattoos. His presence commanded the attention of everyone in the yard.
“That’s Fuse,” Eva said, excitement clear in her chipper voice. She glanced at my now-empty cup. “Let’s grab another drink and go say hi.”
“Sure, let’s go meet the prison biker who could snap me in half,” I grumbled, though curiosity coursed through me. I’d never met anyone who’d done hard time.
“Trust me. He’s a good guy,” Eva chided as she poured more whiskey into my glass before filling her own. “Don’t judge him before you get to know him.” She pressed the drink into my hand with a warning glare before spinning on her heels.
I sipped my whiskey and watched in rapt fascination as a group surrounded Fuse. They gave each other the manliest hugs I’ve ever seen, concluded by bruising back slaps.
It was a far cry from the old money country club world I’d grown up in—all handshakes and air-kissed cheeks, polite applause, and passive aggression. Instead of polo shirts and linen pants, these men wore leather and patches steeped in testosterone and tobacco.
Reaper waved us over. “This is my old lady, Eva, and her best friend, Kenna.”
Fuse’s intense gaze swept over us both, lingering just long enough to make me shift and tense.
“Reaper has good taste,” he said in a gruff voice as he wrapped his bear-sized hands around Eva. He lifted her off the ground and twirled her around in a circle. She giggled as her drink arced through the air and splashed onto the grass. Hawk let out a high-pitched yip, leaping to follow his human.
“You are absolutely stunning,” Fuse said as he set Eva down.
“Hands off my woman before I cut them off,” Reaper growled possessively.
Fuse glanced at me and smirked as I subtly stepped back.
“Relax,” he murmured. “It’s just been a long time since I’ve seen so many beautiful women. You can’t blame me for being a little enthusiastic.”
I kept a careful distance and studied Fuse as he turned to greet Thane. Every inch of him up to his neck was covered in tattoos. Scarred knuckles marred his fists. The unyielding confidence and flicker of challenge in his eyes made him magnetic.
From across the yard, Hatchet caught my eye. He was laughing with Linc, but when he saw me, he winked. My face flushed as I offered a small wave. He sauntered to the bar before heading my way with two drinks in hand.
“What’s this?” I asked, sniffing the one he offered me.
“I hear you and tequila are taking a break, so I took a guess with a vodka tonic.” He embraced me with a side hug. “I’m glad you could make it.”
Hatchet stood close enough that I could breathe in his cologne mixed with leather, motor oil, and maybe even bad decisions.
“Thank you. Eva forced me. She thinks I need to makefriends.”
A crooked grin tugged at his lips. “I’ll be your friend,” he said smoothly, his ocean-blue eyes sparkling.
I sipped the drink, the ice and citrus biting my tongue. “Being my friend means Bloody Mary brunches, shopping, and dancing. Are you prepared to agree to those terms?”
Hatchet snorted. “Brunch? Absolutely. I like a woman who starts drinking in the morning. Dancing? I’ve got moves you’ve never seen,doll. But shopping? Sorry. That’s where I draw the line.” He grinned at me as he took a long drink of his beer.
I hid my smile behind my glass as I pretended to consider. “What if it’s for lingerie?”
