Page 49 of Jack of Hearts
“She’s jealous,” Madison said.
“So am not.” Lauren snorted. “Okay, maybe a little. You two are just too cute. I can see you sending adorable kitten pictures to each other on Facebook.”
Alex turned into the parking lot of a building with a neon sign blinking the words“Aces & Eights.” He drove around to the back and pushed a button on the remote clipped to his visor. A garage door opened, and he drove inside. Three shiny black Harleys were parked beside a black SUV, maybe a Land Rover. Including the black BMW she sat in, it appeared the bar was a successful venture for the brothers, but they did like the color black, whether it was their vehicles or their clothes.
They exited the car and Alex took her hand, tangling their fingers together. “Remember, don’t wander away.” He glanced at Lauren as he said it, and Madison speared her friend a look behind Alex’s back.
“What?” Lauren mouthed.
“Behave,” she mouthed back, ignoring Lauren’s eye roll, which didn’t bode well. They walked down a hallway, past a kitchen where a man was washing dishes, and then through a set of swinging doors.
“Welcome to Aces and Eights, ladies,” Alex said, putting himself between them.
The first thing that hit Madison was the loud Southern rock music. The second was the rough-looking crowd. She pressed closer to Alex. And Lauren wanted to come here because ...?
As Alex led them into the room, she kept her hand in his. He didn’t have to worry about her leaving his side. Two men approached, one she recognized as his brother Court, and the second, even though she’d never seen him before, she knew was also Alex’s brother. She’d not paid much attention to Court the other night because Lauren’s pissiness had distracted her, but now, with the brothers together, she was struck by how much they looked alike.
“You’ve both met Court, and this is our big brother, Nate,” Alex said when the men reached them. “This is Madison.” He smiled at her. “And her friend Lauren.”
Madison smiled. “Nice to meet you, Nate, and good to see you again, Court.” Neither man seemed overjoyed to see them. Nate’s gaze zeroed in on her with an intensity that made her want to hide behind Alex’s back. Her smile wavered when he didn’t return it.
“Ladies, if you would stay here with Court, I need a minute with Alex.”
Alex knew what was coming, had expected it. He squeezed Madison’s hand before letting go. “Be right back.”
“What the hell were you thinking bringing them here,” Nate demanded as soon as they were out of earshot.
“They wanted to see the place, and apparently Lauren threatened to show up by herself if she didn’t get an invite. I thought it better to control the visit.” Wednesdays had somehow evolved into what the hardcore bikers called the wannabes night. The customers here tonight were non–club members, and the gangs didn’t like mixing with them, so they stayed away.
“And you didn’t think you should tell me you were doing this?”
Alex shrugged. “Actually, I thought I probably should, but I also knew you’d refuse.”
“Damn straight I would have. Take them home.”
Alex put his hand on Nate’s upper arm. “Nope. Deal with it.” He chuckled when his brother growled at seeing Spider spill his beer on the dude next to him at the bar. The man—a new face—squared off against Spider, who had grabbed a bar towel and was trying to dry the big guy’s leather vest.
Nate sighed. “Idiot’s gonna get himself killed one night.”
“Guess you better go save him. Again.” Alex headed back to Madison, leaving Nate to deal with the fight about to happen. He arrived at the same time as Trapper John and Hawkeye, two friends who had served together in Iraq. Alex respected that they were former military, but he didn’t like them, having seen how they treated women.
“What do we have here?” Trapper said, winking at Madison. “Let me buy you a drink, sweet thing.”
“I get this one,” Hawkeye said, pressing up to Lauren’s side.
Alex stepped behind Madison and wrapped his arms around her waist. “She’s my woman. Get lost.” He gave Court a glare that said, “Step up to the plate, man.”
Court narrowed his eyes, letting Alex know he was going to owe him big, before putting his arm around Lauren’s shoulder and pulling her to him. “And this one’s my old lady. She’s off-limits to you, dude.”
Trapper grabbed his crotch. “You girls get tired of playing with boys and want a real man, let me know.” He and Hawkeye laughed as they walked away.
“Old lady?” Lauren jerked away from Court’s hold. “What are you, a Neanderthal?”
“I was saving your pretty ass, sweetheart.”
The two of them glared at each other, and Alex wondered if he should get Nate to come break up another fight, or if he should find them a bedroom. He’d never seen a woman twist Court’s boxers like this one was doing, and he swallowed a laugh. It was about time someone stood Court’s ordered world on its head.
He took Madison’s hand, pulling her away. “Let them be. They’ll work things out,” he said when she resisted.
