Page 138 of Straight to Me

Travis shrugs again. “Can’t tell you that.”

“But it’s important?” I ask.

“Very.”

I consider the news about Jack and what could be so important. “Okay, I’ll follow you there.”

Travis kept a safe distance riding behind me, but him following made me nervous behind the wheel. He is so intimidating that I fluffed pulling away from a junction and caught him shaking his head at me in the mirror. I drove more cautiously after that making our journey take longer than needed.

My feet falter when I see Dean’s bike. I don’t know why it’s so important I come here. My heart stutters as we walk in through the door. To say it’s busy is an understatement. I thought it was busy here before we left for Australia, but now it’s crammed tight.

I grip hold of Travis’s arm so as not to lose him in the crowd as we push our way past all the people blocking the entrance. He sees me flailing behind, getting lost, and puts his steadying hand on my shoulder, guiding me past everyone.

Dean spots me from his seat by the sofa. Sitting up straight and tightening his gaze, his thunderous face is so intense I have to look away. What’s worse is he’s dressed how I fancy him the most; his red checker shirt under his leather cut, black jeans and boots leaves me wanting.

“Drink?” Travis asks.

“Coke, please.” I have to raise my voice for him to hear over the noise of everyone.

Travis pulls out a stool for me facing away from the sofas at the same time I’m tapped on the shoulder. Craning my neck, I see Red. Her arms are crossed before her as she stares at me pouting.

“Why are you here?” she rudely asks.

I shrug my shoulders at her. “I have no idea. He…” pointing to Travis’s back, “told me I had to come. I was on my way home.”

“Right, well just so you know, Dean should be with me.” I raise my eyebrows at her. “I know he took you to Australia, but he means more to me than anything, and IknowI mean more to him, than you.”

She’s trying to get a rise out of me with her sassy tone, but I actually quite admire it. What she said is complete bullshit; Dean’s only looking out for her, but it’s clear he hasn’t set her straight yet. Still, I can’t help but reply, “Well, just soyouknow, we’re not together anymore, so you’re welcome to him—"

I can smell him close to me before I even finish my sentence and before her eyes are dragged over my shoulder. Tightening like a noose, my muscles shrink and my body feels frozen to where I sit.

“Leave.” His voice is low and commanding.

“Dean?” she says, “but—”

“I said leave, Red.” Red huffs, looking at him, then to me, before storming away in her knee-high boots.

I can feel his warm breath on the back of my neck. I give myself just one moment to savour the warmth and tingling sensation that flows down my arms. Then I turn back to the bar. Sipping the coke now in front of me, I refuse to look at him.

“Nice to see you set her straight.”

I hear him sigh. “I tried, but with her it’s like banging my head against a brick wall. Every time I thought she understood what I was saying, she tried getting into my pants.”

I choke on my drink. Wiping the spilled coke off my chin, I still refuse to look up. I don’t want him to see how my cheeks have flushed crimson with jealousy.

Red has got more balls than I gave her credit for.

“Did you let her in?” I ask, pretty sure I know the answer, but I just want to make sure.

“You’re joking, right?”

“What? You’ve been there before, and you said yourself bikers like to indulge—”

“—No, Jesus.” There’s a silence after he cuts me off. I know he’s telling the truth. “Did you tell her she’s welcome to me?” he asks.

I shrug my shoulders, still not looking at him.

I’m suddenly annoyed with myself for potentially giving Red the green light to him. Even if Dean wouldn't go there again, I have no doubt that Red wouldn't stop trying until she'd received the message loud and clear. “Mads,” he says, the harsh edge that was lacing his voice all but gone.

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