Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 94921 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94921 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
“I came as soon as I heard,” Larissa said.
Hunter didn’t like the man that followed behind Larissa—Andrew. He hadn’t seen the other man sniffing around his woman, but he knew if given the chance, Andrew would try something.
Hunter slid his arm across the back of Harlow’s chair, but his woman got up. He didn’t even know if Harlow was aware he had attempted to stake his claim.
She hugged Larissa and much to his annoyance, she then hugged Andrew.
“Do we have any news?” Larissa asked.
“None,” Harlow said.
“Smokey put out the call, and we’re all waiting,” Hunter said, to make it clear. “How did you know she had gone into labor?”
“Ava texted me.”
Hunter nodded. That made sense. He knew to everyone Larissa was a sweet and gentle soul, but he knew the world, and some women were just able to hide their evil a little better than others.
Larissa and Harlow were good women. So was Ava, Abriana, and Raven. All five of them were good women, and it would seem so was Hailey as well. Fuck, he had gotten that fucking wrong.
Larissa took the seat beside Harlow.
“Were the two of you on a date?” Harlow asked.
“Yes. Andrew had taken me to the drive-in movie,” Larissa said. “We didn’t realize it was a horror movie, but we paid to get in and tried to make the most of it.”
“I think I’ll be afraid for days.”
“Pussy,” Hunter said, mumbling the word beneath his breath. For his efforts, Harlow slapped his thigh, gripping it tightly so that her nails sunk in.
He rather liked it. She was touching him.
He placed his hand over hers and refused to let her go, even as she tried to pull away. That wasn’t happening, not on his watch.
“Have you been on a date?” Larissa asked.
“No. Just possibly ruining a friendship while listening to an asshole and his criticism.”
He didn’t get a chance to correct her as Big Dick came back. “Any news?” His gaze landed on Hunter holding Harlow’s hand on his thigh, before going to Larissa and then to Andrew. “Are you two dating? Moving on from my sister?”
“Like I said to you, George. Your sister and I are just friends.”
Harlow nodded. “At no point were we actually dating.”
“And now you and Larissa are dating?” Big Dick asked.
“How about we focus on what you did?” Harlow asked, getting to her feet. She pulled on her hand and he knew he could make her stop if he wanted to, but she was clearly interested in facing her brother.
Hunter let her hand go, but he stood up, moving close behind her. The scent of vanilla was quite heady and he loved the smell. He wanted to press his face against her hair, but he held himself back. Now was not the time to start irritating her.
“What did I do?”
“Did you ask Kinky for help?” Harlow asked.
Big Dick looked toward Kinky and Harlow clicked her fingers. “No, you don’t get to look at him because this is not about club business. This is about you and me. Did you force him to get close to Hailey?”
“Harlow, this is club business.”
“No, not if it concerns me. I’m not club. I’m not a special member. I’m your sister, and do you know what you could have done? You could have ruined my job for me. Hailey is … she’s not what you think. She isn’t used to male attention or any kind of attention. Her parents shipped her off to boarding school when they could, and she hasn’t had many close friends in her life.” Harlow stopped. “And now the first guy to show her any real attention meant nothing.”
Big Dick slapped his hands together, and the sound echoed throughout the whole reception room. “You’re right, Harlow. You are not club. You are no relation to club at all, unless you start dating this one.” He pointed toward Hunter. “But you are my fucking sister. A pain in the ass squirt, who I happen to love. Yes, I asked Kinky to get close to Hailey, for two reasons. You are not an easy person to get along with. It was a miracle you took the job at Ava’s, and managed to keep it, but even I had my doubts as to how long that would last. Second, you got a job the minute you walked out of Ava’s. That has never happened before, with a woman that none of us know anything about, or can trust. That’s what’s important, Harlow. I was looking out for you.”
“And it doesn’t matter to you who gets hurt?”
“No, it doesn’t. There is always damage when you try to protect the ones you love. I’m not sorry for doing everything I possibly could to protect you when you didn’t care to even look in my direction.”
Harlow shook her head. “And that is how you justify your actions?”