Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 118780 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 594(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118780 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 594(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
“It’s a sports bar crawling with cops and other eligible bachelors who show up for the area’s best ladies’ night. Time to pop out of this shell,” she counters.
“She has a point,” Shelby agrees.
“Why don’t you come with us?”
Her lips split into a sideways grin. “I’d love to. I’ll go home and change and meet you there.”
“Perfect!” Ginger claps. “Tonight is going to be epic. I know it. Time for Ford to see what he’s missing.”
I swallow the rest of my wine in one gulp and hope she’s right.
“Jewls, time for a break!” Tom bellows.
She ignores him, pouring and passing drinks over the bar to the endless crowd of customers.
Harley glances over her shoulder, calling out, “I can handle it.”
Jewls shakes her head, greeting the next group. After a few minutes, there’s movement at my side. Major prowls his way behind the bar. Tom throws an arm out to stop him, scowling.
“I’ll handle her. Keep your ass from behind my bar.” He hustles to Jewls and takes the bottle out of her hand mid-pour. She whips her face to him, her mouth open, but gets shut down when he bumps her gently out of the way.
“Here we go,” Ginger says.
As soon as Jewls’ hands hit her hips to lay into Tom, Major is on the move, ignoring instructions to stay. He stalks to Jewls, sweeps her off her feet, and carries her to the stool next to me.
“I can’t believe you did that! Stop hauling me around,” she yells.
“Sit your ass down and take a break,” he demands with a glare that would have me cowering.
Her eyes burn bright, her cheeks reddening. Hostility hangs in the air until a server appears, placing a gigantic cheeseburger in front of her. All the irritation dies and her expression changes. He bends to kiss her sweetly, laying his hand on her stomach.
“Time to feed you.”
“I could eat.” She turns to me, grabs a fry, and waves it my way. “You look fabulous.”
“Thanks.”
“Is this your doing?” She waves another fry at Shayla and Ginger.
“Absolutely,” Shayla answers proudly.
“I approve. As does the male population in this bar.”
“Only one male we were aiming for,” Ginger corrects.
My cheeks tingle as I drink my martini.
“Where is Ford tonight?” Jewls looks up at Major. “He’s not working.”
“He, Talon, and Ace had a thing.”
“What kind of thing?”
He quirks an eyebrow, and she sighs. “Oh God, are we really doing this?”
“We don’t back down from a challenge.”
“What challenge?” I ask, grateful the conversation isn’t on me.
“The band threw down a challenge on who can light the best fireworks show. The club has the Fourth of July. Sayge has New Year’s.”
Sayge is a local band that rose to stardom years ago. They are famous international rock stars signed by Mike Jacobs with MJ Labels. Mike is Harley’s cousin and she works for the label. Through her, we all met the band and became fast friends.
It’s an eclectic group of people, some opposites in every way, but it works.
“Speaking of the band, they’ll be here in a few minutes. Can you help bring them in through the back?” Jewls asks Major.
“Good thing Tom roped off this area.”
“We like to be prepared.” She takes a bite out of her burger and groans appreciatively. Major’s eyes drop to her mouth, and the air around us takes a new vibe.
“Sexual tension just ricocheted up the scale. Lucky you’re already knocked up,” Shayla announces bluntly.
“Jesus,” Major rumbles, kissing Jewls’ forehead. “I’ll be back.”
He takes a step away, then turns to me, brushing his fingers over my cheek. “You look beautiful tonight, Rowan. It’s good to see you out.”
My eyes blur at his shadow walking away. I’m not typically a crier, but something about his kindness hits deep.
Ace, Talon, Major, and Ford are four of the toughest, roughest, strongest men I’ve ever met. But they have this thoughtful side that is proof of the amazing men they are.
“Bev nap stat! I can’t have raccoon streaks ruining my work.” Shayla pats my cheeks with a napkin, absorbing the tears that leaked. My vision clears and Jewls is watching me with the compassion I’ve grown to understand from her.
She’s worried.
“I’m okay. He took me off-guard.”
“He does that—sneak attacks of sweetness.”
“Give a girl warning next time.”
The bar noise goes down as Harley passes. “Heads up, they’re here.”
It never gets old watching the famous crew enter. Declan and his wife, Raven, Blake and his wife, Charlie, Nate, Cooper, and Declan’s sisters with their husbands come around the back side of the bar and into our reserved area.
“It’s showtime,” Shayla whispers eagerly.
My heart skips when I see Talon, Ace, and Ford behind them. They may be casually strolling, but the mood is easy to read. They are protectors, making sure the band gets their privacy.
Ford’s eyes meet mine and hold me hostage. His striking hazel depths stare straight through me.