Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 33170 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33170 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
“No.” She put her shoulders back and finally met my gaze. Her features hardened, and she put her chin up. “We’re fine. We just need some time to adjust.”
“She can take as much time as she needs. You too. No one’s gonna pounce on either of you. Take some time to get to know us -- but do it in your own time.”
“Wow. Seems like you might have made your peace with us being here.”
“Honey, ain’t got no problem with you bein’ here. I know you have emotional scars, and those are the toughest to heal. Some people never do.”
“Scars don’t heal. They always leave a mark.” She tugged self-consciously at her sleeves. They were long, but she’d pulled them up her forearms out of her way. Several scars from what looked like thin cuts crisscrossed her skin everywhere I could see. Now she covered her arms as low as the shirt would rest on her wrists. It made me wonder if she was covered in those scars all over her body. My guess was yes. Made me want to claw a motherfucker’s heart out.
“But you’re tougher for them. You survived. You endured. You went on.”
She stepped outside and shut the door behind her. “No. We didn’t. At least we didn’t get on with our lives. Not really.”
“This is what you meant before. About starting over.”
“It’s what we both need, but Serelda even more than me. We both need a fresh start. I’m hoping we can find it here. We only have to be brave enough to take it.”
The look on her face, the fierce pride in her voice made me believe Winter could take whatever she wanted. She was slight of build and delicate-looking, but inside she had a stout heart. Just made me that much more interested in her.
Winter headed down the hallway ahead of me and marched straight to the common room where the party was in full swing. Instead of hunting down Iris like I thought she might do, she went to the bar and signaled the prospect. He placed a bottle of beer in front of her before popping the top. She took a long pull while she looked around the room, sizing the place up. I leaned against a nearby wall watching her. I wanted to see what she’d do. How she’d react if approached by one of the brothers. Would she flinch back? Tell him to take a hike?
Retreat back to her room?
I didn’t like the thought of her being scared of any of us. Made me want to warn everyone off. The girl had obviously been through enough. She didn’t need a bunch of horny bikers making passes at her.
She finished her beer, then signaled for another.
“Word is you got a sister, little lady. She not with you?” The prospect leaned one elbow against the bar and gave her a cocky grin.
“She’s resting. It was a long trip.” Winter didn’t smile at the younger man. The prospect -- Deacon -- wasn’t deterred. He got himself a beer and opened the top, then clinked the neck with hers.
“Glad you ventured out. I was hoping I’d get to meet you.”
Winter turned her full attention to him then. “You were? Why?” She didn’t make it sound like a question. More like a demand. Like she sensed a trap and was determined not to fall for it.
Deacon shrugged. “I always enjoy meeting beautiful women.”
“Looks like there’s plenty of women here for you without me or my sister being on your radar.” Her face hardened. “Stay away from my sister.”
Deacon raised his hands in surrender. “Hey. I’m not interested in hurtin’ anyone. I just like havin’ a good time. Someone don’t wanna party with me, I won’t be forcin’ ‘em.” The only reason Deacon got to live was his tone of voice and his expression. He didn’t laugh her off, and he wasn’t making fun of her or her fears. “Just wantin’ the two of you to feel welcome.”
“Uh-huh.” Winter eyed him as she took another pull from her beer. “I don’t see you trying to make Iris feel welcome.”
“That’s cause Iris is our prez’s ol’ lady. You don’t mess with a brother’s woman. I’m nice to her. I respect her. I’ll protect her the same as I’d protect our president. But I ain’t gonna get cozy with her.”
“And you were trying to get cozy with me?” Winter scowled at him.
He gave her a charming smile that had me wanting to beat him to a bloody pulp. I had to force myself to stand there and listen to the son of a bitch and not act on my instincts.
“Honey, any man in this club who don’t wanna get cozy with you is a Goddamn fool. You’d make a fierce ol’ lady.”
“You don’t know me,” she snapped, looking angry as hell. “If this is some kind of bet where you try to get in my pants so your brothers can laugh at me when I make it easy for you, you’re wasting your time. I have no interest in sex with anyone here.” She snatched her beer. “Excuse me.”