Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75862 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75862 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
I look to Maverick, and his face is hard to read. I have a feeling I interrupted something, but I’m not entirely sure what. Maybe they were discussing business and he is still in serious mode. Either way, I flash him a warm smile, hoping it’ll ease him up a little. He gives one back, but it isn’t fully there, and my heart sinks a little, but I don’t say anything or push, I just wait.
“This is my brother and the President of the Iron Fury MC, Malakai, but you can call him Mal, or Fury. And this is VP of the club, Koda. You can call him Koda.”
Amalie giggles softly, and Mal’s eyes swing back to her, and he gets that hungry look on his face again. Goodness me. His look is making me squirm, I wonder how it’s affecting her?
“Scarlett,” Mal says, extending a thick, ringed hand, “Pleasure to meet you, darlin’, fuck knows we’ve all seen your face a time or two. You’re as pretty up close as you are in the pictures. Our boy here is taken with you, must be doin’ somethin’ right, yeah?”
I beam and take his hand, he squeezes just slightly, not enough to hurt, but enough to ... what ... give a little warning? I’m not really sure, to be honest, maybe it’s just an “if you hurt my brother, I’ll hurt you” warning, or maybe he’s just got a tight grip. Either way, I keep the smile and say, “Thank you, and yes, I like him very much, too. This is my friend, Amalie.”
Mal lets go of my hand and extends it to Amalie, who is half tucked behind me, staring at him with big, doe eyes.
“Don’t bite, sweetheart,” he murmurs.
Maverick taps him on the shoulder and leans in, murmuring something into his ear, my guess is that he’s telling her she has trouble hearing. Mal’s eyes swing back to her, and he looks her right in the eyes and says, “Swear, I don’t bite.”
She steps forward and takes his hand, and I can see her little flinch when his curls around it. She bites her bottom lip and looks up at him, and God, no wonder he can’t take his eyes off her, she just looks so ... innocent, and pure, and beautiful. I wish I held that kind of innocent beauty still. Amalie is as pure as they come, and her soul matches.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” she says, her voice low.
Mal smiles and lets her hand go. “Believe me darlin’, the pleasure’s all mine.”
Her cheeks burn and she steps back again. Koda claps his hands and says, “You ladies joining us for a drink?”
“She probably has to get ready for the show,” Maverick says, glancing at me.
It feels like a punch to the gut. He doesn’t want me here. I don’t understand. Everything was fine earlier. Is he regretting the kiss? Or is he just trying to distance himself because he too realizes that this isn’t going to end well for either of us? I’m not entirely sure, but my heart stays sunken, all the same. Still, my stubborn determined side plays up a little and I say to Koda, “Yes, we’d love to stay for one.”
Koda jerks out a stool. “Sit by me.”
I laugh softly and take a seat by him. Amalie sits by me and Mal drags his stool closer to hers, which makes her shift a little, unsure what to do. Maverick sits across from me, and I can feel his eyes burning into me. God. What the hell have I done wrong? I swallow and focus on Koda. “Well,” I say, putting my hands on the table. “Ya’ll aren’t as scary as I thought.”
Mal and Koda burst out laughing.
“Trust me, sweetheart, this is us being nice. Come by the club one night, we’ll give you a real dose.”
I smirk at him. “I’ll do that.”
“Still wonderin’ how the fuck I came to sit next to Scarlett Bell at a bar in Seattle,” Koda says, studying me. “What’s gonna happen if you take that hat and those glasses off and give me a good look at your face? Gotta have something to remember that ain’t a picture.”
“What’ll happen,” Maverick growls, “is she’ll fuckin’ get trampled with fans and it’ll be your sorry ass carryin’ her out of here.”
Koda grins at him. “I’ll happily carry her out, bro.”
Maverick’s jaw tics and he stands. “I’ll get some beer.”
He walks off, and I watch him go. I glance over to see Mal and Amalie talking, she’s smiling softly, her cheeks pink, and he’s grinning at her. My god. Adorable. I look back to Koda. “Is your name Dakoda, by any chance?”
Koda grunts. “Let’s not go there.”
“I wrote a song called Dakoda once ...”
His scowl is replaced with a grin. “In that case, I’ll own it.”