Page 58 of Iron Will

“Ha! I knew it!” She does a little fist pump, nearly spilling her beer. “In Rourke’s world, that means you’re practically engaged!”

I’m spared from having to answer her when the front door to the clubhouse opens up. One of the Lords who was standing near the grill earlier calls out, “Food’s on! Come and get it before it’s gone!”

Addi and Paisley squeal and scramble to their feet, then start running toward the door. We watch them go, laughing, then get to our feet to follow them.

In spite of myself, my heartbeat begins to speed up, knowing I’m about to see Rourke.

“Did you mean what you said about Rourke just now?” I murmur quietly to Bailey.

She turns and looks me in the eyes. “I did. Rourke is not the kind of man to get attached. I think he’s a lot further gone for you than maybe even he realizes.”

23

Laney

Outside, my eyes immediately scan for Rourke. When I find him, he’s already looking at me. He shoots me a sexy grin and motions for me to come to him.

“You want a steak?” he asks, wrapping his large, warm arm around me and pulling me close. “Or something else?”

“Well, since you fed me a hamburger last time, I’ll go steak this time. Medium, if I have a choice.”

Laughter rumbles from his throat. “We’ll see if I can get Dante not to fuck it up.”

A few minutes later, I’m sitting in a camping chair, eating a perfectly-prepared T-bone steak off a paper plate. My rum and Coke is sitting on the ground beside me.

“I don’t know why you worried Dante wouldn’t know how to cook this,” I say to Rourke in between bites. “It’s delicious.”

“That’s because I pulled it off the fire before he could destroy it.”

“The hell you did,” Dante calls from the other side of the grill.

“If I’d left it up to you, Laney’d be chewing on shoe leather right now,” Rourke tosses back.

I listen to the men banter back and forth, polishing off my steak in record time. I haven’t eaten much today, and it’s nice to have some protein in my growling stomach — not to mention it’s good to have something in there to sop up the rum in my Coke. When I’m finished, I lean back and sigh happily, taking in the setting sun and the sounds of the men, women, and children around me. Again, I’m struck by how strangely normal this all seems — and how nice it is. I feel full, slightly buzzed, and content, surrounded by people I barely know but still somehow trust.

“Laney.”

My eyes pop open as a strong, gentle hand shakes my shoulder. “You good?”

I stare up into Rourke’s eyes. The dark night sky surrounds him, sprinkled with stars.

“I must have fallen asleep,” I murmur, pulling myself up in the chair. “How long was I out?”

“About an hour, maybe.” Rourke’s grinning at me, clearly amused.

“Wow.” I blink. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. You must have needed it.”

“Where is everyone?” I ask, looking around.

“Most of them went back inside. Bailey took Addi back home. Bethany’s gettin’ Paisley ready for bed in Yoda’s apartment.”

I smile up at him apologetically. “I’m not much of a date, am I?”

“Date’s not over yet, babe. Come on.”

He reaches out a hand, and I take it. Rourke pulls me up to a stand and slips his arm around my waist, just like he did a few hours ago. It feels so good to have him pull me close like this. It feels safe. Warm.

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