Page 12 of Eagle

Bear nudged Val. “No matchmaking.”

“I’m not matchmaking!”

“You know Eagle has his sights set on someone else.”

I glanced at Jillian and caught the woeful look she was giving Mac. Did she have a thing for him? He was watching the dancer twirl around the pole, and I wondered if anyone else at the table had noticed her look. Interesting. Eagle wanted her. She wanted Mac.

“So, Leona, where are you from?”

Val’s question seemed innocent enough, but I knew that I had to be careful with what I divulged. While I was so concerned with protecting my brother, he didn’t seem to have the same worry over me. He had no idea where I was or what could be happening to me. He’d run because he was afraid of the Soldiers, and had left me to deal with the situation. When I got home, he was going to get an earful.

I gave Val and the others a smile. “I just moved here from Belfast.”

“I grew up there,” Bear said around a mouthful. “What brought you here?”

“My car.” It was a corny response, but gained me some laughs.

The room suddenly erupted with enthusiastic whoops and hollers, pulling my attention away to see what had the men so excited. The dancer on the stripper pole had removed her top.

“You looking for a job?”

“How did you know?”

Mac shrugged. “Said you just moved here.”

I laughed. “I could have moved here for a job.”

“But you moved here because of a man.”

My head whipped in the direction of Ella. There was a knowing smile on her pretty face. Something on my face must have given me away, because she followed it up with, “This seems to be the place women run to when they’re trying to get away from an ex. Just had a hunch. Welcome to the club.”

I nodded. “Yeah. Not a lot of fun when your ex won’t leave you alone.”

“So, about that job...” Mac brought my attention back to him.

“I know what you’re thinking,” Jillian commented. The look on her face revealed that, whatever it was, she thought it was a good idea.

I glanced back at Mac.

“You have any office skills? We need a receptionist at the garage.” He linked his hands behind his head.

“Actually that’s right up my alley. Unless office work at a garage differs from office work at a warehouse supplier.” And then I thought, What the hell am I doing? I was basically being held here against my will by one of their friends. My gaze automatically sought out Eagle, who was at the bar conversing with some of his brothers. These people weren’t my friends. And yet, I liked them. They were my kind of people.

I knew that my loyalty should be to my brother, but in truth I was ashamed of him for leaving the scene of an accident that he’d caused. Eventually they would find out who he was. What would that mean for him? I could tell them who he was and end this ridiculous situation, but I was afraid for him.

“You okay?” Mac’s concern ended my deep thoughts. “You seem worried about something.”

“I’m okay,” I lied.

“Good.” He scooted back his chair and got to his feet before offering me his hand. “Let’s dance.”

My gaze moved to Jillian. She was smiling, but I got the sense that it was forced. I felt bad for her. It sucked liking someone who seemed oblivious to your feelings. As I followed Mac to the area set aside for dancing I scanned the room, noticing how packed it had grown. Looked like finding a ride home was getting easier by the minute. Not everyone there was a biker who might question a woman asking for help to get away from a clubhouse.

I liked dancing, and once we were in position I let my body go. Mac danced behind me, his front to my back. I didn’t question it when his hands fell to my hips. I was caught up in the music, and I raised my hands high in the air as I gyrated freely to the fast beat. Mac’s body moved in sync with mine and I closed my eyes, enjoying the heat and the closeness.

I felt eyes on me and opened mine to dark and stormy eyes. Eagle’s quicksilver eyes were narrowed on me in a way that caused a flutter in my lower belly. Val was right. There was something intense going on between us, a complex mixture of emotions that didn’t have a name. My nipples hardened under his hard stare, followed by a warm blush that crept up my neck and settled in my cheeks.

Without warning, Eagle pushed himself off the stool he’d been sitting on and took a step in my direction, but before he reached me the clubhouse door opened and three policemen walked in.

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