Page 58 of On The Rocks

A warm shiver skated down my spine at the pure animalistic energy emanating from the powerful machines, only enhanced by the dominant, masculine air of the bikers sitting casually astride them with their women. Engines were cut, kickstands went on, and enthusiastic greetings filled the air.

“Hey, Tris! When did you get home?”

“Thank fuck you’re back. My hair’s a rat’s nest.”

“You okay, Tristan? How’s Anna doing?”

My new friend pointed at each woman in turn. “Last night. I’ll take a look. She says she’s okay, but she’s not. I’m worried about her, and I think we need to formulate a plan.”

The women all seemed to move at once. Throwing their legs over the seats, their high-heeled boots hit the sidewalk as they were helped off the bikes by their men, who held their fingers to keep them steady as they all dismounted.

Everybody’s hands went to their helmets. As they removed them, a wave of gorgeousness slammed into my chest, almost taking me to my backside.

I’d never see anything like it. Great hair, sexy full lips, and flashing smiles, and that was just the damned men. The women were equally, if not more stunning, and I wondered if I’d ever be able to get a sentence out around them without making an utter ass of myself.

Sweat coated my palms, and I rubbed them nervously over my coat while instinctively moving closer to Maureen. Beautiful people didn’t really get me and usually had no problem making it seem like my issue instead of theirs. It made me self-conscious, like every word I said was under scrutiny.

“Yo. Toots,” a deep voice called out.

My head swiveled to see Atlas sitting astride the third bike. I gave him a low wave, my throat going dry as every eye turned to me.

Oh God.

Hey, Atlas,” I greeted, suddenly conscious of my cheeks flaming.

“You’re Maeve?” the tiny and extremely pretty woman with fabulous, glossy dark hair demanded sweetly.

I gulped and nodded.

The woman’s eyes widened as she took me in. “You arenotwhat I expected. Thank God.”

“Told ya,” Atlas muttered.

She stomped over to me and stuck her hand out. “Hi. I’m Sophie. We’ve been trying to think up a way to come and meet you without making it too obvious we were being nosy bitches. Atlas put his foot down this time. Usually, I’d ignore the big man, but I had a think and decided I’d do as he said for once. There’s nothing worse than having a gaggle of women you don’t know firing questions at you, right?”

Gingerly, I took her hand. “Oh. Well?—”

Sophie pulled me in for a hug. “It’s cool to meet you at last,” she murmured in my ear before pulling away and resting her hands on my shoulders. “The boys said you were lovely, but they don’t know shit. You could put anything with a pair of tits in front of them, and they’d go gaga for her.” She craned her neck to address her husband, telling him dryly, “You were right for once.”

Atlas folded his arms across his chest and heaved a big sigh. “We need to get to the Shamrock if we wanna get that stage built today. You think you can stay outta trouble for a few hours while us men go do man stuff?”

Sophie tucked her hand through my arm. “We’ll get to know Maeve a bit better and catch up with Maureen. Pick us up from the salon when you’re done?”

“I’ll get coffee sent over, boys,” Maureen called over. “It’s the least I can do if you’re helping us out.”

Atlas gave her a loose salute. “Obliged, Maureen.”

Within seconds, I’d been pulled into the coffee shop and seated at the back of the place at a big table. Sophie and a blonde woman she called Ned pulled some chairs up while Maureen and Tristan went to the counter.

A woman with reddish-brown hair and huge grey eyes took the seat opposite me. “You okay there? You look like a deer caught in the headlights. I know we can be a lot, but we don’t bite. Well, maybe Kennedy does, but not hard.” She stuck her hand out. “I’m Layla, Bowie’s wife. He told me you two met last week.”

Taking her hand, I shook it hesitantly. “Yeah, he showed me some pictures of your babies. They’re just beautiful.”

She beamed. “Thank you, I agree, but then I’m their mom, which makes me biased. They’re also driving me bananas. The kids finished the school semester last week, but luckily, their grandpa John and Gramma Elise are home for winter. They’ve taken them all to the movies over in Mapletree to watch that new kid’s Christmas movie. Then we heard Tristan was home, so we came straight into town.” She leaned forward. “Meeting you was a bonus. The boys raved about you, so we’ve been excited about meeting the woman who’s finally tamed Callum O’Shea.”

Layla’s demeanor was so friendly, and she made me feel so much at ease that I couldn’t help laughing. “Oh, I doubt I’ve tamed him that much.”

She nodded, her lips curving. “You’re right, but then, do you really want to? Life would be considerably more boring.”

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