Page 108 of Bronco

As soon as I spot Amber behind the bar, I don’t even hesitate. Walking behind, I take her into my arms as Olive takes off to find her friends. Since Indigo is sitting right at the end of the bar, Cami won’t be far away.

“How you doin’?” I press a kiss to her forehead. Any preconceived notions about faking our relationship seem to have gone right out the window.

“I’ve been better. Can we talk?”

“Of course, they can look after themselves for a while.” I lead her out of the bar toward the back where the offices are.

Cami and Olive are already talking excitedly about the “sleepover” at the clubhouse as we pass by.

“I’ll be just a minute, okay, Ollie?” Amber says.

She nods. “Okay,Jewel.”

Amber looks up at me. “What’s that all about?”

I gruff a laugh. “I was talkin’ in the car about names and what they mean.”

“You know what my name means?”

“Sure I do. It’s also an organic gemstone, not a mineral like some people think. It’s made from fossilized tree resin.”

“You have to stop talking like that.” She grins. “You’re turning me on.”

I grip her hand harder, checking to see if Jas’s office is free as I glance around. When the coast is clear, I pull Amber inside and close the door.

“What happened today?” she asks.

“Like I said, lockdown is for everyone’s safety and a temporary precaution.”

She places her hands on her hips. “Don’t spin me that bullshit, Bronc. I know you better than that.”

I run a hand over my face. “Shit got real today, that’s all you need to know.”

“Real how?”

“Like I said, we’re not takin’ any chances.”

“So that’s it? We slept together a couple of times, and now I just get left in the dark?”

“That’s not what this is. This is me keepin’ you safe.”

“What were the Cut City Boys going to do?”

“Amber.”

“Tell me. Please, Bronco, you can’t keep me in the dark. We’ve never played by those kinds of rules.”

“Yeah? Well things are different now.”

“Different?”

I stare at her. “If you even have to ask that, then that tells me everything.”

“Are we having a fight?”

“No. But we’re not on the same page with everything, clearly.”

Her eyes study my face and her lips part. “Did we go way past complicated?”

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