Page 18 of Clear Your Mind

“How’d you end up out there anyway? I thought we were going to let them flame out on their own,” Kilt asks.

I ignore his question for now. “We need to meet with the old lady and get the story. If they forced her out, it wouldn’t be right to absorb that business when we take ’em down.” I take a long draw off the cigarette and stub it out, finishing another drink before continuing. “What do you have on—”

“Hey, is that your Krystal?” Cowboy cuts me off before I finish the question.

No sense in explaining the finer points of our arrangement to Kilt and Cowboy.

“Yeah. What’s her connection to the bullshits?”

“None I can find yet. However, the name doesn’t go far back on the surface. Maybe a marriage or name change for another reason. I need to dig deeper,” Cowboy says absently, and he clicks away on the keyboard.

“In my experience, the reason for a clean name is because someone is hiding from someone else,” Kilt adds.

“Indeed.” I glance at my phone; Krystal should be here any minute. “I’ll give prez the rundown when he comes up for air. Unless something happens that’s urgent, don’t bother either of us. Now, you two, make yourself scarce, Krystal’ll be staying over, so keep your dicks covered.”

As if my thoughts summon her, my phone alerts me. I hear matching alerts from Kilt and Cowboy’s phones that indicate someone triggered a camera. I swipe on the alert and watch the truck pull in and park.

An involuntary smile crosses my lips when she exits the cab and slings a large duffel over her shoulder. I didn’t tell her she’d be staying over, but she already knew my desires.

Good girl.

I want to lose myself in her body completely, but her possible connection to the Bullfeathers scratches at the back of my mind. As does the fact that she’s apparently hiding from something or someone.

I shake off the overwhelming need I’m feeling to protect her and greet her outside.

“Hey, love.” I don’t resist the urge to taste her lips. There is something about her that makes me feel like I can do a relationship.

When I pull away, I want to beat my chest at the dreamy, well-kissed look on her face and screamI did that.

I grab the bag before she drops it and lead her inside.

“It’s a little better than last night, but not much. I indicate the smaller pile of wood by the bar.”

“Yeah, construction zones are the worst. What’s the visual for the bar top?”

I shrug. “You’d have to ask Dude. He has an idea in his head, but I don’t know what it is. I think we need a professional, but we’re pinching those pennies, you know?”

Krystal stares into my soul with her no-nonsense air and raises an eyebrow. “I don’t think that’s it.” She’s right, it’s not, but it bothers me that she can see that.

Raising a hand in mock surrender, I concede. “True. Prez sees it as some dudebro man bonding experience.”

“That I believe, but don’t act like you don’t like it because I can see that you do.”

Krystal sees way too much, and I’m squirming as Maxi comes through the kitchen door.

“Oh, hey. I’m Maxine, but you can call me Maxi. It’s so nice to have another woman here. I’m lonely with just the guys for company. I’ll show you to a room. You get first pick.”

“Maxi,” I cut her off before yet another person can assume Krystal is a new club girl. Fuck, I’ll be lucky if she doesn’t turn around and leave. Ending our arrangement before I can convince her to give me more.

Krystal steps up before I can manage the situation. “Hi, Maxi. I’m Krystal. I’m just temporary, I’m afraid, and I’m not here for the club.” Something about how she says that so happily pisses me off. Why does she keep throwing it in my face?

“Oh, sorry, we can still be friends while you’re around.” Maxi seems as disappointed as me.

“However, I’m more than willing to help out whenever I’m here.” I turn to Krystal with an amused look.

“Is that so? I thought we were exclusive for as long as it lasts?”

She slaps my arm and snorts. “I mean, like around the kitchen or whatnot, not sleeping with your friends.”

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