Page 52 of Hendrix

“Well, yeah,” I bit back. “Seeing as in my head, it was Anna I was fuckin’.”

Ice let out a humor-filled snort.

“Jesus Christ,” she spat. “You’re an asshole.”

“Funnily enough, the redhead I banged Friday night said the same.” I shrugged. “But then it’s probably ‘cause I pretendedshewas Anna, too.”

A look of shock twisted her face. “Oh my God. I thought you liked me.”

A look of disbelief twisted mine. “For real?” My eyes slid to Iceman, who was watching us with interest, while Arizona, the club girl under his arm, looked uncomfortable. “Did you catch that? Daisy thought I liked her.”

Ice rolled his lips inward while Arizona’s gaze hit down to her high-heeled stripper shoes.

“Why are you being like this?” Daisy whispered, her tone wounded. “We’ve been together for years. I thought we were close, Hendrix. I know it was casual, but I thought we liked each other. It was only me you ever went with, so I thought?—”

“It wasn’t just you I went with,” I corrected. “Why the fuck did you think that?”

Her mouth dropped open.

“Babe,” I began. “You were the onlyclub girlI went with. I’ve seen women in town. I’ve fucked tourists, and I was seeing one of the girls from the Arena on and off for a couple of months. She was a good time, you were too, and so were the tourists. What none of you were, was permanent, and now Anna’s back in my life, you don’t even factor anymore. Did you not clue in when I always fucked you from behind and made you call me Jamie while facing forward at all times? Did you not get that you weren’t the one on my mind when I called you by another woman’s name?” I leaned down to look her dead in the eyes, not wanting to leave any doubt about my next words or the meaning behind them. “Me and Anna are back together, so you’ve got two choices.” I held a finger up. “One, you can accept it, know your place in this club, and carry on as you were, except going forward, you adjust your attitude and fall into line. If you’re told to do something by a brother, Carina, Ciara, or Anna, you do it, no question, no lip.” I added a finger. “Or two, you can go to your room, pack your bags, and get the fuck out. Frankly, bitch, I don’t care which one you choose. The boys seem to like the way you suck cock, and like the fact you’re usually up for some kinky-assed shit, so you’re more than welcome to stay, but don’t keep your ass put on account of me, ‘cause I won’t be tapping it anymore.”

She stared up at me, lost for words, tears filling her eyes.

I cocked my head. “Well?”

One tear fell. “I’d like to stay,” she whispered.

One shoulder lifted in an uncaring shrug. “No skin off my nose, babe, but the rules is rules. You launder clothes, you scrub bathrooms, you wait tables, and you serve food. In your spare time, you fuck whoever you want, but it won’t be me. And the next time you cozy up to me, knowing my woman’s about to walk in, see us, and get the wrong idea, you’ll be kicked outta here so fast your feet won’t touch the ground. Do you get me?”

Her eyes rounded.

“Do you fuckin’ get me?” I demanded, my tone harder.

She gulped and nodded.

“Glad we got that straight, babe,” I muttered.

A brief pause ensued, then Daisy jerked her thumb in the direction of the kitchen. “I’ll go help Lacey in the kitchen. Carina’s still down at the cottage with Gopher, and it’ll be lunchtime soon.”

“Perfect,” I exclaimed. “Carrie got some gluten-free shit in for Anna. My woman’s intolerant, so make sure you set her up. She’ll be starving, especially as she’s eating for two now.”

She chewed her lip nervously and meekly asked, “Is it your baby?”

I dipped my chin to stare her in the eye. “And that’s your business because...?”

Her face fell. “Understood.” She pointed behind her. “I’ll just go...”

“You do that, babe,” I told her, already turning toward the bar to give her my back, effectively dismissing her.

Curling my fingers around my beer bottle, I lifted it to my mouth and tipped my head back, listening to the clip-clop of Daisy’s heels as she walked away.

“Go help her,” I heard Ice murmur to Arizona. “We’ll catch up tonight.”

She walked away, and I took another pull of my beer.

“You did right,” Ice announced the instant she was out of earshot. “Daisy used you to her advantage. Arizona and Lacey had a run-in with her last week ‘cause she wasn’t pullin’ her weight, and she threatened to go to you and get them kicked out. She’s been a pain in the ass for weeks and a total bitch to the others. I wouldn’t be shocked if she was the one who encouraged Sara’s bad attitude, too.”

“Never made her any promises, Ice,” I told him. “And don’t be fooled by the tears. From what I hear, six of the men ran a train on her last night while I was pulling Anna out of Philly. That was the extent of her true love and commitment to me.”

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