Page 93 of Hendrix

“So what was the problem?” I asked, trying to keep my tone casual. “Did he screw her around?”

“Well, that all depends on what you mean by screwing.” She gave me a knowing look. “Again, not an issue for me. I’ll tell any sister to go get herself some if the opportunity arose, especially if the guy looks the way he looks. The problem was that her husband didn’t much like it.”

Slowly, I closed my eyes and sighed.

“Her hubby gave her an ultimatum: leave town and start again or stay and get divorced. From what I heard, the biker wasn’t up for settling down with her, so she put the salon up for sale and moved the entire family to Illinois.” She studied my face briefly before continuing, “You should be careful. Apparently, the guy’s got a thing for women with red hair. Over the past few years, he’s vacuumed up every redhead who’s stepped foot in town, charmed the panties off them—literally—then chewed them up and spat them out. You may be pregnant, but you’re gorgeous, so I don’t think he’d discriminate.” Her lips twitched humorously. “In fact, going by what I’ve heard about those Friday night biker parties over at the hotel, he’d probably like it.”

A tight ball formed in my stomach.

“Tell me,” I asked sweetly. “The biker. Did he have long hair, blue eyes, lots of muscles, and tattoos?”

Her eyes widened. “Don’t tell me he’s gotten to you already. Jeez, those boys don’t waste any?—”

She was interrupted by the bell over the door tinkling. Then, Hendrix’s gruff voice called out, “Sorry I’m late, baby. Ended up on a bit of a mission.” Heavy footsteps pounded on the floor, and a muscular arm slid around my shoulders. “Jesus. You’ve only been let loose for a couple of hours. How much damage have you done?”

Lulu’s eyes fixed on Hendrix, and her face paled.

“Lulu,” I said a little too brightly. “This is Hendrix. He’s my...” My voice trailed off because, for the life of me, I had not one clue how to introduce him. Weirdo redhead fucker, maybe? Or even better, President, military hero, and destroyer of marriages.

“Ol’ man,” he rumbled, sliding a hand across my belly possessively. “I’m her ol’ man.”

I sighed for a third time before tipping my face up to study Hendrix. “Babe, Lulu’s just been telling me about the empty salon in town.”

His body stiffened. “She has?”

“Yeah. Apparently, the owner got mixed up with some asshole who left her high and dry when her husband found out. She had to skip town to keep her marriage intact. Crazy, right?”

Hendrix’s body locked so tight I thought it might shatter into pieces.

“Turns out it was one of your guys,” I went on tightly. “Any idea who would do something so shameful, slutty, and shitty?”

Lulu rolled her lips together to conceal her grin.

Hendrix’s fingers lifted from my belly to scrape down his face. “Maybe the brother didn’t know she was wed,” he muttered. “None of my men would knowingly touch a married woman—except for Fletcher. The dudes get the blame when they’re kept in the dark about the circumstances, so I can only assume that’s what went down.” His stare darted to Lulu before it sliced back to me. “Maybe you shouldn’t listen to town gossip.”

I skewered him with a glare and snapped, “Whatever.”

Hendrix grinned and brushed his lips over mine. “You jealous?”

“No,” I lied.

He chuckled quietly.

“Whatever,” I snapped again.

His head raised, and he glanced around the store. “Where’s Gigi and Addie at?”

“Waiting outside,” I informed him haughtily, still smarting from hearing about his sexual escapades.

He glanced over his shoulder toward the window. “Didn’t see them when I came in.”

I followed his gaze and saw the street was empty. A weird feeling began to fill my stomach. “I told them not to wander off. Where could they have gone?”

His gaze came to me. “I’ll go look for ‘em. They can’t have gotten far.”

My throat went dry, and I nodded.

“Stay put,” he ordered, turning and heading for the door.

---