Page 23 of Spinner's Luck

Spinner turned to me, his eyes softening. “You okay?”

“Oh, just fantastic,” I said, voice dripping with sarcasm. “Nothing like a little unsolicited backup to make my day.”

He tilted his head, amusement flickering in his eyes. “Pretty sure you were two seconds from tearin’ her apart.”

I snorted. “Not worth the effort—or the stain remover.”

Spinner smirked, shaking his head. “Maybe. But startin’ fights with the sweet butts isn’t gonna help you lay low here.”

“I didn’t start anything,” I snapped. “She came at me.”

“And you threw it right back,” he said, leaning against the wall. “Not sayin’ she didn’t deserve it, but you need to be smart, Lucy. Next time, just walk away and let Brenda know they’re startin’ shit.”

“I think that ship sailed the second I walked in the door,” I said, crossing my arms. “I don’t take shit from anybody.”

He chuckled softly, his expression softening further. “I get that, Lucy. But don’t let Ashlynn get to you. She’s… complicated. Her past makes her—”

“Complicated,” I interrupted, rolling my eyes. “You mean she’s got a thing for you?”

Spinner didn’t deny it, which was answer enough. He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s not like that.”

“Sure, it’s not,” I said, pushing past him toward the door. “But it’s also not my business.”

“Lucy,” he called after me, but I didn’t stop.

I wasn’t about to stick around because I liked Spinner, had since the moment I laid eyes on him. But I refused to admit I was jealous, not when my nerves were already shot, and not when I had so many other problems.

I took a deep breath, stepped out the door, and muttered to myself, “You’re Lucy Luck. No man has the power to hurt you.”

THE AIR INthe room still buzzed with the aftereffectsAshlynn had left behind. I stood in the corner, watching as Lucy disappeared down the hallway, her back stiff and her stride quick. She was pissed. Not that I blamed her.

Ashlynn, though…

I pushed off the wall and made my way toward the back of the clubhouse, where I knew she’d gone. Sure enough, I found her leaning against the wall, her eyes red and her face tight with anger.

“Ashlynn,” I said, keeping my voice hard.

She flinched but didn’t look at me. “What?”

“We need to talk,” I said, stepping closer.

“There’s nothin’ to talk about,” she snapped.

I let out a slow breath, trying to keep my patience. “Yes, there is. This thing you’ve got with Lucy, it stops now.”

She turned to me, her eyes blazing. “That ‘thing’ is her actin’ like she belongs here. She doesn’t.”

“She’s here because me and the rest of the club want her here,” I said evenly, hiding my rising anger. “You don’t have to like her, but you sure as hell don’t get to run her out. You keep doin’ that shit, and you’ll be out.”

Ashlynn’s hands curled into fists at her sides. “Why are you with her, Spinner? And you’re defendin’ her like you care for her. Why? What’s so special about her?”

I stepped closer, lowering my voice. “This isn’t about her. It’s about you. You’re lettin’ your feelings get in the way of how things work around here.”

Her face crumpled for a moment, the anger giving way to something raw. “You don’t get it. She’s—”

“Not your problem,” I interrupted. “And neither am I.”

She looked like I’d slapped her, but I didn’t back down. “Ashlynn, I care about you as a person, but not the way you want. I never have. And you know that.”

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