Page 29 of Falling Hard

“Oh, really, and what is that?”

“Movies and liquor. Come on, miss, are you gonna invite me in?”

I wondered for a few moments if I were making a mistake. Then I nodded my head, and Critter walked into the bedroom, and just as he did, I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. I looked up the passage and saw Maiden standing there, living up to his nickname Mad Maiden. I kept my expression neutral and walked into my bedroom. It wasn’t like I was doing anything with Critter. After all, it was just company—at least, that was what I told myself.

“So how is my cousin?” I asked Critter, closing the bedroom door. I loved Libby, and I really missed her. It was hard with her always being on the road and having no place that I could go visit her or stay to see her. She rarely came to the mother chapter, and I didn’t know why not. Uncle Rusty was expected to call in every so often, and on the rare occasion he did, Libby wouldn’t be with him. Like the week when I saw his bike in the parking lot, but I knew my cousin wasn’t with him because if she had been, my door would have been broken down, and my eyes would have been locked on the pink-haired beauty.

“She’s with Lynx.”

My mouth dropped. “Lynx, Lynx? As in Ghost?” I stuttered out the words, not believing it. No way would she go for him. He was everything she didn’t want. She didn’t want the club life. She didn’t want to be permanently on the road. She only did the nomad lifestyle because of her dad, and I doubted she would want a boyfriend who lived that lifestyle, riding in and out.

“Yeah, she’s falling hard for him. I can see it in her eyes,” Critter said with an expression that caused me to feel sorry for him. His and Libby’s bond was a lot like a brother and sister, and I could tell he was genuinely worried about her.

“Does she know who he is?” I wondered.

Critter’s eyes flashed up to mine. “Nah, I doubt she knows that he is Ghost. You know Lynx doesn’t answer to anyone but your old man.” He shook his head. “Fucking lethal man he is and now he has my Libby in his sights.”

“Maybe it’s not what it seems?” I tried to smooth his concern.

“I went up to her hotel room, Emmie. I heard them.” Critter looked like he had been gutted. “She’s falling hard for a guy who doesn’t deserve her.”

“Libby never does things by half,” I added. “Well, if it helps, I’m falling hard for a guy who will never love me back. Perhaps it is another family quality? Besides, she’s a Paxton, and we are made of tough stuff.” I smiled at him, trying to reassure him that Libby could take care of herself. After all, we had the blood of Paxton’s flowing through our veins.

* * *

I walkeddown the stairs into the packed clubhouse. I had just planned on getting a drink and escaping back to my bedroom until my eyes landed on Critter, who had disappeared when I fell asleep on him. It didn’t bother me, though. I’d felt him give me a kiss on the cheek before he took off, and he even wrapped a blanket around me. Tapping him on the shoulder, he flung around, and the first thing I noticed was his swollen lip. That was surprising. He didn’t have that before. But with the broken nose as well, he really looked in the wars.

“What happened?” I asked, and he frowned. “To your lip?” I added. How could he not know what I was talking about? His lip was swollen and cut. Did no one offer him ice?

“Miscommunication,” he answered with a wide grin on his face. “Want a drink?”

I nodded my head and then took the stool in front of him, which he offered. Critter then pulled up a seat next to me, and his knee brushed mine. Leaning in, he tucked my hair behind my ear.

“Your face is too beautiful to hide, Emmie.” He gave me a half-smile and put a hand up for the bartender.

“So who was the miscommunication with?” I asked.

“Mad Maiden,” he muttered and then shot me a look as if to say don’t go there, so I didn’t say another word. I just knew then that the miscommunication somehow involved me.

Before long, we were on our fifth drink, and I was very giggly, enjoying every second of it. It was the first time in a long time that I wasn’t carrying baggage, and for some reason, the voices hadn’t appeared again tonight.

I noticed Critter’s eyes kept dropping to my lips, and it set a wave of nerves through me. Critter was a playboy, and he would be looking for someone to warm his bed tonight. It wouldn’t be me, so I really needed to let him get back to finding someone who would be sleeping with him because I certainly wasn't in the right state of mind to be sleeping with anyone right now.

“So what’s the deal?” He threw back his drink, and his eyes landed on me.

I frowned.

“With Mad Maiden? I don’t mind copping a punch for when I’ve done something. You his woman now or something?” He glanced behind me.

I turned to see Maiden up against a wall with a beer talking to Grit. His jaw was clenched, and even though he was talking to Grit, I could swear he must have seen me.

I opened my mouth. How the hell did I answer that question? Well, I guess with the truth.

“No.”

“Sure.” Critter winked at me.

“We aren’t anything.” And that was the truth. At least, that was what I tried to convince myself.

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