Page 5 of Pickle

In no time at all,the terms are agreed upon, and Thyrie, Frankie, and I are signing the contract for service. My sister gives me a loaded look before going to sit on the sofa where Teeny’s still curled in a ball, napping. Frankie may be younger than me, but she’s observant and knows me well enough to figure out I’m hung up on the girl sitting like a queen on a throne behind the massive polished-wood desk.

“You’re staring,”she stage whispers on her way past me.

Thyrie’s lipstilt into a satisfied little smirk, and I know she heard Frankie as she passed.

“Sure am,”I confirm, meeting Thyrie’s dark eyes with mine.

“And?”Her brow lifts imperiously, cementing the image of her as a regal queen. It steals my breath and makes my chest, and regions lower, tighten with appreciation for her beauty.

“Not apologizingfor something I’ll be doing a lot of.” Might as well begin as I intend to carry on.

“Bold of you,”she quips, returning my stare with one of her own. Her eyes trace the muscles I know are visible through thethin cotton of my T-shirt. Her open appreciation of my body stirs my blood, sending a lick of arousal hot through me to settle in my cock.

I shiftin my seat to give extra room to my swelling shaft, and her eyes follow the movement. A knowing satisfaction sparkles in her grin, and I realize this woman is exactly the handful I expected after overhearing the conversation in the coffeeshop.

“You needa few hours to pack a bag, so you can stay at the clubhouse ‘til Franks and Teens can go home?” The nickname for my sister makes Thyrie snort a giggle-laugh that’s more adorable than her badass appearance prepared me for.

“Nope.Bag stays packed and ready in my trunk, and I can grab all the equipment I’ll need from the safe room, if you and the girls don’t mind waiting here in my office for a few minutes.” She stands with a fluid grace that speaks to what Rurik confirmed from the background information he pulled. Military background and ongoing experience as an owner and operator of a personal protection firm, Thyrie Brandon is the whole package.

The woman isall leashed power and a capacity for violence, tucked into a petite frame, and her lithe muscles are easy to miss at first glance. She’s nothing like used to picture my dream girl would be. Before I gave up on the whole picket fence two point five kids dream, I always thought I’d wind up with a girl like Frankie.

Not because ofany creepy brother-sister vibes. More, I expected to wind up with someone soft and sweet because she’s the best woman I know, so I just assumed when I met my soulmate she’d be the same. I should have guessed I’d stumble into someone who would light my soul on fire. Like every other unforeseen twist my life has taken, my future wouldn’t be the way I’d thought.

“You havea safe room in your offices?” I find myself unable to bite my tongue and keep the questions at bay. I want to know everything about her. Everything.

“Giventhe nature of the business, we’d be fools not to, don’t you think?” Her answer reminds me she has a business partner, who’s also her best friend. Rurik’s info seems to point to the man being a solely platonic colleague she’s known for an eternity.

Thyrie can’t knowhow deep a dive I’ve already taken into her background, and really, I’d prefer to learn about her from her. I suppose I ought to feel some sort of guilt over nosing into her life without her knowledge. I don’t. Though my feelings for this woman are already too strong to ignore, Teeny and my sister’s safety isn’t something I’d ever risk.

“You sure youdon’t need to discuss taking this job with your partner? Silas Brandsell, right?” Just because Rurik’s info Rurik made it seem as if things are platonic between the two of them, it doesn’t mean I don’t intend to pry.

The bewitching womantosses a wink over her shoulder as she saunters through a door hidden beside a bookcase. Yeah, there’snothing meek about this girl, and for the thousandth time since I overheard the two of them, I’m looking forward to every challenge she presents.

“His ignorance is my bliss,Mr. Holt. And I sure hope you can deliver.”

CHAPTER SIX

Thyrie

Ihaven’t had this much fun in as long as I can remember. The Ghost Born clubhouse is nothing like I thought it would be, and all I can think is how TV gets it way wrong. Not that I got to see much of the clubhouse. After brief introduction to all the guys, Hyram whisked us upstairs to his suite of rooms.

Don’t get me wrong…The men who make up the Lexen part of the club are every bit as mouthwateringly gorgeous as any Hollywood version. But that’s where the similarities stop. Unlike TV motorcycle clubs, there are no bawdy, half-naked club girls flitting around knuckle-dragging Neanderthal men. No drunken brawls or drugged-up assholery.

“Whatcha looking for, pretty girl?”

I thoughtI’d met all the guys over the few days I’ve been guarding Frankie and Teeny. This one, with the unexpectedly deep, rumbly, yet playful voice is new.

“Mine,”Hyram growls from behind me, startling me enough I nearly drop the bottles of water I’d gone to the kitchen to grab for my charges. No, playing nursemaid isn’t in the job description. Still, Frankie is the sweetest, and yet most boring, client I’ve ever had, so taking the chance to wander the clubhouse to fetch whatever she and the kiddo need is a good break.

“You can’t claima whole person, Hy,” the stranger teases. He’s got an adorable dimple that three weeks ago would definitely have had a way bigger impact on me than it does today. Today, I’m focused on the crush I can’t shake and the possessive way Hyram watches me whenever we’re in the same room.

“Just did.Now, find somewhere else to be, Malachi. And stop flirting with the girls. If I don’t kick your ass first, you know damn well Arlo will.” As menacing as Hyram’s threat is, the tone makes it clear he’s not really angry at his flirtatious brother.

“In this economy?”Malachi tosses out the non sequitur out as if it’s the most logical response possible, and the absurdity of it makes me laugh. A slight shake of Hyram’s head catches my attention, and he soundlessly mouths the word ‘no.’

“Um,nice to meet you. Malachi? I’m Thyrie. I’m here to protect this one’s sister and Teeny for a little while.” Normally,I’d be far more circumspect with information, but Hyram made it clear there was no need for secrecy.

“Oh, yeah. Forgot. Sorry, Hy.”An adorable blush tinges his cheeks pink, taking the entire interaction from amusing to confusing in a heartbeat.

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