Page 15 of Undone

I laughed, imagining that. Rog is anal about food and cooking. He hired a chef at the bar and restaurant he owns, but the man has control issues, like me.

“Something tells me, this end of summer cookout is going to be the most memorable one yet.”

“I’ll drink to that,” Mac replied, pausing to pullout two-long necks from a nearby cooler. We clinked bottles. I downed half of mine in one swallow. The cold beer felt good soothing my parched throat from the long, dusty ride.

“Is everything good in Springdale?”

He shrugged, “For now. We’ve all got our eyes open, just in case that fucker who scared Devon shows up unannounced again.”

“Good. Keep your ear to the ground. Something’s brewing… I feel it.”

“Is that how you run my club? Basing shit on your ‘feelings?’”

Spinning around, I caught the right hook aimed at my head, “Nice to see you, too, Duke. Is it killing you to see me sitting on your throne? Bow mother-fucker.” I pulled Duke in, giving him a noogie on the head.

“Jesus, Smith. I never knew what a power-hungry prick you’d be when I talked you into pledging.” I clapped him on the back, like the brother he is to me. Ribbing each other is what we do. I’ve never had a closer friend than Duke and was honored as hell when he asked me to succeed him as President of Creed. My ascent to power went unchallenged since it was Duke’s wish that the next man to be made king was me.

“Jesus, Smith. You ruined my hair. It took me fifteen-minutes to get this look.”

“God, you’ve gone soft. Your woman is turning you into a pretty boy.”

I got the finger for the second time in less than ten minutes. Damn, it’s good to be around Duke and Rog. Both of them aren’t active in the club, and I miss these two asswipes.

“Stop making fun of my man, or I’ll have to kick your ass.”

I looked up with a grin, pulling Shanna, Duke’s wife, in for a hug. “How ya’ been, sweetheart.”

“Good. What happened? Are you training for Naked and Afraid?” Her eyebrows rose, checking out my caveman look.

“Honey, I guarantee when I’m naked—the last thing I am is afraid.” Shanna snorted as Duke and Rog started bringing up old grievances that had nothing to do with me. Something about some chick named Dee, who slept with both founders of Creed and started a war within the club. I tried to pay attention, but I was lost, staring over Shanna’s dark head at the two women walking towards us both wearing matching expressions of horror, while looking nothing alike.

“Is that who I’m babysitting?” I asked Rog without taking my eyes off her.

“Yup. You know Dev is mine, that’s Luce—the friend.” Rog breathed. His head snapped up seconds before stalking towards Dev. When he reached her, his large hands cupped her face before he pulled her close. It was a signal to every man there—she was his. He spoke in a low growl firing questions at her as she stared down at the ground. Something was up with her. But I didn’t exactly care. All of my attention was on her friend.

The petite blond standing next to Dev couldn’t keep her eyes off of me either. Hell, maybe I should’ve at least trimmed my beard before I left Ma’s. Rog was still holding Dev tight, so I tossed back the rest of my beer, handed Duke my empty, and strode towards the cute blonde staring in terror at me—as if I was going to eat her.

Hell, maybe I would.

Her fear is turning me on.

I’m a sick fuck. But I’m not questioning this, maybe I’ll scare her, make her scream for fun. And we’ll all have a good laugh about it over beers around the campfire later.

Without a word, my long legs cut the distance between us. My shoulders brushed her body as I deliberately invaded her personal space, took her hand in mine, and walked towards the heavily wooded path that winds around the lake.

She didn’t say a word.

Smart girl.

She rolled with it, letting me steal her away and into the woods. Neither of us spoke. We walked hand-in-hand through dappled sunlight, over fallen logs until we reached my secret spot—the small clearing where wildflowers grow along the riverbank.

I paused, turning to look at her. Next to me she was the size of an elf and just as cute with a pert nose, plump lower lip, and full eyelashes framed bright blue eyes I could get lost in—if I’m not careful. Her heart shaped face was framed with bouncy blonde hair cut shorter than it should be; making the thick bob swing wildly as she jerked her head back. “I’ve got pepper spray,” she warned.

“Good. You can protect me from the bears while I nap,” I replied, tugging her down next to me in the long grass as I peeled off my shirt to use as a pillow.

She tried to pull her hand out of mine, but I wasn’t letting it go. Rog needed time to woo his woman without her friend getting in the way.

“What’s your name?”

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