Page 14 of Jag

Chapter Four

River

In the parking lotat Soft Tails, I sat in my car and stared at the entrance debating if I should just skip the lunch invitation. After five minutes and a lot of back and forth, I pushed the car door open and slid out of the driver’s seat. A deep breath and the beep signaling my car was locked, I started toward the door. Decision made.

Why shouldn’t I meet nice people and have a meal? One man was not allowed to have that type of power over me. Screw him if he had a problem with me being around his friends. Wasn’t my issue.

I stepped inside and was surrounded by the sound of voices and music playing low in the background. The place was busy. With my sunglasses pushed up on my head, I gave my eyes time to adjust to the change in lighting before searching for a familiar face. When I made one sweep of the place and was starting to think that Sami and others hadn’t gotten there, I saw her stand and wave her arms to get my attention.

Walking toward Sami, I noticed there were only two couples at the table, and as I got closer, Devil rose and pulled over the empty table beside them.

“So glad you made it, River. Grab a seat, and I’ll make the introductions,” Sami said and smiled.

I refused to the let the sudden butterflies in my stomach have an effect on me. I moved to an empty chair beside Sami. As I reached for the back of the chair a large hand beat me to it and pulled it out. When I looked up, it was into the smiling face of the older man who lived with Sue, who I had only spoken to in passing. I knew Sue had mentioned his name, but I couldn’t remember it. Although I knew he was part of the MC because he wore a leather vest that identified them.

“Have a seat, darlin’.” I sat, and he pushed my chair in.

“Thank you,” I said as I looked over my shoulder.

“Ah, my pleasure. Any gentleman would have done the same,” he replied, then Devil and Kane groaned.

“Goddamn, Roscoe, I would have done it, but you were already there before I got to it,” Devil said, then took a seat beside a woman, which I assumed was Bailey since she was the only other woman there besides Sami. “Where did you come from anyway? It’s like you have a built-in radar that goes off when new women are around.”

“Well, since Syn has been filling in at the shop while the construction on the club is going on, I get a break. Was going to take lunch home for Sue, but when I called her, she told me you guys already sent one of the prospects with food since she had Ally and Neely. Which by the way, my plans for an afternoon slap and tickle session went out the window. So, I figured I’d come here and grab myself lunch. Finding this pretty lady in need of a gentleman’s service was just luck,” Roscoe said, then glanced at me and winked. When Speed and Devil both pinched the bridge of their noses and shook their heads, and Sami and Bailey laughed, I figured it was typical Roscoe behavior. I couldn’t stop my own grin because, good grief, the man had to be old enough to be my grandfather.

Speed spoke for the first time since I arrived at the table. “Thanks for that visual, Roscoe. Not sure I’m hungry now, but you’re welcome to join us.” He used a chin lift to point toward the empty chairs.

“Can we not start? At least give River the brief illusion that we are normal,” Sami said, cutting off Roscoe as he opened his mouth to respond.

“I was only going to say, who wouldn’t enjoy spending lunch with lovely ladies,” Roscoe said as he sat in the chair beside me.

“Normal is overrated,” Carly said as she walked up with another man from the club who I hadn’t met, but the vest he wore had a nametag on it that read President. When I glanced to the group of people following, I recognized Luna and Ghost with several other men behind them. As they separated to take seats at the table, the smile left my face. Great. Awesome. Seemed jerkface was joining the group after all.

“Hey, River. Good to see you outside of Yoga Sensual,” Luna said as she and Ghost sat across from me.

“Yes, I ran into Sami earlier, and she invited me,” I answered as everyone else sat. I refused to look so I could see where Jag sat. I wasn’t going to let him ruin my time.

“I did. And since Roscoe got me sidetracked, let me introduce River to the ones she hasn’t met,” Sami said, then pointed to Devil. “You met Devil earlier. Beside him, is his better half, Bailey.” Sami pointed to each person as she worked herself around the table. “You already know Carly, the man beside her is her better half, Crusher, the club’s president.”

“Seriously, you’re supposed to be my BFF and sister at heart,” Carly spouted.

“I call it like I see it.” Carly stuck her middle finger up at Sami, and Sami chuckled.

I kept the smile on my face even though I felt eyes on me. There wasn’t a need to check if I was right. I imagined wherever Jag sat he was glaring at me.

“Now let me finish. You know Luna and Ghost, River. Beside Ghost is Boss, Turk, Jag, Coast, Flirt, and you already experienced Roscoe.”

Every time Sami said one of the men’s names, I received a smile and chin lift in response. Well, except for Jag. He just narrowed his eyes and glared.

“I’ve passed you coming into my mom’s bakery a couple times and wanted to introduce myself, but I was always running late,” Bailey said, and I was thankful because it allowed me to look away from Jag.

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