Page 21 of Dealing Dirty
The Pound is quieter than usual tonight. Faces I’m becoming more familiar with come through the door, soaked and shaking water from their coats. They greet Tank like an old friend, smiling like they’ve just come home from a long hard day, and my heart warms toward the grump.
The fresh, earthy scent of rain wafts toward me as a loud crack of thunder rumbles through the building.
I jump when a female voice sounds from behind me. “Are you new here?”
Her voice is a little raspy and sexy, like maybe she smokes.
“How’d you know?” I ask, eyeing her black studded jacket. Her tight leather pants are tucked inside black shit-kickers, and her hardened exterior is at odds with her youthful appearance.
“I know a newbie when I see one.” The playful gleam in her eye calms my nerves a touch. She must be the new girl I’ve seen hanging around the pack.
Dark black eyeliner creates a smokey effect around a set of stunning eyes. They’re gold around the outside with a deep, bluish gray creating a ring around her pupil. How fitting that she’s with the Wolves given eyes like that.
She’s at ease with her hands resting in her pockets. I’m not familiar with motorcycle gang etiquette, but I know if I say the wrong thing, bigpapíover there is sure to have a few words with me—or worse.
“Hazel,” she says, extending a hand to mine. I shake it too quickly before swiping my palm against my shorts, removing the sweat gathering there. Her unique eyes follow mine, shifting toward her crew.
She clicks her tongue against the roof of her mouth. “Oh, don’t mind them, silly. Come on, let me buy you a beer.”
I gawk at her hand cuffed around my wrist as the steps we take become a blur. Hazel slides onto one of the barstools, and I cautiously follow suit. My brain is buzzing with warnings, but each time I sneak a peek at the Wolves, I find they’re not paying us any attention.
When I turn back to her, I jump. This crazycarbonajust tried to bite me!
“Are you insane? Please tell me if you’re insane.”
Her hair falls back, exposing her neck as she laughs. “You’re such a scaredy cat!”
Micah’s greedy eyes gobble her up as he saunters over, melting right into his charming routine. He’s the resident ladies’ man around here, and there aren’t many who have turned him away.
“Can we get a pitcher of beer, please?” she asks.
Even my belly warms when he leans his big upper body over the wooden bar.
“You can have anything you want, little momma.” Micah is too sexy for his own good, and he knows it. His deep brown eyes always twinkle with a touch of humor, and his skin is dark and smooth to the touch. He’s gradually become more of a brother figure to me—but that doesn’t mean I haven’t admired his dimples or cropped curly hair.
Hazel flicks a crumb on the counter, giving him a polite smile. She barely seems to notice any of the things that drive most women wild.
He fills an ice-cold mug while I snicker at the shock pulling his smile into a frown.
“Have you known Jack long?” she asks, taking a big slurp of beer.
I stifle a laugh when Micah straightens and pouts his way to the opposite end of the bar.
“What?” She quirks a brow.
I lean my cheek into my fist, resting my elbow on the counter. “Nothing. It’s just that not many women can resist the Micah charm.”
She rolls her eyes. “Oh, he’s hot alright. But I’m not trying to cause any more issues for Jack. It’s not in anyone’s best interest to get involved with me. If it turns sour, well… let’s just say my dad might make sure that person goes missing.”
Hazel takes another big gulp of her beer while I blink at her. So her dad is the intimidating man I had pegged for the leader. Interesting.
“You say that like it’s a regular part of the routine.” I turn a wary eye toward theVof my shorts.Whosecojonesare these?
“What, the illegalities?” Swiping the back of her hand over her mouth, she pauses before dropping her voice to a whisper. “Spoiler alert, the Wolves aren’t exactly sweethearts.”
There’s something shimmering in her eye that’s got me thinking. This chick must have seen some shit in her lifetime. My newfound balls lose their bravado, and I drop the topic before I can ask the sordid details.
“So, um, you’re not a…” I motion from her to their group across the room.
