Page 33 of The Biker and the Loner
Jeez, am I that transparent or is it just her?She's like a witch.
She asks, "You thought he would come back as a one-burner man?"
Actually, I didn't expect him to come back at all, so the joke's on her. "I know who he is and what to expect," I tell her. "I'm not in love with him or anything. It's not that serious."
"Good," she says, touching my shoulder. "Love that boy as much as my nephew, but I wouldn't wish him on anyone's daughter. Don’t fall in love."
With that, she walks back into the house.
I don't follow her inside. I lower down into one of the patio chairs and let her words sink.
See? I told you so,Brain chides, cocky as ever.
Cookie’s words are the reiteration that I needed to keep Heart in check. No one knows the bikers and their history like Cookie—the men talk about her like she's been around for centuries—and if she doesn't believe Scratch has changed, then I won't either.
Minutes later, Scratch comes in search of me. "Peach, you didn't want any of the food, did you?"
I stare at him, incredulous. "Nowyou ask me?"
His mouth opens and closes, eyes slightly widened with guilt. "You wanted?"
"No. I'm not hungry."
"Oh, thank God." He lets out a relieved sigh and throws himself down in the empty chair beside me. "’Cause I ate it all."
I laugh and shake my head. "You're ridiculous."
"And you're the sexiest woman I've ever seen."
To hide my blush, I roll my eyes. "You're right, this is a really nice place. You should buy it."
"Eh, let's try it out for a while first. Not exactly a fan of close neighbors."
Scratch doesn't have a normal job per se, but I know he's not hurting for money. I don't imagine that much of what the Heathens do for cash is legal, but I don't judge, and I know better than to stick my nose where it doesn’t belong. Scratch will have to figure out for himself if that's how he wants to spend the rest of his life.
He reaches over to squeeze my thigh. "Why're you alwaysthinkingso much?"
"Because it's necessary?"
"You're scared of me." He withdraws his hand from me and sighs. "You think I'm gonna mess you up."
"I'm not—"
"Don't lie to me, Ley." He makes a frustrated noise in his throat as he shakes his head. "But why are you scared of me and nother? I’ve never hurt you and don’t plan to. You’re broken and I ain’t the one who broke you. But you run from me and protect her?"
He's always bringing this shit up and I freaking hate it when he does. Fuming, I shoot to my feet, but then take a breath to reign in my anger. "I'm leaving now."
"Yeah, go on. Run from Scratch, The Big Bad Wolf," he calls after me. "Go eat her poison apples."
"Screw you, Landon!"
I scoop my keys from off the breakfast bar and stomp out of there. By the time I'm in my car and furiously firing up the engine, he’s at the front door of the house, leaned against the doorjamb with his arms crossed, watching me leave.
He's an asshole. A big, odious jerk. And I hate that my stupid, idiotic heart won't stop letting me feel things for him.
Shittingfreakingshit!!
I punch my fist against the steering wheel and give myself only a minute to lose it, not caring that he’s seeing me lose it.
