Page 67 of Where Love Lies

“Hey, that’s for the party, bitch!” Owen says, cutting up some fresh lemons.

“I can’t help it. It’s hot and your table looks so inviting!” I tease him about the decorations.

“It looks nice because we did it, not Tenly!” Owen sneers, as if I’m supposed to know what he’s talking about.

“Tenly wanted us to put lemons all over the table, but it was a bit tacky and would attract flies, so we did what we wanted.” Flynn explains with a shrug of his shoulder. Thank goodness my pie goes on a combined table of desserts, and I don’t have to have my own table. I probably wouldn’t have anything but my pie on it.

Hours pass by until the sun kisses the ground, leaving a hue of orange and pink in the sky. Neighbors from our block and others are here enjoying our festivities, the smell of cooked burgers and hotdogs hanging in the air and making everyone’s stomach growl.

Paige is sitting in a chair next to Layla and her brother, talking and having fun. It’s the first time I’ve seen her smile in days. It warms my heart to know she’s okay, that she’s going to be okay, no matter what happens in the coming days.

“Damn Straight” by Scotty McCreery comes on, and I can’t help but sing the first few lyrics.

“Wanna dance?”

Startled, I turn around to find Rhodes standing there with a sexy smirk on his face.

“Is anyone dancing?” I look around, nervous everyone will look at us.

“Who cares.” He shrugs and takes me by the hand. My cheeks flush, heart beating as everyone watches us. He stops in the middle of the road and pulls me close. His right hand clasps mine, while his other one wraps around my waist. I keep looking down to make sure I don’t step on his boots as he sings along to the country music. His rough voice copies Scotty’s soft tone. Trying not to laugh from the nerves bubbling in my stomach, I look to the left of us and see Paige looking at me with her mouth open, eyes smiling.

“Everyone’s staring,” I tell him, and I stop dancing.

“Let them stare, it’s just a dance,” he replies, ushering me to keep moving.

“I can’t—” I try and pull my hand from his, but he stops me.

“Stop worrying, they’re not staring at you, they’re staring at me,” he whispers, and I roll my eyes.

“They’re staring at you? Why would they be doing that?”

His thin lips pull into a small smile, and I shake my head at his ego.

Inhaling a large breath, I close my eyes to ignore everyone and just focus on my steps while listening to the song. Getting close to Rhodes again his citrus scent and musk cologne become envelope me. I almost get lost in a place of zen, until the loud sound of exhaust has me freezing and looking up.

“Boys are here,” Rhodes states, just as two motorcycles pull into the cul-de-sac. They’re not wearing helmets, with angry scowls on their faces as they drive by everyone. The mean twisted alloy between their legs makes it look like their thighs are grabbing danger by the balls and I can’t help stare at them. They park in Rhodes’ driveway, the men even more intimidating as they stand straight with leather vests displaying a burning skull on the back. Glancing at Tenly, she’s staring with her mouth ajar and wrinkles between her eyebrows. I can’t help the slight laugh that escapes me. Rhodes is taking the suburbs and turning them into his own personal playground.

“I don’t think we need them, Rhodes,” I state, everything has been calm so far, and I’d hate for these guys, who have trouble etched into the lines of their face that the sun has marred them with from their daily rides, to start something with someone. I think Owen would piss himself if he got into a confrontation with one of them, but not before he tried to sass them.

“Then we don’t. But they’re already here, so let them enjoy some normal socializing instead of club…activities.”

The way he says that last part makes me think they’re criminals; they certainly look the part, doing things that outlaws do. It’s as scary as it is exciting. Especially knowing they’d come here and pretend to enjoy country music with a bunch of yuppies, instead of being back at their clubhouse with half-naked girls and no sound mind of boundaries.

The song ends, and he winks at me before walking to his friends with broad shoulders and a heavy step. The way they stand there and wait for him, their hands in their pockets and expressionless faces makes me think he’s in charge of them or at least of a higher rank.

“Rain, who is that and why are they here?” Tenly angry-whispers, coming up beside me.

Shaking my head I say, “Uh, some friends of Rhodes, it looks like.”

“They have everyone staring,” she hisses, crossing her arms, and she’s right, everyone is staring. Bikers don’t come here, and they definitely don’t live here. But Rhodes, he does all these things because he doesn’t give a fuck.

Turning on my heel, I paste a cheery smile on my face.

“Hey, where is your better half? I thought you were going to introduce him to me?” Her head snaps my way, her brows rising to her hairline.

“Yes! Yes, he is.” Lifting her hand, her pointy little finger waves in the direction of Owen and Flynn’s table. There he is. He’s shorter than Tenly, his back muscled, and hair short brown. He’s wearing a light blue polo and some khaki shorts, reminding me of someone who goes sailing rather than a famous plastic surgeon. I expected someone tall, dark, and handsome in highly stylish clothes because he has all the money in the world.

“Come on,” Tenly says walking past me. Following her, she taps Asher on the shoulder and he turns, his face lighting up when he sees her.

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