Page 73 of Rooster

“It’s really nice to meet you.”

“You, too.”

Q gave her the once over, then asked, “So, you’re Rooster’s ol’ lady, huh?”

“I really don’t know how all that works.” Maggie glanced over at me with a smile. “But yeah, I guess you could say that.”

“Hmmm.” Q cocked his brow. “You look like a smart girl. I’d think you’d know better than to get tangled up with this guy.”

“I don’t know about that,” Maggie giggled with a shrug. “I happen to thinkhe’spretty great.”

“Ah, give it some time,” Q chuckled.

“Come on, brother. Don’t do me like that.”

“Awe, she knows I’m just messing around.”

Before he had a chance to say anything more, Londyn and Jules came over and introduced themselves. They barely said two words before they snatched her up and took her over to their table. They got her a drink, and in no time, the trio was carrying on like old friends. Seeing that she was good, I grabbed myself a beer and sat down with the guys.

“Damn, brother.” Torch motioned his head over to Maggie and the other girls. “You did good.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“She seems to be fittin’ right in.”

“Seems so.” I glanced over my shoulder, and I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride as I watched Maggie laugh at something one of the ol’ ladies had said. “I can’t say I’m surprised. She has a way with folks.”

“So, what’s her story?”

“Not much to tell. She’s divorced, has two kids, and works at a salon on the square.”

“And you met at the movies?”

“Yeah, something like that.”

Savage said something, but I didn’t hear him. My focus was still on Maggie. Her face was overly animated, and I let out a chuckle when I realized she was telling Londyn and Jules about Samantha and the burnt marshmallows. I continued to enjoy the show even after I heard Savage tease, “Ah, man. He’s got it bad.”

He was right.

I did have it bad, and I was working hard to get to her the way she’d gotten to me. I was doing pretty well until Beckett walked in with Addison and Michele, and as usual, they were both scantily dressed and looking for a good time. They trailed behind Beckett as he meandered over to the counter and sat down next to Torch.

For the first night in days, he seemed to be doing okay. I’d hoped the girls would stick with him, but Addison had other plans. Her eyes locked on mine, and I knew she was about to head my way. Before I could stop her, she was by my side and had her arm around my neck. “Hey, Roost. How’s it going?”

“It’d be going better if you’d go back over and hang with Beck.”

“But I thought we could...”

“Not interested, Addy.” I kept my voice low and stern. “Just go.”

“Okay, suit yourself.”

Disappointment marked her face as she turned and headed back over to Beckett. When I was certain that she’d gotten the point, I glanced over at Maggie and found her glaring at me with a look of heartbreak in her eyes. Damn. I’d tried to put the fire out, but the damage had already been done.

Maggie

Ronin told me all about his brothers and what to expect at the club, but the second I walked through the front door, I forgot everything he’d said. Nothing was like I’d imagined it would be, and I was a bit overwhelmed. And then, I met a couple of the guys and quickly realized I had no reason to be so nervous. Things got even better when Londyn and Jules came over and asked me to have a drink with them.

They were wonderful. We hit it off right from the start. They told me all about their first time at the club, and I told them about how Ronin and I had met and our weekend at his place. It was all going so well until I saw that woman pawing all over Ronin. The casual banter between Ronin and the other woman was brief, but it was enough to leave me with a knot in my stomach.

---