“In my dreams.”
Griz grinned in response. “Hey, doll, go ask Gator if the shrimp are ready.”
Sherry made a face that said, no way in hell. “I’m not asking him. He’ll bite my head off
.”
“Come on, Strawberry Shortcake, take one for the team,” Ghost put in with a wink.
She rolled her eyes and moved off toward Gator. Over her shoulder she said, “You’re all chicken-shits.”
The men laughed.
Shades eyes were drawn to the back gate as a single bike rode in.
Crash.
With Skylar ridin’ bitch.
Well, goddamn, he actually brought her.
Ghost must have noticed as well, because he leaned closer. His eyes on the bike, he asked, “You ever gonna tell that tale, Brother?”
“Nothin’ to tell. It’s over. Ancient history now.”
Ghost let out a huff. “Bullshit.”
Shades turned his eyes on Ghost, his look deadly. “Drop it.”
Ghost grinned, but let it lay.
Shades’ eyes returned to where Crash and Skylar were climbing off the bike. He took a drink from his beer, his eyes following the pair as they walked up to the blue canopy tent set up over near the shrimp boil. There were several tables and chairs under it, and that’s where Butcher, Slick and Boot were sitting. Crash clasped their hands and sat down, pulling Skylar down to the chair next to his. Shades could see Crash reach over and take her hand in his, their clasped hands resting on her thigh. He couldn’t stop the images of Crash running his hands over Skylar’s body, and the thought had his jaw clenching.
Butcher snapped his fingers at one of the girls over by the food tables, and a moment later she brought over two cold beers, handing one to Crash and one to Skylar.
Shades took a sip of his beer and continued to keep an eye on them.
One of the new hang-around girls wandered by, giving him a look that read like an open invitation. She was young and blonde. His eyes ran down her body. He’d become a man always in the market for fresh pussy, and he’d been driving himself crazy the past few nights, lying awake with thoughts of Skylar filling his goddamned head. At the reminder of her, his razor sharp gaze zeroed in on her across the compound, only to find her sitting in Crash’s fucking lap now.
Goddamn that gutted him.
His attention turned back to the girl, and he lifted his chin at her. “Come here, darlin’.” When she strutted over, he took a hit off his cigarette, blew the smoke out slowly and asked, “What’s your name?”
“Ashley.”
“Ashley? That’s a real pretty name.” He reached up to trace the side of her face with his index finger, a smile pulling at the corner of his mouth. Shades knew how to turn on the charm when he wanted. He knew how to work a girl, too. Show a little interest, then pretend to put them off, then reel ‘em back in. Worked every fucking time. He nodded toward the prospect standing guard duty at the back gate. The one he’d sponsored about six months ago. “You see my prospect standin’ over by the gate?”
She turned to look, and then nodded to him.
“Go bring him a sandwich and some water for me. Keep him company for a while.” She looked confused, her bright smile faltering. There were a lot of girls that wanted his attention. They seemed to single him out as one of the prizes in this club. He knew he was younger than a lot of the members, but there were other young guys. Ghost, who was a little taller and broader in the shoulder. Hammer, who had the muscular build some girls swooned over.
Shades supposed it was his face that drew the attention he received, that and the hard look that stamped his face most days. There were bigger brothers, but for some reason it was that cold hard look they all seemed to want to be the one to melt. Only one woman had ever done that. And she was across the compound. In the arms of another brother.
Ashley narrowed her eyes for a split second before catching herself and pasting the smile back on her face. Shades watched her hand lift, her own index finger moving slowly down the leather of his cut, pausing to trace the 1% diamond. His eyes followed her movement and then lifted to hers. Maybe this one he wouldn’t be so quick to toss back.
“Sure, darlin’,” she mimicked him. “What’s his name?”
A grin pulled at the corner of Shades mouth, and he reached up to grab her hand. He saw her eyes widen, probably wondering if she’d crossed a line in touching him without permission. He brought her hand to his mouth and brushed a soft kiss to the palm. His eyes moved over her shoulder and connected with Skylar’s. He could see, even across the compound, her reaction. This was probably the first time—ever—that she’d actually seen him showing attention to another woman. His eyes returned to cute little blonde Ashley, who, if he was being honest, didn’t hold a candle to Skylar’s beauty. But Skylar didn’t know that. He knew women. They were a competitive breed when it came to the attention of men.