“I heard,” James said, drawing her attention to him. He walked toward her, leaning on the counter beside the stove. She smiled at him.
“What did you hear?”
How had he not seen it before? Teri’s nervousness around Lucy. The way she always tried to help the other woman. “You and Dane.”
The smile on her face slipped until he finally saw the pain. She was a woman nearing thirty-five, and yet, she looked so young and vulnerable—but at the same time, she’d screwed Dane.
“Do you want me to leave?” she asked.
“Why would I want you to leave?”
“I’m just a club whore compared to Lucy. She’s an old lady.” Tears flooded Teri’s eyes. “I didn’t mean for it to happen. God, I sound so stupid, don’t I? I’m so fucking stupid, and a hypocrite. I was someone that I hated.”
“You don’t have to leave. I just wanted to see how you were doing as a friend. Dane’s back. Problems are happening for him and for Lucy. I think it was fucking wrong what happened. Dane was married.”
“I know, and I know I fucked up. You and this club have given me so much, and I wish that I could take it back.”
“Do you love him?” James hated this. He didn’t want to deal with this shit, not now, not ever. Some of the club fucked around, but that shit stayed away from the club. This felt personal. Teri was his friend, and Dane was a club brother. Fuck, even Lucy was a friend, and this was hard, so damn hard.
“No, I did. I don’t anymore. I was an idiot for doing what I did. It happened a couple of times. The first time I didn’t know he was married. The second time, I was drunk, but that doesn’t excuse my behavior. If you need to take a vote and get rid of me, I understand. I’m a big girl, I promise.”
James nodded. “This is not really a club matter. Men can sleep with whoever the fuck they want, but there could be some consequences and you won’t like it.”
“I know. I’m sorry, James.”
He left the kitchen, and stared out at the clubhouse that he’d help create. They were all vital and important to being the Dirty Fuckers MC. Dane was causing a few problems, and James didn’t like it.
Chapter Nine
“Do I rock, or do I rock?” Leo asked, taking a seat at the diner Friday evening. Skylar was working, going between the tables and serving. They had spent most of the day moving all of Lucy’s things into the ranch house that Lewis owned.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Paul asked, squirting tomato sauce onto his plate, and dipping his fries into it.
Leo rolled his eyes. “What do you think of a weekend away to visit Vegas?”
Paul stopped, and turned toward his friend. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
“I called and booked us a hotel room. I thought we could take Skylar to see our old fighting grounds.” Leo was really excited about it. “I spoke to Ned Walker as well. That fucker is still going. I thought he would be dead by now.”
“He will outlive us all,” James said.
Leo realized that the whole of the table had gone quiet to listen.
“You think taking a woman to see your old fighting grounds is a good thing?” Kitty Cat asked. She was sitting opposite Caleb, and it was her night off.
“Yeah. It’s hot.”
Kitty Cat rolled her eyes. “You’re going to regret that.”
“Ned Walker’s still alive?” James asked, laughing. “Did you really think he’d be anything but?”
Leo shrugged. “He’s doing okay. Settling down a lot. He doesn’t do … anything else.” Leo looked around the table. It wasn’t a secret that many of the deals involving The Skulls came through Ned.
James shook his head. “Give Ned my best. Dirty Fuckers are not about to take on his business dealings. Not going to happen.”
He glared at them. “Think about it. Us, Vegas, dancing, fun. She hasn’t had fun. We had fun in Vegas and you’ve got to trust me. The fort worked, right?” He wanted to kiss Skylar again, and he didn’t want it to be because of a damn dare. He had a plan, and when he got Paul alone, he was going to make sure his friend held up his end of the deal.
“Fine, fine. I don’t see a problem. When do you want to go? It can’t be this week. We’re helping Lucy and for once, Dane is on his best behavior.”