Atonement (Angel's Halo MC 5)

there to keep me company. The other two started talking about what Flick was doing now that she was home for good. She had been some rocker’s nanny for over a year, but now that she was back, it wasn’t like she could just find another rich family with kids to babysit.

“I’m helping out Uncle Jack for now, and I waitress at the bar when the guys need an extra hand.” She made a funny face. “It’s basically like taking care of a bunch of overgrown kids, so my job hasn’t really changed much.”

I tuned them out when I caught a glimpse of dark blond hair cut short, those wide shoulders with that leather cut and a black T-shirt over them. His jeans had holes in the knees, but they hugged his ass perfectly.

My hand froze with my cup halfway to my mouth, the air seeming to be sucked forcefully out of my lungs when he looked my way and our eyes locked.

Maybe it was the punch mixed with those two shots of tequila. Maybe I was imagining what I read in his eyes. I could blame it on being almost drunk. I had wanted to see that hungry look directed at me for so long that I didn’t completely trust it as he kept walking, his gaze never leaving mine.

It was only when someone moved in front of me that our connection was broken.

I sucked in a gasping breath, my heart suddenly beating so hard my shirt actually bounced with the force of it. My mouth felt bone-dry, while lower, my panties were suddenly uncomfortably wet.

I lifted the cup to my lips and took a few sips, hoping the coolness of the drink would help calm down my overheated body.

“Well, that’s new,” I heard Flick mutter and turned my head to find her watching me.

She had obviously seen the exchange between me and Raider.

An uncontrollable blush filled my cheeks, and I hurriedly looked away, gulping down more of my drink, as I felt her and Kelli move in around me.

“Is something going on with you and Raider?” Flick demanded in a fierce whisper. “He just looked at you like you were his favorite new toy.”

“No, of course not. I don’t know what that look was about, but nothing has changed between us.” My head was spinning, and I wasn’t completely sure it was all from the alcohol.

“Remember what we talked about outside?” Kelli pulled my cup from my hand, forcing me to give them my complete attention.

“What were you talking about outside?” Flick asked, being nosy.

“I can’t understand why she loves that prick so much.” Kelli wasn’t shy about confiding in Flick about our earlier conversation. If it had been anyone else, I would have been pissed at my roommate for blabbing about something that was private. But I knew Flick wouldn’t tell a soul, not even Raven or Jet.

“Valid question,” my old friend agreed.

“Well, I want her to figure out if she really does love him or if she’s just built up the whole thing in her head. Dreams and reality are two completely different scenarios.”

“Truth,” Flick muttered half under her breath, then turned those blue eyes on me. “Girl’s right; maybe it’s time to figure it out, Quinn.”

I glared at them both. “I do have it figured out, thank you very much.”

“Oh yeah?” Kelli looked skeptical.

“Yeah,” I snapped. “I’m moving on. I am officially done with letting Raider Hannigan stomp on my heart. I might even find one of the brothers and lose my v-card to him tonight.”

I was all talk, all three of us knew it, but it felt good to say those words out loud. I was going to get over Raider. I was done being the pathetic chick who wore her heart on her sleeve for a guy who barely even knew she was alive.

Chapter 3

Raider

As parties at the clubhouse went, my brother’s engagement party was probably the tamest one that had ever taken place. I was glad Jet had pulled his head out of his ass and finally done something right with Flick, that they were happy, but fuck, I was bored out of my mind.

I had been at the clubhouse since after lunch, when I had brought one of the sheep back to play with. Things hadn’t gone as planned, and it had pissed me off. Therefore, I had sent her packing. After a shower and a nap, I had woken up to my sister and some of the old ladies setting up for the party.

Raven had spotted me before I could make a run for it and had put my ass to work. I loved my sister more than any female on the planet, but she was a fucking ballbuster. That had only gotten worse with motherhood.

As the party had gotten started, and more and more people had shown up, the urge to jump on my hog and spend the night with only the road as my companion had increased. I knew if I left, though, Raven would kick my ass, and Bash and Spider would hold me down while she did it.

Cursing under my breath, I lifted the beer bottle to my lips and chugged it down before throwing it in the trashcan a few feet away. The kitchen was full of a mixture of MC brothers, their wives, and a few kids. It was minus any of the sheep, which was the only reason I was camped out there.