My gaze lands on the box again. “They would be pretty with that dress.”
“Good. Done.” He presses a quick kiss to my cheek.
Heidi returns and slips off the shoes she’d been trying on, murmuring a few words to Murphy. He grabs her box and heads to the register.
Rooster raises his eyebrows in a see-no-big-deal expression.
“Yeah, but they’re married,” I whisper.
He shrugs and holds out his hands for the boots.
The six of us regroup outside the store. Trinity links one of her arms through mine and one through Heidi’s, pulling us ahead of the guys. “Can we please find the electronics store now?”
“Sorry,” Heidi says. “It’s just nice to shop in person instead of online for a change.”
Trinity chuckles. “You make me feel old.” She turns to me. “What’s wrong? Those boots are so pretty. I thought about trying them on too,” her lips curl into a playful smile, “but I wasn’t sure we were at that matching outfits level of our friendship yet.”
I burst out laughing. “I think I could handle it.”
“No, seriously. Everything all right?”
I still haven’t been able to wrap my mind around Rooster’s spoiling his woman comment. “He’s already done a lot for me. I don’t want Rooster to think I’m some gold-digger.”
Trinity winces. “That term needs to die already.” She slows her relentless walking pace and pulls me to the side against the railing overlooking the first floor of the mall. “Shelby, you’re a lot younger than me, and I don’t know what kind of men you’ve dated before.”
“A lot of selfish jerks. Immature—”
“Right,” Trinity continues. “Well, let me tell you this—real men, good men—aren’t keeping score. They’re not resentful. They provide for the people they care about no matter what.” She flicks her gaze over my shoulder where I assume the guys are close to catching up with us. “Rooster’s a provider and a protector.”
“All of our guys are,” Heidi adds.
“He’s also smart. If you were trying to fleece him, he’d sense it. He seems to really care about you.” The honesty in Trinity’s eyes and voice stuns me right before she delivers her final knock-out. “Let him.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Rooster
“Well, fuck, brother. I had no idea your ol’ lady was famous.” Ice flaps a glossy tabloid in my face. “One of the girls brought it in.”
This is my punishment for deciding to spend our last couple days in Virginia at the clubhouse? Really?
“What a relief you’re not a subscriber to Gossip Club magazine, Prez.” I roll my eyes. “I said she was on tour. We were at the arena when it all went down.”
The clubhouse is quiet now, but the atmosphere is festive. Girls move around, straightening up the place. Brothers stock the bar while heckling each other and eyeing the club girls.
“I don’t pay attention to country music,” Ice says.
Sure. He has way too many porn stars to look after. “Yeah, I didn’t either.”
Shonda brought our stuff up to our room with Shelby, and as the girls bounce down the stairs together, Ice studies Shelby a little too closely for my liking. “You’re really taking an ol’ lady at your age?”
I hadn’t realized Ice and I were at the sharing-our-hopes-and-dreams-for-the-future stage of our relationship. “I’ve plowed through enough bunnies to know she’s a keeper. The one. Thanks for the concern, though.”
“The one.” He scoffs. “Well, news says she’s about to be a huge star.”
Can’t say I care for what he’s implying there. “It’s not like that. We met before she started blowing up.”
“She seems nice. A real stunner too.” He slaps my back. “Happy for you, brother.”
“Thanks.” I hope that’s the end of the conversation. Part of me remains tense, worried next he’ll ask if she’d like to star in a celebrity sex tape or something.
He’s quiet, watching the girls stop to talk to Trinity and Heidi with more interest than I’d expect. Doesn’t he have more important things to do elsewhere? Bunnies to fuck? A club to run? Porn to upload?
Oh, wait—that last one was supposed to be my job.
“I’m sorry all this shit took me away from finishing up Anya’s project. I have a couple days before we—”
“Nah, I think she’s all set. Don’t worry about it.” He pauses and rubs his hand over his chin. “On second thought, maybe take a look before you go. Make sure it’s all right.”
“You got it.”
“Have you ever considered how much attention your relationship might bring the MC?” he asks, eyes still on my girlfriend.
“It’s crossed my mind a few times,” I answer carefully.
“If her tour’s going through Mississippi, I’d stop to visit Priest and introduce Shelby around. Let him get to know her so he’s feeling more protective of her than resentful if a spotlight lands on the organization.”
Well, fuck. Now I can’t even be mad about him eyeing Shelby. It’s solid advice. Insightful. Since Ice has years in the club and acting as president under his belt, he’s in a position to be more knowledgeable than I am about our national president’s quirks.