Ho Ho Hennessy

Viper grimaced. “I’ve straddled my own bike a few times when I had to ride through cold weather.

“First impressions are hard to forget. If you decide to stay, you might correct that impression. It’d make my holiday much easier.”

“With the women out for my blood, it might be easier if I go.”

Viper shrugged. “Nothing I can’t handle if you stay.”

Hennessy cracked the first smile he had given since he’d come to the club. “Me either.”

Chapter 6

“So, you thinking of staying?”

Hennessy thought Viper’s question over. If Viper needed his answer today, he was going to be blunt. There was no reason for him to hang around the club when the main reason he would stay wanted to go. “How long is Arin visiting Jewell? I wouldn’t want to leave until I gave a better impression of myself.”

“She’s here until the twenty-sixth.”

“Core and I can work until the twenty-seventh, which gives us enough time to make it to Florida for the job.”

“Do I want to know what it is?”

“Probably not, but I wasn’t going to tell you anyway.”

Viper shrugged. “I’m cool with that.”

“I’m glad you are. Jewell or Arin might not be happy he’s staying,” Winter cautioned.

The dawning awareness that Winter was firmly on Jewell’s side had him leaning back in his chair. “I plan to be a perfect gentleman to Jewell, as long she doesn’t come at me again when I’m sleeping.”

“Are you going to throw Moon off the porch again?”

“He told you?”

“Yes. Moon told Viper and me when we got back. He showed us where he landed. You must have missed the bypass for Christmas spirit.”

“I’ve just as much Christmas spirit as Moon did when he told me to come back tomorrow instead of letting us inside.”

Stirring her coffee, she tried to excuse Moon’s behavior. “He was just joking.”

“Then I guess I had the last laugh.”

Winter angrily stood as Viper, other men at the table, and the room started laughing at Moon’s expense.

“I would wish you good luck with Arin, but that would be useless. I have faith that she’ll put you exactly where you belong.”

Damn, was he being a grinch by enjoying Winter’s anger?

“Don’t need luck when my good looks are all I need.”

Winter crossed her arms over her chest. “You are good-looking. I’ll agree with that. But as far as actions, I heard you’re a little quick on the draw. A woman wants more substance than style when you get past the good looks. You blew past the free pass. Now you’ll have to put in some effort for anything else you’re given.”

“You don’t think Arin will give me another chance?”

“Do you really care if she does or doesn’t?”

He had never been a man who showed his cards before they were played.

“Don’t know. Maybe I’m looking for substance over style.”

“Clearly, you don’t recognize it when you see it.”

“Unlike women, it takes a man longer to decide.” He arrogantly puffed his chest out, looking toward the men for support.

“Brother, if you want to walk on a minefield, go ahead. But don’t drag me into it. I’m happy sleeping in my bed. Nothing personal, but I don’t plan to bunk with you when she throws me out for agreeing with you.”

Hennessy looked toward Shade when Viper failed to live up to the man code.

Shade shrugged. “I learned to wait and watch when I was in the military. And stay out of any firefights I couldn’t win. You’re not going to win this argument, so cut your losses while you still can.”

“The problem is you two got married and lost your man cards …” Hennessy snapped his fingers. “Wait—I found them. I have enough for both of you if you want them back.”

Neither man seemed affronted by what he had said, unlike Winter, who appraisingly narrowed her gaze on him.

“You could always put your money where your mouth is.”

“Anytime, anyplace.” Hennessy didn’t walk farther into the minefield; he ran.

Winter met head-on. “Bet me.”

“What kind of bet?”

“I bet Arin won’t let you get to first base with her again.”

“Hell, I’m getting past first base. I’m planning on sliding right into home.”

Winter wasn’t impressed with his bragging. Taking out her cell phone, she started doing something. “So, it’s a bet?”

Ignoring the warning shakes of Shade’s and Viper’s heads, Hennessy plowed further into the pile of shit that he had dug for himself. “You know it.”

As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he regretted them, realizing he might have gotten a little carried away. Instead of backtracking, though, he added more to the pile.

“When I win, you have to cook me a four-course steak dinner. I like my steak well-done.”

Winter glanced up from her phone. “I was talking cold, hard cash.”

“I am, too. That’s in addition to the money.”

“I’d be careful. You’re being overconfident.” She went back to doing what she was doing on her phone.