Rebel (Renegades 2)

“That’s for staying gone so long. ” He kissed her head on the way out the door. “Don’t do it again. ”

Duke gave her a high five on the way out. Keaton followed with “Don’t be a stranger. We like you more than Lawson. ”

Jax stopped in front of her, his eyes narrowed in concern. “You okay?”

“Yeah. ” No. They all obviously knew her relationship with Wes was over. He obviously wasn’t keeping it a secret. Evidently no second thoughts. Which pissed her off when that was all she’d had since she left his parents’ house. “Is Wes around?”

“Uh…no. ” He cast a slow glance over his shoulder at Rachel. “Did he say when he’d be back?”

She pressed her lips together and shook her head.

“No problem. ” Rubi waved away the obvious tension. “I’ll catch him later. ”

Jax nodded, offered a strained smile, then passed. On his way out the door, he turned back. “Lexi and I are home tonight. Come over for dinner?”

“You bet. ”

He smiled before turning away and closing the door behind him.

Rubi closed her eyes and exhaled. Opening her eyes on Rachel, she said, “What the fuck just happened?”

Rachel scrambled from behind her desk, crossed the trailer, and peeked out the blinds. Then turned a furious gaze on Rubi. “Wes just left for lunch with some chick. ”

That news stunned her silent. And dumb.

“What…chick?” she finally managed.

“I don’t know. None of the guys knew her. Courtney Marshall?”

Rubi shook her head, her stomach sinking. “I don’t know who that is. Was it, like…a date?”

“I don’t know. But I eavesdropped through the window because he wouldn’t talk to her in here. They’re going to Casey’s for lunch. You know, Casey’s Irish Pub on South Grand. ”

“Yeah,” she said, dazed, “I know it. ”

“Did you guys really break up?”

Her gaze returned to Rachel’s. Her big brown eyes were worried, soft with compassion. “I…don’t even know if we were really ever together. ”

Rachel grabbed Rubi’s arms and shook her. “What’s wrong with you?”

“What do you mean?”

“All your spunk is gone. This isn’t the Rubi I know. This isn’t the Rubi Wes loves. ”

“We both know you can do anything you put that wicked mind of yours to. ”

His words to her at the airport hit her. “Yeah. You’re right. ” She turned and opened the door. “I’ve got to go. ”

Wes sucked down the second half of his beer as they waited for their lunch order. One he wasn’t going to be able to eat given the roiling state of his gut. His knee bounced beneath the table. He glanced around before he set his gaze back on Courtney’s. She was so calm. So cool. Almost predatory.

“So,” he said, “this can be completely confidential, right?”

“Completely,” she assured him.

Wes cleared his throat. Licked his lips. “What kind of money are we talking about?”

For the third time since they sat down, Courtney tried to pull the contract from her briefcase.