Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 104403 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 418(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104403 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 418(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
“No!”
Melody jumped while Lindsey pressed a hand to her chest.
Beth grimaced. “Sorry. That was loud. I don’t think that’s the best way.”
Oh, you little liar. You’re going straight to hell.
“Really? This is good?” Mel bounced in her seat, sending a wave of guilt over Beth. “Why do you say that?”
“Yeah, I mean. It’s just… you know? I think he’s the type of guy who’d rather ask you out than have you ask him.” Beth cleared her throat.
Lindsey frowned.
Oh God, was she onto Beth’s bullcrap?
“Okay, so maybe a more subtle approach. I can do that, I think.” Mel sighed and leaned in closer. “Look, I’m trying to play it cool since I barely know you, but I’ve been working on Saint a long time. I’m getting to the point where I’m ready to do anything to make him mine. I won’t let any of the bitches who hang around the club get close to him. Promise you that.”
“Whoa, intense there, Mel,” Lindsey said with a chuckle.
“Maybe.” Mel shrugged and tossed her luscious hair over her shoulder. “But I’m done playing nice. I want that man, and I’m willing to play as dirty as necessary to get him in my bed. I’ve put a lot of time and energy into the MC. I deserve to be an ol’ lady. It will happen.”
Yikes, intense was right.
Lindsey pressed her lips together.
“Here we go, ladies.” Their server delivered their meals with a flourish. The smell of melted cheese and salty French fries would have had Beth salivating on a typical day. Now she wasn’t confident she could stomach a bite.
“So here’s what I’m thinking,” Melody said after consuming a crispy French fry. “You invite Saint to hang out. Maybe meet you at the clubhouse for a drink. Tell him you need a break from living with mommy and daddy again.”
Her chuckle had Beth frowning, as did the cunning gleam in her eye. Gone was the friendly woman she’d met on arrival, and in her place was the woman who wouldn’t hesitate to shove her down a flight of stairs to get at Saint.
Beth cleared her throat. “I’m in transition.”
“Of course.” Lindsey covered Beth’s hand with hers as she shot Mel a warning look.
“Sure, whatever.” She waved a hand, clearly not concerned with Beth’s feelings. “Anyway, when he gets there, you find some reason to leave. Linds can text you with an emergency. I’ll happen to be there, and, voila, I’ll keep poor abandoned Saint company. All. Night. Long.”
Beth’s phone chimed. “Um,” she said as she checked the screen. She’d tried not to think about the meeting between her father and Saint. Would Saint even tell her what her father said?
Copper: Where are you?
“I don’t know, Mel. I’m pretty sure Saint is not a game player, and he wouldn’t appreciate those kinds of tricks.”
Beth: Lunch with Linds at Laurel and Spoon.
“Well, he won’t know it’s a trick, will he?”
Copper: On my way.
She frowned. Did her dad’s text have to do with Saint? Was he on his way to tell her he’d stripped Saint’s patch?
No. He wouldn’t.
Copper: Zach too. Don’t leave.
What the hell?
“Hello? Are you even listening? You’re not texting Saint, are you?” Mel’s voice dropped low and accusatory. She craned her neck, trying to get a peek at Beth’s phone.
Beth blinked as she flipped the screen face down on the table. “What? No. It was my dad.” She shifted her gaze to Lindsey. “He and Zach are coming here. They said not to leave.”
“Shit.” Lindsey set her sandwich down, looking at Beth with concern. “That doesn’t sound good.”
“No. It doesn’t.”
“Maybe Saint is with them.”
Lindsey scoffed. “Even if he is, something isn’t right. This won’t be the time for flirting, Mel.”
Shrugging, Melody sipped her iced tea. “I’m sure I’ll make it work.”
Okay, she could leave any time now. Too bad Beth wasn’t mean enough to ask her to go.
They ate in silence for the next few minutes. She and Lindsey exchanged troubled glances every few seconds, while Melody probably fantasized about Saint’s dick.
Which Beth could attest was a very nice dick.
Not the time.
About five minutes later, the atmosphere in the restaurant changed. Customer chatter fell to whispers and murmurs, punctuated by pointing and wide-eyed stares.
The Handlers had arrived.
Beth glanced right to find Zach and well, shit—Saint striding their way. Her breath caught. He moved through the restaurant like he owned every inch of it, all that barely-leashed power on display, and her body responded before her brain caught up. Heat pooled low in her belly. Her worry abated, but her heart kept racing for an entirely different reason.
Melody gasped. “Called it.” She sat straighter, pouting her lips.
Saint looked incredible, navigating through the restaurant, not giving a shit about the stares and comments. Tall, strong, tattooed, and oozing confidence and capability from every pore. His fierce expression matched the rumors about him being tough, ruthless, and brutal. But Beth knew there were layers to the man. He was protective to the extreme, without smothering her or making her feel overshadowed. And when he touched her with those hands that were skilled at violence and destruction, he did so with nothing but the intent to bring extreme pleasure.