Cole shakes his head, his eyes crinkling. “Reno.”
“Do you have family here?”
Cole’s bottle stills midair, then he’s taking another sip. “Once. A cousin.”
“That must be it. Do I know him.”
Cole shakes his head, “the family left years ago.”
I shrug as I turn to watch Mia. She’s hit the ball and is about to make it to third base. She’s wearing shorts and the afternoon sun glances off her flesh and I lick my lips. “Maybe I went to school with him. That’s why you remind me of him.”
Cole shakes his bottle, then finished his beer. “Maybe.” He nods at the game. “Think I’ll go help the brothers out. Wouldn’t do to have the women win the game.”
I chuckle as he walks down the gangplank, slapping Day and Oyster on the shoulder as he passes them. Bastion has also joined the game. “Are you coming to the saloon or standing like a moppet as you ogle Mia?”
I glance at Oyster, then back at Mia. “I know whose ass I’d rather watch. I’ll catch up with you all later.” Day’s and Oyster’s deep laughter follow me as I jog down the gangplank.
“I think this game needs a decent umpire.” I said as I join the crowd.
Mia high-fives Firebird, and as she glances over at me, she sticks her tongue out and makes her way towards me. “Eve is a fair and just umpire.” She prods me in shoulder. “You men just don’t like to lose to the better species.”
I slip my arm around her waist. As I caress her lower back, her soft flesh burns my fingers. “Its obvious Eve needs glasses.” Mia chuckles as she leads me to a water bucket, pulls out a couple of beers and hands one to me. Poppy cracks the ball into the air and the women shriek “Go, Poppy. Go.” Leon attempts to catch the ball, but his foot slips and he lands on his ass.
“Here I’ve brought the burgers down. Light the barbeque, Alex,” Day said.
I accept the meat from Day. “Changed your mind about having a drink inside.”
“Too much fun going on down here. And I’m not one to miss a party. Now go cook the burgers while I entertain Mia.”
“If Mia needs entertaining, I’m capable of amusing her.”
Day chuckles. “I’ve heard she’s good at entertaining you.”
I’ve shared women with Day, and normally I would be up for a threesome, but with Mia. I just want to keep her to myself. “She’s not game, Day.”
“She’s under the club’s protection.”
The air around me stills as I glance towards the game. Everyone is watching me. Cole has the ball and continues to throw it in air, then catches it with the same hand. The tingle which warns me I know Cole. Or someone like him chases down my spine. With a shake of my head to dispel the notion, I return my attention back to Day. “She’s under my protection, Day. That doesn’t make her club property.”
Day’s gaze penetrates mine. I want to shuffle back. To recall the words I’ve just uttered. I’ve just confirmed to everyone. To the club’s president that Mia is mine. That no one is to touch her without my permission. I have counted to thirty-three when Day nods. Then he turns to Oyster, who has joined us. “It’s a pandemic.”
“As long as it’s not catching,” Oyster chuckles as he slap’s Day on the back. “Enjoy your burger and find yourself a woman. Kit and I will take care of the casino tonight.”
The breath leaves me on a silent sigh as Day turns to the game and Mia slips her hand into mine. “Let’s go cook those burgers,” she said.
The ball has come to rest in Cole’s hand, his eyes hidden in the shadow of the sun, then he gives a slight tilt of his head. As if he’s happy with what occurred. As I walk with Mia, my mind is one chaotic jumble. For five years, the woman has tormented me. Many nights she would invade my dreams. Often after the nightmares about Jo-Leigh. As I light the gasoline of the barbeque, the flames wake me up. Like a fool, I have fallen in love again and nothing has changed. The man responsible for the death of my wife is a threat to Mia.
“Alex.”
“Yeah.”
“I know you didn’t mean anything by it. That you were only protecting me in the way you think you need to.”
I continue to stare into the flames. The small lumps of charcoal burning brightly, and I pull the fresh burgers out of their wrapping, throwing a half dozen of them on the grill. “Didn’t I.”
“Alex.”
“Slice the rolls will you. The burgers won’t take long. And the men will be hungry.”
“Alex.”
“Not here, Mia. This isn’t the place to talk about it.”
Mia’s lips are soft as they brush against the back of my neck. “But we will talk.”
“Not yet.” I turn to her. Her hazel gaze steady. “Let’s deal with Delaney first.”
Mia tilts her head to the side. There is a quirk to her lips. “If you shoot him. I’ll help you bury his body.”
“Here. Stuff your mouth with this and less of the blood thirsty talk.”
“We can’t talk about us. We can’t talk about Delaney. What can we talk about?”
“How about, how I’m going
