“There are better ways to exercise.”
At the rich, sultry voice, I turn to Teach one of the club’s new mamas and wink at her. Like Flash, she’s on the hunt for a protector. “When sex becomes an exercise. It’ll be time for me to quit.”
The green of her eyes takes on a slumbering gaze, teasing my blood into a throbbing sexual hunger. “Wouldn’t that depend on who you’re doing it with?”
I smile as I step aside, allowing Teach to stroll up the gangplank as I follow at a sedate pace, watching the sway of her ass. She’s cute with her short, sleek, brown, bob. The material of her jeans cling to her ass and her tee-shirt is a second skin over her ample tits.
Teased by the sashay of her hips, I said, “we could always test your theory.”
Teach turns to me, and my eyebrow rises at the territorial gleam in her eyes. Oh, no. Babe. I’m no-one’s protector. I smile at her innocently as she glances at her watch and shakes her head. “Later. It’s my turn to help clean the saloon this morning.”
“Come find me when you’re finished.”
Teach smiles as she steps towards the saloon, then draws to a halt, and glances over her shoulder at me. “I was working last night at The Noir Restaurant. You’ll not guess who was there with a date.” Her eyes roll, “and what a hunk.” To most people, gossip is just gossip about people getting on with their lives. To The River Demons, it is a minefield of information that we can use. “Mia.”
The pounding in my head I had under control returns in force. Mia was on a date. I look at Teach. Her smile is one of innocence. and the warning bells echo in my head. Shit, is everyone aware I have a thing for the unattainable blond. “What the sheriff’s sister does in her own time is her business.” I go to turn away, then look at Teach again. “Do you like your job at the restaurant?”
Teach shrugs, “it pays the bills.”
I glance at my watch. It’s just gone seven and Teach had said something about cleaning the saloon. Then I remember the women who don’t work in the casino, clean for us. “How would you like to work for us instead of the restaurant and then having to turn up early to do the menial work here?”
Teach straightens to her full five-seven. Her smile in her eyes. “Sure, who wouldn’t”
I nod, “TJ’s starting a new enterprise. Someone fresh like you is just who he could do with.” I look at the sky. Although the sun was rising as Demon’s Liar docked, the heat of the day is still at bay. After a wild night on the riverboat, the brothers will still be in bed, but this doesn’t stop me from texting TJ. Then I smile at Teach. “Meet me at the office at eleven and we’ll talk about this job offer.” Teach nods, then disappears into the saloon.
“What was that all about?”
I turn to Kit, who has come up from the deck I’m heading towards and smile at him. Kit and I are widowers. No one talks about Letitia’s death. There’s a mystery about it. Just as the club are not aware of the full detail of Jo-Leigh’s death. “The girl’s working two jobs, I thought I’d make life easier for her.” I wasn’t going to tell Kit I was pissed at the whore for tattling on Mia.
Kit’s gaze is steady. “Several of the mama’s work outside jobs as well as doing jobs on Demon’s Lair.”
“I know, but she’ll be great for TJ’s new venture. New blood and all. You’re not getting a conscious about the women, are you?
Kit shakes his head as his lips twist in a smile. “No. Does she know what TJ’s new venture is.”
My smile deepens as I step pass the club’s Chaplain. “I’m sure she has an idea.” I chuckle, “After the interview she’ll be well versed of what is expected of her.”
“You’re a bastard, Alex. Mia’s doing right getting herself a safe boyfriend.”
I lick my lips as I squint at Kit. “So, you overheard the conversation.”
Kit nods. “Mia’s got baggage we can do without.”
“I know.”
I leave Kit as he continues to the saloon and head for a shower. The run should have eased the ache in my body, and it had. That was until Teach dropped the bombshell about Mia. With a towel wrapped around my waist, I leave the shower room, dropping the towel I was using on my hair, onto the bed as I glance around the small cabin. On my returned to Noir Valley, I bought a small studio apartment, but once the refurbishment of Demon’s Lair was completed, I’d accepted Day’s offer of one of the cabins as I spent more time on the riverboat than I did in my own home, and sub-let the apartment. The cabin’s a simple room. On the bedside cabinet are a couple of motorbike magazines, a book I am reading and a copy of the latest law review. I pick the magazine up, glance through it, then drop it back onto the bedside cabinet. I might not practice, but I still have my license and carry out the legal work for The River Demons. My fingers linger on the small locked drawer of the bedside cabinet. I haven’t opened this drawer in a long time. I know what’s inside it. With a shake of my head, I stroll over to the small wardrobe and pull out a pair of clean jeans and a tee-shirt from the top shelf. My gaze is drawn back to the drawer and I glower at it. Teach has done it. She’s planted the seed and the
