“Ohhh,” I clap my hands together.
She laughs. “I’m going, you’re a bad influence on me. Come by later and hang out with me. They’ve got some meeting they’re having at Adan’s house so he doesn’t have to come out. Think it’s to do with Giorgio anyway. I could use some company.”
“I’ll be there.”
She nods. “Good. I’ll see you then.”
Once she disappears, I look to Doris who is grinning at me from her spot, with her usual coffee and cake.
“Say nothing, Doris.”
She keeps the grin. “Those bikers have a spell on you two ladies.”
I roll my eyes. “No, they don’t.”
“She’s going to be snapped up next. I come in here just to hear the stories.”
“You should stop eavesdropping. It’s rude, Doris.”
She laughs. “I’m old, I can do what I like.”
“That so?” I murmur. “I’m going to get back to work before you start causing too much trouble.”
She waves a hand. “Off you go, dear. I’ll be here, waiting for the next story.”
Oh, I have no doubt she will be.
Old devil.
22
ADAN’S HOUSE IS NICE, like super nice.
It’s not huge, but it has well and truly enough space for a big family to live comfortably. It has four or five rooms, judging by the closed doors going down the hallway. It’s modern and sleek, and it’s really clean and tidy considering a man lives here on his own. Of course, the décor is very masculine. Dark colors, leather furniture, no rugs or throw pillows to be seen, but it’s a great place.
“Wow,” I say, walking into the kitchen behind Ramona. “This isn’t a bad place to have to stay for a few months.”
She nods. “That’s the best part about it. I’d go crazy otherwise.”
“Since when did you get to invite visitors over?”
Adan’s voice comes from behind us and we turn to see him walking into the kitchen, shirtless, both hands and arms in bandages. I heard the burns were bad, but I haven’t seen them for myself. I guess if you’ve got a full-time carer, then they’re pretty decent. He looks pissed, his green eyes flaring. He looks like he belongs in a vampire movie - if vampires wore leather jackets and rode motorcycles.
It’s something about the fair skin, the gorgeous green eyes, and his dark, mid length hair. He’s almost too perfect in the way he’s put together. If it wasn’t for the muscles and tattoos, you’d think he was a damned sculpture on legs.
And Ramona gets to see him naked.
“Pipe down, Chachi,” Ramona says, crossing her arms. “I’m allowed friends, too. The other guys are coming over, Eve is part of that now. It is her brother after all.”
I bite my lip to stop from laughing.
Ramona doesn’t take crap, she never has. She’s confident and sassy and funny as hell.
She’s also the most broken person I’ve ever met, even if she thinks nobody else in the world can see it.
I can see it. I have always been able to see it. Though she’s never told me why a part of her is broken or who did it to her.
She’s just had this deep sadness that she hides with humor and sass ever since I’ve known her.
It’ll take a strong person to break through that wall.
I wonder if Adan has it in him?
“Nice to see you too, Adan,” I say. “Thanks for inviting me around.”
He looks at me, narrowed eyes. “Didn’t invite you around.”
“Nice place you’ve got here,” I go on, ignoring him.
He exhales low then walks into the kitchen and looks at Ramona. “You goin’ to get me a beer, or are we goin’ to stand here until you figure it out?”
Ouch.
Dick.
Ramona looks to him, crosses her arms and leans her hip against the counter. “I’m fairly certain we’ve spoken about you bossing me around like I’m a slave. I’m not a slave, I’m here to nurse your sorry ass back to health. You want a beer, you use your manners.”
He grits his teeth.
I fight a laugh again.
“Fuck the beer,” he mutters walking out of the kitchen.
Ramona throws her hands up. “Do you see what I mean? Yesterday he wouldn’t eat dinner because I cut it up and he’s ‘not a fuckin’ baby’ and ‘can cut his own steak’ to which I told him with fucking what? He has no useable hands. So, he stormed off and wouldn’t eat. He’s such a drama queen. All he has to do is say please.”
“You just keep standing your ground, honey. Don’t let him push you around.”
“Oh, he won’t be pushing me anywhere but I can assure you, I’m likely to push him down the damned stairs.”
I giggle.
The front door opens and all the bikers pile in. There are at least ten of them and they move through Adan’s house like they own the place, grabbing a beer and walking out the large patio that overlooks his backyard. Riggs walks up to me, hand on my hip, mouth on mine, and I shudder as he kisses me until I forget that we’re not alone.
“Jesus,” Ramona says. “I think even I just got a little wet.”
I snort and Riggs just glances at her, a grin on his face.
“How are you treatin’ my boy?” Riggs asks her, keeping me pulled close to him.
“He’s a royal pain in the ass, stubborn shit head. But I’m taking care of him.”
Riggs keeps the grin. “Good luck with that.”
We all head outside where everyone is sitting down. Someone has gotten the king himself a beer because he has one resting between his knees. Ramona is right, Adan is a stubborn shit head. No doubt about it. The look he gives her, as if to say ‘see, I don’t fucking need you’ makes me want to go over and push him out of his chair.
“Can I get you anything, my lord?” Ramona asks, doing a low swooping bow. “Perhaps a glass for your beer? A footrest for your tired feet? Perhaps some perfume
