“Yes, and the people responsible keep slipping through the cracks,” he ground out. “I heard one of the kids was using that before he entered the program here. The police talked to him about where he’d gotten it, but buying drugs has entered the digital age. They don’t know any names, it’s all electronic transfer of funds with no proof of what the transaction was for. Pickup is sometimes in person, sometimes via a middleman, sometimes in a gym locker.”
His expression quickly shut down.
“How do you know what the police found out?” I frowned. I hadn’t heard all of that.
He shrugged. “They published some of it in the news and on their social media page.”
The wheels in my head spun as I thought about the biker show I’d watched. Though Luke had laughingly said they were nothing like that, I had to wonder. Wouldn’t a criminal deny everything they did?
Deciding to let it lie, I pulled up the projections to go over with him. “It looks like the number of advance tickets purchased this year is exceeding the past two years by about 20 percent. That’s pretty amazing.”
“Good, I’m glad to hear that.”
We went over a few last-minute details before I locked up my office and he walked me to my car. Upon reaching my door, I spun to face him.
“You know that everyone thinks there’s something going on between us,” I said.
He chuckled. “Well, there is. It’s a small town; I figured it was no secret.”
“That doesn’t bother you?”
“Should it?”
“Well, I’m worried about what people will say.” I’d really thought we could keep it a secret, but I’d screwed up and fallen asleep at his house that morning. When I’d snuck out in my walk of shame the next morning, his neighbor—Alba’s mother—was outside with her yappy little dog.
Since the fateful neighbor day, I was sure she’d run her mouth to more than Justine. I’d been getting lots of sidelong glances—some judging and some jealous. Not that it had stopped me from hooking up with him. I had no self-control when it came to the gorgeous, broody biker.
Which made me wonder if I’d actually stayed as detached as I’d insisted I would.
“You mean what they’re already saying? Come on, Hailey, you can’t be that naive. You have to know that they’re already saying what they’re gonna say. Are you trying to tell me you want to call this off? Because of a little gossip?” Disbelief colored his gaze before he winced.
Burying my face in my hands, I groaned. “I don’t knowwwww.”
When he didn’t say anything, I peeked between my fingers. He appeared thoughtful and slightly irritated. “You know what? You’re right. This is a bad idea. If there’s anything else you need before tomorrow, let me know.”
I dropped my hands to watch him walk over to his bike. Not once did he give me a backward glance before he roared out of the parking lot.
“Dammit.”
The sound of carnival music and laughter filled the air. Ticket sales had far exceeded our expectations, and people were still buying them the day of the event. The scent of carnival food teased me, and my stomach rumbled.
It was late, and I hadn’t eaten all day.
“This appears to be a huge hit,” Polly said from behind me. Surprise had me spinning in her direction. I hadn’t been expecting her to come, since she was still recuperating from her second hip surgery.
“Thank you. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to do the Leon justice, with it being my first year.” A relieved smile spread over my face.
“I knew you’d do just fine.” She returned my smile, then appeared contemplative. “So what’s the scoop with you and Luke Matthews?”
My heart hammered at the mention of his name. I’d seen him arrive with his club brothers earlier, but he hadn’t sought me out once.
“It would appear there isn’t one,” I softly replied as I caught a glimpse of him through the crowd with a dark-haired woman clinging to his arm. Polly followed my line of sight and took a deep breath before heavily exhaling.
“Luke is a complicated man. He doesn’t believe he deserves a happily ever after. I was hoping you might be the one to prove him wrong.”
I sighed. “Well, I’m sorry to disappoint you, Polly, but I don’t think it’s in the cards. It was never like that anyway,” I insisted.
She gave a snort and paused as if she was going to say something. Then she patted my arm and slowly made her way over to her husband who was helping their grandchildren with the duck pond.
“Girl, why are you being so damn stubborn?” Justine sidled up next to me as she shoved kettle corn in her mouth.
“Gimme some of that,” I said as I shoved my hand in her bag. “I’m not. Besides, he obviously didn’t wait around for me for very long.” Completely unladylike, I spoke around the delicious salty-sweetness I was devouring.
“Hmm, well, you could always go rip out her extensions and demand she leave your man alone. That’s what I’d do,” Justine helpfully supplied before dumping more food in her mouth. I rolled my eyes. She would probably do it, too.
Damn, I hated that he’d moved on in a fucking day. Sure, we weren’t a couple, but I at least expected we were exclusive. The thought that maybe I’d been the only half of us that had been monogamous turned my hurt into anger. Jesus, I needed to go get tested if that was the case.
“Maybe I will,” I said as I filled my face with another handful of popcorn. Yet, I stood rooted to the ground.
After three more helpings of Justine’s kettle corn, I was about to go give him a piece of my mind when there was a shout. A boy of about fifteen or sixteen was racing into the crowd yelling for
