“Oh Jesus, The biker and the librarian. That shit is classic.” Moose threw back his head and laughed. “Any friend of Shooter’s is a friend of mine. If you want to put up with him, god bless you.”
“Shut up, you asshole. You’re embarrassing the fuck out of her,” Shooter said.
“What? Afraid she’ll come to her senses? You should be,” Moose said. The glint in Moose’s eyes told Shooter his friend knew exactly what he was doing. I bet the prick is enjoying every minute of it.
A peel of laughter burst from Juliette’s lush lips, shocking Shooter.
“I-I’m sorry, you just remind me of a friend of mine.”
Moose grinned. “I like her. She’s not stuck-up like I first thought.”
Juliette laughed harder and the knots in his stomach loosened. Maybe I wasn’t completely off my gourd for pursuing this. He craved the softness and light he saw inside her. She reminded him of a time in his life he’d almost forgotten.
“Ass. Come on, Juliette, let me introduce you to less mouthy brothers,” Shooter said, guiding her away from his best friend. “He likes to stir shit up, but he’s harmless, I promise.”
“He’s huge, it’d be intimidating as hell if he wasn’t so funny,” Juliette said.
“I’m just glad you get his humor. He’s run women off before.”
“Your women?” Juliette asked.
“I won’t lie to you. I’ve never lived the life a monk, and yeah I like women, so they were around, but none like this.”
“Like what?” She stared up at him with wide, brown pools that made something in him go soft.
“You’re not just some bitch I’m screwing, Juliette. You have to know that. If all I wanted was sex I have my pick. I never bring women around like this. That’s why the brothers are going to give me shit.”
“Are you ashamed—”
“Fuck no. Do I look like the type of man who gives a shit what other people think? Not that we judge here. That’s the best part of my life. We exist how we want. No censure, no politically correct bullshit or predetermined chains of society.”
“So we’re…dating?”
Shooter snorted. “I don’t date, but if the term makes you happy, yeah. I guess we are.” Her bee-stung lips formed an O.
“You bring fresh pussy to share?” Casanova asked with a predatory grin. Juliette gasped and took a step closer.
“She’s completely off limits. I so much as think you’re looking at her wrong and I’ll break your ass down. You understand me, Casanova?” Shooter growled, narrowing his eyes at the blond pretty boy who never met a woman he couldn’t bed.
“Yeah, I get you, geez. No reason to be so damn touchy.” Casanova held up his hands. “When you get tired of him, honey, come my way.” Casanova winked.
Juliette shuddered. A flash of real fear flickered in her eyes, and her gaze followed Casanova as he strutted off. “Hey, no one here is going to lay a finger on you, all right?” Shooter asked. She blinked and nodded slowly. Skeptical, he continued to introduce her to others until they made their way back to Moose and Peaches.
“You want a beer, Librarian? You look like you could use it,” Moose said.
“I’d love one,” she said swiftly.
Moose laughed and smacked Peaches on her ass. “Go bring us two beers, Peachy.”
“I’m on it.” Peaches winked and sashayed off.
“Should I help your girlfriend?” Juliette asked.
Moose laughed. “You’re fine where you’re at, and trust me, that ain’t my old lady.”
“Oh, okay.” Juliette glanced up Shooter and he felt the chasm between them begin to form.
“Some women are around to have a good time, and we give them that along with the means to survive. Peaches is one of them,”