But Wolf was also a flirt who could woo and coax whatever he wanted from her. One minute the sweet-talking, cajoling charmer, who could lure, tempt, entice, and persuade his way to anything he wanted. And the next minute, the bossy, demanding badass, who didn’t hesitate in claiming, commanding, and exacting what he wanted, not asking—just taking.
It was the contradictions of these complexities of the man that kept her on her toes.
And then had come the night several months ago when he’d rubbed his latest stripper in her face and she’d attempted to make him jealous with Shane. She’d definitely gotten a reaction out of Wolf that night, just not exactly the one she’d been going for. After the men had stopped the fight that had broken out between Wolf and Shane, Mack and Cole had ordered Wolf to ‘cut her loose’.
“Crystal?” Cole nudged her out of her thoughts.
She focused back on his face, remembering his question. “No. Everything’s fine.”
“Fine, huh?”
She looked away. She could never get anything past Cole.
“You steer clear of him.”
She nodded, but her expression must have given away the sadness that seeped into her with every mention of Wolf, because she felt Cole’s hand pat her thigh.
“Consider it tough love, babe.”
“I know.”
Cole’s brows rose. “And stay away from our new prospect, Shane. At least until he gets his patch.” He grinned, softening his order. “Then you can have at him.”
Crystal rolled her eyes. He was trying to get a smile, and she rewarded him with one.
Crash stood. “Well, I’m heading home to my ol’ lady. Give me a hug, doll.”
Crystal stood up and moved into his embrace. Crash wrapped his arms around her and rocked her from side to side, murmuring against the top of her head, “You deserve to be happy, Crystal. If Wolf’s not gonna step up for you, you need to let it go.”
She nodded against his chest.
He kissed the top of her head, gave her a final squeeze, and then released her.
She moved off to the old jukebox across the room and distracted herself from all thoughts of Wolf by searching through the songs for some music to listen to while she mopped.
****
Cole watched Crash look over his shoulder at Crystal, before his eyes returned to him. “I don’t think she’s lettin’ go.”
Cole blew out a frustrated breath. “I don’t think either of them are. And that’s gonna end badly, ‘cause one of them is going to end up having to leave. And we all know it’s not gonna be Wolf.”
“Man that sucks. I like Crystal.”
“We all do.”
“Well, I’m takin’ off.”
“Set your alarm. We got business to take care of in the morning.”
Crash grinned. “Why set my alarm when I can just wait until someone texts me ‘Where the hell are you?’”
Cole shook his head. “Get out of here, Brother.”
As Crash walked out, Cole’s gaze returned to Crystal. Wolf had left about an hour ago, and Cole had a sneaking suspicion where he’d gone.
Fuck, he hoped he wasn’t right.
****