Holy crap. The Evil Dead MC. Not just the MC, but the San Jose Chapter.
Out of all the bars in this town, out of all of the half a million bikers in this town, out of all the MCs roaming Sturgis this week, they had to show up here. Now. On the one night she had a chance to get away from the shop and actually take in the whole Sturgis scene.
Of course, she’d known there was a possibility they’d be here in Sturgis. Okay, more than a possibility. She was well aware that Wolf’s club made the trip here every year. It was their national meet. Every Chapter across the country sent members.
But she’d hoped with as big a rally as Sturgis was that she’d never cross paths with any of the members from San Jose.
Apparently that dream was shot to hell.
Not only were they here, she had absolutely no hope of hiding in the corner and hoping they wouldn’t see her. After that dance on the bench, they’d definitely noticed her. Hell, half the bar had noticed her.
Crap. How stupid could she be? Why had she done that? Then it hit her. She had no reason to hide. She had nothing to be ashamed of. She was a grown-ass woman. And if she wanted to cut loose and enjoy life, then she’d do it. And anyone that had a problem with it could go to hell.
Except she really wasn’t up to a confrontation with Wolf. Although, they hadn’t ended on a completely bad note. He’d let her go, like she asked. He’d told her he was sorry for how he’d treated her. He’d told her if she ever needed anything, he’d be there for her. So maybe she was overreacting, blowing this way out of proportion. After all, those guys were all still important to her.
“Crystal!” She heard Red Dog bellow out, and she picked him out of the crowd, which wasn’t hard. And then, before she knew what she was doing, she jumped down and was moving across the floor, running to jump in his arms.
“Dog!” She hugged his neck.
“Hey, cupcake. How’s my baby-girl?”
She pulled back to smile at him. “Good. Real good.”
He smacked her ass. “Saw you dancin’ up there. Way to shake your money-maker.”
She blushed, burying her face in his neck. “Oh, God.”
He murmured in her ear, “Also saw you ridin’ down Main Street the other day. Why didn’t you tell us you’d be here?”
Her head pulled back and her eyes moved over his head, past all the other members to connect with Wolf’s eyes as he stood at the bar, hanging back, giving her space while the rest of his brothers moved in to greet her.
She shrugged. “You know.”
Dog’s face sobered. “Yeah. I know. Doesn’t mean you had to run off like you did. Doesn’t mean the rest of us don’t miss you.”
He set her down.
“I’m sorry, Dog. You’re right. I should have stayed in touch.” She ran her hand down his cheek. He grinned, pulled her palm to his mouth and kissed it.
“Glad to see you, sweetie.”
Then suddenly she was swept up into Cole’s arms. “Hey, kiddo. It’s good to see you. And where the hell did you learn to ride?”
She grinned and shrugged. “My bosses.”
Cole’s eyes lifted across the bar to the men she’d been standing with. “That them?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
Then Crash was hugging her tight and murmuring in her ear. “Hey, babe. You doing okay?”
The concern in his voice had her wondering if he knew something. If Wolf had told him anything, and if so, just exactly what that had been. Her eyes moved over Crash’s shoulder to meet Wolf’s eyes again. He looked away, almost guiltily, and she knew he had. But what? The baby? The suicide attempt? All of it?
She pushed out of Crash’s arms and put on a fake bright smile. “I’m fine, Crash. How’s Shannon?”
Crash grinned. “She’s good. Real good. You should call her.”
Crystal nodded. “I will. I miss her.”