Thankfully, everyone else in the clubhouse tonight is distracted with their brothers, their drinks, or the whores who are shamelessly vying for their attention. Not a single person, not even D, is paying us any mind right now.
“It’s what I’m hiding beneath that you should be thinking about.”
The alcohol on her breath isn’t all that much of a surprise. She’s a flirt on the best of days, but once she’s buzzed, she turns it up a notch. Exactly the reason why I shouldn’t be giving her any more.
When I don’t respond. Well, with nothing more than a heated look and I’m sure more than intrigued eyes for what she may, or may not, be wearing under that dress, she takes matters into her own hands and storms around to my side of the bar.
“Where are the shot glasses?” she asks innocently.
She knows full fucking well where everything is. This isn’t her first rodeo back here, but when she suddenly bends over in front of me, letting her skirt ride up enough to make my curiosity burn through me like a volcano, I can’t stop my hand from reaching out and trailing up the soft skin of her thighs.
She hops up as if she’s been burned before turning around and glaring at me.
“Whoa, Montrou. I didn’t think you were interested,” she teases.
I take a step closer, backing her up against the wall.
It’s a stupid fucking move with D right across the bar, but I can’t help myself. Something about this woman makes my brain misfire.
“What about my words to you before we parted yesterday made you think I wasn’t interested?” I ask.
She shrugs, appearing not to have a care in the world, and if it weren’t for the darkness lingering in her eyes, I might be somewhere close to believing her.
“Actions speak louder, Ryder. And you let me run. You watched me walk away.”
Her eyes stare up into mine, begging me to give her the answer she wants. But then there’s a ruckus over by the entrance and we’re forced to sever the connection between us.
“Mom,” she cries a beat before my vision clears and I spot Evelyn standing there with a smile on her face. Damn, if I thought Kat was good at covering up her pain, then her mother is a fucking pro because it would be easy to believe there was nothing wrong with her as she accepts a hug from her daughter.
While she’s distracted, I pour a shot of vodka into her drink before making another virgin version for Evelyn and taking them both over to where they’ve found a seat.
“It’s good to see you, Evelyn,” I say in my most charming voice as I slide her drink toward her.
“You too, Ryder. You’re looking as handsome as ever,” she says smoothly.
I smile at her, feeling like a boy again when D, Styx, and I used to hang out at her house.
“And you’re looking as beautiful as ever,” I tease back while Kat bristles. “Two sex on the beach. Virgin,” I add for Evelyn’s benefit, turning my attention to her daughter the second she reaches for her drink and eagerly takes a sip. “Enjoy,” I say with a wink before backing away.
Kat’s attention makes my skin prickle as I make my way back to the bar, and when I turn around, I find her tempting lips wrapped around the straw as she swallows her now alcoholic drink down appreciatively.
Sadly, Dane, Rhett, Zach and Jax all descend on me a few seconds later, stopping me from standing there and staring at Kat like a creep and forcing me to do my job instead.
* * *
Evelyn manages to stay for two hours, and despite Kat’s excitement that she made it. The downturn in her is obvious from the second her mom leaves. Her sadness makes my chest ache. I know what it’s like to feel so utterly useless, and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.
I’m not the only one who notices because D and River quickly flank her sides, dragging her toward the makeshift dance floor in the hope of cheering her up.
She follows their lead, and dances with her best friend and brother, but her heart isn’t really in it.
Making up a tray full of drinks for them, I head over.
“Legend, Ry. Just what I needed,” D exclaims, sucking down his whiskey like it’s water while River and Kat take their cocktails.
“Mmm, this is amazing,” River slurs, taking a sip.
Unlike Kat, D’s alcohol ban didn’t extend to his girl. Something that can only have pissed Kat off. River might be a little older, but not by much. So the fact she’s allowed to do what she wants is a kick in the teeth.