“I spent half the morning in a haze of hairspray and White Shoulders perfume getting all the women ready.”
I don’t know what makes me smile larger, the fact that all the women here seem to be just as excited for Cerberus as I am, or that Sunshine isn’t calling me out for that grin I couldn’t control.
Sunshine nods at something over my shoulder. “Looks like the caterers are a little early.”
I turn to see the mobile catering van pull up.
“The nursing staff will ensure that the residents’ dietary needs are met, and the kitchen has substitutions in place.” Sunshine gives me a quick nod before walking away. The woman is an absolute godsend and seems to love every day of her life, making her namesake perfect.
I busy myself with helping the caterers set up, but it becomes clear very quickly from the flatlined mouth of the man who drove the catering van that I’m only in the way. My brain decides to use the free time to wander right back to where it has no business going.
Cerberus MC, or more specifically, the clubhouse. I haven’t been there in months despite Faith having fallen in love with one of the members and moving into the building. It’s been easier to visit her at her office or meet in town for drinks or dinner. She doesn’t spend much time away from Legend these days, and I can’t really blame her. The man is an absolute smoke show.
Fun fact—every man and woman that works for Cerberus seems to have won some genetic lottery. They’re all fit, good-looking, and although I have limited experience, rumors I’ve heard while having drinks at the local bar they frequent, each one of them is a rockstar in the sack. I can only attest to that fact about one man, but he managed to give me a night I’ll never be able to forget, not that I’d want to.
The roar of motorcycles can be heard for a solid minute before the November sun begins to reflect off the chrome as they turn into the parking lot. As if choreographed, all the bikes line up perfectly in the parking lot.
“Gonna catch that drool on your chin?”
I dart my eyes to the guy setting up the food, but he walks away before I can respond. I don’t know if I should laugh or be offended.
I don’t have time to do either before I’m wrapped in a hug.
“Who are you, and what did you do with my best friend?” I manage on a choked gasp as Faith squeezes me.
She laughs, a sound I’ve grown to love in the last several months. As a family law attorney, she sees more sadness and heartbreak, especially with the way the world is going these days. Her jovial mood makes me smile, and I want to wrap my arms around Legend for being the man capable of dragging her from the darkness.
“Sylvie,” the man says as he walks up, holding his hand out to me.
I shake it, giving him a genuine smile.
“Big Daddy still inside?” Faith asks.
“He’s in there flirting with everyone who walks by,” I mutter, but my lips are pulled up in a grin.
“Well, I better go get in line,” Faith says.
“Good to see you,” Legend adds. “I better go and make sure he doesn’t get too handsy like he did last time.”
Laughter bubbles out of me, but it comes to a grinding halt as several of the other Cerberus members approach.
I’m not generally a shy person, but I feel the tops of my ears heat as I spot Spade among the small group.
I get a couple of nods as they pass by and a quick greeting from Slick, one of the female members.
The flush spreads to my cheeks as Spade slows to a halt a few feet from me.
Flashes of his hands and mouth on my body choose now to reignite.
“Hey there,” he says, his green eyes sparking with interest as his lips curl into that devastating devious grin I saw more than once that night months ago. “I’m Spade.”
I look down at his proffered hand, the warmth of my shyness immediately transitioning to anger.
His smile doesn’t falter as he pulls his hand back after realizing I’m not going to shake it.
The night I spent with him coincided with the same night Faith was drugged atJake’s, the local bar. The man standing in front of me assured me that she was well taken care of, since Legend and Slick were with her. I’ve felt guilty countless times for spending the night with this man rather than going to my friend’s aid. It was selfish, and I know Faith never would’ve acted the way I did. She’d never let lust get in the way of our friendship the way I did.
I knew the next morning that the man didn’t remember my name, but I chalked it up to the chaos that happened at the bar, his adrenaline from beating the shit out of the guy who hurt my friend, and the fact that I only said my name once.