“I like him.” My sister shrugs. “And Con loves working for him. Women throw themselves at him at the garage, but he turns them all down.”
“So, what, maybe he’s sneakier than most men and only has private flings? Or maybe he’s not even into women?” Maybe he’s just a private person. But he’s a biker, and there’s no fucking way he’s not sleeping around with multiple people. And he’s single, so why not? No judgment there, just not what I want to sign up for.
“He’s different,” Cara comments offhandedly. “And I think you can tell that, too.”
She’s right. I can.
But whether that’s a good or bad thing is yet to be seen.
I know he’s not showing me his true self, his guard is up, and he seems to have it out for me.
But that is his problem, not mine.
And I don’t have the time or patience to try to figure him out.
Chapter Six
Atlas
I didn’t think I’d end up at a Wind Dragons MC party tonight, but here I am. The MC has been nothing but friendly, and it probably helps that I already know a lot of people here.
Rake arrives and his daughters show off their gift to him, and he loves it, I can tell, but he loves them more, the pride in his eyes evident. And considering I know how much that bike cost—yeah, let’s just say this is a big present, and the girls obviously love their dad a lot, too.
I’m not too close with my parents, who split up when Aries and I were teenagers and are both in new relationships with new families now. But I have Aries, and the Knights, and they are all the family that I need. It’s nice to see that Natalie has that, and is surrounded by people who love and take care of her. I can tell that they all baby her a little, as the youngest, which I find kind of amusing, considering I’ve seen the other side of her. She’s nothing but capable and badass.
“Why did you drive Natty here?” Cara asks so only I can hear her. “That’s a lot of effort to go to.”
Ah, shit. I look over at her profile. “I don’t know,” I admit. “Make sure the bike got here safely, and to say hi to Rhett?”
Fuck.
When I say it out loud it sounds really fucking lame. It even sounds like a question.
WhyamI here?
“Yet here you are at our father’s birthday party in another MC clubhouse,” she replies in a dry tone.
My lip twitches. “I don’t even know how I got here, to be honest, but I thought I’d help Natalie out, so here I am.”
“Why do you call her that?” Cara asks, curious.
I have no idea what she’s talking about. “By her name?”
“No, you call her Natalie. Not Natty.”
“Well, she introduced herself as Natalie and I learned early on that it is best to call someone by the name they tell you rather than any other.”
“I don’t know anyone who calls her Natalie,” Cara says in wonder.
“Have you ever asked what she prefers?”
Cara gives me a weird look. “She’s my baby sister and I think I know her better than anyone.”
“I’m sure.” I’m not sure. After watching Natalie here with her people, I don’t think anyone knows the real Natalie. And shit if that doesn’t make me want to find out what’s underneath.
“If you hurt her—”
“Do you really think I could hurt her?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest, my eyes back on Natalie talking and laughing with her dad.