“What happened today?”
She reached for her beer. “I flunked my biology exam.”
“Damn.” Chastity was a smart girl. I didn’t think she could fail at anything. Except, maybe cooking. “Do you get to retake it?”
“No. So I have to nail my next one, or I risk flunking the class.”
“When is your next exam.”
“In a couple of weeks.”
I took a sip of my beer. “Do you need help?”
“Desperately,” she said. “I asked Indy but she is on nightshift for the next four nights. And there is this guy in my science class who offered to help me study. But if I’m really honest, I’m not sure how much studying he’d like to get done.”
“He likes you?”
“I think so. But I can’t afford the distraction right now. Not with my exam only a few weeks away.” She took a sip of beer and then picked up her fork again. “Besides, I’ve got a date with someone else.”
My eyes shot to hers. “You have a date?”
She gave me a sheepish look, and I couldn’t help but notice how long her lashes were. “Yeah, tomorrow night…”
I ignored the strange bite in my gut. “With who?”
“Some guy who works at the mechanic workshop near Wax-It.”
I tried to think of any mechanics who worked out that way, but couldn’t think of any. “A mechanic, huh?”
She chuckled. “You say that like mechanics are trouble.”
“Yeah, well, most of the ones I know are trouble.”
“That’s because most of the mechanics you know are caught up with biker business.”
The way she said it struck a nerve and I couldn’t understand why. I narrowed my eyes and focused on getting my pasta onto my fork.
“Anyway, this guy seems nice. He’s new in town. Moved up from Mobile a few weeks ago.” She started twirling her pasta with her fork. “Which is great, by the way.”
“Oh yeah, why is that?”
“Because it means he doesn’t know anything about me or who my family is, or anything about the club.”
Again, a weird sensation tightened in my gut. “If a guy doesn’t accept you or where you’re from, then he isn’t worth your time.”
I knew her ex-boyfriend had dumped her because of her family roots being so deep in the Kings of Mayhem MC, and I knew it hurt her badly.
“I know, but it tends to put people off. It’s easy for you guys. Girls drop their panties in a heartbeat to get close to a King and don’t try denying it. My entire life I’ve watched girls lose their minds over my brothers and other club members. But it’s different for us girls. Guys are easily intimidated.”
“Then clearly they’re not for you.” I picked up my beer and took a swig. “You want to date a guy with balls.”
“I’m pretty sure Peter has some balls.” She grinned at me. “And believe me, I plan on finding out.”
I choked on my beer. “What the fuck?”
“Sorry, is that too much of an overshare?”
“Yeah, that was too much of everything.”
She shrugged. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, roomie, but I don’t see a lot of guys lining up at your front door to date me. So I intend on taking full advantage and seeing where it goes.”
The idea of her seeing where it goes with a mechanic in town made me frown.
I tried to think of a suitable response, but I was suddenly distracted by a drop of marinara sauce on her bottom lip, followed by the swipe of her tongue as it peeked out to lick it away.
As she flicked her long, dark hair over her shoulders, alarm bells went off inside me and my stomach roiled with guilt.
Because in my head I was the one licking the rich sauce from her lips.
Suddenly frustrated, I pushed my food away as I forced the thought from my mind.
I wasn’t interested in Chastity
I didn’t think of her that way.
Not at all.
But obviously my self-imposed dry spell decided it was time to fuck with me and make me think that I did.
RUGER
The following morning, Bull, Chance, Cade, Maverick, and I rode out to meet Gimmel Martel at Eagle’s Nest.
Eagle’s Nest was a majestic, antebellum home rising out of a lush green lawn at the end of a long white driveway. Surrounded by grapevines for as far as the eye could see, it was a massive property oozing opulence and old Southern charm. It was palatial. Extravagant. And as out of place in Destiny, Mississippi, as a pope in a brothel.
When we pulled up to the celebrated vineyard, we were stopped by six-foot security gates and men dressed all in black. It was to be expected. Six men roaring up on Harleys was a notable threat.
What wasn’t expected was being let through with little interrogation.
It meant only one thing.
Martel was expecting us.
We parked our bikes by a statue of David. Yep. The naked Italian guy. Right here in Destiny.