Page 12 of All That Glitters

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say, taking a sip of my malt.

“Nope. Don’t do that. We’re friends now, remember? Talk to Uncle G.”

I grimace, making him snort.

“Yeah, that sounded better in my head.”

“I have a feeling that happens to you a lot.” I throw a stray fry at him, but he catches it in his mouth and chews it happily.

I sigh. “Honestly, I don’t know. I met him this morning when I walked into his shop. He wasn’t wearing his cut, so I didn’t know who he was. And I didn’t tell him who I was, so I’m sure it was a shock when he saw me at the clubhouse.”

He rubs his chin thoughtfully. “Still… that was cold. If we were talking about Hannibal, I’d get it. But Midas? Nah. There’s something about you. He doesn’t usually spook that easily.”

“It’s called sex, G. He got what he wanted, and maybe he forgot what I am for a second, but I doubt he’ll forget again.”

“What youdo,” he corrects me.

I frown. “Huh?”

“Being a club girl is your job. It’s something you do, not who you are.”

I tilt my head, surprised. “You might be the only person who thinks that.”

“That’s because I’m not stupid.” I can’t help but snort at that, and he grins. “But seriously, it only matters what you think, Legs.”

“That’s the problem—it’s hard not to believe what other people think.”

“Fuck them. Other people’s opinions don’t define you.”

“You might be right. But that doesn’t drown out the voice in my head that agrees with them.”

“Now that, I get.”

He leans over and steals a couple of fries off my plate, and I study him for a moment, curious. “What do you do, you know, when you’re not at the club, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“I’m a computer geek. I work mostly in cybersecurity, but I build websites and other shit, too.”

I blink. “Really?”

He nods, stealing another one of my fries.

“Seriously? I’ve never met a computer geek who looks like you before. So you’re super smart, huh?”

“I like to think so,” he grins. “Though if you think I’m smart, wait until you get to know Capone better. He has a PhD in physics.”

“Wow. So Raven Souls are full of smart and sexy bikers?” I tease, playing with my straw.

He smirks. “Well…I don’t like to brag.”

I chuckle. “Somehow, I find that hard to believe.”

“And you’d be correct.” He winks. “What about you? Do you have any hopes and dreams?”

I try to smile, but it feels brittle, so I take another sip of my drink to give myself a moment.

“It might sound silly to you, especially in this day and age when women can be anything they want to be. But I want to be a mom. I want a family. I want grandkids to spoil eventually, and maybe a husband who’ll spoil me, but I’m not expecting a miracle.”

“Doesn’t sound silly at all, Legs. Besides, isn’t that what most of us are looking for?”