Page 16 of Feels Like Forever (Undercover Lovers #6)

JUDE

I walk through the door of The Social for the second time today, the first being when I dropped Ronnie off for her shift.

She tried to balk at me doing so, which then went on to me picking her up later tonight, too.

I shut her up the only way I knew how, by kissing her with a thoroughness that left her breathless and me hard as a rock.

Ronnie finally conceded, stating she didn’t want me to flip my schedule around to suite hers, worried I wouldn’t get done what I wanted during my time off.

Little does she know I’ve already adjusted my schedule to fit to hers, the upside of taking on clients when and how I want.

The only contracts I can’t mold to how I want is the government kind, but I’ve already closed those out.

“That her?” Tysen asks. I rallied the guys earlier, doing a quick check-in via text, and when they asked what I’d be getting into the rest of the day, I sent them a pin with The Social’s address and the time I’d be there .

“That’s Foxy. Ronnie to you fucks,” I tell not only Tys but the guys following behind us.

The bad part about the men settling down is most of their women are pregnant or recently gave birth.

Which means it’s just the guys tonight. Lennie is hoping to stop by for a few minutes.

That’s only if Kennedy, her sister-in-law, won’t mind watching the twins.

Though I figure with her daughter, Briar, more than willing to babysit, there won’t be a problem in that area.

“So, you’re saying call her Foxy to piss you off. Got it,” Jagger says, trying to get a rise out of me. I let it roll off my back. I’d like to hear him say that in front of his woman, Lyric. She’d probably give him the titty twister of all titty twisters.

“You want me to call Lyric?” I turn around, losing sight of Ronnie in the process, which makes me damn anxious.

“Not if you’re gonna pull out the big guns,” Jagger says with a wink.

I shake my head and move toward the bar.

Our group is too damn big to sit at the bar, where Ronnie is serving patrons.

We’ll have to find a table where my eyes can stay on hers.

I’m rethinking this whole bringing the guys along now.

“Be right back.” I disentangle from the group.

The heavy beat of music bounces off the walls.

So many band posters are plastered on the walls and ceilings, not so much of an inch of paint can be found.

On top of the prints are neon sings for beer and liquor.

The tables and barstools look like they’ve been around since the seventies or eighties yet are still in decent condition.

I walk toward Ronnie, and when I see the tip of her tongue touching her upper lip, I realize she’s deep in thought.

Her eyes are on the cash register, one of those old school styles where you have to punch in a number instead of the new point-of-sale systems. Talk about a relic and making shit harder on you than necessary.

No wonder it takes her so fucking long to get home at the end of her shifts.

“Foxy,” I grab her attention. I’m greeted with a megawatt smile, and then a look of wonder asking why I’m here without saying a word.

“Jude.” She doesn’t come around the bar.

Instead, Ronnie moves to the side, launches herself over the worn and wooden top, hands going to my shoulders, and lays the sweetest of fucking kisses on my lips.

It’s one hell of a greeting, even with the cheeks of her ass hanging out in the reflection of the mirror hanging behind her.

I’ve got not one single fucking problem with the way Ronnie dresses.

It’s all these other fucks getting to look at my woman.

“What are you doing here? I’m not off for another few hours.” I give her my signature smirk. She has no idea that I’m addicted to her a whole hell of a lot more than the candy I keep in my pocket.

“Know that. Also couldn’t stay away. The guys would like to meet you, whenever you get a minute.

Lennie is going to try and make it, too.

The rest of the girls are pissed they couldn’t come, but cigarette smoke and being pregnant isn’t a great combination.

” Her eyes soften with happiness. She more than likes that answer.

“Is it bad that I’m glad you’re here?”

“Not at fucking all,” I respond, wishing like hell I had her all to myself.

“Good. Do you know what everyone wants to drink? I’ll get that sorted and make my way over once I’ve got everyone else settled, too,” she suggests.

“Foxy, I got no clue what they’re in the mood for, but they’ve got two fucking legs and a mouth. They can come place their order at the bar,” I grunt out my response.

“Jude, don’t be ridiculous. I’ll be over in a minute to figure out what they want, because, you know, I’m kind of the bartender and server, the only one tonight.

” I look around, noticing she really is on her own, and I’m pissed that I left her here to begin with.

My only saving grace is the bar back in the corner who also works security.

“Doesn’t mean I want you doing all the work when they can get off their asses, too.” Ronnie rolls her eyes at my statement.

“Fine, if they don’t place their own order by the time I finish my refills, then I’ll get them at the table.

Now, what do you want to drink?” She already knows I don’t drink but not the reason why.

We’ve yet to delve that deep, I’m sure it’ll come up sooner rather than later.

What she hasn’t done is ask the reason why or pry. She takes me exactly like I am.

“Coke with lime, please.” Ronnie is still leaning across the bar, and my hand cups the nape of neck, squeezing it for a moment before letting her go.

“You got it.” We part ways, and she gets straight into work mode.

Meanwhile, I have a hard time moving so much as an inch.

I’m too busy taking in the way she works the bar, handling it like she has her whole life, probably because she has.

She talks to a couple of old timers, a few younger groups of people are busy talking, and right when I’m about to head back to my friends, a guy walks through the door .

“Veronica!” My hackles rise with unease. I’m on edge watching as this plays out. I square my shoulders, cross my arms over my chest, and let Ronnie take the lead, for now.

“What, Joey?” She doesn’t bother looking at him, too busy working on drinks. Whoever this is must not be worth her time.

“Your brother said close early tonight. Eleven sharp.” The crowd collectively raises their heads, probably ready to say some shit about only having another thirty minutes or so when they planned to be here longer.

“Tell Zane to stop making you his message boy. I’ll close when the hours on the door say I’m closing. That’s at midnight.” I relax when realization hits that Ronnie has this handled.

“I’m not his messenger, but good luck telling him that yourself.” Ronnie’s response is to flick him off.

I turn around, locate the guys, and head their way. There’s a barstool facing the bar, giving me a bird’s eye view of the place, the same thing any of them would do if it were their woman working at a bar.

“Your girl does not mess around.” Tysen, the pilot of our group, says as I take my seat.

“Yeah, she’ll fit right in, and with the group getting bigger, it won’t be long until we’re outnumbered.” Trent runs his fingers through his hair, still in his uniform from work. Dress shirt, slacks, and police badge on his hip.

“I think we already are with the twins being born,” Asher says like the proud father he is. His job as a firefighter makes his schedule hectic, and it’s a damn good thing he’s got a good wife in his corner .

“Touché,” Matthew agrees, getting up from the barstool. “Going to order a beer. What do you all want?” The guys give him their order, mine is already with Ronnie, and I remain quiet.

“This a forever kind of thing?” Johnny asks. He owns a club, Undercover Lovers for the public and Night Moves for an exclusive group where inhibitions are dropped.

“Fuck yeah, it is.” Luke nods his head at my response.

It wasn’t long ago that he fell in love with Shae.

She’d been a pseudo patient at his obstetrics and gynecologist office.

Things unfolded, and now they’re tighter than tight.

We shoot the shit, update one another on work since I’ve been gone for the past four days, and I input my two cents when needed while they do the same.

“Alright, I think I’ve got everyone’s order.” Ronnie approaches with Matthew. He’s carrying his beer and nothing else. Fucking schmuck. His mom would kick his ass if she were here with us.

“Thanks, Foxy.” I help her distribute the drinks as she hands them to me. “You already met Matthew, the lawyer of the group and all-around asshat.” I send him a scathing look.

“Man, she wouldn’t let me do jack shit.” He moves around the table.

“Jude, stop it.”

“Alright, I’ll go down the line with their names. Don’t worry about remembering them. The only memorable one is me.” Jagger laughs. I’m taking a line out of his book, except I’m being possessive of Ronnie, and he likes to piss everyone off .

“Johnny, Trent, Crew, Jagger, Luke, Tysen, and Asher.” With each drink she passes, I let her know who’s who.

“It’s nice to meet you. Jude only says good things about you all.” I move Ronnie between my spread thighs, allowing her to lean on me in the process.

“Don’t forget about me.” Lennie comes barreling through, and Asher’s arm reaches out to grab her by the waist.

“Hi, I’m Ronnie. Or Veronica. Whichever you prefer.” She holds her hand out to shake.

“It’s so good to meet you.” Lennie ignores her hand, moves away from Asher, and gives Ronnie a hug.

“You can call me Lennie or Lennon. So, same. And the girls really wanted to be here, but everyone is knocked up.” Lennie shrugs her shoulder, then glares at all the guys acting like she didn’t deliver twins not long ago.

“Wow, all of them at the same time?” she asks.

“Well, they’re staggered, so kind of. Anyways, I’m going to add you to our group chat. Then we can plan a girls’ day without these guys.” Lennie pulls away from Ronnie and moves back to Asher, and I do similar, wrapping my arm around Ronnie’s middle myself.

“Sure, that sounds fine to me.” She looks over her shoulder. “Are you okay with that?”

“Fuck yeah. Welcome to the chaos, Foxy.”

“Ignore him. We’re not wild and crazy. Unlike these guys, who are thrill seekers, running into burning buildings and dealing with criminals to name a few.” The guys and I chuckle at Lennie’s antics.

“Shit.” Ronnie stands up, pulling away from me. “Please excuse me. I fear I’m going to have to do some damage control.” I look at where her gaze is, concerned it’s Joey again, trying to be the go-between.

“Go, go. Take care of business. It’s us here bothering you while you’re working.” Lennie tucks into Asher’s drink. A pleased smile is plastered on the man’s face.

“Are you staying here until I close? Because I can find a way back to your place or mine.” Ronnie spins around, arms looping around my neck, playing with the ends of my hair. Apparently, she’s in no hurry to deal with what I’m assuming is her brother.

“Not going anywhere. Your ride is me. And I don’t care where we lay our head down as long as it’s with you beside me.

” Her eyes close, and I dip my head, lips meeting hers.

The moment she opens for me, my tongue slides right inside, needing another taste to hold me over until I’ve got her all to myself again.

I nip at her lip before soothing it with a kiss and tap her ass in way that lets her know we might be stopping for now, but we’re a long way from being finished.

“Go deal with your brother before his head explodes.”

“Fine. I might drown him in the bar sink before the night is through.” She shrugs her shoulders and then moves toward Zane.

I’m not sure if she was being funny or serious.

Then again, the only brothers I grew up with are in front of me, and we didn’t get the chance to bicker like those two did living under one roof.

“I really like her, Jude, like, a lot. She’s feisty, can run a bar, has the same interests as you, and she didn’t balk at all with the guys in our group,” Lennie tells me everything I already know .

“I like her a lot, too, Lennie. Thanks for bringing her into the fold.” I take a sip of my drink, pull out the bag of candy I stowed in my pocket earlier, and pop some in my mouth.

“Anytime. Call me the welcome wagon. Now, before I text the girls, send me a picture of her. I want to show them how pretty she is and her tattoos. I mean, damn.” I’m beginning to think Lennie has a crush on my woman.

“What makes you think I have a photo of her?” I quirk my eyebrows.

“Jude Ellison, don’t even play. You’ve had one of her since the very beginning.

You’re not fooling anyone, mister tech guru.

” I shoot her a text, with a picture from this weekend, she gets busy on her phone, we continue talking until the bar starts to slow down, and when the group heads out the door, I move to the bar, keeping Ronnie company until closing time.