Page 9 of Hard as Stone (Stoneheart MC #2)

AXEL

“ Y ou figured out what the real story behind these road closures is yet?” Lee asks, sliding a beer toward me across the bar.

“Because I’m starting to think your sudden interest in alternate routes has less to do with Summit’s plans and more to do with that traffic girl who keeps shutting you down. ”

I take a long pull from my beer, ignoring his knowing smirk. “I’m working on it.”

“Uh-huh.” Lee’s grin widens. “And the fact Ms. Traffic Controller’s got curves for days and stands up to you like you’re just another asshole on a bike has nothing to do with why you keep riding through her blocks?”

“Fuck off.” But he’s not wrong. Every time I see Poppy standing there in that yellow vest, all soft curves and sharp attitude, something inside me tightens.

Lee sobers. “You see the way Summit’s guys were watching their crew today? Armed security for road work?”

“They were working today?”

“Yeah, up Main Street,” Lee replies, taking another swig of beer.

“They were near club land?”

Lee shakes his head. “Up higher. Toward Highland Avenue. Noticed it when I was heading out of town with a delivery. Armed guards, Black Escalades. Same ones we’ve seen outside Summit’s offices.

And get this—one of the guards was Wilson’s guy.

You know, that ex-military type who runs Summit’s security?

They were the ones on duty the night you got stuck inside the records room.

Seems like a staffing overkill for some pothole filling. ”

I frown, turning the information over in my mind. That area’s mostly old money—big houses set back from the road, hidden behind iron gates and perfectly manicured hedges. Not exactly the kind of neighborhood that needs ‘emergency repairs.’

“Did you see the road crew?” I ask, trying to keep my tone neutral.

“You asking if your girl was there?”

“She’s a pain in my ass,” I growl, but Lee laughs.

“Sure, brother. That’s why you keep glancing at the door and checking the time every few seconds.”

I open my mouth to deny it, but Lee doesn’t even entertain my protests before he continues.

“I didn’t see her. Just a bunch of guys in hard hats and those Summit goons watching them like hawks.

” He takes another swig of beer. “The father was there, though. Think she and her brothers know what they’re part of? ”

I stare at the door and down the last of my beer. “No idea. She seemed pretty clueless about the bigger picture when I ran into her at city hall earlier.” I signal the bartender for another round. “Either she’s a damn good actress, or she’s in the dark.”

Before Lee can respond, the door swings open and Poppy walks in.

For a moment, I forget how to breathe. She stands in the doorway, looking nothing like the smart-mouthed traffic girl I’ve come to expect.

Her dark hair falls in soft waves around her shoulders, and she’s wearing a dress that hugs every lush curve and just enough makeup to make her eyes sparkle and her lips look soft and kissable.

“Holy shit,” Lee mutters beside me. “Is that...?”

I nod, not trusting myself to speak. She hasn’t spotted us yet, giving me a moment to drink her in.

The dress isn’t anything fancy—just black fabric that wraps around her gorgeous body like a second skin.

But the way it emphasizes her curvy, round figure, the fullness of her breasts, the sweep of her hips. .. Christ.

“You’re drooling,” Lee says, amusement clear in his voice.

“Shut up.”

Poppy scans the bar, her gaze finally landing on me.

A slow smile spreads across her face as she makes her way over, hips swaying with each step.

I force myself to stay seated—partly because my dick has decided to stand at attention, and partly because I’m not sure my legs will hold me up if I try to stand.

“Evening, boys.” She sets her clutch on the bar beside me and leans against it casually. “Hope I’m not interrupting anything important.”

“Not at all,” Lee says before I can answer. He pushes off the bar with a knowing grin. “And I was just leaving.”

Traitor.

“Guess it’s just you and me then, Road Captain.” Poppy slides onto the barstool Lee vacated, her dress pulling taut over her thighs. “So…ready to lose?”

I drag my eyes back to her face. “With you dressed like that, sweetheart, I think I’ve already lost.”

A faint blush colors her cheeks, but her grin doesn’t falter. “Flattery won’t save you, Toto. Rack ‘em up.”

I watch as she sashays toward the pool table, my body tightening at the way that dress hugs her curves. She bends to grab a cue, and my mouth goes dry.

“Ladies first,” I say, gesturing to the freshly racked balls. “Since I broke last time.”

“Such a gentleman.” She moves to the head of the table, leaning over to line up her shot. The dress pulls across her ass, and I grip my cue harder. What I wouldn’t give to pull that dress a little higher and take her right here on the pool table.

Poppy lines up her cue, her brow furrowing in concentration. The break is clean, balls scattering across the green felt. She straightens up with a satisfied smile as a solid sinks into the corner pocket.

“Looks like I’m solids,” she says, already moving to line up her next shot. “Hope you’re ready to buy me that steak, Road Captain.”

I lean against the table, watching her work. “Night’s still young, sweetheart. And I seem to recall making a pretty good comeback last time.”

She sinks another ball, her lips quirking up. “Pretty sure that comeback involved cheating.”

“Strategic distraction,” I correct, enjoying the way her eyes flash with challenge. “It’s not my fault you couldn’t handle a little proximity.”

Poppy scoffs, but I see a faint blush coloring her cheeks. “Please. It takes more than you invading my personal space to throw me off my game.”

To prove her point, she brushes past me to get to her next shot, her hip grazing mine.

I inhale sharply, her scent enveloping me—something floral and citrusy that makes my head spin and my body clench.

She’s so close I can feel the heat radiating off her skin.

For a wild moment, I imagine pulling her against me, running my hands over those lush curves, kissing her until she’s breathless and pliant in my arms.

But before I can act on that impulse, she sinks another shot and straightens up with a triumphant grin. “Look at that. Still my turn.”

She grins at me over her shoulder, and I feel the need to adjust where my cock strains against the zipper of my jeans.

“Looks like you’re on a roll,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. “But don’t get cocky yet, sweetheart. Game’s not over.”

Poppy lines up her next shot, bending over the table again. The hem of her dress rides up slightly, revealing a tiny sliver of lace at the top of her thighs. I swallow hard, forcing my gaze back to the table.

“You know,” she says casually as she takes her shot, “I’ve been thinking about what you said earlier. About the road work focusing on certain areas.”

The ball clicks into the pocket, and Poppy straightens up, fixing me with a thoughtful look. “You’re right. Most of our work has been concentrated on the west side of town. I hadn’t fully absorbed just how much until you pointed it out.”

I lean against the table, studying her face. “And what do you make of that?”

She shrugs, moving around the table to line up her next shot. “Could be those areas just need the most work. Years of neglect and all that. But...” She trails off.

“But?” I prompt, watching the way she worries her bottom lip between her teeth.

“But something feels off,” she admits with a heavy sigh.

Her next shot misses completely as she straightens up, brows furrowed.

“The permits for that side of town keep disappearing. Meanwhile, Dad gets a last-minute job in a wealthy neighborhood today that they’ve smashed all the approvals through for.

And my brothers said they saw armed guards watching over Dad.

They never do that when we’re working in the poorer areas.

” She shakes her head. “It just doesn’t make sense. ”

Smart. Too smart. Which makes her even more dangerous—to the investigation and to my self-control. It’s clear she’s starting to see there’s a bigger picture, even if she doesn’t want to admit it yet.

“Armed guards, huh?” I keep my tone casual as I line up my shot. “Seems a bit extreme for road work.”

“Exactly!” Poppy throws her hands up. “That’s what I said to Felix when he told me. We’re just fixing roads, not digging our way into Fort Knox.”

I sink my shot, moving around the table to line up the next one. “Exactly where was this road work taking place?” I ask, even though Lee already told me.

She leans forward, her hands on the edge of the pool table as she thinks. “You know the road that leads to the trailer park? If you turn right off North St, they were up there digging the holes to add in stormwater drains and guttering.”

“You weren’t working with them?” I line up another shot, trying to focus on the game and not the way her dress tugs across her breasts from the way she’s leaning against the table.

“The work didn’t obstruct traffic, so I wasn’t needed today. That’s why I was dealing with paperwork at town hall—as much of a headache as that was.”

I sink another ball, moving closer to her as I ready my next. “And these armed guards... they were Summit Security?”

Poppy nods. “Yeah, how did you know?”

“Seen them around town lately,” I say carefully, watching her, even as I sink two stripes in quick succession.

“I feel like you know more about this than you’re letting on.”

I straighten, finding her closer than expected. “What makes you say that?”

“The MC is interested in everything that happens in town, right?” Her eyes search mine. “Seems like there’s a story here, and my family is caught in the middle of it.”

“There’s always a story, Poppy.” I move around her to take my next shot, letting my hand brush her hip. “Question is, are you sure you want to hear it?”