Page 60 of Nails

The thought of Ronan so much as looking at Riley twisted something deep in his chest.

“I’ll handle it,” he said quietly.

Erik just grinned but gave Adam a short nod and walked out without another word.

Alone again, Adam sank into his chair.The silence of the empty was heavier now.His thoughts drifted back to Riley and her soft laugh, and the way she tucked her hair behind her ear when he asked her a question.

He bit down on his lip.Damn, she appeared so innocent and so pure.Too pure for what this place really was.

If she did end up on Ronan’s radar, he would just tell him that she was off limits, at least for now.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Nails closed the book he had been trying to read.He leaned his head back against the couch and closed his eyes.

Ever since he finished his interview earlier in the day for the bouncer position, he had been restless.The guy he met and who hired him, Erik, was the head bouncer.He appeared like a nice guy, but about midway through the interview, he made a derogatory comment about women.Nails knew right then and there that the guy was just as much of a sleazeball as the others operating the club.

But that wasn’t what had him on edge and checking his watch every few minutes.It was knowing that Riley was at her interview inside that damn club alone.He kept reminding himself that she was a capable woman who could handle herself.But it still bothered him.

They had all been sitting around waiting for her to return.

He had been out with Aussie and Playboy when she left, but from some of the comments the others made about her outfit, he was starting to suspect they were deliberately holding back details just to mess with him.And judging by their smug faces, whatever she had been wearing was the kind of thing that would’ve kept him up at night.

“Anybody want a beer?”Nails asked as he got up from the couch and walked to the kitchen.He needed to do something to keep himself busy.

“I’ll take one,” Joker said, and Jay Bird and Snow followed, saying that they would take one too.

As he passed by Aussie, who was cooking dinner, his teammate gave him a small, encouraging smile.Even though they all had been relentless in giving him shit about him and Riley, he knew they were all just as concerned as he was.

Nails was halfway bent into the fridge, grabbing beers, when he heard Bear’s phone ring.He glanced over his shoulder and met Bear’s eyes.When he saw his team leader’s mouth curve into a knowing grin, he knew before he even said anything who it was calling.

He quickly grabbed a few beers and walked them over to hand them out, while he tried to listen to Bear and Riley’s short exchange.

When Bear hung up, he called out to Aussie.“Aussie, make an extra plate for Riley.”

Nails looked at Bear.“Did she say how the interview went?”

Bear shook his head.“She didn’t go into detail.She just said that she was in and that she got some information.”

“So, she’s on her way here, now?”Nails asked, trying to keep his tone casual, even though he was anxious to see her.

No matter how cool and collected he tried to act, Bear still saw right through it.

“Aw,” Bear smirked.“You’re like a teenager waiting for his prom date.”

“Shut up,” Nails muttered, though he could feel his ears turning red.

And of course, that just got the rest of them riled up again.

“Should we light some candles and dim the lights?”Playboy asked, leaning against the counter.

Nails just shook his head.He knew they were just messing with him.He considered it payback for all the shit he pulled when Joker, Bear, Duke, Playboy, and Aussie were all courting their women.

He twisted the cap off his beer as he walked back over to the couch to sit down.His ass had barely touched the cushion when he heard the front door open.

He jumped up so fast that he nearly tripped and spilled his beer.

The entire room erupted in laughter.