Page 6 of Operation Annulment (Silent Phoenix MC)

five

Kate

Nate: I thought we’d grab a bite at the strip club and then get matching tattoos for our date tonight. Sound good?

I grin as I read the text before telling myself not to read too much into it.

It’s just a one-night stand.

Knowing doesn’t stop the butterflies from fluttering in my chest, though.

Kate: Nah. Too fancy. I was actually thinking McDonald’s, and then, if we have enough time, maybe we can hit up a biker bar afterward.

Nate: You’re the boss, darlin’.

“You just couldn’t leave well enough alone, could you?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I shove my phone in the back pocket of my jeans and put some plates in the cabinet, pretending I don’t see my sister glaring at me from the other side of the kitchen.

I regret my decision to help Dakota move into her new place because she’s spent most of the day trying to set me up with the realtor who helped her find the house. Well, when she’s not sneaking off to make out with Thor.

So far, she’s grilled Jeremy about his love life and admitted she’s worried I’ll die alone.

Real subtle.

Little does she know… been there, done that. He and I slept together after a chamber of commerce event, and I may or may not have dodged his calls ever since.

“I’m talking about Nate, Mary Katherine!” She drops a hand to her hip with a huff. “Covered in tattoos? Has ex-wife drama? Does any of this ring a bell?”

“Are you really lecturing me right now? Because I don’t have to help you unpack.”

“You’re lecturing me now?” I raise an eyebrow.

She scrapes a hand over her face before taking a deep breath. “He’s no good for you, Kate. We talked about it at breakfast yesterday. I don’t know how you’re so good at counseling people, yet you go out of your way to sabotage yourself. What’s wrong with Jeremy?”

“He brought breakfast for everyone, Dakota. Please don’t make a big thing out of it,” I beg, feeling the start of a headache blooming behind my eyes.

“No. He’s totally into you, and it’s as if you’re blind to it.”

“Oh, I am very much aware of how Jeremy feels,” I bite out through gritted teeth. “And I do not sabotage myself.”

She cocks her head to the side with a snort. “Yeah, what would you call what you’re doing then—self-flagging?”

“ Self-flagellation ?” I guess I can say with extreme confidence that I am not flogging myself.”

I want to shake her by the shoulders and scream that she has no idea how many times I’ve forfeited my happiness in favor of hers—the times I went without so she could have.

“Also, who died and made you relationship queen? Zane pretended you didn’t exist yesterday, and I didn’t try to tell you what to do. ”

“That was more of a misunderstanding,” she says, rubbing at the back of her neck. “And I’m not trying to tell you what to do. I just want you to be happy, and I think Jeremy could make you happy.”

No, Jeremy would make Nan happy.

Successful career.

Luxury vehicle.

Owns his own home.

He w ears custom suits every day of the week, regardless of whether he’s working.

He volunteers at the hospital in his free time.

Minus his beard and the tattoos he keeps hidden beneath those custom suits, he’s perfect. But with his shaggy red hair and bright blue eyes, I imagine he’d have her eating out of the palm of his hand within minutes.

Jeremy is the whole package, yet no matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to conjure up any feelings beyond friendship.

Zip. Zilch. Nada.

“Drop it, Dakota,” I grumble as my phone vibrates. “Hang on, my office is calling. Hello?”

“Hey, Kate. It’s Nicole. Listen, I’ve got an emergency session in a couple of hours, and I was wondering if you still have information on that new treatment facility up in Amarillo.”

Nicole is more than just a co-worker. She’s my best friend. We met during grad school when she was my instructor and have remained close ever since. Other than Dakota, she’s the only friend I have.

“Hey, if it’s an emergency and you can’t do it, I understand. I’ll need to run by my apartment and change, but I can be up there within forty-five minutes.”

She laughs. “Ah, I see you’re not alone. Let me guess… I know it’s not Nan since you’re not speaking to her right now. Dakota?”

I smile. “You got it. Let the patient know I’ll be up there as soon as possible.”

“Uh-huh,” she says with another chuckle. “Call me back when you can.”

I end the call before turning back to Dakota. “I’ve got to head into the office?—”

“You’re leaving?” she splutters before pointing to the stacks of boxes surrounding us. “But what about all this?”

“Sorry. Work emergency,” I lie, lifting my shoulder in a half-shrug. “But I bet Jeremy could get these unpacked in no time, what with him being perfect and all.”

“Biscuits and gravy, Kate!” she exclaims, throwing up her hands. “I didn’t mean it like that. I just want to see you happy. You deserve it after everything you’ve been through. Just don’t leave upset, please. I’m sorry.”

I sigh and pull her into a hug. I couldn’t stay mad at her even if I tried. No matter how much we bicker, she’s always the first to apologize, and it’s like she’s eleven years old again, running after our mother’s car, screaming, “I’m sorry! I’ll be better!” as she drove away.

I’ll never understand why my mother ran from her responsibilities and abandoned us, nor would I ever tell Dakota that she still calls to check in on us from time to time.

As far as my sister knows, it’s us against the world, which is probably for the best.

“There’s no need to apologize. It’s been a long day, and we’re all a little cranky. How about this? I’ve got some free time tomorrow afternoon. I can help you finish unpacking whatever’s left, okay?”

“Okay,” she mumbles into my hair, squeezing me tighter. “I’m really sorry I hurt you.”

“We’re good, kid,” I assure her. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Zane stops me on my way out. “Watch this,” he mutters before waving to someone across the street. “Hey, neighbor! ”

Instead of returning the greeting, the man makes a jacking-off motion with his hand and goes inside.

“Wow, he seems… nice,” I say, biting the inside of my cheek.

He raises an eyebrow. “Oh, yeah. I bet he’s baking a batch of cookies to welcome your sister to the neighborhood as we speak.”

“I don’t know—” I pause to dig through my purse for my keys.“—he seems more like a magic brownie guy to me.”

“You heading out? Did the interrogation get to you?” Zane asks, getting off the porch swing to follow me to my Tahoe.

“Yep, and please. I can handle my sister just fine, thank you very much. Are you planning on sticking around?” I ask, fishing for information.

He really is a gorgeous man—all long blond hair and muscles. I just hope he’s not stringing Dakota along with his hot and cold behavior.

“Is she still unpacking?” he asks, dodging the question.

“She was grabbing a quick shower—she said she wanted to wash the moving dust off.” I pull my lower lip between my teeth as I figure out how to ask him about his intentions without it turning into an inquisition.

His easygoing smile fades. “Something on your mind, Kate?”

“I—” I brush my hair off my forehead with a sigh. “I just want to know you’re serious about her. That’s all. Dakota’s been through a lot, and I don’t want to see her get hurt again.”

“Anything else?” he asks, moving his hands to his hips like Dakota does when she’s got an attitude.

“Yeah,” I say, jutting my chin up at him. “You break her heart, and I will destroy you. Capisce ?”

He nods and holds the car door open for me. “Understood. Have fun on your date.”

“As far as Dakota’s concerned, I’m dealing with a work emergency and not having dinner with the gorgeous man from the gym at The Cellar Door. Oh, and we never had this conversation.”

“What conversation?” he replies with a wink.

I think I like him already.