Page 42 of Reaper & the Lioness (Lone Star Mavericks MC #1)
“We, uh … we haven’t really talked about that,” I admitted, glancing at Eva.
Her cheeks flushed, but whether from embarrassment or the wine, I couldn’t tell.
“Oh, come on,” Kenna pressed, leaning forward. “You’re telling me that you gave her your property patch—which is patriarchal as fuck, by the way—and let her customize this Barbie dream house, and you adopted a dog together, and you’ve not thought about putting a ring on it?”
I found myself in the hot seat, caught between Kenna’s relentless questioning and Eva’s uncertain gaze. I had thought about it. More than I cared to admit. But my world didn’t exactly lend itself to white picket fences and happily-ever-afters.
Eva groaned. “Seriously. Let’s change the subject.”
I caught Eva’s eye and brushed my hand over her thigh under the table.
We had a lot to talk about, but not now.
Not in front of her best friend. I wanted to claim every piece of Eva, and I'd even had Linc stalk her online shopping browsing to see what style of jewelry caught her eye.
Last week, she'd clicked on a few vintage pieces with colored gemstones.
I'd already decided I wouldn't give her a traditional diamond, but my plans were murky beyond that.
“Okay, fine. So, tell me about the Lone Star Mavericks,” Kenna demanded. “Eva tells me you’re one of its leaders.”
I paused as I considered how much to reveal.
“It’s part brotherhood, part business. We’re a tight-knit group that shares a passion for motorcycles and the freedom of the open road.
As for the business side, we have our hands in various ventures—some of which Eva has supported.
But at our core, we’re about loyalty, respect, and taking care of our own. ”
Kenna poured herself another glass of wine and took a long sip. Her gaze didn’t waver. “It was nice of Merrick and Hatchet to help today. What exactly do they do for the club?”
I shared a glance with Eva. They typically handled the … less palatable aspects of club business.
“Merrick is our sergeant at arms. Hatchet supports him as our enforcer. Essentially, they maintain order and provide protection when needed. Enforce the rules. Generally, they just get shit done.”
Kenna leaned back and swirled the wine in her glass. The intelligent spark in her eyes told me everything I needed to know about her. She wouldn’t press me, but she’d certainly do her own research tonight.
“We’re planning to go to the club tonight for drinks, if you’d like to join us,” Eva said. “It would be good for you to meet some clients.”
A few hours later, Thane and I sat at the bar as we watched Eva take her friend through a round of introductions.
I smiled at the familiar scene. We’d come far in such a short time.
Kenna held her own amongst the leather-clad men and the noise. Her extroverted, bubbly energy balanced the gritty men she met. Unlike Eva, who was drained by these sorts of interactions, Kenna seemed to grow more excited by the minute.
She befriended each biker she met, but her subtle interactions with Merrick and Hatchet caught my eye.
They engaged in a strange dance of attraction and polite conversation, a delicate balance of flirtation and restraint.
Kenna’s body language subtly shifted when she addressed either of them—a slight tilt of her head or a touch that lingered a moment too long.
A twinge of concern hit me at the smoldering attraction in their own expressions and gestures.
Often quiet and reserved, Merrick softened around the edges when Kenna spoke to him. His usual scowl gave way to the ghost of a smile. His eyes followed her movements with intensity. His posture relaxed as they talked, his shoulders easing from their usual tense position.
Hatchet, on the other hand, exuded charm and easy grins.
But tension appeared in his jaw when Kenna’s attention shifted to Merrick.
A competitive edge tinged his banter, a barely concealed desire to outshine his brother.
Hatchet’s eyes sparkled as he regaled Kenna with stories, but there was an undercurrent of seriousness I didn’t often see in him. A desire to win her over.
Eva noticed it, too. I found her eyes flicking between the two enamored men, then up to meet my knowing stare. The tension grew thick enough to cut with a knife. The air crackled with unspoken attraction and rivalry.
As Kenna continued her animated conversation, Eva excused herself and walked to the bar to get them drinks. She leaned in to kiss me.
“They’re smitten.” Amusement laced her tone.
“Yeah,” I muttered. “And that’s exactly what worries me.”
Eva chuckled. “Maybe we should make sure she doesn’t wander down any dark hallways. I hear those can be dangerous.”
I grinned, thinking about the first night we met—the irresistible pull that had drawn me to the consultant I didn’t think we should have hired.
The tension didn’t leave my shoulders. Love and lust had a way of complicating even the strongest bonds, and I didn’t need Merrick and Hatchet at war with one another over a woman.
As Eva gathered the drinks and returned to her friend, I couldn’t help but wonder how this would all unfold. One thing remained certain—with Kenna in the mix, life at the Lone Star Mavericks Motorcycle Club was about to get much more interesting.