Page 13 of Shine: Sins of the Father (Evil Dead MC: Second Generation #8)

Fiona—

“So, spill the tea already. I’m dying here.”

Janey sits across from me on the couch in her apartment. Thank God, she doesn’t live with her parents, or we’d have nowhere private to go.

Taking a sip of the coffee she poured me, I begin. “Remember when you told me a sexy man wasn’t going to just show up at my doorstep?”

“I believe I said Prince Charming, but go on.”

“Well, one did and boy is he sexy as sin.”

“Oh. My. God. Tell me everything.” Janey leans forward.

“I was up at the cabin, and I’d been cleaning all day since you’d dropped me off. Everything was looking great, and the party was still on. It was late, and I was exhausted, so I changed into a t-shirt and crawled into bed.

“I’m lying there, scrolling on my phone for a while when suddenly I hear the rumble of a motorcycle and I panic. I try to calm myself, hoping it’s for some other place. But it’s a Harley. I can tell by the rumble, and it gets closer. So, I know the odds are it’s headed for the cabin.”

Janey leans forward. “You must have been terrified you were going to get caught.”

“I was. And I was on pins and needles, wondering which of the guys from the clubhouse would walk through the door, but when the door opened and he walked in, I saw the bottom rocker under his patch. It wasn’t California. It was Nevada.”

Janey’s eyes get huge. “Oh, my God. What did you do?”

“I just stood there, and then I guess I made a sound because he whirled, pulling a gun from his cut. Suddenly, I’m staring down the barrel. I was terrified.”

“What happened?”

“He realized I was no threat and holstered it quickly enough. Then he tells me his name is Shine and that he’ll have to thank his brothers for arranging this sweet surprise.”

“He thinks they sent you for him?”

“Yep, like some gift or something.”

“What did you say?”

“Well, he says, ‘I’m assuming they sent you, right?’ And I didn’t know what to do, so I played along.”

“Are you crazy?”

“I know. It was stupid, but I panicked. All I could think about was I wasn’t supposed to be there and what would happen if my dad found out. He never gave permission, Janey. I knew if I told this guy, he’d tell my father. The club is tight like that.”

“So, what’d you do?” Janey asks.

“I said, ‘right, exactly. Your brothers sent me. Why else would I be here?’”

“What did he do?”

“He strolled toward me with the sexiest walk I’ve ever seen—”

Janey cuts me off. “Oh, my God. You and this guy…?”

“Let me tell the story, okay?”

“Okay. Sorry. But what does he look like? I mean, it was dark at Sonny’s, and you were yards away.”

“He’s gorgeous. He’s tall, broad-shouldered with narrow hips, and blond hair that brushes over his collar. But it was his eyes that captured me. I swear to God, Janey, when we locked eyes, I felt something. It was weird, like I knew him, you know?”

“Nope, but I get it.”

“So, then he asks—or assumes—I must be one of the dancers from the club’s business.”

Her eyes get huge again. “Are you telling me he thought you were a stripper ? That’s why I picked you up there?”

“They’re called dancers, Janey.”

“Whatever. And you let him think that?”

“What choice did I have?” My voice rises.

“Did you tell him your real name?”

“Of course not. I’m not that stupid.”

“So, what name did you tell him?”

“Desiree. It was the first name I could think of.”

“What if he goes there looking for you? Won’t he be surprised when she’s not you.”

I shrug. “It won’t matter. I won’t be there, and he has no way of finding me.”

“Oh, really? You’re connected by the MC.”

“He’s never in Cali. I’ll never see him again.”

“I call bullshit on that, but go on with your story. Then what happened with this biker? Which, I’ll remind you, you claimed you wanted nothing to do with.”

“A biker? I know, right?”

She shakes her head. “I knew it. I knew that was all a bunch of baloney.”

“Anyway, he kissed me, and it was so good. I’ve never had anyone kiss me the way he does.”

“Oh, my God. You’re in love with this guy.”

“I am not. Do you want to hear the story or not?”

“Sorry. Go on.”

“Shine takes me into the bedroom, then he leads me into the bathroom. He flips the water on in the shower. Then without a word, he reaches for the hem of my shirt and pulls it over my head before I can even react. I cover myself, but he pulls my hands away, telling me I’m gorgeous.

And the way he looked at me when he said it—I felt gorgeous. ”

“Holy hell. It’s getting hot in here.” Janey waves her hand in front of her face.

“Then he strips out of his clothes, and oh my gosh, Janey, he’s got the body of a God.

He’s perfect and covered in ink, and of course he doesn’t have a shred of modesty or shame in letting me look my fill.

And his ass…” I bring my fingertips to my lips and kiss them, making the Italian gesture for a chef’s kiss. “Magnifique.”

“You are shameless. Go on.”

“We took a shower. He washed me and I washed him, then we ended up in the bed and fucked our brains out.”

“And he was good?”

“He was amazing.”

“So you spent the weekend together?”

“Yep.” I think about telling her about Lake Tahoe, but I’m not ready to admit I murdered a man, not even to my best friend.

“Then there was a fire up there, and we were worried it would come toward the cabin. So, we got the hell out of there, and he gave me a ride home. I had him drop me at the Sonny’s because I didn’t know what else to do.

Have you heard any news about the fire, by the way? ”

“It turned south toward Madera County.”

“Good. I was worried the cabin would burn to the ground.”

“It should be safe. I was more worried about you. Well, you certainly had a more exciting weekend than I had.”

She has no idea.

“Did you and this guy exchange numbers?”

“Um, no, actually.”

“Oh.” Her face falls. “So, it was just a fling, huh?”

“Yep.”

“I’m surprised he wouldn’t ask for your number.”

“I think because of the situation, he didn’t think this was like a date or hookup. You know?”

“Did he think you were paid to be with him?” she squeaks.

I shrug. The thought of that makes me sad. “I guess so.”

Her shoulders drop. “Oh.” We sit quietly, and then she smiles and continues. “Well, at least you got you some.”

I roll my eyes. “I sure did, and I don’t know how another man will ever compete with what I got this weekend.”

“Really? Wow, he was good, huh? Well, I’m happy for you. At least you have that.” She sips her coffee. “Do you think your father or the club will ever know you were up there?”

“I hope not,” I reply, thinking about the body buried in the woods.

“Now you have to do what you promised, Fiona.”

I frown. “What’s that?”

“Tell your parents you’re dropping out of college.”

Oh, right. That. Now I’m really depressed.