Zane gives me a wink. "If you've got it, flaunt it, Sawyer."
Once he jumps into the water with his sisters, they begin racing back and forth. I sit in a chair and watch them swim. Bailey and I used to race each other. No matter how many times I beat her, she never stops hoping. I love her optimistic nature. That and her stupidity.
I refuse to think of Jace kissing me. He's the enemy. Nothing more. No way do I recall the feel of him still on my lips. Or how his fingers felt against my skin. I refuse to remember how he tried to save me when he thought the siblings were a real threat. I hate him, and no amount of tongue action will change my mind on the matter.
Despite my dark thoughts about Jace, I find myself caressing my smiling lips. Nine long months without being kissed, touched, or wanted. He broke my heart, and no one else would do. Now, he's in Last Dollar kissing me again. What the hell am I supposed to do now?
Chapter 6
Jace
50 Ways to Say Goodbye
All night, I dream of Sawyer. Most of my dreams are nightmares. One though involves us skinny-dipping in the river not far from her house. That dream is more like a memory, leaving me with a morning erection. A long cold shower wakes me up and cools me down. Trying to rekindle anything with Sawyer is a mistake. I remind myself how I broke something that can never be fixed.
However, I wouldn't mind being friends again. As kids and teens, she and I spent most of our free time together. Sawyer sucked at making friends. Most girls couldn't endure her bossy nature while most boys were terrified of her constant dick threats. I knew when to obey, when to ignore, and when to tell her to shove it. We were an odd pair, but she was the best friend I ever had.
When things ended, she pretended I was a stranger unless forced to be friendly at social events. We can never truly be apart, not when we're tied together through family, friends, and the club. Except Sawyer bailed on Ellsberg. If she remains here, we might finally put our past behind us. Instead of comforting me, this idea feels like just another reason to force her home.
Before going to breakfast, I tell the woman at the front desk that I'll be staying for a while. Smiling, she focuses her gaze on the tips of my hair where pink paint remains. She seems to know my story, and I'm again struck by the size of this place. Skipping the hotel breakfast, I head two doors down to a busy Denny's where I'm seated by a little Mexican gal. She takes my order and avoids looking too directly at the pink in my hair. Despite her quiet nature, I suspect she's part of the local gossip scene.
"Do you know the McLaughlin family?" I ask when she refills my coffee.
"Everyone does."
"Would you know how to get a message to them, Sabie?" I ask, looking at her nametag.
"Me?"
"You or someone around here."
Sabie glances around as if nervous. I suspect she fucking with me though. Shrugging, she pulls out her order pad. "What do you want to tell them?"
"Jace Todds wants to make an appointment to speak with them and Sawyer Johansson. I won't leave town until we've spoken."
After Sabie walks away, I wonder how long before Sawyer or her friends respond. A few sips of coffee later, I'm surprised to see her return.
"You can come for lunch at their house. Eleven o'clock. They're having BLT sandwiches and fries."
Thanking her, I get the distinct impression of being hunted. My thoughts return to the paintball games at the Johansson property. The club uses them to keep guys sharp. Cooper also likes to see who doesn't work well with others. He's always testing his people and looking for weaknesses.
The world feels more crowded than when I was young, and I know our enemies always search for our weak spots. Likely Cooper worries about Sawyer being outside his power radius. After all, his only weakness is his family.
I wish I could claim my only weakness is my family. I worry about too much. I never know how I'm supposed to react. I watch others more than use my gut. Back when I was starting out, the Reapers enforcer Judd once said my insecurities would get me killed. While I hide my fucked up thinking better than I used to, it's not really gone.
I feel my insecurities gnawing at me when I arrive at the McLaughlin property. What happens if I can't convince Sawyer to come home? Cooper made it clear I wasn't returning to Ellsberg unless I had his sister with me.
Once the gates open slowly, I ride down a long road shadowed by large trees. I understand why Sawyer likes this place. Of course, if she misses Ellsberg, home is waiting for her.
I park in front of a massive house and realize I've underestimated the McLaughlin money. Growing up around the Johanssons, I thought I knew rich.
"Come on in before the heat gets you," a tiny Asian woman says from the door.