Shade stared at Sex Piston, perfectly aware she had known he didn’t want Lily’s hair cut and had sought to change Lily’s mind.
He released Lily’s hair, letting it slide from between his fingertips. He had wanted to know how her hair felt since he had first seen her. At that point he had to concentrate on lifting his coffee cup and not reaching out to touch it again.
“I can give you a new look, but not have to cut much off the length.”
“Do you think you could introduce me to Pike while I’m in Jamestown?”
Shade’s satisfied look disappeared at Lily’s request, and he stiffened in his seat. “Who’s Pike?”
“Someone Sex Piston and Fat Louise know. They said he’s from Arizona,” Lily said, waiting for Sex Piston’s answer.
Fat Louise started to answer, but Sex Piston cut her off. “I’m afraid you’re going to have to wait until you move to Arizona to meet a cowboy, Lily. Pike has a girlfriend, and I don’t think she would appreciate me introducing him to you.”
Shade’s hands clenched on his coffee cup. He had been walking on eggshells around her for three fucking years to make sure she could deal with a relationship, and she was actually asking Sex Piston to set her up?
He opened his mouth, about to tell her the only way she was going to see Pike was at his funeral.
“When you going to give me a ride on that bike of yours, Shade?” Killyama asked.
Shade’s chair screeched as he slid it back from the table. “I’ll wait for you outside, Razer.”
He threw some cash down on the table then strode outside, wanting to hit something or someone.
A minute later, Rider joined him. “I don’t know which of those bitches is the worst.”
When Shade didn’t answer, taking a seat on his bike, Rider threw him a wary look, getting on his own bike as Razer came out next, his face pale.
Shade didn’t wait for him to start his bike before he was peeling out of the parking lot toward the clubhouse. As he parked, Razer pulled in next to him.
Shade got off his bike, but Razer caught his arm. “Shade, you can’t be angry. She doesn’t know you’re interested in her. If she did, she wouldn’t have said anything. Lily didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“She’s a woman, and she has wants and needs. Lily is trying to tell you both she wants someone in her life. Whether you and Beth realize it or not, she’s ready to face her fears so she won’t be alone. I’m not jealous; I’m about five fucking seconds from getting back on my bike and showing her she doesn’t have to be alone.”
Razer shook his head. “She wants a figment of her imagination that she wanted when she was a little girl—a cowboy.”
“She wants someone to protect her, to hold her, someone she can be safe with. That’s Lily’s cowboy.”
“She’s not ready,” Razer denied. “She’ll be finished with school next year then—”
“She only has half a semester left. I want her to start getting to know me now, before she gets herself hurt trying to find what isn’t out there anymore.”
“Beth and I both think it’s best if you wait until she graduates,” Razer replied stubbornly.
Shade was done talking, leaving as Rider drove in, passing him without a word to climb the steps to the clubhouse. He wasn’t going to change Razer’s mind, and Beth would help Lily stay away if he tried to move in too soon.
He opened the door to the clubhouse and went inside. The brothers and women were sitting around, enjoying their afternoon off. The orders from the factory had been filled that morning, leaving them with free time.
Shade went behind the bar, taking down a bottle of whiskey while ignoring the curious looks from the others.
Bliss came to sit on a stool in front of him. “Can I have one?”
While Shade reached for a glass, filling it half full, Razer came to the bar and leaned against it. “Since you’re playing bartender, can I have a beer?”
Shade wanted to tell him to fuck off; instead, he set a beer down in front of him.
“What has you two looking so pissed off?”
Shade remained quiet, drinking his whiskey.
Bliss sidled closer to Razer. “Come on, Razer, you can tell me.” She ran her hand up and down Razer’s arm, and he jerked it away.
“Back up.”
Bliss made a pout with her lips, taking a step back. “I was just trying to make you feel better.”
“You were trying to get laid,” Shade corrected her, “which I can take care of.”
“I’ll go to your room.” Happiness shone out of her eyes.
Shade shook his head. “I haven’t finished my drink, so sit on the chair.”
Bliss walked toward the chair and took a seat.
“Spread your legs.”
“I’m out of here. I have some work that needs to be done on our house. When you get done, you could come and help.” Razer said, setting the beer down on the counter.
“When I’m done, I don’t plan on being in any shape to do anything.”
Razer gave a sharp nod before leaving through the kitchen door. Shade then directed his attention back to Bliss who was sitting with her legs sprawled out.