He pulled up my T-shirt in the back and cupped his hand over my sex, insisting I stay for a few extra minutes. Admittedly, it felt good. Hawk never lasted long in the sack, but he knew how to get things heated up. Every lover I’d known had flaws—none had ever kept my engine roaring from beginning to end. Some finished the race early, some never finished, and others wanted me to spend too much time shifting his stick. Maybe perfect sex was only a fantasy—embellished stories conjured up by mated women who had exceeded their limit on tequila.
Hawk kept working his hands. “Come on, Iz. I’ve got something that’ll make you change your mind.”
“I’m not in the mood,” I reiterated, turning around to face him. My fingers splayed across his chest, and I locked eyes with him. “I can’t do this.”
“You weren’t too good for it before.”
“That’s before I knew this was about drugs. I had a feeling you were doing illegal stuff, but honestly I thought you were a loan shark or organizing poker games in a basement somewhere. Drugs change the game. I’ve seen what it does to people firsthand, and I can’t sit back watching you deal it to them.”
“They want it. It’s not as if I’m forcing it on anyone,” he retorted, swiping a finger across his mustache. I found it ironic how much Hawk looked like a cop and yet he was the one selling narcotics.
“This is scary stuff. It’s not my scene. Don’t justify what you’re doing because you have paying customers, which, by the way, you’re ripping off. I heard about your scheme of overcharging to fill your pockets. You didn’t think you’d get caught?”
Hawk stared at me long and hard. I got the shivers because he could be an intimidating guy. Hawk wasn’t his real name, but he’d earned it because he had a way of watching you and reading your every thought.
“Coming or not?”
I shook my head. “I’m giving you a second chance to make things right because I care about you. Everyone deserves a second chance. Call me when you’ve made up your mind on what’s more important in your life: drugs or me.”
Chapter 5
“I need a jelly donut,” I declared, wiping down a table and taking my break.
Rosie pulled up a chair in what had become our regular gab session. “Girl, you need more than a donut if you want something for a man to grab on to.”
Donuts were my favorite thing. I also avoided them like the plague because I had no self-control and would stuff myself into a sugar coma. They were my weakness. Especially the chocolate-glazed ones. And most of all the chocolate-glazed ones with a cup of hot chocolate I could dunk them in. Throw in a few marshmallows, and I’d be your girl for life.
Rosie fanned herself. “That was some show you put on last night. Who was that creep with the long mustache?”
“I don’t know, but he sure enjoys picking me up every time we run into each other. Maybe he doesn’t work out at the gym enough. Thanks for talking to Jake and smoothing things over. I don’t want to lose my job, and I promise that idiot won’t be a problem again.”
“You bet your sweet bottom he won’t. If you bring human trouble in this bar again, Jake won’t be so nice. He’s taken a shine to you, so don’t mess it up.”
“I can’t imagine why he’s been so generous,” I said, biting into my tuna sandwich.
“That little sneak thinks you’re secretly screwing the singer. He admitted that after hiring Jericho’s group, he noticed your unusual name on the job application your boyfriend submitted to him. Jake thinks keeping you around will keep the singer around. Nobody names their band after a girl who doesn’t mean something.”
I snorted and took another bite. “I don’t think my name is a term of endearment for Jericho.”
She grimaced and took a sip of her Dr Pepper. “Don’t tell Jake that, hon. If he thinks you’ll drive them away, he’ll fire you in a heartbeat. If you’re smart, you’ll stay away from those boys. Don’t rock the boat that keeps you afloat.”
“Wise words.”
She reached out and swept a lock of hair away from my face. “How’s your head? Did you shift?”
“I’ve been told I’m hardheaded.”
I licked my finger and watched one of the servers bend over for a napkin. Some girls were inexperienced servers, while others were masterful at earning tips outside the club with unmated males. They would target the wealthy alphas because they had a healthy sexual appetite and didn’t mind the attention lavished on them. As long as it didn’t drive the customer away, most managers turned a blind eye.
“I don’t want to get off on the wrong foot, Rosie. I have a past with Jericho, and I don’t want to talk about it.” I took a sip of my lemon-water, the condensation from the glass dripping onto the table. “Denver. I should have known they were related.”
“Brothers,” she said, turning a ruby stone on her finger. “That’s the only reason the band is giving Jake a chance. A dive like this compared to what they could be earning in the upscale bars and other events?”
I had to laugh. Jericho wasn’t about fancy bars. He used to love outdoor events and small clubs, but I kept that to myself.