Page 32 of Could Be Worse
The stinker had known he left me hot and bothered. When I’d walked him out to his truck, he’d whispered, “Stay with me tonight.” His words mixed with his hot breath had made me clench and gush. Of course, I had hidden my reaction as best I could, pretending to be unaffected. Whether he had noticed, I may never know.
At first, I nodded my response. I had craved to be under him more than anything. Wanted him inside me and his mouth on my bare skin more than my next breath.
But now, I had second thoughts.
Staying the night would complicate things and confuse the twins if they caught me there when I should be at home. In only one day, we were meshing beautifully, and I had to admit it scared me a little. If Bryce and I didn’t work out, their little hearts would be broken. Mine might be too. I couldn’t do that to any of us.
And what about my ballet career?
Returning to Manhattan was up in the air, while my dad was dealing with the blackmailer, who he said he knew the identity of. I, as usual, knew nothing. My dad wouldn’t talk about it with me, because it was “club business.”
Naturally, I was frustrated, considering my life and future were on the line. But I’d grown up being in the dark with anything connected to the Knight’s Legion MC. I just had to suck it up and be patient, although I may never know what the club had done about the blackmailer.
I sighed, then noticed a hint of Bryce was still on my tongue and my jaw ached from being stretched. Both were a torturous reminder of our morning activities. I’d never blown a man as I had him, almost swallowing his cock. It had been a thrilling and terrifying experience.
But to watch how his face had contorted, as if he would detonate, had made it all worth it. Plus, his buttery cum hadn’t been off-putting like it had been with other guys.
Lord, help me. I couldn’t wait to get on my knees and taste him again.
Enough, Sadie! You’re like an emotional ping-pong, going back and forth, back and forth. It’s wrong to get involved with a single dad if you don’t plan to stick around.
I’d had every intention of leaving Minnesota. A hookup with a stranger was one thing. Dating a man with two daughters put too many hearts on the line. Bryce and I needed to talk and put a stop to anything more than being friends.
“Where are we going?” Cat’s question snapped me back to the present.
“Oh. Um. To town. I thought you both might be bored with the same old routine.”
“Nana Bea never takes us there. It’s too far.”
“Well, I think I can handle it. We’ll stop and see some of my uncles and aunts. It will be fun.”
“Okay!” Cat squealed.
Tori nodded with a smile. She didn’t talk much, but I was sure it was because Cat talked enough for the two of them. They reminded me of Maddox and Markey, who looked similar, but their personalities were totally different. Maddox was the strong, silent type. Markey was charismatic and talkative. But they each had found their unique calling.
Maddox was the president of Knight’s Legion MC and single. Well, as single as a man could be when he was in love with someone he wasn’t with. That someone was Valerie Montez. I knew Maddox loved her, just as my entire MC family knew it.
But sometimes life got in the way of love and the right time to connect never presented itself. Maddox’s grumpy attitude probably had everything to do with Valerie being gone. She was a bestselling romance author. When she wasn’t on a world book tour, she was living her best life in Montana with her folks: Raul and Tina. She’d moved with her family years ago, after Raul had retired and her older brother, Raymond, had filled his dad’s place as vice president. Valerie had chosen to be her younger siblings—Izan and Sophia—who were fraternal twins.
The Montez family had been through a lot back when I was a young child and they weren’t traditional in society’s eyes. Valerie’s older half-brother and half-sister were married and had a couple of kids the ages of Izan and Sophia. But strange things happened in MCs all the time, so I never thought much about Track and Brynne being married. They had different parents and weren’t blood related.
In any case, I’d always felt something else had made Valerie leave Minnesota… or more like, someone had made her leave. And all fingers had pointed to Maddox.
Twenty minutes later, I removed my wool coat and placed it between Cat and Tori. “I’m roasting,” I told the girls as I tugged on my collar to cool me off. Even though it was a brisk forty-one degrees, I was overheating from pulling the wagon.
“Not me,” Tori said. Her little nose was red, her eyes glossy. We’d been out for about forty-five minutes. I hadn’t considered how they were doing, sitting in the wagon. Bad Sadie!
“Let’s get you inside to warm up.” I made my way toward Sister Chic Boutique. Aunt Snow and Birdie would be there. It would be nice to catch up with them. Since I returned, I had been avoiding my family, too embarrassed about my predicament. Plus, I had a feeling people knew about my hookup with Bryce. But I couldn’t hide anymore from those I loved.
Chase’s red Harley was parked in front of the shop. Before I got to the door, it swung open, and the bell jingled.
“Welcome to Sister Chic,” Chase said in a formal tone. “Ladies.” He winked at the girls.
“You’re such a charmer,” I replied.
“It’s my best quality. Just ask Sammy.” He waggled his brows. Sammy was his girlfriend.
“I would, but she hasn’t been around. I hope I see her before…” I snapped my mouth shut before I said before I leave.