Page 47 of Love Gamble
“Nothing,” he replies, clearing his throat. “Just about to head out for a ride. How about you?”
I hide my smirk at him not wanting to admit to her that he’s been sitting here waiting to make sure she gets home safe. Poor man probably didn’t get any sleep.
That makes three of us.
Bella comes out with coffee and smiles warmly at the two of us. “You’re back, alive and well, thank goodness. Now we can get on with our day.”
“Of course I’m alive and well,” Corey replies, pursing her lips. “Are we still having dinner tonight?”‘
“Yes, I made the booking. Did you want to join us, Damon?” Bella asks, sitting down next to River.
“I’d love to, but Romeo wants me back at Devil’s Play tonight,” I say, looking at Corey as I realize I forgot to tell her that. “He’ll probably want me there all this week until we get enough security back in place. I think a couple of the prospects will be joining me, too.”
“Yeah, Diamond and Leif,” River confirms. I can tell he doesn’t love me being with his sister, or the fact that she stayed at my house last night. But he’s containing himself, and I think that has a lot to do with Bella’s influence. It’s great that he’s accepting the fact that Corey is a grown woman, and maybe he realized that being with a member of the MC is a best-case scenario.
Better the devil you know, right?
Or an angel in this case.
I kiss Corey goodbye and get out of there, telling her I will pick her up on my way home from the club if she’d like to stay the night. At least she doesn’t seem fazed about me going back to Devil’s Play, which is a relief because it would suck if that became a thing.
I spend the rest of the day working with some of the men to lay out some of the security plans of the new clubhouse and then trying to figure out what is going on at the storage unit with the Lions. They still keep going but I don’t have any idea. I’ve even taken to renting my own storage unit to gain access, but nothing.
After meeting Julianna to finalize plans on moving everyone into the joint clubhouse, and running some errands for Romeo, I head home to have some dinner and get ready for another night at Devil’s Play.
Echo is speaking to a few of the dancers when I walk in, with everyone getting ready for tonight’s show.
“Hey,” she says when she sees me. “Diamond and Leif are helping move chairs and tables.”
“Good,” I reply with a smirk. “Get them to do whatever you need. We’ll be here for a couple of hours to help out.”
“Thanks,” she replies, glancing down at her clipboard and back up. “I just wanted to apologize again for last night. I had no idea you and Corey were a thing, and if I had, I never would have propositioned you. She’s absolutely beautiful, and I’d never do that to another woman. So, I’m sorry.”
“No apology needed, Echo. I know the person you are,” I reply, gently touching her shoulder. “Seriously, forget about it. And I’m happy that you and the girls hung out and had a good time.”
“We really did,” she says, smiling at a dancer who walks by. “I just haven’t been myself these last few days. Maybe I’m having a midlife crisis or something. I don’t know.”
I pull out a barstool and sit down. “No judgment here. But at the end of the day, you are human. So be kind to yourself. You can’t be an emotionless workaholic all of your life.”
Her jaw drops open. “Is that how you see me? Wonderful. No wonder I haven’t had sex in years. Years, Damon.”
Diamond walks out just in time to hear the last part. “Years? Why? You’re smoking hot.”
She turns to him, clearing her throat. “Well, thank you. But I think I come off as a cold bitch, so that’s probably why.”
“Maybe it’s because you work for bikers,” he suggests, giving her a once-over. “No one would want to deal with that. You don’t seem cold at all. I imagine you’d warm up with the right touch.”
I slowly back away from their conversation and head back to the office to make sure all the security cameras are in working order. My phone buzzes with a text.
Corey: I miss you.
Damon: I miss you, too. How’s dinner?
Corey: Good. River is on his best behavior. I don’t know what Bella said to him, but it’s worked.
Damon: That’s good. I’ll text you when I’m on the way to pick you up.
Corey: I can meet you there if it’s easier?