“You don’t have to. We still have to get dressed, and you take a lot longer than me.”

  “Fine, but I’ll see you later, and remember—you have a date with Damon on Tuesday. That asshole can tag you, but it’s nothing but a pretty book. We can drive to Dallas and have it removed whenever you want,” she says.

  “Yes, we can. That’s a great idea, and I should have done it two weeks ago.”

  “That’s my girl.” She smacks my ass before giggling and hopping in. I walk around the front and make my way to her place, dropping her off first before hitting the bakery.

  By the time I arrive, I’ve swallowed back the pain of this morning and I’m able to focus on my job. Okay, focus isn’t what I call it, it’s more about compartmentalizing my feelings. It’s how I’ve managed to get through the past year without Will. Putting my heart in a little box and hiding it away, so it doesn’t break. Now that it’s cracked in half, I need it there, locked away so I don’t shatter to pieces.

  “There’s my favorite assistant. I’m so surprised you don’t want to be a baker because you’re so good at it.” I can smell the bullshit from the front door. I love Aunt Penny like everyone else, but I’m one of the few who offered to help.

  “I’m hardly your favorite. You have Daisy, of course, and let’s not forget all of your other children. I’m just the one you conned into working today.”

  “You got me there, but you’re one of my favorites.” She gives me a squeeze and then hooks her arm over my shoulder and walks me into the back. “You’re special, little Melanie. Come on, and let’s get this done before my husband comes hunting me down.” She laughs, and we get to baking for the next two hours.

  I make it through the work at the bakery with the many treats for the celebration, including a large cake for Will. All the while, I fight the urge to vomit from the reminder of him and his special day. A celebration I thought I would be a big part of. Jackson comes in with a big grin, “Hello ladies, are you ready to take this stuff over there?” He gives his wife a huge smile.

  “Give us a minute. The cake is ready, but it’s massive.”

  “I’ll take it, beautiful. I don’t want our nephew’s cake ruined. Crystal will have my ass.” We laugh because she’ll tear him a new one. He pushes the cart out to his truck and then comes back in to get another stack of trays.

  Penny walks up to me with a big smile and says, “You can go. We got the rest from here. Thank you so much for today. I can’t wait to see you later.” She hugs me and then I go in the back to take off my apron and get my things. Once I hit the outdoor air, I feel the Texas heat hit me and it’s almost as bad as working in the bakery kitchen all morning.

  My phone rings just as I hit the remote start. I stand outside the car and pull it out of my pocket to see it’s Damon’s calling. It takes me a second while I debate if I should answer it and on the last ring, I do. “Hey, I’m just leaving the bakery. What’s going on?”

  “I’m heading over to the barbeque today. Will I see you there?” he asks, sounding nervous, anxious. Nothing like the guy I’ve spoken to almost four times a week. Why is he acting shy? Does he really have feelings for me?

  “You’re going?” I question, panic setting in. Honestly, I’m not ready to start dating even though I’m so done with Will.

  “Yes. I’m one of the guards for the day.” I release a cool breath of relief. “Will I be seeing your cute face there?”

  “Yes, of course. My father is a Rider,” I reminded him.

  “Great. Are we on for Tuesday?”

  “Um…I’m not sure if that’s a good idea.” As I say that, I see none other than Chrissy passing me on the street. I’d love to run her over with my car. “You know what? Yes, I’ll go.”

  “Good. See you later, beautiful.”

  I end the call, and although Damon is cute and fun to talk to, I’m not interested in him. I shouldn’t lead him on when my heart belongs to a man I can’t be with. William Steele broke all my trust today. I’ve waited for him, and he’s proven to be full of shit.

  I drive home to clean up for a party that I no longer want to attend. Just as I pulled up, I saw my father’s vehicle still in the driveway. Damn it, my parents are still there. Unable to waste more time, I rush into the house because the party has already started.

  “Hey, sweetie. Do you want us to wait for you?” my father calls out as I rush up the stairs to my bedroom.

  I have a feeling I’m going to be an emotional wreck, so I won’t be able to drive. “Yes. I’ll only be a few minutes.”

  “Okay.”

  I close my bathroom door and quickly tug off my tee shirt, tossing it into my laundry basket. Goodness, I need a shower, so I jump in for a fast rinse off and scrub down without doing my hair. I suppose it’s better than being a sweaty, sugary mess.

  I’m down in ten with my hair in a cute ponytail and wearing a pair of tiny khaki green shorts and a cut-off shirt that shows my flat abs. My dad growls. “Are you trying to have Will and me kill some of the boys there?”

  “Come on, Dad. I’m about to be eighteen and as far as I’m concerned there’s nothing going on between Will and I, so I’m single. Although I do have a date coming up with Damon.”

  “I thought you had something going on with Will,” my mother adds in confusion. I shake my head, unable to discuss it without feeling my throat close up. My parents stare at me in confusion. Pressing my lips together, I don’t speak for at least thirty seconds.

  My father says, “Is something going on between the two of you?” His gaze is laced with suspicion.

  “No, he is taking me to the movies on Tuesday. It’s not that big of a deal.”

  My father’s face shifts into a menacing smirk, and my mother and I stare at him before he says, “I don’t like it.”

  “It’s not like anything’s going to happen, and I’m not going to marry the dude. I’m about to head off to college and I haven’t been on a proper date, and obviously someone else forgot I existed.”

  My father shakes his head, wrapping his arm around my mother’s shoulder. “I suppose you’re right. I just don’t want you falling head over heels with anyone and forgetting about your dreams.”

  Too late. Dreams are shattered.

  My mother looks at me under my father’s arm with a sympathetic smile, understanding my plight. She watched me waiting by the window for weeks after Will returned home from college without a single visit or call. Three fucking weeks, and not a word.

  “Fine. We need to go, but I’m telling you I don’t think it’s a wise move, Princess.”

  “You don’t want anyone dating me,” I huff and walk out the front door, refusing to listen to his naysaying.

  A minute later, they’re both hopping into the SUV with my other brother, who’s scowling at me and shaking his head. I roll my eyes at him because I’m not in the mood for anyone’s nonsense. I’ve been on the verge of tears all day, and they wouldn’t understand. They have no idea that Will broke my heart, and I can’t tell my father because a war would break out if he knew.

  We drive to the clubhouse and as we pass the gate, my father gives Damon a once-over. He crooks his finger, summons him over, and then whispers something to him. The second we drive past them and into the parking spot, I ask, “What did you say?”

  “I just gave him a warning, Princess.”

  “Daddy,” I hiss.

  “What? You’re my little girl, and I’m not going to let any fucking dick play with you. If he’s too weak to take you out, then it’s his problem. Damon knew who you were before he asked you out, right?”

  “Yes, of course. You assigned him to my guard duty.”

  “Well, then?” I don’t like the tone in his voice. My father’s a district attorney, which means he’s slick as hell with skills to play mind games easily.

  “Okay.”

  “Good. Now, let’s have some fun. I hope I get some of those brownies you made.”

  “Not if the kids get them first,” I say, knowing they’re a hit with everyone and will be gone as soon as the smell spreads across the yard.

  “They’ll have to fight me for them,” he says. He unlocks the vehicle and we all start getting out. I hope I can avoid running into Will for as long as possible.

  As soon as we pop out of the vehicle, I spot Will, and he stops talking to his father. His eyes land on me, and his face goes from a smile to a hardened stare. I ignore him and walk off in the opposite direction toward my friends who are huddled together, but I don’t make it far when I feel Will’s presence on my heels. It’s almost as if he’s breathing down my neck. Speaking of neck, my locket is hot against my breasts. If I could tear this necklace away from my neck, I would. Maybe my father could have it removed if I ask.

  Chapter Seven

  Will

  “Mel, what the hell are you wearing?” I bark out, pulling her inside the clubhouse hallway away from everyone. We haven’t seen each other in months, and this isn’t how I wanted our reunion to go. I had a few hours left before I could officially make her mine. Today is going to be torture, and I don’t need this.

  “Excuse me. My name is Melanie, Mr. Steele. Please do not address me again.” She storms away from me, and I’m about to fucking lose my mind. Did I miss something?

  “Since when did we become so damn formal with each other?” I snarl, wanting to bend her over my knee and see how quickly she forgets formalities. Damn it, I want to forget all the rules and just take her now. A few more hours.

  “Again, you’re speaking to me and I’m not sure why. I don’t know who you are anymore. You must be mistaking me with someone else because I can’t be the same woman you made all those promises to. You led me to believe there was more. Now, please get the hell out of my face because I don’t want to see your stupid, lying face anymore.”

  “Why? What did I do?”

  “What did you do?” She laughs in my face. “I can’t believe you. Three fucking weeks, Mr. Steele. You’ve been in this small motherfucking town for three whole weeks, and you couldn’t even be bothered to speak to me, call me, or even acknowledge me when you came back. Then I see you give other women your attention just fine. So do me a favor—let’s keep it that way. I’m leaving in just under two months, and I won’t see you for a long time.” I’m struck dumb by the notion that she’s really going away to college in August.

  Like a fool, I take too long to respond, so she continues with added venom. “Hopefully it will be a very long time, and then maybe we’ll both be married to other people by then.”

  She sets me off with those words because there is no way another man will ever have his hands on her. I have her pinned to the island. “You’re not marrying anyone else.”

  “No, you’ll just be fucking them, but I’m sure as hell not ever marrying you. Goodbye, William Steele. Congrats on graduating to being a heartbreaker.” She pushes my chest and moves under my arm, storming off.

  “Lanie, wait,” I shout, rushing to the clubhouse door, but her bestie Beth gets in the way just in time for me to lose sight of her in the crowd. “So, future Prez, isn’t it weird to have sex with the same woman as everyone else?”

  “My sex life is none of your business.”

  “It is when it upsets my best friend after she’s spent the last year waiting for your selfish ass,” she snaps, getting all up in my face. I’d shove her out of the way, but I was raised with manners, and I also need to understand what the hell she’s going on about. If there’s anyone who knows what’s running around in Melanie’s mind, it’s Beth.

  “I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about,” I snarl. “So, you better explain or get the fuck out of my way before I move you.”

  Her eyes turn to slits and then she lets it all out. “Chrissy. We saw you today, and you looked awfully cozy in that chair with your hands on her, and her tits couldn’t be any closer to your face unless they were in your mouth.”

  I slam my eyes shut, ready to send my fist into a wall. “It’s not what it looked like.”

  She scoffs, “Isn’t that what they all say?”

  God, if she was a man, I’d pop her in the mouth. Where the fuck is Connor when I need to punch someone? I don’t have time for that kind of ridiculousness. “I don’t need to explain anything to you.”

  “No, but she’s my best friend, and she saw the same thing. I had to watch her heart break in front of me because you’re whoring around town like she wouldn’t find out about it.”

  Shit. She has it all wrong, and I’m going to destroy Chrissy now. “Where is she? I need to find her.”

  “How would I know, jackass? I was interrogating you and giving her the space she needed to get away from you,” she huffs. Damn sneaky bitch. I knew I didn’t like her.

  I move past her and search the yard, but I don’t see Melanie in that tiny outfit that was made to make me jealous and hard. My angry rave is nowhere to be found.

  Taking a calming breath, I come up with a smarter plan to find her. I open up the security cameras on my phone and follow Melanie from the moment she leaves the clubhouse through the yard to the front gate. She’s outside with Damon. He’s got his hand on her arm. I’m going to fucking break his filthy hand. He knows better than to touch her. All the Riders and the prospects are well aware that she’s mine.

  I storm through the damn door of the gate. “Get your hands off her right now before I end your life.” He’s lucky I’m feeling generous enough to give a warning.

  “What’s wrong, Prez?” Damon backs up right away, but it isn’t enough for me. His hands were on her, and that’s a line he shouldn’t have crossed. I haven’t forgotten the look in his eyes when I came in this morning or the comments that he made last year. He’d kept his behavior on the up and up, but I also never thought about him again after Christmas break because I had secured my woman. How fucking foolish of me.

  “What’s wrong is you have your hands on my woman,” I snarl, moving closer to him, losing all sense of control.

  “I don’t belong to you,” Melanie says as if she really believes it.

  “The fuck you don’t, Melanie. I thought we went through this last year.” I’ve had enough of this talk. She’s the only non-family member that’s ever been on my bike and the only woman who will ever ride my dick, so she needs to quit this little fit and we need to talk.

  My father comes to the front with Beast following close behind. “What the hell is going on out here?” Beast snaps. He already knows how I feel and where I stand. Hell, last week he even pitched in to finish the house because it meant the world to me to have it done on time for tomorrow.

  “Your daughter is being difficult,” I grumble, although a part of me understands I’m being unreasonable. Another part of me is feeling murderous, and that gaze lands on Damon’s bitch ass.

  “Will, is there something you haven’t told me?” Beast snarls, chest and nose flaring.

  “That your daughter is about to get this fuck killed.”

  He scoffs and then tips his chin. “Good. I’ve already told him to stay away from her.” I’m glad we see eye to eye because if he even dared to give this asshole any leeway, I’d lose it. He’s supposed to back me up on this.

  “What?” Melanie shouts, staring at her father in shock.

  “Sweetheart, as a prospect, he knows that you and Will are a couple, but then he pulls some shit like asking you out.” I’m on Damon in a heartbeat as the last words leave DA Brandon’s mouth. My hand is around his throat, lifting him off the ground as I watch the color drain from his face.

  “You what?” I snarl through my clenched teeth. He can’t get a word out because I’m cutting off his air supply. He dared to hit on my future wife, ask her out, and try to take her away from me. He must want to die or be the stupidest motherfucker on the planet.

  “Please let Damon go,” she screams, tugging on my arm.

  As good as it should feel to have her touch me, the sound of his name coming from her lips feels like a betrayal. “No. You were going to date this piece of shit. Now I want him dead even more.”

  My father grips my shoulder. “Come on, now. Let him go, Son. He’s done with the Riders. He betrayed his brothers; he betrayed the future president of the Riders.” I let him fall into a heap on the ground, ripping the prospect patch from his vest and kicking him in the balls.

  “Daddy, take me home please,” I hear her say through the blood rushing in my ears.

  “Sure, sweetheart.” He pulls her into his arms, and she refuses to look at me. My chest burns so painfully with anger that I storm through the gate, passing everyone at the party to get into the clubhouse, needing to get away from her before I say or do something I regret.

  I’m grateful there’s a gym on the second floor because my temper needs an outlet. My first hit to the punching bag nearly sent it off the hooks, but by the fourth shot, I demolished it. That bit of steam seems to cool me off enough to be around people again and not hunt down that piece of shit Damon.

  When I come out, she’s gone and the men have long sent Damon from the clubhouse and soon, he’ll be run out of town. Although the party is partially for me, I don’t feel like celebrating. I need to go for a ride. I wish I’d brought my damn bike. My father and cousin Connor are the first to meet me and my dad presses his hand to my chest. “I need to go for a ride.”

  “Are you sober enough?” my pops asks, staring into my eyes, reading them.

  “Of course. I wouldn’t dare jeopardize my life just because I’m pissed off.”

  “Another reason to cool down,” my cousin adds. He’s way more levelheaded than me, but that’s because he’s no obsessed yet.

  “That’s why I want to ride.”

  “Don’t go doing anything stupid.”

  “I’m not. If I stay here any longer, I might hunt that fucker down and kill him. Does anyone else know how long he’s been after my woman?” I question, looking at my father who has several of the elder Riders around him. They are all like uncles to me and have taught me so much, but right now, my guts are tied in knots and I want to fight someone.

 

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