Bad For You - Sherilee Gray Page 0,62

never any chance of us getting caught. But Jesse had found a way to give me what I needed in a way that kept me safe. We smiled at each other.

“God, it was,” I said, still feeling shaky.

“My mom warned me about girls like you.”

I couldn’t control my smile. “Hey, what did I do? You’re the experienced one, remember?”

He grinned, flashing his white teeth, eyes bright. “I’m not sure which one of us is the bad influence here anymore.”

I laughed. “It’s not me. You’re a wizard. One look at those pretty green eyes and my underwear disappear.”

Jesse laughed, cupping my butt and squeezing. Finally, he sobered and aimed those dangerous green eyes at me again.

“You’ve got me all in knots, Bambi. Don’t think there’s anything I wouldn’t do to keep you.”

Then he kissed me again.

I felt the same way.

Chapter Nineteen

Jesse

I glanced at Lila as we pulled up to the clubhouse. I wanted her to have a good time tonight. I wanted her to love these people as much as I did. They were my family, and if things went the way I hoped, they’d be her family as well.

There were quite a few trucks and cars parked out front. No bikes. They were away for the winter, and last night we’d had a decent dumping of snow.

The Ramblers always had a family party when we had the first proper snowfall. It was kind of a tradition, but mainly just another reason to have a party. This was family only, though. No hangers-on. No women except old ladies and girlfriends.

Lila glanced out the window to the group of kids tearing around in the snow and turned back at me frowning. “There are children here.”

I’d tried to explain a bit about the club to her, about tonight, but I’d obviously done a shit job. “This is family only. My brothers, their old ladies, kids.”

“I thought this was a party?”

“We’ll all eat, hang out, have a few drinks. The kids will go home and the adults will let loose a little. This isn’t like the last time you were here.”

“I’m not sure I like the term old lady,” she said, brows lowered.

I knew that was coming. Honestly, I was surprised it hadn’t come sooner. I took her hand and slid my thumb under the small bird I’d inked on her smooth skin. “Being someone’s old lady is not a bad thing; it’s a commitment, a sign of respect.”

She screwed up her face.

“Bambi, you can’t do that in there.”

“Do what?”

“Be all judgy.”

She scowled. “Judgy? I’m not…”

“Talk to some of the women tonight. They know you’re coming, are looking forward to meeting you. You can ask them whatever you like about being in the club. Just don’t look down your nose at them.”

She straightened. “I’m not doing that. I would never do that.”

I’d tried to keep her and the club separate, but that wasn’t working for me anymore. And her reaction now highlighted what a mistake I’d made. I thought keeping her away would keep her safe from my old man, from seeing the parts of me I wanted to keep hidden, but I was wrong.

My father wasn’t going to back down anytime soon. His calls and messages had been coming thick and fast. The safest place for Lila was with me, wearing my property patch, the whole club protecting her. And there was only one way to achieve that.

Yeah, my father was a Rambler, their club brother, but a lot of them also knew he was an asshole. I’d talked to Stones, he already suspected my old man was up to something, that he’d been in deep with Trip and the shit he’d pulled. But we didn’t have proof. Until then, I needed Lila safe.

But that wasn’t the only reason I wanted her wearing my property patch. I wanted Lila. I wanted her on the back of my bike. I wanted everyone, including that fucker Jarod, to know she was mine. I wanted it all, and this was the only way to get it.

Though I didn’t expect Lila to hear from that asshole again. I’d hunted him down easily enough. We’d had a little talk, and he’d agreed very quickly to stay away from my girl. Or should I say, he chose to live.

“It’s my fault, I should have explained some of this stuff to you before now. But we have rules in my world, and when we’re here, I need you to follow them.”

Her eyes sharpened. “What kind of rules?”

“First, don’t screw your