Fanning the Biker's Flame - Piper Davenport Page 0,46
“It’s nice to meet you.”
She pulled me in for a hug. “You too. My brother has not shut up about you. I thought you might be a figment of his imagination.”
I blushed, leaning heavily against Shadow. “I’m real,” I said. “In all my crazy glory.”
Shadow chuckled. “Before you grill my girl for information, we’re gonna get something to eat.”
“Delayed, but not denied, big brother,” Catalina retorted.
“I’m not leaving Jane—”
“Jane’s fine without you,” my bestie countered, smiling at a very tall biker over by the bar.
“Jane, you ignorant slut.”
She laughed. “Point, counterpoint.”
I grinned, and Shadow pulled me outside to the picnic tables.
“See?” he said, handing me a plate.
“Yes, I see,” I admitted. “Drama is acceptable, apparently.”
He chuckled. “Drama in the form of real drama, not so much. But drama in the form of my woman being dramatic and cute as fuck, hell, yes.”
“You have issues.”
“Maybe so,” he said, and piled food on his plate. “But my issues are in the form of one hell of a beautiful woman, so I’m good.”
“Stop being nice. You’re rewarding my bad behavior by validating my tantrum.”
“Well, if you can promise more bad behavior, I’ll give you a real reward later.”
“I can’t wait.”
He kissed me again and we finished loading our plates.
As the night continued, I started to relax, realizing no one gave a rat’s ass about what had happened earlier. If anyone knew anything went down between me and Shadow, no one said a thing.
“You want to stay here tonight?” Shadow whispered in my ear.
He was currently on the sofa and I was sitting on his lap half-asleep. “No. I’ve got Jane and Sharon to think about.”
“Looks like Gator’s happy to take care of Sharon,” he said, and I directed my gaze over by the bar.
Sharon was giggling like a schoolgirl while Gator regaled her with stories.
“Aw,” I breathed out, a little tipsy. “That’s so sweet.”
“She might get some tonight,” Shadow said.
“She’s a lady. She doesn’t put out on the first date.”
“What if it’s not a date?”
“Oh, then, she might.”
Shadow laughed, giving me a gentle squeeze. “Is Jane staying with you tonight?”
“I don’t think so. She’s pissed at her husband, but she’ll probably still go home.” I shifted to face him. “Why?”
“I want you to behave badly.”
I grinned, licking my lips. “We’ll make sure that happens, then.”
In the end, Otter and Shiloh left early, taking Sharon with them, and Jane got a ride from Dylan who’d stayed sober to be the designated driver.
Wanting to be close to Sharon, I insisted on going back to my place instead of staying at the club, and I made sure some bad behavior happened before we finally slept.
* * *
“Why don’t you just do your class live from here?” Shadow asked as I piled my hair on top of my head.
“There’s not enough room, honey.”
“There would be if you moved the sofa.”
I rolled my eyes in his direction. “And who’s going to move the sofa every time I have a class?”
“Me.”
“I have three days this week that I’ll need you to move the sofa. It’s just easier to do it from the studio.”
“Dylan’s with you then.”
I sighed. “I already agreed to that. What’s wrong?”
He wrapped his arms around my waist. “Just got a bad feeling.”
“Well, stop it,” I ordered. “Everything’s good. I wear my necklace any time you’re not with me, which I love, by the way.” I stroked his cheek. “I’m covered.”
“Don’t go anywhere without Dylan.”
“I won’t,” I promised.
He leaned down and kissed me, and it quickly grew heated. I groaned, pulling away. “And stop trying to distract me with your mouth.”
He grinned. “No promises.”
“Are you following me to the studio or is Dylan coming here first?”
“I’m following, then hangin’ around until he gets there.”
“Let’s go, then,” I ordered, and slid my shoes on.
Shadow followed me to the studio, and we arrived to find Jane slamming all manner of things down on the floor. She was obviously pissed, so Shadow walked away, and I stepped closer to her.
“Mother fucking—”
“Janie?”
She looked up at me with tears streaming down her face, a huge bruise surrounding her right eye.
I dropped to my knees beside her. “Oh my god, Jane, what happened?”
“I told Frederick I wanted a divorce.”
“And he hit you?”
“Yes. After he drained my savings account. He’s hidden the money and I have no idea where.”
“Well, you can’t go home.”
“I have nowhere else to go,” Jane said. “But yes, I can’t go home.”
“You can stay with me.”
“Honey, you don’t have room.”
“I will make room,” I said, taking her hands and squeezing