of Steele. It was impossible with his fingers wrapped around hers. He had a large hand and it completely enveloped hers.
“Inez, I’d like you to meet my woman. This is Bree Simmons. Baby, this is Inez Nelson and Frank Warner.” He indicated the man seated behind the counter with the older woman.
Inez beamed before Breezy could put in a quick disclaimer to the fact that she was not Steele’s woman. Truthfully, she didn’t have that kind of courage. One kept club business, especially personal club business, in the club. That had been drilled into her from the time she was a toddler, just as it was being drilled into Zoe, Emily and Darby.
“Nice to meet you, Bree,” Inez said.
“Have you thought any more about our proposition?” Steele asked.
Inez nodded. “It’s a good one. We took it to our silent partner and he agreed it was a very good plan, but he can’t be a part of it. Still, even without him, Frank and I are very interested. When would be a good time for us to drop by and talk things over with you and Czar?”
Breezy let the conversation flow around her while she watched others in the store. Clearly the sight of three very rough-looking Torpedo Ink members wearing their colors didn’t strike fear into anyone’s heart. More, several greeted them. She noticed the women looking more than once.
Her heart clenched, and she looked down to the floor, an old habit she couldn’t quite break. The moment she did, Steele transferred his hold from her hand to around her waist, his arm a bar, locking her to him. It was a claiming hold. She remembered how he’d done that when they were together. He’d always made her feel so safe and secure. He’d made her feel his.
“We’ve got a few things going on right now, but Czar will be in touch in a few days,” Steele reassured Inez. He flashed a small smile and urged Breezy down one of the aisles, snagging a basket as he passed it. Maestro and Keys trailed behind them.
Breezy had no idea what was going on so she remained silent as Steele filled up his basket and the two baskets the other members of Torpedo Ink had with all sorts of food. She recognized that most were her favorites. She tried very hard not to be thrilled that Steele remembered what she liked. He would. Steele didn’t forget things.
She just couldn’t let herself buy into anything Steele was saying to her. She had before, and she’d gotten her heart broken. This time, she had to look out for Zane. There was no risking herself twice, not and come out of it healthy and whole. She forced herself to remember the women Steele had partied with. She closed her eyes and conjured them up. Not one looked anything like her. He couldn’t even say they were a substitute for her.
“Stop.”
The whispered command came straight into her ear. She felt his breath exploding in a warm, exasperated puff.
“Seriously, baby, let it go. Just for now.”
“You can’t know what I’m thinking.” She tried scowling at him, but she couldn’t meet his eyes because he was right. He was always right.
“Your face is an open book, sweetheart,” Steele said and caught up a small bag of baked pretzels, her favorite kind. “You’re thinking about walking into the clubhouse and seeing me with those other women. I asked you to hold off thinking about them until I had the chance to explain.”
“I don’t want your explanation. I’m grateful I saw you with them.” She tilted her chin at him. “Every time I think I might be buying into what you’re selling, I think about them and remember none of it was real and you’re very, very good at conning people—especially women.”
He nodded. “I am. There’s no question about that, but I wasn’t conning you and I’m not now.”
“Because I’m so different from every other woman.” Sarcasm dripped from her voice. “I might have swallowed all this, Steele, if you’d come looking for me, but I have your son and you want him. You think I need to be part of that package, but you’re wrong. I don’t have to be. There are so many couples making it work when they aren’t together. We’ll do just fine apart.”
“We’re not going to be apart, Breezy. We’re going to talk this out.”
He made it a decree. There was nowhere to go with that so she changed the subject. “What kind of deal