breakfast.” He twists his fingers through my hair, tugging gently. “Shouldn’t take the bike and get you all windblown anyway.”
“I like riding with you, though.”
“We’ll have plenty of time to play, Shelby. Today’s a work day.”
Something about his words reassures me so much, I’m not sure how to respond.
Rooster
Crisis avoided.
Still, I had a really good opening to mention that the “project” I’ve been working on is setting up Anya’s budding porn empire. And didn’t. Again.
Fuck me.
If Shelby reacted like that to a girl handing me a fucking gift card, she’s definitely not going to take the news of my job description well. And what are the odds those dickhead radio DJs don’t mention that I was just there yesterday with a porn star?
Pretty damn slim.
Embarrassment still stains Shelby’s cheeks. It shouldn’t, though. As much as I never want to hurt her, I can’t deny seeing that little spark of jealousy light up her eyes only made me want to pin her against the truck and fuck her until she understood she’s the only woman I want.
It’ll have to wait.
“Stay here. I’m gonna grab Jigsaw.” I jog back to the clubhouse.
Jigsaw’s right inside the door, talking to Anya. “Let’s go, brother.”
He says a few more words to her and then follows me outside. “Damn, she and Shelby were hot together when they were hugging.” Jigsaw rubs his hands together. “Think they would—”
“Do not finish that sentence,” I warn.
“I’m not talking about filming it.”
“Shut the fuck up.”
“Come on. It’s not cheating if it’s another girl and you’re right there watching.”
I turn my head slowly and stare at him. “For the love of fuck, mind your own business. And if you ever suggest something like that to Shelby—even as a joke—I will motherfucking gut you.”
He takes a step back and raises one hand. “My bad. I didn’t realize threesomes were now off the table.”
“Stop being an asshole.”
His gaze drops to the truck keys in my hand. “We’re not riding together?”
“I need to talk to her.”
“Don’t you two yap enough?”
“Why are you testing my patience today?”
“Don’t I do it every day?”
I pinch the bridge of my nose and take a deep breath. “I need to explain what exactly I’m doing for the club before she hears it somewhere else.”
The joker smile slips off his face. “Club business isn’t her business.”
“Yeah, I get that. Except the two assholes interviewing her this morning are the same ones who interviewed Anya yesterday. You think they’re not going to remember me and have some commentary?”
He roars with laughter and slaps my shoulder. “Good luck with that.”
“Thanks, dickface.”
Shelby’s waiting by the truck and smiles when she sees us. “I feel so bad dragging you out this early in the morning, Jigsaw.”
“It’s fine. No amount of beauty sleep’s gonna help him,” I say.
“Logan Randall, that’s not nice.”
“He’s vicious to me, Shelby. All the time.” Jigsaw pulls a sad droopy-dog face that’s pure bullshit.
“Aw.” She pats his shoulder. “I’m sure you’re totally innocent in all of it too.”
He flashes a wicked half-grin at her.
“Enough.” I wave him off. “Let’s go.”
“I’ll follow you since you know where you’re going,” he says over his shoulder.
Shelby cocks her head and stares at me.
Motherfucking Jigsaw had to say it, didn’t he? Sad thing is, I don’t even think he did it on purpose.
Shelby waits until we’re on the road to speak up.
“What’d he mean you know where the place is? Did you check it out when I told you about the interview?”
That would be an excellent excuse, wouldn’t it?
But I can’t lie to her.
“No, the girl you met—Anya. She had an interview with them yesterday and Ice asked me to go with her.”
Please let that be sufficient.
“Really? Is she a singer too?”
“Uh, she’s in entertainment.”
Shelby’s seizes on my bullshit answer immediately. “Entertainment? Is she a dancer or something? Does this charter own a strip club too?”
If only.
“No, but they do have a successful tattoo parlor. They have a wait list but I could probably get you squeezed in if you want some ink while you’re here.”
Real subtle change of subject.
“Rooster, you’ve seen every inch of me and know I’m ink-free. I intend to stay that way.”
I glance over at her. “Really?”
Her eyes glitter with amusement. “It’s totally sexy on you, but it’s not something I’d do.”
Huh. “Is it frowned on in country music or something?”
“Maybe a little. I don’t know. I haven’t come up with anything I wanna stick on my body permanently.” She reaches over and pokes my side. “Besides you.”
“Same, chickadee.”
“Doesn’t it hurt?”
“No.”